Source: Early in the Morning 2
Scripture Reference: Acts 28:1-31 

A Long Day

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Bible students find many parallels between what they read in the Word of God and what they see in the animal kingdom. Many of God's creatures have been singled out as examples of various kinds of activities. We are all familiar with the expression, "Busy as a bee." Although perhaps not as noticeable, the activity of others of God's creatures is just as great as that of the bee. For example, the thrush gets up at 2:30 every morning, begins work at once and does not stop until 9:30 at night. That's a whole nineteen-hour day. During that period of time this bird feeds its hungry fledglings about two hundred times. While the busyness of the bee is more noticeable, the activity of the thrush is equally as productive.

Astounding parallels can be drawn between the life of the apostle Paul and the busy activity of the bees and the long days of the thrush. When Paul was saved on the road to Damascus, the Bible says, "Straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God" (Acts 9:20). Paul may have said something like this to God at his salvation, "Lord, if you save me, the world will never hear the end of it!" It never did.

In this last chapter of Acts the apostle completes his tortuous journey to Rome and arrives to be placed under house arrest until his hearing before Caesar. It would have been a time for rest, recuperation from the rigors of the voyage, and restoration. No one would have criticized Paul for a lack of activity. He could have rationalized that to preach Christ in this situation would have jeopardized his case before Caesar and perhaps ultimately cut short his ministry. Still, "There came many to him into his lodgings; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning till evening" (Acts 28:23).

He had just spent two years in prison at Caesarea. Since he was a Roman citizen, his final appeal was always to Caesar. While en route to Rome, a tempestuous wind arose. The ship was tossed to and fro for 14 days and finally ran aground. With the others Paul had to swim to shore, clinging to broken pieces of the ship. As if that were not enough, on shore he was bitten by a viper, but he did not die. After three months they continued their journey, finally arriving at Rome. All this occurred just before Acts 28:23. From early in the morning until late at night he continued his preaching and teaching activity. No one asked him to put in such a long day, especially after the trials of the preceding months. Paul did it as a volunteer in the service of the Lord.

More importantly, the busyness of his activity was not in defense of his apostleship or in spinning yarns of his shipwreck. His activity was entirely a witness to the grace of God. He expounded and testified of the kingdom of God and persuaded them of the messiahship of Jesus. He had the right method; he preached unto them. He had the right message; he preached Jesus unto them. He had the right manner; he preached Jesus unto them from morning until evening.

Even toward the end of his recorded ministry the apostle Paul put in a long day of activity for the Lord. You and I have the same responsibility, the same opportunity, the same message as did the apostle. We must be as busy as a bee and put in a day like the thrush, with the message which stirred the heart of the apostle, if we are to rest at the end of this day fully satisfied of our service to the Lord God. Let's make sure we're satisfied tonight.

MORNING HYMN

Give of your best to the Master,
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service,
Consecrate ev'ry part.

Robert Cleaver Chapman . . 1803-1902

Introduction

Robert Chapman is not well known in this day. And in his day, when he first began to minister, friends said he would never make a good preacher. Though he never became a world-wide evangelist, never authored any monumental books, and did not lead any great mission in foreign lands. Yet, he labored for 70 years in a small town, in a remote corner of England, and became a living legend.

The significant achievement of Robert Cleaver Chapman is the life he lived. He said: "My business is to love others and not to seek that others shall love me." As to his limitations in speaking, Chapman replied: "There are many who preach Christ, but not so many who live Christ; my great aim will be to live Christ." And this became a consuming passion.

As a young man, Winston Churchill was taken to visit him. Charles Spurgeon called him: "the saintliest man I ever knew." John Nelson Darby said of Robert Chapman: "He lives what I teach." On another occasion Darby said: "We talk of the heavenlies, but Robert Chapman lives in them." A biographer wrote: "What then made Chapman so beloved and effective in his time? Quite simply, his utter devotion to Christ and his determination to live Christ." (Peterson, p.15)

Birth and Background

Born on January 4, 1803, to Thomas and Ann Chapman, he was the 6th of 10 children. His father ran a prosperous import-export business in Helsinger, Denmark. The family practiced nothing beyond the usual religious observances. His mother said of him, "Robert always has a passion, whether literature or the flute, and whatever he takes up, he pursues diligently." Chapman displayed linguistic abilities in English, Danish and French, languages spoken in the home; and also became proficient in German and Italian. After his conversion he mastered Hebrew and Greek, to study the Scriptures in the original languages. And eventually took up Spanish and Portuguese until he attained fluency in the interest of missionary work.

During Robert's childhood the Napoleonic wars between France, Denmark, and Britain, adversely affected the Chapman business in Denmark, so the family returned to Yorkshire, NE England, where his formal education was completed. At 15 he begin a 5-year legal apprenticeship in London, taking advantage of the active social life afforded be the large city. Because of the spiritual awakening - at age 16, he began to read the Bible. Later Chapman described his condition at that time: "Sick was I of the world, hating it as vexation of spirit, while yet I was unable and unwilling to cast it out."(Peterson, p. 21)

After his apprenticeship, Chapman became an attorney. Three years later, at the age of 23, he inherited a small fortune and set up a law practice, which began to prosper. His future looked bright; except for an event that occurred a few years earlier which was to change the entire course of Chapman's life.

Salvation

At 20 he was brought to salvation by James Harington Evans at John Street Chapel. A lawyer invited him, and Evans preached justification by faith based on the redemption of Jesus Christ. Once saved Chapman studied his Bible with renewed interest. Following the pattern he found in the Bible, Chapman desired to be baptized immediately. Evans advised him to wait, saying: "You will wait a while and consider the matter." But Chapman insisted. "No" he said, "I will make haste,and delay not, to keep His commandments" (Pickering p. 69). So Evans agreed. And Robert Chapman was baptized a few days after accepting Christ.

Testifying and Bearing Fruit

Immediately, as new believer, he began to witness to friends and family. Later he wrote: "I became an offence to those I forsook, even those of my own flesh and blood" (Peterson, p. 26) But not all took his testimony as a 'savor of death'; to some it was a 'savor unto life'. One cousin and her husband – The Pugsleys - were drawn upon hearing of Robert's experience. The couple traveled from Devon to London to hear more, and studied the Bible with Robert, and soon accepted Christ. Chapman also began to visit and preach among the poor who lived in the neighborhood.

Perfecting

Having led him to Christ, Evans spent considerable time with Chapman. Later referring to him as "one of my stars. ...He has no ebbs or flows. ... he is ... ready for anything - everything - it matters not what." In his pursuit of Christ, Chapman displayed both stability and eagerness. Evans encouraged the young believer to speak for the Lord.

“My Great Aim”

If Romans 1:17, 'The just shall live by faith' is the hallmark of Luther's work, then Philippians 1:21, '...for to me to live is Christ' is Robert Chapman's. After his first efforts to minister, it became apparent, speaking was not his calling. Yet this was not a deterent to his service. As mentioned previous, He resolved: "There are many who preach Christ, but not so many who live Christ; my great aim will be to live Christ” (Phil. 1:21).

Work in Devon, England

Susan and her husband, Thomas (Pugsley), observed, and learned from Chapman's gospel labor among the poor in London. On returning to Devon, they began a similar work, which began to flourish. A year later Thomas Pugsley resigned his profession in favor of serving the Lord full time. The following year the Pugsleys met an enthusiastic young German believer named George Muller whom they invited to preach.

In the Summer of 1831, they invited Robert to vacation with them and help with the evangelistic work. Chapman preached at the cottage meetings and found the labor exhilarating. After his visit Chapman received an invitation to become pastor of Ebenezer Chapel - a congregation of "Particular Baptists" in Barnstaple, Devon. Feeling this to be the Lord's leading, he accepted, one the grounds he could preach whatever he found in the Bible.

So, in April 1832, Chapman left his successful practice in London, gave away his personal fortune(keeping only enough to purchase a house) and moved to Barnstaple. There Chapman ministered according to the Scriptures, and was not confined to denominational practices. This lead the congregation away from its Baptist principles. Soon the Barnstaple congregation was associated with the growing number of "assemblies" - gatherings of believers who forsook all designations to meet as brothers gathered in the Lord's name.

That same year, in the nearby city of Bristol, George Mueller began to meet with six others "at Bethesda Chapel, ...uniting in church fellowship, without any rules, desiring to act only as the Lord should be pleased to give light through His Word."(Pickering p. 70).

Hospitality House

Chapman felt there was a need for a place that could provide rest and encouragement to discouraged Christian workers. For this purpose a row-house was purchased at #6 New Buildings Street, where he lived alone for the next 70 years (he never married). Over time, the address became known to Christian workers the world over as the place where Robert Chapman ministered to their spiritual and physical needs. He cleaned and shined their shoes nightly, shared a Bible verse each morning, and ministered at meals. And conducted this work of faith depending on the Lord for funds to cover the expenses of the servants who took hospitality there. Later the adjoining house, #8 was purchased for additional hospitality.

The Labor of Love

For evangelism, Chapman visited door to door, contacted individuals on the street, preached the gospel in the open air at the town square and in the surrounding villages. He brought in a weekly celebration of the Lord's Table, where all believers were encouraged to participate, and denied the clergy/laity system, striving to practice the priesthood of all believers in the most practical of ways. Chapman stressed the importance of believer's baptism. However, he did not make baptism a requirement for church membership nor for participation in the Lord's Supper. Burdened there were not enough hymns lead one through the cross of Christ and God Himself, he set out to develop a new collection of such hymns. By 1837 he had written enough to publish a new hymn-book. With regard to the segregation of believers, he was opposed to denominational distinctions. To him, they were all "Christian brethren." In Choice Sayings, a compilation of Robert Chapman's quotes, we read: "The titles given to the Church in Scripture bespeak heavenly unity, such as the body, the vine, the temple of God, a holy nation, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. Such words set forth the Church of God as a witness for Him in the world; but the names which have been invented by men are names of sects, and declare our shame."

Increase & Fruit

Attracted by Chapman's emphasis on the Bible and the example of his Christian life, new people began meeting at Ebenezer Chapel. William Bowden, aged 20 was saved through Chapman. Another young brother, George Beer, also about 20 was an uneducated man having been apprenticed to a farmer as a boy. Chapman encouraged both brothers to participate in the open air preaching. Bowden and Beer worked together, preaching the gospel and evangelizing the surrounding villages. When Anthony Norris Groves returned from India to seek more workers for the gospel. Chapman encouraged Bowden & Beer, together with their wives to join Groves' labor. They settled in the Godavari Delta of India and began a strong Christian work.

Relinquishing the Hall

In 1838 a group of Baptists who had left Ebenezer Chapel demanded that Chapman's group vacate the building because they were not using it in accordance with the original intention of the Particular Baptists. Robert Chapman examined the original trust document and found that no provisions were being violated. But as the opposing group persisted in their demand, even though Chapman was a trained lawyer, he did not stand on his legal rights. He sought only to live Christ. After prayer and fellowship, Chapman's group handed over the title deed, giving up their building - their legal claim - to the group of dissidents. Chapman saw this action as equivalent to giving up one's coat to those who ask for it.

About 1840 a site became available for an assembly hall. The lot was purchased and construction of Bear Street Chapel (later called Grosvenor St. Chapel) was completed by 1842. It could seat 450 people. In 1851 300 people attended Lord's Day morning, plus 100 children in the Sunday School. The Lord's table meeting in the evening was attended by 150. By 1870, Chapman preached regularly to 700 people every Lord's day. Since Barnstaple was a small town, a gathering of that size represented a significant percentage of the population. At the end of Chapman's life there were eighty assemblies in the towns and villages surrounding Barnstaple.

Robert Chapman's Coworkers

Elizabeth ("Bessie") Paget

Miss Bessie Paget had a profound influence on Anthony Norris Groves and George Mueller, as well as Robert Chapman. In the 1820's Elizabeth Paget raised up a church in the village of Poltimore. By the 1830's she moved to Barnstaple, residing at #9 New Buildings St. There she opened her home and lead the Sunday School work. Bessie also set up a soup kitchen for the poor out of her home, and was Chapman's constant helper until she passed away in 1863 aged 80. In life, sister Paget and Robert Chapman were co-laborers in the Lord's service; in death they shared the same funeral plot and gravestone.

William Hake

William Hake was 7 years older than Chapman and had a large family. Chapman was single. However, as Chapman wrote, "Our hearts were presently knit together in the fellowship of the Spirit ... Each found in the other a lover of the Scriptures, and bent upon obedience to the Lord without reserve." For years the Hake family resided in Exeter (40 miles away in S Devon.) In the 1840's Hake moved to Bideford, only 10 miles from Barnstaple. When Bessie Paget died, the Hakes moved into #9 New Buildings St. Hake and Chapman systematically visited the homes of Barnstaple, beginning at the southern edge and working their way to the north side, distributing gospel tracts and visiting homes. William Hake continued his visitation ministry until he was 95. The towns-people referred to the two elderly brothers as "the patriarchs". They must have presented a striking scene - two white-haired brothers: William Hake, tall and slim; Robert Chapman, shorter and stocky, visiting the homes from door to door to share the gospel and minister Christ!

William Hake died peacefully in 1890 at the age of 95. Robert Chapman was greatly grieved by his coworkers death. He wrote: "Though so sorely bereaved, I am strengthened and guided to carry on the service in which I once had my beloved yoke-fellow to bear burdens with me. 'The night is far spent, the day is at hand.'" He edited a volume of Hake's letters and writings entitled: Seventy Years of Pilgrimage.

Robert Gribble

Robert Gribble was born into a poor family and received a minimal education. He supported his family through a drapery (cloth) business. He was awakened spiritually about 1815 and began settling up Sunday Schools in villages around Barnstaple. After one year about 300 children were attending. Parents asked Gribble to speak to adults on Sunday evenings. His ability increased and several house churches or cottage meetings were raised up through his preaching. Robert Gribble's strategy of gospel labor was to stay in a village for a period of time, preaching the gospel and raising up the new believers, typically 20 to 100 and then moved on.

John Nelson Darby remarked to Wigram concerning Gribble: "How is it Wigram, that although you and I preach the gospel more clearly than many, we see so few results, yet they tell us, that in N. Devon, this Mr. Gribble in his meetings, only repeats a few Gospel texts and makes a few simple remarks, and souls are saved and assemblies formed." (Rowdon, p.252-3)

Relationship with Hudson Taylor

In 1852 when 20-year old James Hudson Taylor was burdened for China, he eagerly sought the advice of Robert Chapman. Later Chapman encouraged him to start the China Inland Mission and became one of its first "referees"- supporters and advisors. Hudson Taylor visited Chapman several times in Barnstaple. One invitation reads: "My dear brother Taylor. Consider our claim on you. We desire to fellowship with you in your work. Oh! Come and speak to us your brethren here. Say when you can come." (Peterson, p.159)

To a sister about to visit China Chapman wrote: "I cannot but rejoice with you in your resolve to see fellow-laborers in China. They all, with dear Brother Hudson Taylor, have been ever in my heart at the throne of grace." He interceded daily for that work in China until the end of his life.

George Mueller

One writer says: Chapman "was one of George Mueller's oldest and most intimate friends. More than once, in critical periods of this work [among orphans], Mr. Mueller sought and obtained his valuable counsel." (Peterson, p. 163) George Mueller's published diary masks the identity of individuals. However, it is likely that Chapman is Brother 'C----n' who spent more than 2 months at Bristol in late 1835. (Rowdon p. 146).

Dealing with Division

Differences existed in the practices and views of various Brethren assemblies. Barnstaple & Bristol (where George Mueller ministered) the fellowships had a recognized eldership. Assemblies in which Darby was influential did not have a formally identified leadership. Furthermore, John N. Darby believed that God had rejected organized denominations and began asserting that Christians should separate themselves from such organizations. Chapman, Groves, Craik, Mueller and quite a few other leaders did not share Darby's views. Many of the so called “Plymouth Brethren,” assemblies, including most of those from the original Dublin group believed that unity required a strong interdependence. Chapman, Mueller and others held that no assembly or group of assemblies should dictate the actions of any other. Each assembly was responsible to Christ alone and could interact freely with any believer or group that was sound on fundamental issues o the faith.

A leader in Barnstaple was once accused of teaching an unscriptural doctrine similar. Chapman's written reply emphasizes the believer's responsibility to judge himself rather than other brothers. Chapman wrote: "Oh, that we, yea all saints, might be moved each one to prove himself before God ... Our answer to your enquiry is, first, that if anyone seeks our fellowship here after having listened to such teaching, whether he come from one party or the other (we hold both parties alike dear to us as our fellow-members in Christ our Head), such an one must be judged according to the Word of God and the rule of Christ. Cases differing should not be confounded. If anyone brings an evil doctrine ... his welfare and his healing would be sought by brethren here ... but to fellowship he would not be received ... Then as to the particular case you mentioned, we have exercised godly jealousy and find that the evil doctrine is not held by the brother you name ... May we and all saints cease to grieve the Spirit of God ... Shall we not then have the joy of seeing the self-judged flowing together from all quarters."

Chapman's Attitude

Concerning Serving

"The servant of the Lord Jesus ... seeing that he is to be continually ministering to others, he must be receiving fresh supplies from the God of all grace through all channels. Meditation on the Word and prayer should occupy the chief part of his time." (Peterson, p. 145).

Concerning Spiritual Growth

"There are so many people who are satisfied with just knowing they are saved. Tell them not to be satisfied with this. I want them to study the word and grow in the knowledge of God. Tell them I want them to become intimate with the Lord Jesus Christ."

Concerning the Rapture

"Chapman, together with George Mueller and a small group of leaders among the Brethren, did not believe the Scriptures told of a secret rapture of all believers before a period of great tribulation on earth. They believed that the church as a whole must go through the period of tribulation." (Peterson, p. 171)

William Hake, Chapman's coworker, did not agree with Chapman's views. When Hake referred to the Lord's coming at any moment to rapture all the believers, Chapman replied, "Well, brother Hake, I am ready, but it's not in the Bible." It is worth noting that different understandings of the Scriptures did not hinder Hake and Chapman from cooperating in the Lord's service.

One writer says, "Mr. Chapman firmly held there would be a selection" (referred to as a 'split' or 'partial rapture') "of those walking faithfully, and that he ... so sought to walk in obedience to the whole revealed will of God that he might not shut himself out of the honor of being one of these, and that he failed to see from other Scriptures any promise held out to the whole of the people of God being removed from the earth at the Lord's coming." (Peterson p. 171)

How he dealt with and handled these specific personal views of Scripture were, and still are, admirable qualities. For instance: Other elders at Barnstaple held and taught separate views concerning the rapture. Robert Chapman valued harmony among the believers in Barnstaple above that of his own understanding of minor issues of Scripture. "In 1896 93-year-old Chapman called a meeting of the elders. 'I have called you together,' he said, 'to explain that I shall not create dissension by teaching the opposite view [concerning the rapture] in the Assembly." (Peterson p. 172)

Concerning Loving the Brothers

"On one occasion an excluded man became bitter and vowed never to speak a word to Chapman again. Later the two found themselves approaching one another on the street ... Chapman embraced him and said, 'Dear brother, God loves you, Christ loves you, and I love you.' This action broke the man's animosity; he repented and was soon breaking bread at Bear St. Chapel." (Peterson p. 174)

Chapman's Goal - to Please Christ!

"My chief desire is to please Him. If I please my brethren, I am glad. If I fail, I am not disappointed." (Peterson, p. 189)

A Hymn by R. C. Chapman

Jesus in His heav’nly glory,
Sits upon the throne,
Now no more to be forsaken,
His humiliation gone.

Never more shall God Jehovah,
Smite the Shepherd with the sword,
Ne’er again shall cruel sinners,
Set at nought our glorious Lord.

Dwelling in eternal sunshine,
Of the countenance of God,
Jesus fills all heav’n with incense,
Of His reconciling love.

On His heart our names are graven,
On His shoulders we are borne,
Of our God beloved in Jesus,
We can love Him in return.

Bibliography:

Robert Cleaver Chapman of Barnstaple, Bennet, W. H.. Pickering & Inglis, London, 1902.
Chief Men Among the Brethren, by Pickering, Henry. Loizeaux Brothers Inc., Neptune, NJ 1986 (1st printing 1918).
Robert Chapman, A Biography, Peterson, Robert L. Loizeaux Brothers Inc., Neptune, NJ 1995.
The Origins of the Brethren, by Rowden, Harold H. Pickering and Inglis, London, 1967.
Anthony Norris Groves, by Lang G. H. (2nd edition; London, The Paternoster Press, 1949). Third Edition, Schoettle Publishing Co. Inc., 1988. Phone 706-896-3333.
Also available on the used book market: Chapman, Robert Cleaver - Brother Indeed - by Frank Holmes.

http://wellofoath.com/home.asp?pg=Bios&toc=Robert+Chapman
 

A Few Well Remembered and Treasured Sayings of H. E. Hayhoe(1880 – 1962)

***      God loves you, not because of what you are, but because of who He is, and the will and heart of God is the source of every blessing the heart can know. 

***      There will never be a look, across His face, that will remind us how much we cost Him.

 

***      Though Christ can be grieved at a thousand things in us that no eye but His can see, yet none is so easily pleased by our little endeavors of love as He is.

 

***      The Spirit of God would ever search our hearts that the motive spring of all our service should be love.

 

***      Every joy the Lord had came from above.  It was not the weather that made the Lord Jesus a happy joyful servant; it was communion with the Father.

 

***      The Lord Jesus passed through every form and kind of suffering that it was possible for a righteous man to pass through, apart from sin.

 

***      Many of the sufferings of Christ were not to put our sins away, but that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest, and to tell out the depth of the divine bosom that we might know in richer measure how much He loves us.

***      Never try to love the Lord more than you do – just sit down and think of how much He loves you.  It will increase your love for Him. 

***      Father has no favorites in His family; every believer, all His children, are equally blest in Christ.

 

***      Suffering can be pleasure if it is for someone you love.  If you are following or serving the Lord, suffering can be a special joy.

 

***      The more we have of Christ in our hearts, the less room there is for self.  Self-denial is discipline for life – the work of every hour.

 

***      Every person you meet is either living for self or for the Lord Jesus Christ.  I am delivered from self by occupation with Christ.

 

***      We worship Him because of Who He is; we praise Him for what He has done.

 

***      Joy will ever rise in proportion to prayer and thanksgiving.

 

***      To have power in prayer there must be purity in one’s life.

***      The greatest victory you will ever gain in your Christian life will be gained on your knees.

 

***      We have been restored to apostolic position [of truth], but not to apostolic power.

 

***      God takes into account all the extenuating circumstances of our lives.

 

***      There is no fault in the human character but that the grace of God can help us to overcome.  God is never frustrated or thwarted in His purposes.

 

***      If God doesn’t give guidance as to the path of faith no one else can, and if God does, no one else need.

 

***      The Lord Jesus in becoming a man took on Him a body capable of death, but not subject to it.

 

***      Never go to bed at night with an unkind and unjudged thought toward anyone in the world, saint or sinner. 

 

***      Much self-judgment makes a man slow to judge others; and the very gentleness of such an one gives a keen edge to his rebukes.

 

***      How long should we bear and forbear in the path of devotedness and faithfulness to Christ?  Until we get home to glory.

 

***      Do you want a happy Christian life?  Knowledge won’t give it to you.  What will give it to you?  The enjoyment of Christ in your life will.

 

***      True religion is the manifestation of the nature of God in His children.

 

***      If I have arthritis, it is an infirmity of the flesh; if my arthritis makes me cranky or impatient that is sin.

 

***      It is all right to groan, but not to grumble!

 

***      Thirst, hunger and weariness are natural to the flesh, not infirmities of the flesh.

 

***      The Lord Jesus was perfect God and perfect Man as He walked here on earth.

 

***      Christianity is the only religion in the world that gives man a pure object for his heart’s affection.  All other religious founders lie in the grave.

 

***      The secret of a happy Christian life is learning to commune with the Lord as you would with a near and a dear friend. 

 

***      The sin that we commit does not produce our state of soul but manifests it.  Why do I sin?  Because I want to.

 

***      Every beautiful thing man has made is a copy of what God has made.

***      In the things of God you have to taste and walk in them to know the blessedness of them.  There is no enjoyment of the truth apart from walking in it. 

***      It is not what you know that controls your life, but it is the enjoyment of Christ in the heart that truly separates us from the world and brings a peace, contentment and happiness of which the world knows nothing.

 

***      Practice the habit of meditation when you read.  You will find the precious ore is there in its richness, but you will have to do a little meditation to discover it.

 

***      It is not what you eat that nourishes your body.  It is what you digest, and it is the same with spiritual things.

 

***      Every time you eat, God is teaching you that life springs out of death because everything you eat dies except salt.

 

***      There is not a ray of light that can pierce the inky darkness that lies beyond the grave outside of the Word of God, the Bible.

 ***      Every time you say, “I think,” you think wrongly – on every moral and spiritual subject  –  unless your thoughts are formed by the Word of God. 

***      Anything that is not the truth [of the Word of God], is nonsense, and illogical.

 

***      A text without a context is a pretext.  Words get their meaning from the context in which they are found.

 

***      Avoid an ultra one-sided way of stating the truth

 

***      Never take your thoughts to the Word of God – take your thoughts from the Word of God

 

***      Conscience speaks from within – never can it tell of God’s character – revelation gives this.

***      Faith isn’t reason, and reason isn’t faith, though faith is never unreasonable. 

***      The more brilliant a man’s mind in divine things, the deeper the fog if he trusts it.

 

***      The soul never imbibes truth in Living power, but as it so requires.

.

***      There are many things in Scripture that are beyond reason, but nothing contrary to reason.

 

***      It is the hardest thing to get even Christians to see that the church’s blessings are heavenly [and] not earthly

 ***      Every school book, every magazine, every newspaper that you read will make the horizon of all your thoughts the world in which you live.  The Word of God is the only book that tells you to lay up treasures in heaven. 

***      Truth that requires faith to walk by, is resisted by the natural heart.

 

***      Not one right thought of God ever entered the heart of man through his intellect, but through the conscience.

 

***      The conscience is the guide to true knowledge.  It never turns infidel.

 

***      He puts sorrow and joy together on our road home; tribulation and joy together; deep poverty and joy together.

 ***      The thickest cloud brings the heaviest showers of blessing! 

***      Little by little with the skill of a master’s hand and the gentleness of a Father’s heart He woos with His love and weans us through circumstances from earth to heaven.

 

***      The divine nature is shown by having God as its object.

 

***      His presence gives moral courage for Christian obedience.

 

***      We get away with nothing! Beware of the government of God.  There is a government of God.  Every act in your life and mine has both present and eternal consequences.

 

***      There is something in everyone of us, speaker included, that only God can correct.

 

***      The Bible never brings comfort to a Christian who is walking carelessly.  Correction despised brings sharper correction.

 

***      God will never, never send trial into our life without a needs be (1 Peter 1:6) on our part, and a purpose of love on His part.

 

***      He may test your faith, but He will never disappoint your faith.

 

***      If you did everything right, nothing would be right, except the motive was right; it is the motive that gives value to the act.

 

***      The motive that governs the heart is the true estimate of man’s moral condition before God.

 

***      Happiness is a state of soul, not a question of circumstances.  Circumstances do not produce your state of soul, they only manifest it. 

 

***      It is not by change of circumstances that we can be made happy, but by submission to the will of God.

 

***      Never fear persecution; it will make your face shine like an angel’s!

 

***      Take your circumstances from the Lord, and your difficulties to the Lord.

***      Every blessing of God is an apex, a mountain peak, beyond which even God cannot go.  If He has not won your heart and mine, what more could He do to win it? 

***      Every unconverted man that you meet is governed by two things; his own lusts, and public opinion.

 

***      Never count your converts – you will never count enough.

***      We can have as much of Christ as we want, and our lives show how much we want of Him. 

***      God has given the work of Christ for our consciences, the Person of Christ for our meditation; and the love of Christ to warm our hearts.

 

***      This world is not an adequate platform for the manifestation of the ways of God in government [but Israel was].

 ***      Every exhortation of scripture is founded upon what we possess, it is not a matter of attainment, and God uses exhortation to show us what we possess. 

***      We break bread, if intelligently, not merely as forgiven sinners, but as members of the body of Christ.

 

***      God intends that we should breathe by faith, the atmosphere of heaven before we get there.

 

***      Death is the principle of Christianity; resurrection is its power.

 

***      Christian obedience is not law-keeping, but delight in love, giving subjection to the will of another, whether expressed or not.

 

***      The blood of Christ puts my sins away – the death of Christ puts me away – the cross of Christ separates me from the world.

 

***      You never met a man who walked with God, who at the end of his life said, “I wish I hadn’t done it!” and you never will. 

 

***      The sovereignty of God does not lessen man’s responsibility. Scripture treats man as a sinner, to be restored to God or judged.  Rationalists, as a race to be educated.

 

***      The unconverted mind of man is the plaything of the devil.

 

***      I never knew a man to get converted by getting a raise in pay.  It’s a man’s need that brings him to Christ.

 

***      The first great step, when a man desires to be saved, is unqualified self-condemnation.

 

***      Conversion is the turning of the heart and will to God through grace.  The fear of God is the setting aside of will.

***      God is sufficient unto Himself in every thing but love.  He must have objects to love. 

***      Man measures sin by man’s treatment of man.  God measures sin by man’s treatment of Christ.

***      In God’s presence sin is not measured by transgression, but by who God is.

***      All our unhappiness and failure, whether as saint or sinner, springs from unbelief of the goodness that is in the heart of God for us. 

***      Anything that robs your soul of joy in the Lord, robs you of the richest treasure you know in life’s pathway.

***      All our intelligence and all our happiness depends upon how we treat the Divine guest that dwells within.  

***      You and I should love saints no matter how unlovely they appear outwardly.  They are dear to Him; if we walk with God we love them without effort.

***      “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” Our minds make up our moral history in this world.  We are what we love and think about as an object, and this forms the whole pattern of our life down here.  

***      At His coming we are going to be like Christ – morally and physically.

***      Gift is not sanctified [natural] ability.  Gift is not godliness.

***      Communion with Christ can only be kept up by constant watchfulness.  The consciousness that God is with you gives power.  There is no substitute for communion. 

***      The minute I see a brother or a sister trying to get folks on their side on any question, I know that they are not walking in the wisdom of God.

 

***      Walk with God and the Spirit of God will always testify as to the rightness of your ways.

 

***      If the world can understand your life, you are not walking with God.  The nearer we walk with God, the more we become an oddity to the world.

 ***      We should be humble and happy.  Humble, because we are so little like Him and happy because He loves us so much. 

***      If there is one thing more than another that we need to guard against, it is to watch lest the heart’s affections grow cold.

 

***      The moment my affections grow cold, my feet are going to wander and the world is going to get into my heart.

 

***      The one longing desire of my heart in ministry is to so plant Christ in the affections of Christians that they will desire to live in Him.

***     It is unbelief of the goodness that is in the heart of God that is in the root of all coldness, carelessness and lack of earnestness in the things of God. 

***     One of the evil fruits of long continued spiritual negligence is the soul’s ignorance of its own state.

 

***      From the time you open your eyes in the morning till you close them at night, everything you see and hear tends to put the world into your heart.

 

***      If you set your heart upon an automobile it may burn up or you may have an accident and it will be destroyed; but if you set your heart on Christ you will never lose your object.

 

***      The deception and power of present things is of the Devil, the perception of them is of God.

 

***      The higher we get in this world – the closer we get to the god and prince of it. 

God does not train His servants in the college of brick and stone – He trains them in the school of adversity. 

***      Our special mark of a “sound mind” is readiness to take counsel of God.

***      All true knowledge, all moral knowledge, begins by putting God in His place; nothing is right and true without that.  

***      The world says, “You must know something of evil.”  God says, “Be wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” You get just as black fighting a chimney sweep as you do hugging him.

***      The wisdom of God is not an extension of man’s wisdom, it is not an improvement of man’s wisdom, but in every case, it is the opposite of man’s wisdom.  

***      The only failure of an Old Testament saint recorded in the New Testament is that of Elijah making intercession to God against Israel (Romans 11:2-3).

***      Are you a mother? Do not be satisfied to tell your children the way of salvation.  Tell them about the beauties of Christ; give the wisdom of the Word and seek to guide their footprints through this world into that faith and faithfulness that should characterize the family of God (2 Tim. 1:5)  

***      There is no such thing as “Good Luck” or being fortunate.  Nothing happens by chance to the Christian.  Why not say “through mercy” or “through the Lord’s goodness.”  Why not His ordering?

 

***      When we get home to glory and have a backward look over our history, we will find He was doing the very best He could for us each day of our lives according to our state of soul.

 

***      The grandest truth that I have discovered in all the Word of God is this – that God became a man in Christ, walked throughout this world as a man, died on the cross as a man, then arose from among the dead, to remain a man forever:  Why? – That He might enjoy our companionship for all eternity.  (1 Cor. 15:28) 

***      The Word of God came not by the will of man but rather is addressed to all with authority from God.  It is the only book in the world whose prophecies are unfailingly true, because man cannot tell the future.  It is also the only book that the natural man cannot understand.  It is not written so as to work on the emotions and does not record the physical characteristics of Christ or the Apostles but rather gives us their moral features.  There is nothing in Scripture contrary to reason – yet it does contain what is beyond reason, and must necessarily do so, because it comes from God.  It brings together the answer to the truth of Light and Love and nothing is needed outside the Word to receive life, or to walk in godliness.

***      Read the Word of God, the Bible, until your mind is so saturated with it that you think and act in the light of Scripture.  

***      The Bible is the only book in the world that is light amid the darkness, truth amid error, comfort in every time of sorrow, and the blessings of God that are promised in that book are all yea, and Amen in Christ Jesus, absolutely certain of fulfillment.

 ***      The jewel box of the whole Bible is Ephesians 1 and verse 3:  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”  Each one is equally blessed.  Your enjoyment of the blessing depends upon your walk. 

***      Psalm 94:12-13 is the key to the whole book of the Psalms.  Isaiah 5:4 is the key to the whole of the Old Testament.  John 11:52 is the key to the book of Acts.  Ephesians 1:10 is the key to the whole Bible. 

***      The book of Proverbs gives us heavenly wisdom for an earthly pathway.

 

***      “The children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children” (2 Cor. 12:14), and that does not just mean money!

 

***      What are we in the world for, to get rich? – no – we are here to learn the manifold grace and wisdom of God.

 

***      No ceremonial is worth a straw if the heart does not honor Christ.

 

***      By religious forms, man is made religious without possessing holiness.  Anything that exalts man is not of God.

 

***      False religion has damned more people to hell than anything else.

***     Christianity is not an adjunct of Judaism but an entirely separate and distinct work of God. 

***      Not one thing that you know is the result of your reason; it is either testimony or experience.  What do you know?  –  Did  reason tell you or faith?

 

***      Faith and salvation go together.  Obedience and happiness go together. 

***      Do not look at the people that persecute you, but the reason why you are persecuted.

***      God never takes us out of the difficulties into which our folly has plunged us, but He will be with us in them.  

***      The Christian is not a changed man, he is a new creation.

***      Q:  Are you going to the Exhibition?  A:  If you knew the exhibition that is before my soul you wouldn’t ask me.  (Eph. 2:7)

 

***      The moral principles of God do not change with dispensations. 

***      If we delight in God’s glory, we shall delight to honour those whom God honours.

***      Love your brethren, serve them faithfully, overlook all the faults you can, but make none of them the object of your Christian life – let it be Christ.  

***      Never disturb the peace of the assembly unless the glory of God demands it.

***      If I were asked what characterizes this present dispensation I would say the presence of the Holy Spirit as a divine Person here on earth. 

***      The Lord’s coming – the moment when Christ takes His bride – is the moment for which all other moments were made for the Christian. 

***      It is wonderful to lay our head on our pillow at night and know that we have walked with God through the day.  Keep it as a sweet secret!

 

***      If it gives you pleasure to speak about the failures of your brethren, you are not walking with God.

 

***      Do not expect righteousness from an unrighteous world.

 

***      When we give to the Lord [of our resources] He repays so bountifully that we are ashamed to take it.

 

***      When heaven was opened upon Jesus, it looked down with delight! -- we look up and are changed.

 

***      Every true father wants to see his children happy, but sometimes I as a father have made mistakes.  But I’ve got a Father up there that never makes any mistakes!  Never, never!

***      If you could have chosen a period of time in which to have lived you couldn’t have chosen a more blessed time than the present – especially with the Lord’s coming so imminent.

―― Sayings of H. E. Hayhoe:  ――

These well known, often repeated quotes from Don’s great-grandfather are those he heard from dear Christians during his lifetime (1880 - 1962).  Many that he shared are also from his own experience in reading the scriptures and walking with the Lord.  They are worth repeating.   ―  Don DeGraaf

***   

***      God has preserved mankind from the full effects of the fall.  There are amiable people and cross people.  There are amiable dogs and cross dogs.  There are amiable horses and cross horses!  But they aren’t Christians!

***     Every insurance company is a monument to the fact that man cannot tell the future. 

***     Everything that God has entrusted to man in responsibility he fails in.  Everything. 

***     Man’s trial is over at the cross.  This world has crucified the only good Man that ever lived in it.  

 

Edited, July 2008  -  References to God, such as: ‘what God is’ or ‘what He is’ were changed to who God is, or who He is.  On page 2 or 3, ‘Faith doesn’t reason’ was changed to:  ‘Faith isn’t reason’, based on my own memory of hearing him speak and from other quotes. A daughter recalls him saying ‘faith doesn’t reason’.  Surely that is incorrect. (See Isaiah 1:18, and Acts 18:4, &19, & 24:25).  Ultimately, only the Scriptures can be fully trusted!  - HJD

 Eleven additional quotes are now included:  “We worship Him because…”, on page 1;  “Every beautiful thing” page 2;  “many things” on page 3; and two at the bottom of page 4.  (Three were taken from two addresses given at Wheaton, Illinois, in August of 1958 and 1961)  Six more have now been added on page 7.   ―  HJ DeGraaf 

The following was recorded from an address at Wheaton, Illinois, August of 1961

***    " This is our school life.  Now watch what I say next.  There are some things you learn down here that you can’t learn in heaven.  You can’t learn in heaven God is the God of all comfort, for you won’t need any comfort up there.  You can’t learn God is the God of all patience in heaven, for we never do anything in heaven that requires His patience!  These things we learn down here.  As dear old brother Darby once said, 'It’s worth being sick to learn what a comforter God can be, for he can come into your room in the day of your sickness and be such a Comfort to you that your heart will overflow with praise!'  You can’t learn that in heaven!" 

***

True peace is when the soul revolves around its center, Almighty God, craving for nothing but what God continually supplies. Since the soul is large enough to contain the infinite God, nothing less than Himself can satisfy or fill it.
                                                                                        ~ Edward B. Pusey

Take your burdens, and troubles, and losses, and wrongs, if come they must and will, as your opportunities, knowing that God has girded you for greater things than these.
                                                                                        ~ Horace Bushnell

You find no difficulty in trusting the Lord with the management of the universe and all the outward creation, and can your case be any more difficult than these, that you need to be anxious about His management of it?
                                                                                        ~ Hannah Whitall Smith

As in our daily walk we come nearer towards heaven, He will open to us more of heaven.
                                                                                        ~ Edward B. Pusey

I have no home, until I am in the realized presence of God. This holy presence is my inward home, and, until I experience it, I am a homeless wonderer, a straying sheep in waste howling wilderness.
                                                                                        ~ Anonymous

Evening: The Battle's End

"There brake He the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle."
--Psalm 76:3

Our Redeemer's glorious cry of "It is finished," was the death-knell of all the adversaries of His people, the breaking of "the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle." Behold the hero of Golgotha using His cross as an anvil, and His woes as a hammer, dashing to shivers bundle after bundle of our sins, those poisoned "arrows of the bow"; trampling on every indictment, and destroying every accusation. What glorious blows the mighty Breaker gives with a hammer far more ponderous than the fabled weapon of Thor! How the diabolical darts fly to fragments, and the infernal bucklers are broken like potters' vessels! Behold, He draws from its sheath of hellish workmanship the dread sword of Satanic power! He snaps it across His knee, as a man breaks the dry wood of a fagot, and casts it into the fire.

Beloved, no sin of a believer can now be an arrow mortally to wound him, no condemnation can now be a sword to kill him, for the punishment of our sin was borne by Christ, a full atonement was made for all our iniquities by our blessed Substitute and Surety. Who now accuseth? Who now condemneth? Christ hath died, yea rather, hath risen again. Jesus has emptied the quivers of hell, has quenched every fiery dart, and broken off the head of every arrow of wrath; the ground is strewn with the splinters and relics of the weapons of hell's warfare, which are only visible to us to remind us of our former danger, and of our great deliverance. Sin hath no more dominion over us. Jesus has made an end of it, and put it away for ever. O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end. Talk ye of all the wondrous works of the Lord, ye who make mention of His name, keep not silence, neither by day, nor when the sun goeth to his rest. Bless the Lord, O my soul.

FOR YOUR SAKES HE BECAME POOR…

 

THAT YE…MIGHT BE RICH

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.”  2 Cor 8.9

“My God, My God, why hast Thou                “I will never leave thee, nor

forsaken me?’  Matt 27.46                              forsake thee.”  Heb 13.5

“I looked for some to take pity,                     “Like as a father pitieth his children,

but there was none.”  Ps 69.20                      so the Lord pitieth them that fear

                                                                     Him.”   Ps 103.13

“I looked for comforters, but I                       “I will not leave you comfortless;

found none.”    Ps 69.20                                 I will come to you.”  John 14.18

“They parted my raiment among                 “Bring forth the best robe, and put

them, and for my vesture they                     it on him.”   Luke 15.22

did cast lots.”    John 19.24                         

“They pierced My hands and My                 “Put a ring on his hand, and shoes

feet.”   Ps 22.16                                            on his feet.”    Luke 15.22

“When they had platted a crown                 “Who crowneth thee with loving-

of thorns, they put it on His head.”             Kindness and tender mercies.”

Matt 27.29                                                   Ps 103.4

“Away with Him, crucify Him.”                     “Let us draw near with a true heart.”

John 19.15                                                 Heb 10.22

From an address by Albert Hayhoe

Morning: Shut In With God
Evening: Love of Christ

Morning: Shut In With God

"The Lord shut him in."
--Genesis 7:16

Noah was shut in away from all the world by the hand of divine love. The door of electing purpose interposes between us and the world which lieth in the wicked one. We are not of the world even as our Lord Jesus was not of the world. Into the sin, the gaiety, the pursuits of the multitude we cannot enter; we cannot play in the streets of Vanity Fair with the children of darkness, for our heavenly Father has shut us in. Noah was shut in with his God. "Come thou into the ark," was the Lord's invitation, by which He clearly showed that He Himself intended to dwell in the ark with His servant and his family. Thus all the chosen dwell in God and God in them. Happy people to be enclosed in the same circle which contains God in the Trinity of His persons, Father, Son, and Spirit. Let us never be inattentive to that gracious call, "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee, and hide thyself as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast." Noah was so shut in that no evil could reach him. Floods did but lift him heavenward, and winds did but waft him on his way.

Outside of the ark all was ruin, but inside all was rest and peace. Without Christ we perish, but in Christ Jesus there is perfect safety. Noah was so shut in that he could not even desire to come out, and those who are in Christ Jesus are in Him for ever. They shall go no more out for ever, for eternal faithfulness has shut them in, and infernal malice cannot drag them out. The Prince of the house of David shutteth and no man openeth; and when once in the last days as Master of the house He shall rise up and shut the door, it will be in vain for mere professors to knock, and cry Lord, Lord open unto us, for that same door which shuts in the wise virgins will shut out the foolish for ever. Lord, shut me in by Thy grace.

1

What is Faith? Close your eyes to everything visible, and open your ear to God. That is faith.

Bad doctrine leads to bad behaviour.

You can learn of a person by reading of that person in a book, but to learn from that person you must be in his company.

Humility is the secret of fellowship, and pride is the secret of division.

If we do not put into practice what we say we have believed, then we have not really believed it.

I think that when near the Lord you look at your mercies, when away from Him at your troubles. 

The best way to correct a failing in your brother is to be in yourself the living expression of the virtue he lacks

2

The Bible is always a new book to those well–acquainted with it.

Spiritual work can only be done by spiritual strength.

Every step in faith’s pathway will be contested by the Devil.

It is a poor gain to acquire considerable knowledge of God without its having at the same time a deep moral effect on the soul.

Lot walked “by sight”—he lifted up his own eyes (Gen. 13: 10). Abram walked “by faith” and lifted up his eyes only at the command of Jehovah (Gen. 13: 14). 

The great conductor, Reichel, was taking his choir and orchestra through their final rehearsal of Handel’s Messiah. In flawless fashion, the soprano soloist sang her part and all expected the conductor to congratulate her. Instead, he responded, “You don’t know your Redeemer lives, do you?” Embarrassed, she stammered, “I think I do”. “Then sing it so I know you have experienced the joy and power of it”.

3

All the revivals in Christianity have usually been accompanied, if not caused, by a considerable amount of open–air preaching.

The way to be very great is to be very little.

It is only by faith we see our home above that we are proper pilgrims here.

I am a pilgrim here because I am going home; I am a stranger here because I am not at home.

I am often troubled that many seek to know how to know God’s will without really having the heart to do it.

The Lord’s coming was constantly before the mind of the apostles and the early believers, and entered into and coloured all their thoughts, words and actions.

“Occupation with” leads to “likeness to”.

4

Humility is not demeaning ourselves and thinking poorly of ourselves. It is simply not thinking of ourselves at all.

The servant said in his heart— he did not preach it— “my Lord delayeth His coming”

The Christian is not ruined by living in the world, but by the world living in him.

“Search the Scriptures” said the Lord, using the Greek word which implies a strict, diligent, curious search such as men make when seeking gold.

If you do not pray for those whom you do know, you can hardly pray for those whom you do not know.

Reasoning about Christ without affection for Christ, is the road to error.

God loves every one of us as if there were but one of us.

The sealing of the Spirit is I know that I am God's property. The earnest of the Spirit is that I have got property.

5

Not only must something be done to evangelise the millions, but everything must be done “if by any means I may save some” is to be our motto.

May we live more as those who will meet one another in glory!

Life and harmony in the Church depend on subjection to the Head, and on mutual subjection to one another.

If we would lead into God’s truth, we must put our neck into Christ’s yoke.

When teaching ceases to be definite it ceases to be powerful.

A man’s serviceability does not consist of what he knows, but of what he is—he is not effective beyond that.

The believer is a vessel for the display of Christ in this world.

6

Liberality is measured by God in relation to what remains, and not in relation to what is given.

Spirituality and popularity are not compatible.

The communion of the soul is affected by the view we take of the Son of God.

It is not how much we know about the Lord that is important, but how much we know Him.
(2 Tim.1:12)

No service for God is insignificant to God.

If we substitute formality for reality we may hoodwink others but not God.

The darkest cloud brings the heaviest showers of blessings.

God is not looking merely for persons who hold the truth but exponents of it too.

7

God has put us in Christ, but we do not always put ourselves where God has placed us.

If we would prevail with men in public, we must prevail with God in private.

Sport for the sportsman, politics for the politician, money for the miser, Christ for the Christian.

Christ in the head is of no value without Christ in the heart.

The Pope’s calendar only makes saints of the dead, but Scripture requires sanctity in the living.

Faith is taking God at his word.

Love for Jesus sets one to work. I know no other way.

The time will soon come when we shall say of all that has not been Christ in our lives and ways, “that was all lost”.

Christians should be different, not odd. Oddness repels people, difference attracts.

8

God is most patient towards mere want of light; but He is intolerant of His saints trifling with the light He has given them

Application of Scripture must be consistent with its explanation.

We accept that the eye cannot do without the hand, (1 Cor. 12: 21), but neither can the eye do the work of the hand.

When the Spirit comes into the believer, He makes Christ dearer, Heaven nearer, and the Word of God clearer.

If Christ is worth having, He is worth sharing.

What is of faith cannot fail.

It is a poor thing to claim to have the Spirit, and be content to serve and live without the power.

One may be busy in works even where the power which once prompted them has largely declined.

9

Apply yourself wholly to the Scriptures, and apply the Scriptures wholly to yourself.

Now is the time to make an investment in eternity.

There is always a correspondence between the character and condition of the teachers and the taught.

Prayer must not be transformed into an oblique sermon. It is little short of blasphemy to make devotion an occasion for display.

We want not simply to know the truth, we want to be ardent about it, so that we make it evident that we really have it.

Christ died rather than allow sin to subsist before God.

The infirmities of our brethren are fair occasions for our patience and long–suffering: let us have grace for each opportunity.

All the trials and all the sufferings of all creatures—were they heaped together—must not be compared with Christ’s sufferings on the cross.

Christ never did anything for Himself.

10

The Holy Spirit enables us to fulfil earthly duties in a heavenly manner.

There is a difference between Christ’s sealing and ours. He was sealed because of what He was in Himself, we are sealed because of what we are in Him.

There is a great difference between being occupied with what you are saved from, and what you are saved to.

A careless reader of the Scriptures never made a close walker with God.

Many believers, though they live in NT times, walk in the OT spirit.

Being a model citizen did not give Lot’s testimony any power—it was as if he jested. Abraham was separate and had all the power of God at his disposal.

I believe the converting of a soul is something greater than the making of a world.

We either leave our mark on the world or the world leaves its mark on us.

11

We must not take our own impressions, however earnestly and piously derived, as necessarily in accordance with the will of God, without testing them by His revealed Word—in short, making our test in each case not subjective feeling, but objective revelation.

The Christian is promised no earthly portion except the cross that He bore.

Love likes to be a servant; selfishness likes to be served.

We are never to give up anything that is of God.

A well–worn Bible is the sign of a well–fed soul.

Our lack of walking in the Spirit often moves others to like negligence.

The deeper the trial the sweeter the song that results.

Faith acts upon God’s word whatever the difficulty.

Christ was the display, at all cost to Himself, of divine love to man.

12

Christ must not be merely prominent, He must be pre–eminent.

It is possible to be strict without being legal, wide hearted without being worldly.

We are the only picture of Christ that some people will ever see.

What is most precious in the sight of God is often least noticed by men.

The so–called innocent amusements of the world are only contrivances to forget God.

Contend for the faith without being contentious.

Grace came down to the bottom because love wanted me at the top.

Faith is that we have the light of God’s things; piety is that we bring God into our own things.

We can be dead right, but dead nonetheless.

The notion that ministry can be both effective and painless is a lie.

13

If we had more “Holy Spirit” prayer meetings, we would have more “Holy Spirit” preachings.

We see what God thinks of man at the cross, and we also see what man thinks of God.

It is the nature of sin to obtain great power by little beginnings.

Study the written Word to know