Happy New Year!

'Happy New Year!'

I just heard this the other day and thought it was really strange thing to hear at the end of January.

Gracious Habits

Sin must not reign in our mortal bodies that we should obey it. Romans 6:12

Though sin may remain as an outlaw, though it may oppress as a tyrant, yet let it not reign as a king. Let it not make laws, nor preside in councils, nor command the militia, let it not be the uppermost in the soul so that we should obey it. (...) Sin lies very much in the gratifying of the body, and humoring that. (...)
As every sinful act confirms the sinful habit, so every gracious act confirms the gracious habit: serving righteousness is unto holiness, one duty fits us for another, and the more we do the more we may do for God. 

MHC on Romans 6

Spiritual Condition

23. Never enter upon the trial of your spiritual estate, but when your hearts are in the fittest temper.

24. Always make the Scripture, and not your carnal reason, or your bare opinion (or that of others) the rule by which to judge of your spiritual condition.

Christ's love

Of all the blessings enjoyed while on this earth, there is nothing to compare with 
this one: fellowship with the Lord. One minute of fellowship with Christ leaves a more lasting impression in the soul than all other enjoyment we may have in things of this life! Dear friends press on...

Christ's love- only eternity is sufficient to reveal to our minds. 

Christ's love will be always unfolding- but never fully unfolded. 

It will always be displayed - but never fully displayed. 

We may stand in the centre and endeavour to follow its lines- but Christ's love defies our powers ans drowns our thoughts into immensity.

  James Smith

Jesus bids you to look into his heart...

When you savages of Louisiana were going to murder Lasale, or his Italian friend, he told them that, such was his regard for them, that he had them all in his heart; and would they murder a man who loved them so well? At the same time applying a small looking- glass to his breast, he desired them to look, and see if it was not so. it is said that the poor savages, observing their own image, had their barbarity melted into the most tender compassion and love; they would not for the world have hurt him or suffered him to be hurt by others." Now believing communicants, Jesus bids you to look into his heart, and see yourselves there. "Behold," said He, "You were on my heart from eternity, when I undertook for you; then My delights were with the sons of men, and I rejoiced in the habitable parts of the earth. Lo! you were on my heart on Calvary, when it was melted as the wax with the wrath due to your crimes! Behold you are on my heart, now that I am in the midst of the throne, while I appear in the presence of God for you and prepare a place for you!" 

 John Brown

Marks of Fellowship

" You ask me concerning marks of fellowship with our Lord Jesus. Alas! that I should know so little about that happiness. How easy to talk about spiritual things, when we feel not their power; but, without doubt, our communion with Christ is real, if it make us lie in the dust before Him, and cause us to loathe and abhor ourselves in His presence...Real communion, too, melts the heart with love to God, and to His laws, ordinances, and people, and renders us vexed and shamed that we cannot love Him to purpose. But it is one thing to know these matters in our head, and another thing to feel them in our heart. Ah! how many of us called Christians are led like beasts by the head;  and how few, like saints indeed, are led by the heart. '

John Brown

p. 203

More Legacies...

20. Hold on and hold out in the ways of well-doing, in the lack of all outward discouragements. Follow the Lamb, though all others follow the beast and the false prophet.

21. In all your natural, civil, and religious actions, let divine glory rest upon your souls; let the glory of Christ lie nearest your hearts.

22. Record all special favors, mercies, providences, and experiences. Little do you know the advantages that will redound to your souls upon this.

Faith

Faith thinks no hard thoughts of God. 

I think the quote above  is by from one of  Samuel Rutherford's letters ...

Dear Friends, remember this precious truth, that the Lord is ever more loving than I am deserving, more gracious than I cam conceive! Rejoice on!