Christ's sympathy He is the infinite, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, gracious, just, holy, and unchangeable I AM! The last day of the year This is the last evening of the year! Mary might well complain of Martha! The carrion which professors can now feed upon! The funeral of all your sorrows! Grace Gems for MAY 2007 The presence of a loving God! Orthodox in creed--but heterodox in life! My politics! Three golden balls! Spoiled children! He was infinitely happy and glorious without us! Yes, He is altogether lovely! A far-off Hell is the dread of no man! A Bag, a Book, and a Bottle! The Infinite has become an infant! Short pithy quotes from the Puritan Thomas Brooks! Grace Gems for MAY 2007 The presence of a loving God! The hen which does not sit on her eggs! The bags will come to an end, long before the treasure is exhausted! Who cares for pebbles--when jewels glitter before him? A golden master-key!
Today's Puritan AUDIO Devotional:
Section 80. Luke 12:32-40, "Watchfulness!"
by J.C. Ryle, LISTEN to audio! READ text Download audio
You will find it helpful to READ the text--as you listen to the audio!
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Then the scum appears!
(Thomas Brooks, "The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod" or, "The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes" 1659)
"I have tried you in the furnace of affliction." Isaiah 48:10
Few Christians see themselves and understand themselves rightfully.
By trials, God reveals much of a man's sinful self to his pious self.
When the fire is put under the pot--then the scum appears!
Just so, when God tries a poor soul, Oh! how does . . .
the scum of pride,
the scum of murmuring,
the scum of distrust,
the scum of impatience,
the scum of worldliness,
the scum of carnality,
the scum of foolishness,
the scum of willfulness
--reveal itself in the heart of the poor creature!
Trials are God's looking-glass, in which His people see their own faults. Oh! . . .
that looseness,
that vileness,
that wretchedness,
that sink of filthiness,
that gulf of wickedness,
which trials show to be in their hearts!
"When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold!" Job 23:10
"Trials make the promise sweet,
Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to His feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there!"
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For those who desire additional devotional reading, here is a comforting two page article by Arthur Pink, "Sufferings Compensated".
