Preserving grace before regeneration
(J.C. Philpot, "Daily Words for Zion's Wayfarers")
"To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ." Jude 1
What a mercy it is for God's people, that before they have a 'vital union' with Christ, before they are grafted into Him experimentally--they have an 'eternal union' with Him before all worlds. It is by virtue of this eternal union, that they come into the world . . .
at such a time,
at such a place,
from such parents,
under such circumstances
--just as God has appointed.
It is by virtue of this eternal union, that all the circumstances of their lives are ordained. By virtue of this eternal union, they are preserved in Christ before they are effectually called.
They cannot die--until God has brought about a vital union with Christ!
Whatever sickness they may pass through, whatever injuries they may be exposed to, whatever perils assault them on sea or land--die they will not, die they cannot--until God's purposes are executed in bringing them into a vital union with the Son of His love.
Thus, this eternal union watched over every circumstance of their birth, watched over their childhood, watched over their manhood--watched over them until the appointed time and spot, when "the God of all grace," according to His eternal purpose, was pleased to quicken their souls, and thus bring about an experimental union with the Lord of life and glory!
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Nothing so hardens the heart of man--as a barren familiarity with sacred things.
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Love should be the silver thread that runs through all your conduct!
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Sicknesses, losses, crosses, anxieties and disappointments--are absolutely needful to keep us humble, watchful and spiritually-minded. They are as needful as the pruning knife to the vine--and the refiner's furnace to the gold.
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Surely it is better to enter into eternal life with a few--than to go to Hell with a great company!
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Doctrine is useless--if it is not accompanied by a holy life! It is worse than useless--it does positive harm. Something of 'the image of Christ' must be seen and observed by others in our private life, and habits, and character, and doings!
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The love of Christ towards His people--is a deep well which has no bottom!
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Let us daily strive to copy our Savior's humility.
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Imagination is the hotbed where sin is too often hatched.
Guard your thoughts--and there will be little fear about your actions.
Guard your thoughts--and there will be little fear about your actions.
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The eye of God! Think of that. Everywhere, in every house, in every field, in every room, in every company, alone or in a crowd--the eye of God is always upon you!
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Blessed are those who live like pilgrims and strangers in this life--their best things are all to come!
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The surest mark of true conversion, is humility.
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When I speak of a man growing in grace, I mean simply that . . .
his sense of sin is becoming deeper,
his faith is becoming stronger,
his hope is becoming brighter,
his love is becoming more extensive, and
his spiritual-mindedness is becoming more marked.
his sense of sin is becoming deeper,
his faith is becoming stronger,
his hope is becoming brighter,
his love is becoming more extensive, and
his spiritual-mindedness is becoming more marked.
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The Christian who keeps his heart diligently in little things--shall be kept from great falls.
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Fathers and mothers--do not forget that children learn more by the eye than they do by the ear.
Imitation is a far stronger principle with children, than memory.
What they see has a much stronger effect on their minds--than what they are told.
Imitation is a far stronger principle with children, than memory.
What they see has a much stronger effect on their minds--than what they are told.
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Let us read the Bible reverently and diligently--with an honest determination to believe and practice all that we find in it.
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Every fresh act of sin . . .
lessens fear and remorse,
hardens our hearts,
blunts the edge of our conscience,
and increases our evil inclination!
lessens fear and remorse,
hardens our hearts,
blunts the edge of our conscience,
and increases our evil inclination!
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We may love money without having it--just as we may have money without loving it.
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To be Christian, will cost a man his love of ease!
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The tree falls with a great crash, but the secret decay which accounts for it--is often not discovered until it is down on the ground. Just so, men fall in private--long before they fall in public!
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Growth in grace is one way to be happy in our religion.
God has wisely linked together our comfort--and our increase in holiness.
God has wisely linked together our comfort--and our increase in holiness.
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The children of God all have a cross to bear.
A suffering Savior generally has suffering disciples.
A suffering Savior generally has suffering disciples.
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We know nothing of humility by nature--for we are all born proud!
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Naked we came upon earth--and naked we depart.
Of all our possessions--we can carry nothing with us.
Of all our possessions--we can carry nothing with us.
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There is more to be learned at the foot of the Cross--than anywhere else in the world!
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People will never set their faces decidedly towards Heaven, and live like pilgrims--until they really feel that they are in danger of Hell.
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Let us be real, honest, and sincere in our Christianity.
We cannot deceive an all-seeing God!
We cannot deceive an all-seeing God!
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The best of men--are men at best!
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To be a Christian--it will cost a man his sins!
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There is no such thing as 'chance', 'luck', or 'accident' in the Christian journey through this world.
Everything is arranged and appointed by God. All things are working together for the believer's good.
Everything is arranged and appointed by God. All things are working together for the believer's good.
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The standard of the world, and the standard of the Lord Jesus--are widely different.
They are more than different--they are flatly contradictory one to the other.
Never be satisfied with the world's standard of Christianity!
They are more than different--they are flatly contradictory one to the other.
Never be satisfied with the world's standard of Christianity!
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Hell is truth known too late!
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A tree may always be known by its fruit.
Just so, a true Christian may always be discovered by their habits, tastes and affections.
Just so, a true Christian may always be discovered by their habits, tastes and affections.
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Christ is never fully valued--until sin is clearly seen. We must know the depth
and malignity of our disease--in order to appreciate the great Physician!
and malignity of our disease--in order to appreciate the great Physician!
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That Bible is read best--which is practiced most!
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