GRACE FROM FIRST TO LAST

CHARLES SPURGEON 
(Another fine meditation from Mr. Spurgeon)

Many nowadays appear to leap into peace without any convictions of sin — they do not seem to have known what the guilt of sin means; but they scramble into peace before the burden of sin has been felt. It is not for me to judge, but I must confess I have my fears of those who have never felt the terrors of the Lord, and I look upon conviction of sin as a good groundwork for a well-instructed Christian.

I observe as a rule that when a man has been put in the prison of the law, and made to wear the heavy chains of conviction, and at last obtains his liberty through the precious blood, he is pretty sure to cry up the grace of God, and magnify divine mercy. He feels that in his case salvation must be of grace from first to last, and he naturally favors that system of theology which magnifies most the grace of God. Those who have not felt this, whose conversion has been of the more easy kind, produced rather by excitement than by depth of thought, seem to me to choose a flimsy divinity, in which man is more prominent, and God is less regarded.

I am sure of this one thing, that I personally desire to ascribe conversion in my own case entirely to the grace of God, and to give God the glory of it; and I dread that conversion which could in any degree deprive God of being in his everlasting decrees the cause of it, by his effectual Spirit the direct agent of it, by his continued working through the Holy Ghost the perfecter of it. Give God the praise, my brethren. You must do so, if you have thoroughly experienced what God’s anger means, and what the turning away of it means.

From a sermon entitled "A New Song For New Hearts," delivered May 1, 1870.

HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES-CHARLES SPURGEON

All over England, in our cities, towns, villages, and hamlets, there are tens of thousands who never will hear the gospel while open-air preaching is neglected. I believe that God allows us to preach in churches and chapels, but I do not believe that we have any apostolical precedent for it, certainly none for confining our ministry to such places. I believe that we are allowed, if it promote order and edification, to set apart buildings for our worship; but there is no warrant for calling these places sanctuaries and houses of God, for all places are alike holy where holy men assemble.

It is altogether a mischievous thing that we should confine our preaching within walls. Our Lord, it is true, preached in the synagogues, but he often spake on the mountain’s side, or from a boat, or in the court of a house, or in the public thoroughfares. To him an audience was the only necessity. He was a fisher of souls of the true sort, and not of the modern order, who sit in their houses and expect the fish to come to them to be caught.... The minister who does his duty, goes out into the highways and hedges; he goes into all the world; he preaches whether men will hear or whether they will forbear, and delights to make hills and woods ring with the message of peace.

From a sermon entitled "The Model Home Mission And The Model Home Missionary," delivered April 14, 1870.

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS

BY CHARLES WOODRUFF

How could we fail to mention the mother of our Lord? The scripture says “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42b). She is to receive honor as no other woman, but she is NOT to be worshiped! As a matter of fact, she herself worshiped the savior. She knew she was greatly honored, and blessed, and said so in the Magnificat (See Luke 1:46-55), yet she knew she was a sinner herself, and needed this savior that she bore in her own womb (verse 47). She knew she was NOT co-redeemer of the human race ready to receive our prayers and intercede on our behalf with Christ. There is nothing of this lying Popery in the word of God! Mary was a humble woman, chosen of God for the greatest motherhood of all time. She was a godly woman that all women could model after in character. She is to be honored, remembered and taught about -- but not worshiped! If she was on earth today, she would be saddened by those misguided souls who pray to her and worship her. She would point to Jesus Christ and say “worship Him who is the true savior”. (See John 14:6). She loved Him as her son, sure, but loved Him more as her “Saviour which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Mary is truly the most honored mother in the Bible. The most honored mother of all time

WHEN YOU WERE MARCHING TO HELL!

By THOMAS WATSON (1620-1686) Excerpt from  The Mischief of Sin  (at Grace Gems.)

"Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.." 1 Timothy 1:13

Literally, "I was bemercied." Christians, why might not you have been in the number of those who persist in sinning? Because God has bemiracled you with mercy!

See what cause you have to admire the stupendous  goodness of God, who has wrought a change in you —and checked you in your full career of sin!

Christians, you who are vessels of election—were by nature as wicked as others—but God had compassion on you and plucked you as brands out of the fire! He  stopped you in your course of sinning—when you were marching to hell! He turned you back to Him by sincere repentance.
Oh, here is the banner of love displayed over you!

Behold sovereign grace! Let your hearts melt in love to God. Admire His royal bounty. Set the crown of all your praises, upon the head of free grace! "By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10
Entire article at:   http://www.gracegems.org/Watson/mischief_of_sin1.htm

DELIVERED, CRUCIFIED, RAISED, EXALTED

BY W. F. BELL

In Acts 2:22-36 the central message of Christ is clearly outlined for us by Simon Peter.  Four words are at the heart of this message: delivered, crucified, raised, exalted.  Nothing greater could ever be proclaimed!  The Lord of glory came to earth to do His Father's will (John 6:38), and after accomplishing it (John 17:4), "Jesus the Son of God" returned to heaven in triumph (Hebrews 1:3; 4:14).  He was not frustrated in the least in what He came to do.

Peter says, "Hear these words," so let us do so with joy.  "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you."  A just and righteous approval of a wonderful life; a perfect life, for Jesus "knew no sin."  "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God."  What?  Yes, though without sin, "delivered" by divine purpose and predestination.  Why?  "Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain."  So, the cross was no accident; it was not just a human murder.  There was purpose and reason behind it.  Note carefully, Jehovah "delivered" His Son, but wicked men "crucified" Him.

But Peter goes on to say, "Whom God raised up."  Don't pass that so quickly.  Death upon the cross for Jesus was gory, and His burial was gloomy, but glory was to follow, for we read, "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses."  "Raised up!"  What glorious words, filled with hope.  Christ was not left in "hades" (the grave), and His body saw no "corruption."  He arose!  He arose the Victor!  "It was not possible that He should be held" in Joseph's new tomb.  Note, "not possible."  David foretold of the Messiah's victory over death (Psalm 16:8-11).  David himself "saw corruption" (Acts 13:36), but not the Christ of God!

Now we enter the heavenly throne-room.  The Lord "ascended" to His Father's right hand, never to die again.  "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted."  "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him" (Philippians 2:9).  Yes, "highly exalted."  He reigns triumphant over all, now!  "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come" (Ephesians 1:21).  Note, not just "above," but "far above."

Peter concludes his message: "God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."  Here is where sinners must bow!  Though Christ was crucified, He is now forever exalted.  We do not "make" Him "Lord," but we do humbly acknowledge that He already is "crowned with glory and honor" (Hebrews 2:9).  Yes indeed, "crowned" already!  So, poor sinners come in contrition, and gladly worship the exalted Christ!  And with Charles Wesley, all of God's elect people gratefully sing,

Christ, the Lord, is risen today!...
Love's redeeming work is done!...
Lives again our glorious King!...
Hail the Lord of earth and heaven!...
Thee we greet, triumphant now!

JOHN BUNYAN, THE TINKER OF BEDFORD

BY CHARLES WOODRUFF

John Bunyan (1628-1688) was born into a poor English family near Bedford in the parish of Elstow, Bedfordshire , England. After some formal schooling, he became a tinker by trade. We may call such a trade "a handyman" today. He repaired all sorts of things, mostly for poor people who couldn't afford new items. After serving in the Parliamentary Army, and living an ungodly life, Bunyan came under powerful conviction for his sins.He believed that God was speaking audibly to him. The voice had said: "Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to heaven or have thy sins and go to hell?" There were several years of struggle, and seeking light from God. Like Paul, he saw himself as the "chief of sinners". When he was converted, he was baptized in St. Johns Church  (a non-conformist church, which was baptist, immersing repentant sinners). Bunyan began to preach there in1655. This was in an era of turmoil in England. The state church (Church of England, i.e., Anglican) opposed all others, and especially the Puritans and Baptists, of which John Bunyan had, in the best sense, become both. He was a strict non-conformist, and had been immersed.

The next year (1656), he wrote his first of many books Some Gospel Truths.  Ultimately, after the Restoration of the monarchy in England, Bunyan was jailed for preaching without a license. The monarchy had put the Anglicans back in power, and persecution against other churches increased.

John Bunyan wound up spending 12 years in the Bedford prison, with some short releases during that time. But, because he refused to conform  to the statutes of the Anglicans he could not be licensed, therefore he remained imprisoned most of those 12 years. During that time in jail, he wrote his best known book Pilgrims Progress, an allegory of the Christian life. That book is still a good seller. In earlier times, it was the best selling book in the world, other than  the Bible. In these apostate times, his books are still valuable, having been reprinted many times. Most are available online.
http://www.monergism.com/free_online_books.php    and in print as three large volumes. Many of his individual books are still in print as well.  I recommend to you, after first reading Pilgrims Progress, read Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, which is Bunyan's autobiography. The try The Holy War. All of his work is in 17th century English (like the King James Version). If that troubles you too much, Pilgrims Progress and some of the others are available in modern English versions. Check Amazon, or Monergism.


Now a few short Bunyan quotes to further whet your appetite for this godly writer.

“He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find him the rest of the day” John Bunyan

"Temptations, when we first meet them, are like a lion that roared at Samson; but if we overcome them, the next time we see them we shall find a nest of honey within them."  John Bunyan

“You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed”   John Bunyan

“He that is down needs fear no fall, He that is low, no pride”  John Bunyan

“If you have sinned, do not lie down without repentance; for the want of repentance after one has sinned makes the heart yet harder and harder” John Bunyan

“No child of God sins to that degree as to make himself incapable of forgiveness” John Bunyan 

"One leak will sink a ship: and one sin will destroy a sinner." John Bunyan   

"Words easy to be understood do often hit the mark; when high and learned ones do only pierce the air." John Bunyan 

HIS BY PURCHASE- THOMAS BROOKS

I am His by purchase and I am His by conquest; I am His by donation and I am His by election; I am His by covenant and I am His by marriage; I am wholly His; I am peculiarly His; I am universally His; I am eternally His. Once I was a slave but now I am a son; once I was dead but now I am alive; once I was darkness but now I am light in the Lord;...
 

once I was a child of wrath, an heir of hell, but now I am an heir of heaven; once I was Satan's bond-servant but now I am God's freeman; once I was under the spirit of bondage but now I am under the Spirit of adoption that seals up to me the remission of my sins, the justification of my person and the salvation of my soul.