Blog Journeys of a Lifelong Learner

Some of the learned think that Christ intercedes only by virtue of his merits; others, that it is done only by his speech. I think it may be done both ways, because Christ hath a tongue and body glorified in heaven; and is it likely that that tongue which pleaded so much for us on earth, should be altogether silent on our behalf when in heaven?

'Tis thy duty to perform closet duties, but it is thy sin to rely on them, or to put confidence in them; do them thou must, but glory in them thou must not. He who rests in his closet duties, makes a Saviour of them. Let them lead thee to Jesus, and leave thee more in communion with him, and in dependence upon him, and then thrice happy shalt thou be. Let thy closet prayers, tears, and meltings, be a star to guide thee to Jesus, a Jacob’s ladder by which thou mayest ascend into the bosom of eternal love, and then thou art safe forever.

Of all gifts, Christ is the sweetest gift. As the tree in Exodus 15:25, "sweetened the bitter waters," so this gift, the Lord Jesus, of whom that tree was a type, sweetens all other gifts that are bestowed upon; the sons of men. He turns every bitter into sweet, and makes every sweet more sweet.

From Smooth Stones (Spurgeon’s collected sayings of Thomas Brooks)