Faith

"We live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

Faith is the root of all true piety. Christians need faith
for sanctification, consolation, and perseverance. Every
act of the spiritual life is an act of faith. Every step in
the spiritual walk is a step of faith. The Christian's
course is not one of merely 'doing', but of believing.

His prayers are the breathings of faith;
his works are the actings of faith;
his penitence is the tear of faith;
his joy is the smile of faith;
his hopes are the anticipations of faith;
his fears are the tremblings of faith;
his strength is the confidence of faith;
his submission is the acquiescence of faith.

Faith is the eye which looks at Christ.

Faith is the foot which moves to Christ.

Faith is the hand which receives Christ.

Faith is the mouth which feeds upon Christ.

It is not only by the activity of obedience, but by
the 'silent and passive power of dependence', that
the Christian is made strong and victorious.

"We live by faith, not by sight." Here is the reason
why so many professors are so worldly and so weak;
why they make such little progress, and such small
attainments. They are so much under the dominion
of sense, and are so almost wholly given up to a life
of sight, that they have neither time nor inclination
to look at the things which are unseen and eternal.

There is in them no habitual looking to Christ, no
abiding in Him, no vivid consciousness that all their
springs are in Him, and that it is from His fullness
they are to receive necessary grace.

We must prefer the invisible realities of eternity, to
the visible things of time; and amid all that is . . .
  dazzling to sight,
  gratifying to appetite,
  and dear to passion,
by faith, spend a life of . . .
  self-denial,
  mortification of sin, and
  separation from the world.

Be this then your sincere and earnest prayer, my dear
friends, "Lord, increase our faith!" Be willing to have
the world displaced from your soul, to make room for the
objects of faith! Be ever ready to come from the dazzling
glare of earthly scenes, to dwell in the calm and holy light
of faith. Study the Scriptures, and meditate much upon their
contents. Frequent and devout converse with the objects of
faith, is the best way to have it increased.

Watch diligently against the influence of those objects
which have a fatal tendency to eclipse faith's light, to
obstruct its operation, and enfeeble its life—namely,
sensual pleasure; eager pursuit of the world; and a too
intimate converse with those who mind earthly things.
 

John Angell James

A copy

There is the image of Christ!

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in
 Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5

Press right home to your conscience the question,
"What do I have of the mind of Christ?" Does my
heart answer, does my disposition correspond, to
the holy, meek, humble, forgiving, benevolent,
patient, self-denying mind of Christ? Do men who
know the beauty and glory of the Original, as it is
delineated on the page of the gospel, when they
see me, say, "There is the image of Christ!"

Or do they look skeptically on, and after standing
in silence for some time, profess they can see little
or no resemblance? Oh, be satisfied with nothing
short of a copy of Christ's heart into yours!



J.A.James

Intellect

Brilliant displays of intellect are not all that is desirable or honourable in human nature. 
There is a moral perfection which elevates us closer to God - the perfection of all perfection. In dazzling pictures - in ingenious sophisms - in finely wrought [applied] descriptions - in novel and striking thoughts, there is much to interest and captivate the mind - but it is all blinding and warping [distorting] to the intellect. (...)


Brilliant exhibitions of talents are not always evidence of a love for learning, nor an innate delight in the lofty [elevated] and ennobling pleasures of intellect. More frequently they are the offsprings of vanity, and love of praise. Too many read and analise and treasure up, merely as the actor does his part and never give one thought to usefulness or [to] the necessary and serious duties of life. The perfect man or woman is one who can command the heart, and who can rightly understand the relative duties of life - who can act from motives entirely free from vanity [self-love, conceitedness, pride]- who can know when it is useful to speak and when to be silent.

Timothy Arthur

Summer 2012

Timothy and Eminent usefulness

This poor blog has almost died out in this past months... Excerpts and quotes of the little I could read throughout the year made up the "pages" of this blog :) . However we are back, I hope.
We keep walking this great (but arduous) walk of faith! We pray for love towards God, from a pure heart,from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.
(...)
Yes you are right if you thought I have been reading through the letter to Timothy. The challenge is ever before me and I encourage you: