Evangelion (which we call the gospel) is a Greek word that signifies good, merry, glad, and joyful things, that make a man’s heart glad, and make him sing, dance, and leap for joy. Christ gives unto all that repent and believe... ...His life, wherewith He swallowed and devoured up death; ...His righteousness, wherewith He banished sin; ...His salvation, wherewith He overcame eternal damnation. Can the wretched one that knows himself to be wrapped in sin, and in danger of death and hell, hear any more joyous a thing than such glad and comforting tidings of Christ? He cannot but be glad and laugh from the bottom of his heart, if he believes that the tidings are true. Tyndale

Fly envious Time, till thou run out thy race, Call on the lazy leaden-stepping hours, Whose speed is but the heavy Plummets pace; And glut thy self with what thy womb devours, Which is no more then what is false and vain, And meerly mortal dross; So little is our loss, So little is thy gain. For when as each thing bad thou hast entomb'd, And last of all, thy greedy self consum'd, Then long Eternity shall greet our bliss With an individual kiss; And Joy shall overtake us as a flood, When every thing that is sincerely good And perfectly divine, With Truth, and Peace, and Love shall ever shine About the supreme Throne Of him, t'whose happy-making sight alone, When once our heav'nly-guided soul shall clime, Then all this Earthy grosnes quit, Attir'd with Stars, we shall for ever sit, Triumphing over Death, and Chance, and thee O Time. Milton, "Ode to Time"

Under all infirmities, and in all our troubles, we may look up to the Lord for relief, support, and comfort. He is everything we need in all our trials through life, and can bring us safe to a country where none of the inhabitants complain of sickness. Jesus, the lovely Jesus, is a physician for soul and body also; and he never fails to hear the prayer of those that call on him in their trouble. Do you 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 him, my dear young friend? Thomas Charles, 1812 letter to a sick girl

"They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders" (Matt 23:4). "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt 11:30). A local church in which Christ is present, amid all the heroic sacrifice and generosity and service, will above all be a burden-lifting environment.

I think our friends in glory pity our over-anxiety about our little concerns here in the world, perceiving, without a cloud, how tenderly, how kindly, and with what unerring wisdom and efficacy, the great Lord of the universe orders all things to answer His designs, and the good of His people. Thomas Charles, 1812 letter

"It is finished" (John 19:30). "It is done" (Rev. 21:6). The Christian life is the joy of living between these two wondrous declarations.

Sin complicates. Grace simplifies. Jay Adams

When Christ is altogether lovely, shall the children of God be unlovely that carry the image of Christ? Can we love him that begets, and hate them that are begotten of him? Can we love Christ, and hate Christians? It cannot be. Sibbes

William Perkins, 1590, defining theology: "The science of living blessedly forever."

The more we suffer for Christ, the more dear he will be to us. He presents himself in love and comfort most, to those that suffer for his sake. Sibbes

The little I know of Jesus is all my comfort, and the foundation of all my hopes. Cultivate kind thoughts of Him. We never think justly of Him, but when we think kindly of Him; for He is altogether and perfectly a kind being. Thomas Charles

When the Lord afflicts, it is with great tenderness and compassion. When he afflicts, it is not willingly, that is, not from any injustice or cruelty in his nature; no, infinitely far from it. Afflictions proceed from his goodness; and they are ordered by perfect wisdom and the greatest tenderness. Remember, my good friend, he spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all! Thomas Charles, letter to a suffering young woman

How much they possess who live the life of faith in the Son of God and believe in Jesus! With all their weaknesses and crosses they have that which the world can neither give nor take away. They have a true Friend while they live, and a true home when they die. J. C. Ryle

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Blessed be the Lord, that his mercy is free. Guilt and unworthiness are obstacles which it easily surmounts. Nothing but free mercy could save my soul, or bring me this moment one drop of comfort. I have no comfort in myself; but I can see infinite consolation in God, and I long after a fuller enjoyment of them. I am a burden to myself. But I am happy in looking to that glorious deliverance from self, which Christ hath procured for all his people. Thomas Charles, letter to his wife, 1784

Lord I come to Thee for rest, take possession of my breast; there Thy blood-bought right maintain, and without a rival reign. While I am a pilgrim here, let Thy love my spirit cheer; as my Guide, my Guard, my Friend, lead me to my journey’s end. Newton

His mouth is most sweet. This is the chief lovely thing in Christ. The main lovely thing is that which comes from his heart by his words and his lips; as, indeed, the most excellent thing we can think of is the expression of the heart of God in Christ, and of Christ's love to us. If we leave his speech, we leave our comfort, we leave our life. Sibbes

Really looking forward to being with my friend Sean and other brothers to think together about preaching Nov 2. We would love to have you join us in north Alabama! eventbrite.com/e/feed-my-she…

Speech is but the current of reason from the heart. Therefore Christ's speeches were sweet, because his heart was sweet, full of all love, grace, mercy, and goodness. His heart was a treasure. Sibbes

All o’er those wide extended plains Shines one eternal day There God the Son forever reigns And scatters night away Samuel Stennett, 1787