Grace is the work of the Spirit; comfort is the seal
of the Spirit. The work of the Spirit, goes before the seal.
The graces of the Spirit are compared to
water, "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods
upon the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your seed, and my blessing
on your offspring."
The comforts of the Spirit are compared to
oil, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, to give the oil of joy for
mourning."
First God pours in the water of the Spirit, and then
comes the oil of gladness; hereby we shall know whether our comforts are
true and genuine. Some talk of the comforting Spirit, who never had the
sanctifying Spirit; they boast of assurance — but never
had grace. God's Spirit will never set seal to a blank. The heart
must first be an epistle written with the finger of the Holy Spirit —
and then it is sealed with the Spirit of promise.
Saving grace is the infusion of new and holy
principles into the heart, whereby it is changed from what it was, and
is made after God's heart. Grace infuses . . .
light into the understanding,
tenderness into the conscience,
consent into the will,
harmony into the affections!
light into the understanding,
tenderness into the conscience,
consent into the will,
harmony into the affections!
Yes, grace is like leaven, pervading the whole man,
until all is leavened.
Grace satisfies; other riches cannot, "He who loves
silver shall not be satisfied with silver — this is also vanity." Riches
can no more fill the heart, than a triangle can fill a circle; but grace
fills up every crevice.
Grace is a string of pearls, with which the Church
(Christ's Bride) is adorned.
The heart inlaid and enameled with grace, is like the
"king's daughter, all glorious within." A gracious soul is the image of
God, curiously drawn with the pencil of the Holy Spirit. A heart
beautified with grace is God's lesser Heaven. "I dwell in the high and
lofty place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit."
Grace is the flower of the soul, which Christ
delights to savor. Grace is to the soul, what . . .
the eye is to the body,
the sun to the world,
the diamond to the ring.
the eye is to the body,
the sun to the world,
the diamond to the ring.
A soul decked with grace is as the dove, covered with
silver wings and golden feathers.
Grace makes the heart a spiritual temple, which has
this inscription on it, "Holiness unto the Lord!"
Grace gives us conformity to Christ — and communion
with Christ, "Our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus
Christ." A man full of grace, has Christ in his heart and the world
under his feet. Grace humbles — yet elevates.
Grace is aromatic; it embalms the names of the pious.
A Christian, when he dies, carries a good conscience with him, and
leaves a good name behind him.
All the graces display themselves in their beauty.
Hope is the "helmet," meekness is the "the ornament," love is the "bond
of perfectness."
The believers' graces are . . .
weapons to defend them,
wings to elevate them,
jewels to enrich them,
spices to perfume them,
stars to adorn them,
cordials to revive them, and
evidences for Heaven when death is near.
weapons to defend them,
wings to elevate them,
jewels to enrich them,
spices to perfume them,
stars to adorn them,
cordials to revive them, and
evidences for Heaven when death is near.
Grace is Christ's portrait drawn on the soul.
A soul beautified with grace is like the firmament,
bespangled with brilliant stars.
Grace is the rich embroidery and workmanship of the
Holy Spirit; it is the sacred unction; it is a distinguishing blessing.
Christ gave Judas his purse, not his Spirit — grace being a seal of love
and an earnest of glory.
Grace does not lie in the heart like a stone in the
earth — but as seed which will spring up, "first the blade, then the
ear, then the full-grown corn in the car."
The more we grow in grace, the more we shall flourish
in glory. Though every vessel of glory shall be full — yet some vessels
hold more than others. He whose pound gained ten, was made ruler over
ten cities. If any shall follow the Lamb in whiter and larger robes of
glory than others, they shall be such as have shone most in grace here.
When grace flourishes — sin cannot thrive.
Grace is the beauty of holiness, Psalm 110:3.
Grace changes the language of the Christian, and
makes it spiritual. The body is the temple of God; the tongue is the
organ of this temple. "The tongue of the just is as choice silver." He
drops silver sentences, enriching others with knowledge. "A good man,
out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good things." "Their
mouth is a well-spring of wisdom." Is a man known to what country he
belongs, by his language, so he who belongs to the Jerusalem above
speaks the language of Canaan.
God's children have various degrees of grace. Some
are little children, who only feed upon the milk of the gospel. Others
are young men grown to maturity. Others are fathers who are ready to
take their degree in glory. Each have the vitality of godliness.
The Scriptures speak both of the cedar and of the
bruised reed: each is a plant of God's creation — each of his
care; so the weakest plant in God's garden of the Church is equally
regarded by him with the strongest. God can read the work of his Spirit
on the soul which has received the dimmest impression.
Reason makes us men; grace makes us saints.
The river of grace can never be dried up, for the
Spirit of God is the spring which feeds it.
God makes grace nourish most in the fall of the leaf.
Psalm 92:14.