Providing For Another Life

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Plainly we may see, mankind hurried along to the west of his days.. our fathers have gone before, and we are passing, and our children shall follow at our heels, that as you see the billows of the sea, one tumble on the neck of another, and in the end all are dashed upon the shore; so all generations and ages in the end are spilt on the banks of death, and thus is the condition of every man. Is it not our wisdom then to provide for another life? John Preston

The Excellence of Godliness

This post has 810 words. It will take approximately 4 minutes, 3 secondes for reading it.

Godliness is our spiritual beauty

‘The beauties of holiness’ (Psa. 110:3).Godliness is to the soul what the light is to the world: to illustrate and adorn it. It is not greatness which sets us off in God’s eye but goodness. What is the beauty of the angels but their sanctity? Godliness is the intricate embroidery and workmanship of the Holy Ghost. A soul furnished with godliness is damasked with beauty, it is enamelled with purity. This is the clothing of wrought gold which makes the King of heaven fall in love with us. Were there no excellence in holiness, the hypocrite would never try to paint it. Godliness sheds a glory and lustre on the saints. What are the graces but the golden feathers in which Christ’s dove shines (Psa. 68:13)?

2. Godliness is our defence

Grace is called ‘the armour of light’ (Rom. 13:12).It is light for beauty and armour for defence. A Christian has armour of God’s making which cannot be shot through. He has the shield of faith, the helmet of hope, the breastplate of righteousness. This is proof armour, which defends against the assaults of temptation and the terror of hell.

3. Godliness breeds solid peace

‘Great peace have they which love thy law’ (Psa. 119:165).Godliness composes the heart, making it quiet and calm like the upper region, where there are no winds and tempests. How can that heart be unquiet where the Prince of Peace dwells? ‘Christ in you’ (Col. 1:27).A holy heart may be compared to the doors of Solomon’s temple, which were made of olive tree, carved with open flowers (I Kings 6:32).The olive of peace and the open flowers of joy are in that heart. Godliness does not destroy a Christian’s mirth, but refines it. His rose is without prickles, his wine without froth. He who is a favourite of heaven must of necessity be full of joy and peace. He may truly sing a requiem to his soul and say, ‘Soul, take thine ease’ (Luke 12:19). King Ptolemy asked someone how he might be at rest when he dreamed. He replied, ‘Let piety be the scope of all your actions.’ If anyone should ask me how he should be at rest when he is awake, I would return a similar answer: ‘Let his soul be inlaid with godliness.’

4. Godliness is the best trade we can engage in: it brings profit Wicked men say, ‘It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it?’ (Mal. 3:14). To be sure, there is no profit in sin:

‘Treasures of wickedness profit nothing’ (Prov. 10:2). But godliness is profitable (1 Tim. 4:8). It is like digging in a gold mine, where there is gain as well as toil. Godliness makes God himself our portion: ‘The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance’ (Psa. 16:5). If God is our portion, all our estate lies in jewels. Where God gives himself, he gives everything else. Whoever has the manor has all the royalties belonging to it. God is a portion that can be neither spent nor lost (Psa. 73:26). Thus we see that godliness is a thriving trade.

And as godliness brings profit with it, so it is profitable ‘for all things’ (1 Tim. 4:8). What else is, besides godliness? Food will not give a man wisdom; gold will not give him health; honour will not give him beauty. But godliness is useful for all things: it fences off all troubles; it supplies all wants; it makes soul and body completely happy.

5. Godliness is an enduring substance; it knows no fall of the leaf

All worldly delights have a death’s-head set on them. They are only shadows and they are fleeting. Earthly comforts are like Paul’s friends, who took him to the ship and left him

there (Acts 20:38). So these will bring a man to his grave and then take their farewell. But godliness is a possession cannot be robbed of. It runs parallel with eternity. For cannot weaken it; age cannot wither it. It outbraves sufferings; it outlives death (Prov. 10:2). Death may pluck the stalk of the body but the flower of grace is not hurt.

6. Godliness is so excellent that the worst men would like have it when they are going hence

Though at present godliness is despised and under a cloud yet at death all would like to be godly. A philosopher asked a young man whether he would like to be rich Croesus virtuous Socrates. He answered that he would like to live with Croesus and die with Socrates. So men would like live with the wicked in pleasure but die with the godly: ‘Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!’ (Numb. 23:10). If, then, godliness is so at desirable death, why should we not pursue it now? Godliness is needful now and would be more feasible. [Thomas Watson]

Providing for another life

This post has 115 words. It will take approximately 34 secondes for reading it.

Plainly we may see, mankind hurried along to the west of his days.. our fathers have gone before, and we are passing, and our children shall follow at our heels, that as you see the billows of the sea, one tumble on the neck of another, and in the end all are dashed upon the shore; so all generations and ages in the end are spilt on the banks of death, and thus is the condition of every man. Is it not our wisdom then to provide for another life? John Preston

The Excellence of godliness

This post has 834 words. It will take approximately 4 minutes, 10 secondes for reading it.

Godliness is our spiritual beauty

'The beauties of holiness' (Psa. 110:3).Godliness is to the soul what the light is to the world: to illustrate and adorn it. It is not greatness which sets us off in God's eye but goodness. What is the beauty of the angels but their sanctity? Godliness is the intricate embroidery and workmanship of the Holy Ghost. A soul furnished with godliness is damasked with beauty, it is enamelled with purity. This is the clothing of wrought gold which makes the King of heaven fall in love with us. Were there no excellence in holiness, the hypocrite would never try to paint it. Godliness sheds a glory and lustre on the saints. What are the graces but the golden feathers in which Christ's dove shines (Psa. 68:13)?

2. Godliness is our defence

Grace is called 'the armour of light' (Rom. 13:12).It is light for beauty and armour for defence. A Christian has armour of God's making which cannot be shot through. He has the shield of faith, the helmet of hope, the breastplate of righteousness. This is proof armour, which defends against the assaults of temptation and the terror of hell.

3. Godliness breeds solid peace

'Great peace have they which love thy law' (Psa. 119:165).Godliness composes the heart, making it quiet and calm like the upper region, where there are no winds and tempests. How can that heart be unquiet where the Prince of Peace dwells? 'Christ in you' (Col. 1:27).A holy heart may be compared to the doors of Solomon's temple, which were made of olive tree, carved with open flowers (I Kings 6:32).The olive of peace and the open flowers of joy are in that heart. Godliness does not destroy a Christian's mirth, but refines it. His rose is without prickles, his wine without froth. He who is a favourite of heaven must of necessity be full of joy and peace. He may truly sing a requiem to his soul and say, 'Soul, take thine ease' (Luke 12:19). King Ptolemy asked someone how he might be at rest when he dreamed. He replied, 'Let piety be the scope of all your actions.' If anyone should ask me how he should be at rest when he is awake, I would return a similar answer: 'Let his soul be inlaid with godliness.'

4. Godliness is the best trade we can engage in: it brings profit Wicked men say, 'It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it?' (Mal. 3:14). To be sure, there is no profit in sin:

'Treasures of wickedness profit nothing' (Prov. 10:2). But godliness is profitable (1 Tim. 4:8). It is like digging in a gold mine, where there is gain as well as toil. Godliness makes God himself our portion: 'The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance' (Psa. 16:5). If God is our portion, all our estate lies in jewels. Where God gives himself, he gives everything else. Whoever has the manor has all the royalties belonging to it. God is a portion that can be neither spent nor lost (Psa. 73:26). Thus we see that godliness is a thriving trade.

And as godliness brings profit with it, so it is profitable 'for all things' (1 Tim. 4:8). What else is, besides godliness? Food will not give a man wisdom; gold will not give him health; honour will not give him beauty. But godliness is useful for all things: it fences off all troubles; it supplies all wants; it makes soul and body completely happy.

5. Godliness is an enduring substance; it knows no fall of the leaf

All worldly delights have a death's-head set on them. They are only shadows and they are fleeting. Earthly comforts are like Paul's friends, who took him to the ship and left him

there (Acts 20:38). So these will bring a man to his grave and then take their farewell. But godliness is a possession cannot be robbed of. It runs parallel with eternity. For cannot weaken it; age cannot wither it. It outbraves sufferings; it outlives death (Prov. 10:2). Death may pluck the stalk of the body but the flower of grace is not hurt.

6. Godliness is so excellent that the worst men would like have it when they are going hence

Though at present godliness is despised and under a cloud yet at death all would like to be godly. A philosopher asked a young man whether he would like to be rich Croesus virtuous Socrates. He answered that he would like to live with Croesus and die with Socrates. So men would like live with the wicked in pleasure but die with the godly: 'Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!' (Numb. 23:10). If, then, godliness is so at desirable death, why should we not pursue it now? Godliness is needful now and would be more feasible. [Thomas Watson]

On Sanctifying the Sabbath

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There are probably more if I could bring them to mind. But 5 major points of disagreement, with caused the remoteness, with brothers and sisters in Christ in my local hemisphere have been:

Not celebrating X-mass and Easter, as they are man made holy days rather than God ordained ones.

EP. Most folks think I’m out of my tree on this one.

Not voting. This got me some very sharp opinions, (none complimentary I may add!) and again out of my tree is the general concensus.

Sanctifying the Sabbath.

Not believing a little evil for the greater good is a Biblical concept.

Richard Cameron when fired for speaking against the indulgences was thought to be somewhat of an upstart, cos he was a young man. I have had similar said because I am not a mature Christian, but I have had wise teachers. And this quote from the bio of Richard Cameron, Lion of the Covenant by Maurice Grant, speaks well to things I share with Richard Cameron, which tho a different kind of fire, is by nature very similar: Its a letter from his teacher John Welwood:

“The Lord hath been training you in the high court to Heaven, which is through many tribulations. I know a little of it through my own experience, that a Christian’s life is a warfare, and he that standeth need to take heed lest he fall. We have need often to sit down and to count the cost; and heaven will cost us no small toil, and no few crosses, and many ups and downs and many ups and downs will we ere meet with. Oh but it takes much to humble us many a day, yet the very second that he lifts us up, we are ready to miscarry. Oh but it takes a long time and much pains to teach us wisdom, for we are at first as a wild ass’s colt. But in this we may comfort ourselves; all our springs are in him; the fountain is full.”

Samuel Rutherford in his letters, during his confinement spoke of how hard he found Lord’s Day in his prison and separated from God’s people, and I find all these inner conflicts stir in me too almost every Lord’s Day without exception

“Let me speak to you, how kind a fellow-prisoner is Christ to me! Believe me, this kind of cross (that would not go by my door, but would needs visit me) is still the longer the more welcome to me. It is true, my silent, Sabbaths have been, and still are, as glassy ice whereon my faith can scarce hold its feet, and I am often blown on my back and off my feet with a storm of doubting. Yet truly, my bonds all this time cast a mighty and rank smell of high and deep love in Christ. I cannot, indeed, see through my cross to the far-end; yet I believe I am in Christ’s books, and in his decree (not yet unfolded to me), a man triumphing, dancing and singing on the other side of the Red Sea, and laughing and praising the Lamb, over beyond time, sorrow, deprivation, prelates indignation, losses, want of friends, and death. Heaven is not a fowl flying in the air (as men used to speak of things that are uncertain); nay, it is well paid for. Christ’s comprisement lieth on glory for all the mourners in Zion, and shall never be loosed. Let us be glad and rejoice that we have blood, losses and wounds to show our Master and Captain at his appearance, and what we suffered for his cause.”

But sometimes you would just like a bit of comfort, or ease, or relief from such a hard existence, and the road can be very tempting at times. But, like Doc Martin who was a lone voice in his Reformation battle cry, and like Richard Cameron who endured persecution rather than compromise, and of course, most of all like our Lord, Christ, who was persecuted more than anyone else ever has been or will be. Standing out from the crowd, or being seen as none conformist, or even at times mad, (folks thought Christ was mad, or demon posessed) has an eternal weight of glory, for sticking to the truths now, even tho they cost us dearly, and make what would already be a difficult or hard existence, seem at times, almost intolerable.

The Sabbath should be sanctified, yet in my personal experience this means different things to different people. Yet, the Bible is explicit about this. So, whether worshipping at home, alone or with others, or whether attending corporate worship, lets seek to sanctify the day, and rid ourselves of vain excuses to do as we please, and justify it in our consciences. No one gets it perfect of course, I’m the first to admit I wish I could do better, yet, I also know God knows what every Lord’s Day brings and the degree of emotional affliction that goes along with it, and I don’t think for a minute He doesn’t understand or know I try my best to keep it hallowed, even allowing like most folks, there is always some falling short. Yet, I also see or witness quite regularly where there is no effort to sanctify it, and vain excuses are made one upon another week after week. And though God doesn’t promise to bless us if we keep it Holy, in this life, do think many Christians could be more blessed if they at least gave a heart felt attempt to.

Wait on the Lord

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Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, Ps. xxxvii. 34. Do not go one step out of God’s way for all the good in the world. The greatest extremities are to be borne rather than the least sin yielded to: Dan. iii. 17, 18, Our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Please God, and God will be always with you, when you seem to be left destitute: John viii. 29, And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. Thomas Manton

On The Divine Right of Christ Only

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Not President George W. Bush, Tony Blair or the Pope, or the Queen of flippin’ England!

“Sir, there are two kings and two kingdoms in Scotland: there is King James, the head of this commonwealth, and there is Christ Jesus, the King of the Church, whose subject James the sixth is, and of whose kingdome he is not a king, nor a lord, nor a head, but a member.” Andrew Melville to James VI

Wait on the Lord

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Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, Ps. xxxvii. 34. Do not go one step out of God’s way for all the good in the world. The greatest extremities are to be borne rather than the least sin yielded to: Dan. iii. 17, 18, Our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Please God, and God will be always with you, when you seem to be left destitute: John viii. 29, And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. Thomas Manton

 

Marks of the children of God

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1. These who are the children of God, it will be their aim and endeavour, to yield universal obedience to all their father’s commands; not baulking any, because unpleasant to their nature; or obeying some, and slighting the rest: But as it is their desire to mourn for, hate, and forsake every sin, so it will be their endeavour to obey all the Lord’s commands. The Psalmist says, Psalm 66.18, If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. This says that he did not regard iniquity in his heart, but was an obedient son who obeyed all his father’s commands.

2. These who are the children of God, they will honour their father: They will greatly reverence him, and fear before him: It will be their great desire to glorify him, and to have him exalted, Mal. 1.6, A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: If then I be a father, where is mine honour?

3. These who are the children of God, will have a high estimation of their elder brother Christ; he will be lovely in their eyes, and altogether desirable to their souls, according to that word, 1 Pet. 2.7, Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious.

4. They put a high estimation upon the state of the reconciliation with God: They count this state of his children, to be among the only blessed and happiest of conditions: As the Psalmist says, Psalm 32.1,2, Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

5. These who are the children of God, subject their spirit unto their father, endeavouring to be for him, and at his disposal; putting a blank in his hand, cheerfully acquiescing to what he carves out to be their lot; and with patience and submission to embrace it, though hard to flesh and blood, without murmuring at his way of dealing with them, or their hearts rising against his sovereignty, or quarreling with his way of procedure with them. James Renwick

Godly Counsel

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I apologize to readers who may have crossed over from my former blog, but occassionally there will be a repost from the old webspace to get all those quotes into this space, but keep visiting anyhow, as there will also be lots of new quotes to here.

It maybe He has taken you to the wilderness that he may speak kindly unto you. And, for ought I can conjecture, there are and are like to be more troublesome days with us, and who knows, but this maybe a hiding-place for you a while? Wherefore I would not have you to weary, though you have not the converse you would desire, for it is the day of Jacob’s trouble (though he shall be delivered out of it) and every one must look for his share in it. John Welwood to Richard cameron