The Preacher's Book

The Preacher's Book

To say you have "gained the world" - is very often only another way of saying, "the world has gained you."

It is not what a man has, but what he is - which makes him prosperous and happy.

True is it, a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things that he possesses.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17).

Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery - by the doubling of our joys, and the dividing of our griefs.

The earth, when it is torn up with the plough, becomes more fruitful.

The seed in the ground, after frost and snow and winter storms, grows the thicker.

The nearer the vine is pruned to the stock - the larger grapes it yields.

The grape, when it is most pressed and beaten - makes the sweetest wine.

In the same way, the children of God receive great benefit by affliction - for by it God washes and scours, trains and nurtures them.

John Newton says, "satan seldom comes to Christians with great temptations - or with a temptation to commit a great sin."

You bring a green log and a candle together, and they are very safe neighbors. But bring a few shavings and set them alight, and then bring a few small sticks, and let them take fire, and the log is in the midst of them, and soon the log will be ablaze.

Just so it is with little sins. You will be startled with the idea of committing a great sin - and so the devil brings you a little temptation, and leaves you to indulge yourself. "There is no harm in this!" There is no great peril in that!" And so by these little chips, we are first easily lighted up, and at last the green log is burned!

He who prays as he ought, will endeavor to live as he prays.

He who can live in sin, and abide in the ordinary duties of prayer, never prays as he ought!

The truths that I know best - I have learned on my knees. I never know a thing well - until it is burned into my heart by prayer. (John Bunyan)

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27).

If I have no cross to bear today, I shall not advance heavenwards. To have no cross, to lie quietly on a bed of down, may seem a very sweet existence - but pleasant ease and rest are not the lot of a Christian.

Alas! for those who have no daily cross! What will be my cross today? How bear it? Dear cross, you are helping me on, not ought I to love you!

To carry the cross, is to join ourselves to the Saviour, to company with Him.

Sleep - from the sweat of his brow, man is delivered by sleep, and the thorn and thistle of the curse cease to tear his flesh.

When we wake up after Christ's likeness, it will not be with the infirmities and failings of earth - but beautified, and full of strength and vigor.

Blessed death! through the Divine power dissolving us of the leprous rags of the flesh - only to clothe us with the spotless wedding garments of incorruption!

Oh! true it is! They are happy who die in the Lord, "they rest from their labors, and their works follow them." Their repose shall never be broken until the great Gardener shall rouse them up to give them their full reward.

No evil propensity of the human heart is so powerful, that it may not be subdued by discipline.

Any self-denial, however simple, done for the love of your Redeemer - is accepted by Him as a bearing of His Cross.

(The End)