Quotes From Classic Christian Authors

A chequered life(Letters of John Newton)

This life that we live in the flesh, is a chequered life. 

The grain requires both rain and sunshine to bring it to maturity; but either of them without the other, would destroy the crop. 

Thus, if we had only the sun of prosperity--the plant of grace would be burnt up. 
If we only had the rain of affliction--the plant of grace would be overwhelmed and drowned. 

The Lord, who knows exactly what we are, and where we are--adjusts these different means, in season and measure, as He, in His wisdom, sees most for our advantage. 

Were health at all times and in all respects best for those who fear Him--then they would not feel a moment's illness!

We pass through so many changes, that when it rains--we may always hope for fair weather. 
And when the sky is bright and serene--we may expect rain before long. 

He prescribes all our afflictions--in number, weight, and measure, and season, exactly according to what our case requires!

What a mercy to know that all our concerns are in the hands of Him who so loved us, as to wash us from our sins in His own blood. 
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The Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name....” (Acts 9:15 ESV)

The Lord must have an instrument, a Daniel instrument, whether personal or collective, that moves out towards God for His testimony. He must have a Nehemiah with a heartache over the people because of the breakdown of the testimony. He must have an Ezra who is not for a moment compromising with anything contrary to the mind of God. He must have the Esther instrument who flings fear to the winds, and goes, taking life in hand, to besiege the throne for the life of her people, for the deliverance of the people of God from the threat of the enemy. Oh! What those prayers wrought! And, beloved, the burden of the Lord must come on our heart in like manner if we are to be effective instruments for the Lord in His end-time activities; we must be exercised in a very deep way with the interests of God. We must hold back nothing that will count for the Lord and His interests. You would be surprised how the Lord would come through if you gave Him a chance.

The whole thing begins with a recognition of the need, and the burden of these things upon our hearts. When we are really in it by the urge of the Holy Spirit, the common features found in these Old Testament instruments will be found inwrought in us; and we shall be found an abandoned people unto this ONE THING – the Lord's burden and heart concern for His testimony in His people.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

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Reverent and sweet submission

(Joseph Hall)

"I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!" Psalm 39:9 

He is not worthy to pass for a child of God, who does not receive His stripes with reverent meekness. Tears may be allowed--but a murmuring frown is no better than rebellion.

Let infidels, then, and ignorants, who think they suffer by chance--repine at their adversities, and be dejected with their afflictions.

For me, who knows that I have a Father in Heaven who is full of mercy and compassion, whose providence has measured out the due proportions of my sorrows, counting my sighs, and reserving the tears which He wrings from me, in His bottle--why do I not patiently lie down and put my mouth in the dust, meekly submitting to His holy pleasure, and blessing the hand from which I smart?

"You keep track of all my sorrows.
 You have collected all my tears in Your bottle.
 You have recorded each one in Your book!" Psalm 56:8 
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There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)

God's answer to everything, God's explanation of everything, and God's means of realizing everything is a Man, "the man Christ Jesus." When this world has run its evil course, this inhabited earth will be judged in a Man. Men will be judged by what their inward relationship is to that Man. The question at the judgment will never be of how much good or bad, right or wrong, more or less, is in a man; it will turn upon this one point, "Are you in Christ?" If not, more or less makes no difference. God's intention, God's proclamation is that all things are in His Son. Are you in Him? Why not? The basis of judgment is very simple. It is all gathered up in a Man, and what is in that Man of God for us. That is the basis of judgment. It all comes back to the very simple, and yet comprehensive and blessed truth, that it is what Christ is that satisfies God, reaches God's end, and meets all our need. It is all summed up in a Man, "the man Christ Jesus."

The Lord continue to open our eyes to His glorious and Heavenly Man, Who is also the Divine Servant.

~T. Austin-Sparks~