LifeWord
Gems For Thought
Need of Grace
Valley of Vision
Oh Lord,
Thou knowest my great unfitness for service, my present deadness, my inability to do anything for Thy glory, my distressing coldness of heart. I am weak, ignorant, unprofitable, and loathe and abhor myself. I am at a loss to know what Thou wouldest have me do, for I feel amazingly deserted by Thee, and sense Thy presence so little;
Thou makest me possess the sins of my youth, and the dreadful sin of my nature, so that I feel all sin, I cannot think or act but every motion is sin. Return again with showers of converting grace to a poor gospel-abusing Sinner. Help my soul to breathe after holiness, after a constant devotedness to Thee, after growth in grace more abundantly every day. O Lord, I am lost in the pursuit of this blessedness, and am ready to sink because I feel short of my desire; help me to hold out a little longer, until the happy hour of deliverance comes, for I cannot lift my soul to Thee if Thou of Thy goodness bring me not to nigh. Help me to be diffident, watchful, tender, lest I offend my blessed Friend in thought and behavior; I confide in Thee and lean upon Thee, a nd need Thee at all times to assist and lead me. O that all my distresses and apprehensions might prove but Christ’s school to make me fit for greater service by teaching me the great lesson of humility.
The Doctrine of Regeneration
Jesus Christ came not to make us scholars in natural things, but to endue us with such a knowledge, as in order to eternal happiness; and with such a renewing principle, as might make us capable of heaven. Knowing and wisdom are some of the choicest flowers in nature’s garden. But it will be a small advantage, to descend to hell with our brains full of wit and sophistry.
One saving cry from a newborn infant soul is of more value than the knowledge of all philosophers. We may possess great knowledge of Revelation, and the doctrine that contains, and be ignorant of God. Nicodemus had a good stock of this; He understood the letter of the Scriptures; Was well read and all the parts of the law; he was thought fit to be one of the great Sanhedrin; something else was requisite besides this; a new birth was still wanting. What if we understood the mind of the spirit of God in every verse in the Bible; were able to discourse profoundly of the great mysteries of the gospel; had the gift of prophecy, and knowledge of things to come; had the interpretation of the whole book of the Revelation writ in our minds; what will all this avail us? And evangelical head will be but drier fuel for eternal burning, without an evangelical impression upon the heart, and the badge of a new nature. Men may prophecy in Christ name; In his name cast devils out of bodies, and devils of error out of men’s brains; yet not be regarded by Christ: but he says to them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” If they had had this mark, and gospel impression, our lord would have known them.
-Stephen Charnock-
1628 – 1680
