A selection from a letter by Elizabeth Prentiss to Miss Eliza A. Warner, September 27, 1868:
And the praying we do by the wayside, in cars and steamboats, in streets and in crowds, perhaps keeps us more near to Christ than long prayers in solitude could without the help of these little messengers, that hardly every stop running to Him and coming back with the grace every moment needs.
More Love to Thee: The Life and Letters of Elizabeth Prentiss, George Lewis Prentiss, reprinted by Solid Ground Christian Books, p. 247.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Live for Eternity
A selection from a letter by James A. Haldane to his ten year old daughter, Elizabeth, written while he was away on a preaching trip, June 22, 1805:
Several young people are under much concern about eternal things. May the Lord, my love, manifest His glory to you, as he does not to the world…I am sorry to hear you have been unwell, but hope you are better, and that the Lord will make the illness useful to you. Our life is but a vapour. Let us live for eternity.
The Lives of Robert and James Haldane, by Alexander Haldane, first published in 1852, reprinted by The Banner of Truth, 1990, pp. 349-50.
Several young people are under much concern about eternal things. May the Lord, my love, manifest His glory to you, as he does not to the world…I am sorry to hear you have been unwell, but hope you are better, and that the Lord will make the illness useful to you. Our life is but a vapour. Let us live for eternity.
The Lives of Robert and James Haldane, by Alexander Haldane, first published in 1852, reprinted by The Banner of Truth, 1990, pp. 349-50.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Do We Feel the Grace?
A selection from a circular letter to the churches of the Northamptonshire Baptist Association by Andrew Fuller, May, 1785:
We avow the doctrines of free, sovereign, and efficacious grace; but do we generally feel the grace therein discovered? If we did, how low should we live! How grateful should we be! We should seldom think of their sovereign and discriminating nature, without considering how justly God might have left us all to have had our own will, and followed our own ways; to have continued to increase our malady, and despise the only remedy! Did we properly enter into these subjects, we could not think of a great Saviour, and a great salvation, without loathing ourselves for being such great sinners; nor of what God had done for and given to us, without longing to give him our little all, and feeling an habitual desire to do something for him.
The Armies of the Lamb: The Spirituality of Andrew Fuller, edited and introduced by Michael A. G. Haykin, Joshua Press, p. 94-95.
We avow the doctrines of free, sovereign, and efficacious grace; but do we generally feel the grace therein discovered? If we did, how low should we live! How grateful should we be! We should seldom think of their sovereign and discriminating nature, without considering how justly God might have left us all to have had our own will, and followed our own ways; to have continued to increase our malady, and despise the only remedy! Did we properly enter into these subjects, we could not think of a great Saviour, and a great salvation, without loathing ourselves for being such great sinners; nor of what God had done for and given to us, without longing to give him our little all, and feeling an habitual desire to do something for him.
The Armies of the Lamb: The Spirituality of Andrew Fuller, edited and introduced by Michael A. G. Haykin, Joshua Press, p. 94-95.
Friday, February 8, 2008
None a Loser
An extract from a letter by the Puritan preacher, Joseph Alleine, to his wife, explaining how the Lord would take care of them in a new pastoral charge, even though the salary would be small. It was written May 27, 1659:
That none ever was, or ever shall be, a loser by Jesus Christ. Many have lost much for him, but never did, [and] never shall any lose by him.
Life and Letters of Joseph Alleine, by Rev. Richard Baxter, Theodosia Alleine, and others, with a new introduction by Joel R. Beeke and Herb Samworth, Reformation Heritage Books, reprinted in 2003, p. 142.
That none ever was, or ever shall be, a loser by Jesus Christ. Many have lost much for him, but never did, [and] never shall any lose by him.
Life and Letters of Joseph Alleine, by Rev. Richard Baxter, Theodosia Alleine, and others, with a new introduction by Joel R. Beeke and Herb Samworth, Reformation Heritage Books, reprinted in 2003, p. 142.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
The Influence of Jonathan Edwards
A selection from a letter by Joseph Kinghorn, while a student at the Baptist College in Bristol, England, to his father, writing of the influence of Jonathan Edwards on his life. The letter was written on March 7, 1785:
There are many of Jonathan Edwards’ Treatises, Sermons, &c. [in a pastor’s library he had access to], which I never saw before, but intend to read as much as may be. I have read his Life and some sermons—such a life did I never read, he seemed to live a heaven on earth, and in abilities he was unrivalled, although his learning was not very extensive. But might I be any man I ever heard of or saw it should be Jonathan Edwards.
The Life and Works of Joseph Kinghorn, by Martin Hood Wilkin, reprinted by Particular Baptist Press, 1995, p. 84.
There are many of Jonathan Edwards’ Treatises, Sermons, &c. [in a pastor’s library he had access to], which I never saw before, but intend to read as much as may be. I have read his Life and some sermons—such a life did I never read, he seemed to live a heaven on earth, and in abilities he was unrivalled, although his learning was not very extensive. But might I be any man I ever heard of or saw it should be Jonathan Edwards.
The Life and Works of Joseph Kinghorn, by Martin Hood Wilkin, reprinted by Particular Baptist Press, 1995, p. 84.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Baptism
A selection from a letter by C. H. Spurgeon to his mother, Eliza Spurgeon, February 19, 1850:
I have come to a resolution that, by God’s help, I will profess the name of Jesus as soon as possible if I may be admitted into His Church on earth. It is an honour—no difficulty—grandfather encourages me to do so, and I hope to do so both as a duty and privilege. I trust that I shall then feel that the bonds of the Lord are upon me, and have a more powerful sense of my duty to walk circumspectly. Conscience has convinced me that it is a duty to be buried with Christ in baptism, although I am sure it constitutes no part of salvation. I am very glad that you have no objection to my doing so…
Letters of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Selected with Notes, by Iain H. Murray, Banner of Truth, p. 22.
I have come to a resolution that, by God’s help, I will profess the name of Jesus as soon as possible if I may be admitted into His Church on earth. It is an honour—no difficulty—grandfather encourages me to do so, and I hope to do so both as a duty and privilege. I trust that I shall then feel that the bonds of the Lord are upon me, and have a more powerful sense of my duty to walk circumspectly. Conscience has convinced me that it is a duty to be buried with Christ in baptism, although I am sure it constitutes no part of salvation. I am very glad that you have no objection to my doing so…
Letters of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Selected with Notes, by Iain H. Murray, Banner of Truth, p. 22.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Disgraceful Unbelief
From a letter by Martin Luther to his wife, Katie, July 2, 1540, writing about the recovery of Philip Melanchthon from a severe illness.
… Master Philip truly had been dead, and really, like Lazarus, has risen from death. God, the dear father, listens to our prayers. This we [can] see and touch [with our hands], yet we still do not believe it. No one should say Amen to such disgraceful unbelief of ours.
Luther's Works, Letters III, Vol. 50, edited by J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald and H. T. Lehmann, Fortress Press, letter # 290.
… Master Philip truly had been dead, and really, like Lazarus, has risen from death. God, the dear father, listens to our prayers. This we [can] see and touch [with our hands], yet we still do not believe it. No one should say Amen to such disgraceful unbelief of ours.
Luther's Works, Letters III, Vol. 50, edited by J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald and H. T. Lehmann, Fortress Press, letter # 290.
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