The Pilgrim Path---Proverbs 27: 9

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

“THE SWEETNESS OF A FRIEND…”

One of the glories of good books is that they provide counsel like good friends. You may even keep going “back” to them for necessary encouragement and wisdom. Just lately, some ladies have encouraged me: Helen Roseveare (career missionary in Africa). All her writing is grand. You can pick her up through Christian Focus Publications. A newer writer with Harvest USA is quite appealing: Ellen Mary Dykas. She has a devotional that will “work you over” entitled, Toxic Relationships, Taking Refuge in Christ (P & R Publications-- that is tremendous). Of course---I keep going back to the Prince of Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. I believe I told you that I started reading him in 1973 (John Ploughman’s Pictures, More of His Talk). I have probably read a bit of Spurgeon every week since around ’75. He has had the most significant impact on my Christian life. Since it is Friday, I thought I would close the week by giving you several quotes from this heir of the Puritans:

Be thankful for the providence which has made you poor, or sick, or sad; for by all this Jesus works the life of your spirit and turns you to Himself.

What is heaven, but to be with God, to dwell with Him, to realize that God is mine, and I am His?

You do not understand what trouble means; you have hardly sipped the cup of trouble, you have only had a drop or two, but Jesus drank the dregs.

Grace is something not which I improve, but which improves me, employs me, works on me.

The more spiritual the exercise, the sooner we tire in it. The choicest fruits are the hardest to rear: the most heavenly graces are the most difficult to cultivate.

If you bring forth fruit, you will have to endure affliction.

Faith’s way of walking is to cast all care on the LORD, and then to anticipate good results from the worst calamities.

We think that we do well to be angry with the rebellious, and so we prove ourselves to be more like Jonah than Jesus.

It is an honor to believe what the lips of Jesus taught. I had sooner be a fool with Christ than a wise man with the philosophers.

Walking by sight is just this: “I believe in myself.” Whereas walking by faith is: “I believe in God.”

When man fell in the garden, manhood fell entirely; there was not one single pillar in the temple of manhood that stood erect.

We know not how much capacity for usefulness there may be in us.

Prayer is the never-failing result of the Christian in any case and in every plight.

Great hearts can only be made by great troubles. The spade of trouble digs the reservoir of comfort deeper, and makes room for consolation…

The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the LORD for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do exploits; and hence the use of prayer…

Christian, meditate much on Heaven, it will help thee press on, and to forget the toil of the way.

God’s people have always in their worst condition found out the best of their God.

All the offices of Christ are held on our behalf. He is king for us, priest for us, and prophet for us…His fullness of Godhead is our unfailing, inexhaustible treasure-house.

HYMN

Amidst us our Beloved stands,

And bids us view his pierced hands;

Points to the wounded feet and side,

Blest emblems of the Crucified.

What food luxurious loads the board,

When at his table sits the Lord!

The wine how rich, the bread how sweet,

When Jesus deigns the guests to meet!

O glorious Bridegroom of our hearts,

Your present smile a heaven imparts!

O lift the veil, if veil there be,

Let every saint your glory see!

Charles H. Spurgeon, 1866

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason