The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-10-11
Religious Miscellany.

Gems from the writings f Rev Thomas
Books, y. D. l650-kcv Mr.. Spurgeon
has gl,ancd, from the w,iting> of This stur
dy old Puritan. volume of gems, under
the title Of "Smcorh Stones Taken from
Ancient Br oks." We cannot do better
than fill this cormn with the -
The little word "fatl.cr," (said Luhcr,)
lispod forth in prayer hy a child Of God
exceeds the d"qucnce Of Dcmosihrncs,
Cicero, and all the other fm"d orators OF
the world.
cin is bad in The eye, worse in tie ton.
CUE, worse still in the heart, but worst ot
all in the lie.
1t was a good saying Of one to great
lord, upon his showing his stately house,
and pleasant gardens: "Sir, YOU had need
make sure Of heaven, or else when you die,
you will hc a very heavy 10 SER
If YOU would be good G"timcs, YOU must
acquaint yourselves with yourselves No
man begins to be good until he sees him.
self bad. The ready way TO be found is
to see ourselves lost. The first step to
mercy, is to see cur own misery; the fir.t
step toward heaven, is to see ourselves near
hell.
Speak, that may sec thee" said Soc
rates to fair boy. We know metals by
their tinkling, and men by their talking.
Happy was that tongue in the primitive
time, that could sound out anything Of Da.
vid's doing; but how much happier is he
who can tell anything of Chlist from sweet
experience
There is no time yours but the present
time, no day yours but the present day {;
therefore do not please and feed yourselves
with hopes Of time to come; that you will
repent. but no. yet; and lay hold on mer
cy, but not yet; and give yourselves up to
the Lord next week, next month or next
year; f,r that God who has promised you
mercy and favor upon the days Of your re.
tuln, ha. not promised to prolong your lives
till that day comes.
1t Is the very nature of grace to make q
man strive TO he most eminent IN that par
licular grace which is opposed to his bosom
sin.
Young men are very apt to compare
themsc Ives with those who are worse than
they are, and this proves a snare unto them
and often times their ruin, as it did to tho
Pharisee in the gospel. who pleaded his
negative righteousness, he was not as other
men are, extorlioncrs, unjust, adultelcrs,
nor even as the publican; hc stood not on.
ly upon his comparisons, but upon his dis
parisons; being blind at home, and too
quick sighted abroad he condemns the
poor publican who was better than himself,
making good that saying # Seneca, "The
nature of man is very rpt to use spcctacles
to behold other mems faults, rather than
looking glasses in which to survey their
own"
There is no such wav to attain to great
er measures Of grace, AS. for man to live
up to that little grace he has.
Bring your graces 10 the touchstone, to
try their truth, rather than the balance 10
Try their measure.
Pride grows with the decrease of other
sins, and thrves by their decay. Satan's
subtle; lie will make man proud of his
very graces-he will make him proud that
he is not proud
There is nothing says one, "that endurcs
so small time as tho memory Of mercies
received; and the more grea, they are.
the more commonly they are recompensed
with ingratitude.'
Talk not Of a good life" said a heather
g" but let thy life speak" God appointed
that the weights and measures OF the sane
,uary should be twice rs large r. those Of