Christ’s satisfaction and righteousness is the full, perfect, and only cause of justification and pardon of sin, and that no holiness, no duties of the persons justified, help anything at all towards their justification; it is the Righteousness of Christ imputed to them, which maketh up the whole matter of their Righteousness in the sight of God, and covereth all their sins.
John Maynard
(Click on John’s name to view a short biography. The page has ads from which I do not profit. – CR)
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Posted by Chris
“I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Philippians 4:11
These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. “Ill weeds grow apace.” Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener’s care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us. Paul says, “I have learned … to be content;” as much as to say, he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content,” he was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave–a poor prisoner shut up in Nero’s dungeon at Rome. We might well be willing to endure Paul’s infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him, if we too might by any means attain unto his good degree. Do not indulge the notion that you can be contented without learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that murmur, natural though it be, and continue a diligent pupil in the College of Content.
From Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening
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Posted by Chris
By the law we see our misery and by the Gospel we see our remedy.
(Click on Edmund’s name to learn a bit about him. There are advertisements at the link that benefit me in no way. – CR)
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Directions for profitable Reading the Holy Scriptures. Direct. 5
‘Remember that it is a universal law and doctrine, written for the most ignorant as well as for the curious; and therefore must be suited in plainness to the capacity of the simple, and yet have matter to exercise the most subtle wits; and that God would have the style, to savour more of the innocent weakness of the instruments, than the matter.’ Therefore be not offended or troubled when the style doth seem less polite than you might think beseemed the Holy Ghost; nor at the plainness of some parts, or the mysteriousness of others : but adore the wisdom and tender condescension of God to his poor creatures.
(…to be continued)
Richard Baxter (Click on Mr. Baxter’s name to learn more about him.)
From A Body of Practical Divinity, or A Christian Directory, Vol. 3.
“As a writer, few men have written more, or to better purpose. His books, for number and variety of matter, might form a library. They contain a treasure of controversial, casuistical, positive, and practical divinity. Such at least was the opinion of the judicious Dr. Bates; nor was he alone of this sentiment. The excellent bishop Wilkins did not hesitate to assert, ‘That he had cultivated every subject he had handled.'”
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Posted by Chris
It is most highly delightful to receive him, and give up ourselves to him as our full suitable good, so exactly answering all the exigencies of our distressed case ; when sensibly apprehending the true state of it, the soul cries out, ” None but Christ”, and finds him present, waiting only for consent, readily offering himself,” Here I am, take me, thy Jesus, thy help, thy life” How overcomingly pleasant is this to a soul that feels its distress, and perceives itself ready to perish ; yea and that daily sees itself perishing, were it not for him.
John Howe quote taken from “Of Delighting in God,” Chapter II
The word exigencies means an urgent need or demand.
(Click on John’s name above to learn a bit about him. There are advertisements at the link that benefit me in no way. – CR)
The whole works of the Rev. John Howe Volume II pdf (550 pages)
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Posted by Chris
Oh! how should all hearts be taken with this Christ? Christians! turn your eyes upon the Lord: ‘Look, and look again unto Jesus.’ Why stand ye gazing on the toys of this world, when such a Christ is offered to you in the gospel? Can the world die for you? Can the world reconcile you to the Father? Can the world advance you to the kingdom of heaven? As Christ is all in all, so let him be the full and complete subject of our desire, and hope, and faith, and love, and joy; let him be in your thoughts the first in the morning, and the last at night.
Isaac Ambrose (To learn more about Isaac Ambrose click on the link on the left)
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Directions for profitable Reading the Holy Scriptures. Direct. 4
Remember that it is a doctrine of unseen things, and of the greatest mysteries; and therefore come not to it with arrogance as a judge, but with humility as a learner or disciple: and if any thing seem difficult or improbable to you, suspect your own unfurnished understanding, and not the sacred Word of God. If a learner in any art or science, will suspect his teacher and his books, whenever he is stalled, or meeteth with that which seemeth unlikely to him, his pride would keep possession for his ignorance, and his folly were like to be uncurable.
From A Body of Practical Divinity, or A Christian Directory, Vol. 3.
Richard Baxter (Click on Mr. Baxter’s name to learn more about him.)
“As a writer, few men have written more, or to better purpose. His books, for number and variety of matter, might form a library. They contain a treasure of controversial, casuistical, positive, and practical divinity. Such at least was the opinion of the judicious Dr. Bates; nor was he alone of this sentiment. The excellent bishop Wilkins did not hesitate to assert, ‘That he had cultivated every subject he had handled;’ and the learned and ingenious Dr. Barrow gives this as his judgment concerning them, ‘That his practical works were never mended, and his controversial ones seldom confuted.’ Mr. Calamy tells us, ‘That the books he wrote amounted to more than one hundred and twenty,’ and an Editor, who published a Life of Mr. Baxter says, ‘He has seen one hundred and forty-five distinct Treatises, whereof four were folios, seventy-three quartos, forty-nine octavos, and nineteen twelves and twenty fours, besides single sheets, separate Sermons, and at least twenty-five Prefaces to other men’s works.'”
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Posted by Chris
“It is a great relief against temptations to have the word ready. The word is called “The sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). In spiritual conflicts there is none like to that. Those that ride abroad in time of danger, will not be without a sword. We are in danger, and had need handle the sword of the Spirit. The more ready the scripture is with us, the greater advantage in our conflicts and temptations. When the devil came to assault Christ, he had scripture ready for him, whereby he overcame the tempter. The door is barred upon Satan, and he cannot find such easy entrance when the word is hid in our hearts, and made use of pertinently(1). I write unto you, young men, because you are strong.’ Where lies their strength? ‘And the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one (1 John 2:14). Oh, it is a great advantage when we have the word not only by us, but in us, engrafted in the heart; when it is present with us, we are more able to resist the assaults of Satan. Either a man forgets the word, or hath lost his affection to it, before he can be drawn to sin.“
(1) pertinently definition: Pertinently means in a way that relates directly to the subject being considered
A comment on Psalm 17:4 from The Treasury of David by C. H. Spurgeon
Thomas Manton (Click on Mr. Manton’s name to learn a bit more about him.)
“Although Manton is little known now, in his day he was held in as much esteem as men like John Owen. He was best known for his skilled expository preaching. His finest work is probably his Exposition of James.”
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Posted by Chris
My wife has now been doing these Christmas song/updates for 30 years. I have not always published them due to personal privacy of certain family members. I have the okay to print this one, as it is pretty generic and will be the last. Click on image and enlarge for better viewing.
While I have this up, I would like to wish all of my readers a Merry Christmas Day whether they observe the day or not. Looking ahead to 2026, my hope is that all of us grow in the Lord and in the knowledge of His Word.
Chris Reimers
14 Comments | Commentary, Love of God, The Lighter Side, Words that Uplift | Tagged: Christmas 2025 | Permalink
Posted by Chris
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Wings of the Wind 
Quotes #38…Thomas Goodwin 1600-1680
February 27, 2026God’s grace and mercy is a bottomless ocean, and it will never run dry.
Thomas Goodwin (Click on Thomas’s name to see his biography, or watch the video below)
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