My Victorian Year #43

I finished reading J.C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on Matthew this week and reviewed it. I'll be sharing quotes from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening. I also started a new Ryle--Holiness.

Quotes from Morning and Evening:

• God—the eternal God—is Himself our support at all times—and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble!
• Believer, if your inheritance is a lowly one—you should be satisfied with your earthly portion; for you may rest assured that it is the fittest for you.
• Be content with such things as you have, since the Lord has ordered all things for your good. Take up your own daily cross; it is the burden best suited for your shoulder, and will prove most effective to make you perfect in every good word and work to the glory of God.
• Untried faith may be true faith—but it is sure to be little faith—and it is likely to remain dwarfish so long as it is without trials.
• When a calm reigns on the sea, spread the sails as you will, the ship does not move to its harbor; for on a slumbering ocean the keel sleeps too.
• No faith is so precious—as that which lives and triumphs in adversity.
• Tried faith brings experience. You could not have believed your own weakness, had you not been compelled to pass through the rivers; and you would never have known God’s strength, had you not been supported amid the water-floods.
• Faith is precious, and its trial is precious too. Let not this, however, discourage those who are young in faith. You will have trials enough without seeking them.
• The fact of this eminent prayerfulness of Jesus is a lesson for us—He has given us an example that we may follow in His steps.
• Jesus has sent His church into the world on the same errand upon which He Himself came, and this mission includes intercession.
• To have one foot on the land of truth, and another on the sea of falsehood, will end in a terrible fall and a total ruin. Christ will be all—or nothing.
• The cross must be carried—before the crown can be worn! We must follow our Lord in His humiliation—or we shall never rest with Him in glory. My
• It is our wisdom, as well as our necessity, to beseech God continually to strengthen that which He has wrought in us.
• Only let your faith take hold of His strength—and all the powers of darkness, led on by the master fiend of hell, cannot cast a cloud or shadow over your joy and peace.
• The Lord is my portion. It is not “The Lord is partly my portion,” nor “The Lord is in my portion”; but He Himself makes up the sum total of my soul’s inheritance!
• The Lord is my portion—not His grace merely, nor His love, nor His covenant—but Jehovah Himself! He has chosen us for His portion—and we have chosen Him for ours.
• The Lord is our all-sufficient portion. God fills Himself; and if God is all-sufficient in Himself, He must be all-sufficient for us.
• The more you know about Christ—the less will you be satisfied with superficial views of Him;
• “To Him be glory forever!” This should be the single desire of the Christian. All other wishes must be subservient and tributary to this one.
• You are not acting as you ought to—when you are moved by any other motive than a single eye to your Lord’s glory. As a Christian, you are “of God, and through
• Let nothing ever set your heart beating so mightily—as love to Him. Let this ambition fire your soul.
• Make God your only object. Depend upon it, where SELF begins—sorrow begins!
• But if God is my supreme delight and only object—to me it is equal whether He ordains life or death—ease or pain!

From Holiness, chapter one "Sin"

• He who wishes to attain right views about Christian holiness — must begin by examining the vast and solemn subject of sin.
• Wrong views about holiness — are generally traceable to wrong views about human corruption.
• The plain truth is, that a right understanding of SIN lies at the root of all saving Christianity. Without it, such doctrines as justification, conversion, sanctification, are “words and names” which convey no meaning to the mind. The first thing, therefore, that God does when He makes anyone a new creature in Christ, is to send light into his heart and show him that he is a guilty sinner!
• Dim or indistinct views of sin are the origin of most of the errors, heresies and false doctrines of the present day.
• I believe that one of the chief needs of the contemporary church has been, and is — clearer, fuller teaching about sin.
• Sin is that vast moral disease which affects the whole human race, of every rank and class and name and nation and people and tongue-a disease from which there never was but one born of woman that was free.
• I say, furthermore, that “a sin,” to speak more particularly, consists in doing, saying, thinking or imagining anything that is not in perfect conformity with the mind and law of God.
• “Sin,” in short, as the Scripture says, is “the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).
• We will do well to remember that, when we make our own miserably imperfect knowledge and consciousness, the measure of our sinfulness — we are on very dangerous ground.
• Let us, then, have it fixed down in our minds, that the sinfulness of man does not begin from without — but from within.
• It is a family disease, which we all inherit from our first parents, Adam and Eve, and with which we are born!
• Sin is a disease which pervades and runs through every part of our moral constitution, and every faculty of our minds.
• The understanding, the affections, the reasoning powers, the will — are all more or less infected.
• Even the conscience is so blinded that it cannot be depended on as a sure guide, and is as likely to lead men wrong as right — unless it is enlightened by the Holy Spirit.
• For my part, I know no stronger proof of the inspiration of Genesis and the Mosaic account of the origin of man — than the power, extent and universality of sin.
• I am convinced that the greatest proof of the extent and power of sin, is the pertinacity with which it cleaves to man, even after he is converted and has become the subject of the Holy Spirit’s operations.
• No proof of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, after all, is so overwhelming and unanswerable — as the sufferings and cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the whole doctrine of His substitution and atonement.
• Terribly black must that guilt be, for which nothing but the blood of the Son of God could make satisfaction.
• Nothing, I am convinced, will astonish us so much, when we awake in the resurrection day, as the view we will have of sin, and the retrospect we will take of our own countless shortcomings and defects. 
• Sin rarely seems sin at its first beginnings. Let us then watch and pray, lest we fall into temptation.
• We may give wickedness smooth names — but we cannot alter its nature and character in the sight of God.
• I am persuaded that the more light we have — the more we see our own sinfulness; the nearer we get to Heaven — the more we are clothed with humility.
• People will never set their faces decidedly towards Heaven and live like pilgrims — until they really feel that they are in danger of Hell.
• We may depend upon it, men will never come to Jesus, and stay with Jesus, and live for Jesus — unless they really know why they are to come, and what is their need.
• Those whom the Spirit draws to Jesus — are those whom the Spirit has convinced of sin. Without thorough conviction of sin, men may seem to come to Jesus and follow Him for a season; but they will soon fall away and return to the world.
• It is thought grand and wise to condemn no opinion whatever, and to pronounce all earnest and clever teachers to be trustworthy, however varied and mutually destructive their opinions may be.
• Everything is true — and nothing is false! Everybody is right — and nobody is wrong! Everybody is likely to be saved — and nobody is to be lost!

From Holiness, chapter two: "Sanctification"

• If the Bible is true, it is certain that unless we are “sanctified,” we shall not be saved.
• There are three things which, according to the Bible, are absolutely necessary to the salvation of every man and woman in Christendom. These three are . . . justification, regeneration and sanctification.
• He who lacks any one of these three things, is not a true Christian in the sight of God and, dying in that condition, will not be found in Heaven and glorified in the last day.
• Sanctification is that inward spiritual work which the Lord Jesus Christ works in a man by the Holy Spirit, when He calls him to be a true believer.
• He not only washes him from his sins in His own blood — but He also . . . separates him from his natural love of sin and the world, puts a new principle in his heart and makes him practically godly in life.
• He who supposes that Jesus Christ only lived and died and rose again in order to provide justification and forgiveness of sins for His people, has yet much to learn.
• He is, thus, not only their “righteousness,” but their “sanctification” (1 Corinthians 1:30).
• If words mean anything, they teach that Christ undertakes the sanctification, no less than the justification — of His believing people.
• A doctrine which is needful to salvation can never be too sharply developed, or brought too fully into light.
• Sanctification is the invariable result of that vital union with Christ which true faith gives to a Christian. “He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit” (John 15:5).
• Sanctification is the outcome and inseparable consequence of regeneration. He who is born again and made a new creature, receives a new nature and a new principle and always lives a new life.
• Where there is no holy life — there has been no holy birth. This is a hard saying — but a Biblical truth;
• Sanctification is the only certain evidence of that indwelling of the Holy Spirit which is essential to salvation.
• Sanctification is the only sure mark of God’s election.
• Sanctification is a reality that will always be seen. Like the great Head of the church, from whom it springs, it “cannot be hidden.”
• Sanctification is a reality for which every believer is responsible.
• If the Savior of sinners gives us renewing grace and calls us by His Spirit — we may be sure that He expects us to use our grace and not to go to sleep.
• Sanctification is a thing which admits of growth and degrees. A man may climb from one step to another in holiness, and be far more sanctified at one period of his life, than another.
• More pardoned and more justified than he is when he first believes — he cannot be, though he may feel it more. More sanctified he certainly may be — because every grace in his new character may be strengthened, enlarged and deepened.
• Sanctification depends greatly on a diligent use of Scriptural means. The “means of grace” are such as Bible reading, private prayer, and regularly worshiping God in Church, wherein one hears the Word taught and participates in the Lord’s Supper.
• Sanctification is a thing which does not prevent a man having a great deal of inward spiritual conflict.
• A true Christian is one who has not only peace of conscience — but war within. He may be known by his warfare, as well as by his peace.
• Sanctification is a thing which cannot justify a man — and yet it pleases God.
• Sanctification is a thing which will be found absolutely necessary as a witness to our character, in the great Day of Judgment.
• The question will not be how we talked and what we professed — but how we lived and what we did.
• Sanctification, in the last place, is absolutely necessary in order to train and prepare us for Heaven.
• Most men hope to go to Heaven when they die; but few, it may be feared, take the trouble to consider whether they would enjoy Heaven if they got there.
• Heaven is essentially a holy place; its inhabitants are all holy; its occupations are all holy. To be really happy in Heaven, it is clear and plain that we must be somewhat trained and made ready for Heaven while we are on earth.
• True sanctification then does not consist in mere talk about religion.
• People hear so much of gospel truth, that they contract an unholy familiarity with its words and phrases, and sometimes talk so fluently about its doctrines — that you might think them true Christians.
• True sanctification does not consist in temporary religious feelings. This again is a point about which a warning is greatly needed.
• I know no state of soul more dangerous, than to imagine we are born again and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, because we have picked up a few religious feelings.
• True sanctification does not consist in outward formalism and external devoutness. This is an enormous delusion — but unhappily a very common one.
• Sanctification does not consist in retirement from our place in life, and the renunciation of our social duties.
• Sanctification is not merely the occasional performance of right actions.
• Genuine sanctification will show itself in habitual respect to God’s law, and habitual effort to live in obedience to it as the rule of life.
• Genuine sanctification will show itself in a habitual endeavor to do Christ’s will, and to live by His practical precepts.
• Genuine sanctification will show itself in a habitual desire to live up to the standard which Paul sets before the churches in his writings.
• Genuine sanctification will show itself in habitual attention to the active graces which our Lord so beautifully exemplified, and especially to the grace of love.
• A sanctified man will try to do good in the world, and to lessen the sorrow and increase the happiness of all around him. He will aim to be like his Master — full of kindness and love to everyone— and this not in word only, by calling people “dear” — but by deeds and actions and self-denying work, according as he has opportunity.
• Genuine sanctification, in the last place, will show itself in habitual attention to the passive graces of Christianity.
• I now propose to consider, in the last place, the distinction between justification and sanctification. Wherein do they agree — and wherein do they differ?
• In what, then, are justification and sanctification ALIKE? 1. Both proceed originally from the free grace of God. It is of His gift alone, that believers are justified or sanctified at all. 2. Both are part of that great work of salvation which Christ, in the eternal covenant, has undertaken on behalf of His people. Christ is the fountain of life, from which pardon and holiness both flow. The root of each is Christ. 3. Both are to be found in the same people. Those who are justified — are always sanctified; and those who are sanctified — are always justified. 4. Both begin at the same time. The moment a person is a justified person — he also begins to be a sanctified person. 5. Both are alike necessary to salvation. No one ever reached Heaven . . . without a renewed heart — as well as forgiveness; without the Spirit’s grace — as well as the blood of Christ; without a fitness for eternal glory — as well as a title. 
• Let us now reverse the picture, and see wherein they DIFFER.
• 1. Justification is the reckoning and counting a man to be righteous for the sake of another, even Jesus Christ the Lord. Sanctification is the actual making a man inwardly righteous, though it may be in a very feeble degree.
• 2. The righteousness we have by our justification is not our own — but the everlasting perfect righteousness of our great Mediator Christ, imputed to us, and made our own by faith. The righteousness we have by sanctification is our own righteousness, imparted, inherent and wrought in us by the Holy Spirit — but mingled with much infirmity and imperfection.
• 3. In justification our own works have no place at all, and simple faith in Christ is the one thing needful. In sanctification our own works are of vast importance, and God bids us fight and watch and pray and strive and take pains and labor.
• 4. Justification is a finished and complete work, and a man is perfectly justified the moment he believes. Sanctification is an imperfect work, comparatively, and will never be perfected until we reach Heaven.
• 5. Justification admits of no growth or increase: a man is as much justified the hour he first comes to Christ by faith — as he will be to all eternity. Sanctification is eminently a progressive work and admits of continual growth and enlargement so long as a man lives.
• 6. Justification has special reference to our persons, our standing in God’s sight, and our deliverance from guilt. Sanctification has special reference to our natures and the moral renewal of our hearts.
• 7. Justification gives us our title to Heaven and boldness to enter in. Sanctification gives us our fitness for Heaven and prepares us to enjoy it when we dwell there.
• 8. Justification is the act of God for us and is not easily discerned by others. Sanctification is the work of God within us and cannot be hidden in its outward manifestation from the eyes of men. 
• At our best, we shall find in ourselves daily cause for humiliation and discover that we are needy debtors to mercy and grace every hour.
• The more light we have — the more we shall see our own imperfection! Sinners we were when we began — and sinners we shall find ourselves as we go on!
• Our absolute perfection is yet to come, and the expectation of it is one reason why we should long for Heaven.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible