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2001-06-26 - Tidbits and Gems
Part 2
This is an opportunity for me to share with you some of the interesting things I have recently stumbled upon in my reading.
The Rev. James Durham, when on his deathbed, was for some time under considerable darkness respecting his spiritual state, and said to Mr. Carstairs, "After all that I have preached or written, there is but one scripture I can remember, or dare grip; 'whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.'" Mr. Carstairs very properly answered, "You may depend upon it, if you had a thousand salvation's at hazard."
In the parish of the late Rev. L. Richmond, was a dissolute, thoughtless man, who bitterly persecuted religion in those who professed it. He had formed a secret resolution never more to enter the church. Circumstances, however, constrained him to alter his determination. Mr. R. preached from Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Sharper than a two-edged sword is the Word of God; and in its application by the power of the Spirit to this poor man, it proved to be "the hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces." He confessed that immediately on his return home, he for the first time fell on his knees, and with crying and tears, poured forth the strong emotions of his heart in the language of the publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"
The Rev. John Brown, or Haddington, addressed this exhortation to his sons in the ministry with his dying breath: "O, labor, labor to win souls to Christ! I will say this for your encouragement, that whenever the Lord has led me out to be most diligent this way he has poured most comfort into my heart, and given me my reward in my bosom. But He is our great example, whose life, as well as lips, said to all his disciples, 'Work while it is day; for the night comes when no man can work.'"
Walking in the country, says Mr. Jay of Bath, I went into a barn, where I found a thrasher at his work. I addressed him in the words of Solomon, "My friend, in all labor there is profit." Leaning upon his flail, and with much energy, he answered: "No, Sir; that is the truth, but there is one exception to it: I have long labored in the service of sin; but I got no profit by my labor." "Then you know somewhat of the apostle's meaning, when he asked; 'what fruit had ye then in those things, whereof ye are now ashamed.'" "Thank God," said he, "I do, and also know, that now being freed from sin, and having become a servant unto righteousness, I have my fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."
Soli Deo Gloria,
T-
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