Psalm 135:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD. ***** This is the God whom we Adore!
A Letter of John Newton
"For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places!" Psalm 135:5-6
God rules all! And though He is concealed by a veil of second causes from common eyes, so that they can perceive only the means, instruments, and contingencies by which He works, and therefore think He does nothing; yet, in reality, He does all according to His own counsel and pleasure, in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth.
Who can enumerate all the beings and events which are . . . incessantly before His eye, adjusted by His wisdom, dependent on His will, and regulated by His power!
If we consider the heavens, the work of His fingers, the moon and the stars which He has ordained; if we call in the assistance of astronomers to help us in forming a conception of the number, distances, magnitudes, and motions of the heavenly bodies — the more we search, the more we shall be confirmed that these are but a small portion of His ways! Without His continual energy upholding them — they would rush into confusion, or sink into nothing! They are all dependent upon His power, and obedient to His command.
To come nearer home, and to speak of what seems more suited to our scanty apprehensions — still we may be lost in wonder. With respect to mankind, He reigns with uncontrolled dominion over every kingdom, family and individual. Before this blessed and only Potentate, all the nations of the earth are but as the dust upon the balance, and the small drop of a bucket — and might be thought (if compared with the immensity of His works) scarcely worthy of His notice! Yet here He presides, pervades, provides, protects, and rules! All changes, successes, and disappointments — all that is memorable in the annals of history, all the risings and falls of empires, all the turns in human life — take place according to His sovereign plan!
In Him His creatures live, move, and have their being. From Him, is their food and preservation. The eyes of all are upon Him; what He gives, they gather — and can gather no more! And at His word they sink into the dust!
There is not . . . a worm which crawls upon the ground, or a flower which grows in the pathless wilderness, or a shell upon the sea-shore — but bears the impress of His wisdom, power, and goodness!
He preserves man and beast, sustains the young lion in the forest, feeds the birds of the air, which have neither storehouse or barn, and adorns the insects and the flowers of the field with a beauty and elegance beyond all that can be found in the courts of kings!
All things serve Him, and are in His hands — as clay in the hands of the potter. Great and marvelous are
Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of saints!
This is the God whom we adore! This is He who invites us to lean upon His almighty arm, and promises to guide us with His unerring eye! *-*-*-*-*-***-*-*-*-*-******-*-*--**-*-*-* Better than a ton of gold!
A grain of saving faith is better than a ton of gold, for it secures an inheritance in all the unsearchable riches of Christ, of grace, and of glory! It justifies, sanctifies, and eternally saves!
Learn to think less and less of the wealth of this world, and more and more of the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Lower the estimate which pride and vanity form of the importance of worldly distinctions. How dim, how worthless, does everything earthly appear when seen in the sunlight of the cross!
It is by losing sight of Jesus, by living so far from Him, by forgetting Him--that we let the world get so much the upper hand of us.
We must meditate more upon the cross.
We must dwell more upon Calvary.
We must be more familiar with the crucified One.
John Angell James *-*-**-*-*-*-*-**- Carry all your concerns to Him in the arms of faith!
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you!" 1 Peter 5:7
The Lord knows all His people—all their needs, and all their trials.
He thinks upon them—to bless, deliver and supply them.
He keeps His eye upon them—in all places, at all times, and under all circumstances.
He has them in His hand—and will not loosen His hold.
He looks upon them always as His own treasured possession . . . the objects of His eternal love, the purchase of His Son's blood, the temples of His Holy Spirit. They are precious in His sight!
He knows they are weak and fearful—and that they have many enemies. He teaches them to cast themselves and all their cares into His hands! He has given them His promise that He will care for them.
It is a Father's care which He exercises. It is a wise, holy, tender, and constant care. Therefore all will be well with you—only trust Him.
Believe that He cares for you this day. Carry all your concerns to Him in the arms of faith! Leave all with Him, persuaded that He will manage all by His infinite wisdom, and bring all to a good outcome by His omnipotent power.
Do not worry about anything. Cast all your cares upon Him, as fast as they come in.
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22
James Smith *-*-*--*-*-*-* Reading Schedule 7- 2 Chronicles 28-29 John 17 8- 2 Chronicles 30-31 John 18:1-18 9- 2 Chronicles 32-33 John 18:19-40 10- 2 Chronicles 34-36 John 19:1-22 11- Ezra 1-2 John 19:23-42 12- Ezra 3-5 John 20 13- Ezra 6-8 John 21