Like coins from the same mint!
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(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)My dear sir,
I could write a long note indeed, upon your very great mistakein considering me as a great man. If we could have a personal interview–I think you would be quickly undeceived! Ah! how different I am, from what perhaps I appear to be to others when in the pulpit.Your mistake, however, has done me good. A whole quire of invective from an enemy could hardly have given me so keen a sense of shame. The Scriptures assure us that our hearts by nature, like coins from the same mint–are all alike. I hear my fellow-Christians complain of evils similar to what I feel. Otherwise I would have reason to conclude that there could not be one believer upon earth–so inconsistent, so evil, so vile beyond expression, as myself!
Ah, dear sir! what would you have thought of me, had you seen me when I lived among the slaves? The sight of me would have been offensive to your eyes, and my vile speech would have struck you with horror! I was miserable and despicable in every view–the common mark of scorn and insult! My whole wretched amusement and pleasure seemed to lie in blaspheming the name and person of Jesus, and in feeding my imagination with schemes of wickedness!Some of my unhappy companions have perished in their sins, who have just cause to charge the ruin of their souls to my account! For Satan himself, had he been upon earth in a bodily shape–could hardly have been more industrious in tempting to infidelity and profligacy than I was!
There is seldom a day of my life, in which my thoughts are not led back to my former state of estrangement from Him, and that pre-eminence of wretchedness into which my sins plunged me!
Yet, it is of grace that my poor story is not much worse. The Lord is my keeper–therefore I am still preserved.
“By the grace of God–I am what I am!” 1 Corinthians 15:10
I am, dear sir, your affectionate friend and servant,
John Newton, 1778
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me;
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see!Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home!The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine!
~ ~ ~ ~N.B. If you are unable to attend your local church today, you may want to listen to this God-exalting message on Romans 8:28 by Steve Lawson, “The Sovereignty of Salvation!” LISTEN to audio Download audio
~ ~ ~ ~The last gem was not delivered to many, so here it is again:
People who long to be rich
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(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)An inordinate desire and attachment to the things of this present world, is a prevailing cause of a spiritual declension. Unless this evil principle is mortified in its root, by the doctrine of the cross–it will in time prevail over the most splendid profession. That love of the world, which is inconsistent with the true love of God–manifests itself in two different ways, as men by temper and habit are differently inclined:
The first is covetousness or greediness for gain. This was the ruin of Judas, and probably the cause of the defection of Demas. By the honorable mention made of him in some of Paul's epistles, Demas seems to have had much of Paul's confidence and esteem for a season. Yet at length his covetous passion prevailed, and the last account we have of him from the apostle is, “Demas has deserted me–because he loved this present world.” 2 Timothy 4:10
Again, there are people not chargeable with the love of money for its own sake–for they rather squander it, than hoard it. Yet they are equally under the influence of a worldly spirit! They manifest their worldly hearts, by an expensive taste in the articles of dress, furniture and feasting–which are always unsuitable to a Christian profession.
It is not easy to exactly mark out the precise line of Christian conduct in these respects, which befits the different situations in which the providence of God has placed us. Nor is it necessary to those who are poor in spirit–and upright in heart. A simple desire of pleasing God and adorning the gospel, will solve most cases of how a believer should spend his money–which occupy little and trifling minds. The inclination of our heart–will always direct and regulate our voluntary expenses. Those who love the Lord and whose spirits are lively in His service, will avoid both stinginess and selfish extravagance. They will rather lean to the frugal side in how they spend their money on themselves–that they may be better able to promote God's cause, and to relieve the necessities of His people.
Misers, who can be content with the mere form of religion, will hoard all they can save–in order to gratify their avarice! Others will spend all they can spare–to gratify their vanity, or their worldly appetites!
It is not easy to determine which of these evils is the greatest. Perhaps of the two, the miser is least accessible to conviction, and consequently the most difficult to be reclaimed. But a desire for extravagance and indulgence, if persisted in–will gradually lead to such compliances with the spirit and maxims of the world, as will certainly weaken, if not wholly suppress–the exercise of vital godliness. In whatever degree the “love of the world” prevails–the “health of the soul” will proportionately decline.
“People who long to be rich, fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction! For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows!” 1 Timothy 6:9-10
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