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The life and letters of John Angell James
(Choice excerpts)
You who are poor—with this 'pearl of great price' to enrich you, with a title to a priceless inheritance, reserved in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay—to animate and comfort you; all the privations of your earthly poverty can be borne—not only with patience, but with cheerfulness.
The grace of God in the heart, the promise of God in the hand, and the glory of God in the eye—are enough to reconcile us to the longest life of the most dire poverty.
But poverty, without true piety—is to be poor indeed! To be both poor and wicked, is to have a double hell—a hell here, and a worse hell hereafter!
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Consider that the eternal loss of the soul is not a rare—but a very common occurrence! So far from being a rare thing for a soul to go to hell—it is a much rarer thing for them to go to heaven! Jesus tells us that the road to eternal destruction is thronged, while the way to eternal life is traveled by few. Hell opens its mouth wide—and swallows up multitudes in eternal perdition! Every day brings you nearer to everlasting torments—or everlasting bliss. You may die at any moment; and you are as near to heaven or hell—as you are to death. Some who read these lines will very likely spend their eternity in hell.
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If your experience . . .
strengthens your faith in the Lord Jesus,
increases your love to Him,
gives you more exalted views of Jesus,
enflames your love to the brethren,
weans you from the world,
makes you more humble,
then it is genuine Christian experience.
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Who is able to talk of controversies, or fine theological points—while he sees a multitude of ignorant, carnal, miserable sinners before him—who must either be converted—or damned! What little matters men will quarrel about—when they leave the great things of God's truth!
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Is our concern for Christ, and for souls—or for ourselves? No 'titles of distinction' are to exist among Christian ministers. They suggest the idea of superiority—and foster pride and vanity. What an exorbitant extent of mischief has this love of distinction done in Christianity! It is the base ambition of many ministers—to be contented with an admiring crowd. "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'" Mat_23:5 - Mat_23:7.
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It is the gospel addressed in simple earnestness to the soul—which will move it.
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Everything related to the worship of God which is not commanded in Scripture, or implied in a command—is forbidden.
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The thought is very dreadful to me, that any should go from beneath my ministry—to the worm which never dies, to the fire which is never quenched. I can scarcely bear to dwell upon the reflection that my sermons should be forgotten on earth—only to be remembered in hell.
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Adorn the doctrine of God your Savior in all things. There is such a thing as disfiguring, deforming this doctrine. Fly not only from what would be vice in a wicked or worldly man, but what would be a spot upon the character of a Christian.
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If you are parents, let your profession lead you to instruct your children in the fear of God, especially by the impressive admonition of a good example. Be very attentive to the education of your children—let them neither hear nor see anything in you that would hinder true religion. Example is more powerful than precept. It is vain to teach them religion by your words—unless you show it to them by your actions. Teach them to obey you. Be firm, but mild. Govern them in love. Subdue them by kindness.
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In the death of our dear friend Elmore, the church has lost a very valuable member, and I a most affectionate friend. Cut off in the prime of his life—his death speaks loudly to us all. What now is the world, or any of its concerns, to him? Let our hearts be more in heaven! We are too earthly and sensual. We are too much elated by the comforts of life; and too much depressed by the sorrows of life—forgetting how close at hand is the event which will render them both alike indifferent to us—and us to them. Eternity, eternity is before us—and what earthly trifle should greatly affect those who are speedily traveling to eternity?
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The love of God, in sending Jesus Christ die upon the cross for our sins, is the greatest wonder that we shall ever hear of—on earth or in heaven, in time or through eternity! How constantly should we think of it; how much should we talk of it; how great should be our gratitude to God; how strong should be our love to Jesus!
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What a change has the gospel produced in your customs, manners, and feelings!
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The sins of the people, are the deepest afflictions of a true minister's heart.
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There is in the present day, a proneness to depend upon organized systems of human religious energy—more than upon God's own Spirit and grace.
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We have no right to live in opulent houses, and feast at tables covered with luxuries—while the souls of men are famishing for lack of the Bread of Life. A showy and lavish profusion in our habits, is not only injurious to our own spiritual interests, but also to the interests of others. Frugality is the best financier of Christianity.
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Time is the best expounder of Prophecy. I could never make up my mind on the precise meaning of the Apocalypse, except as to its general design. No expositor I have ever read—and I have read many—has yet satisfied me. As they all disagree among themselves, I presume that none of them fully understand the subject.
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All my time and all my strength, I intend to devote to the great work of stirring up my people's hearts to serve the Lord more fully.
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Most professing Christians are sunk deep in the mire of worldly-mindedness. Mammon is the wicked and shameful idol of the church. Our churches are, in my opinion, far from a state of sound healthy piety. We have but little of what constitutes the essence of experimental religion. Everything is superficial. Our repentance, our faith, our love, our devotional habits—are all superficial! The world has . . .
engrossed men's minds,
absorbed their feelings,
starved their piety.
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Attention has been drawn off from the heart and the closet—to public meetings and bustle and activity. I am persuaded that Satan has taken advantage of them, to divert men's minds from the state of their own souls. Professing Christians are so entangled with the world in various ways, that I do not look at present for any great increase of spirituality in their devotional habits. I am afraid that the tone of personal piety is not likely to be much raised. The generality of our church members appear to be in a state of much lukewarmness. I wish I could see more spiritual feeling apparent in our meetings. They appear too much like religious amusements.
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Modern practice tends to throw the door of entrance into our churches too widely open. We are too much in haste to swell the number of church members. Multitudes find their way into our churches without the wedding garment. Admission into our churches is generally considered by the individuals, as a certificate of saving religion; and should they be still in an unconverted state, in that state they will, in all probability die. Therefore the admission of unconverted people into the church is, in effect, to be accessory to their self-deception, and therefore to their destruction.
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Oh, what a mercy to be kept sound in the faith!
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What a word is salvation! It is uttered in a moment—but it will require an eternity to understand it; and if lost—an eternity to deplore it! Salvation is our great business in this world—and whatever else we gain, yet if we miss salvation—the end of life is lost, existence is thrown away, and, to all valuable purposes—we have been made in vain. Eternity, eternity is before you—and that eternity must either be spent in heaven—or hell!
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The best ornaments of piety; and loveliest fruits of saving faith—are humility and love.
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Oh, for more prayer, faith, and deadness to the world! Christians must return to simpler habits!
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What humbling lessons we learn by being laid aside by sickness, from labor! How the world goes on without us! And when we are silent forever—it will be the same.
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Prayer is the very soul of all religion; and privacy is the very life of prayer. Prayer is the first step in the divine life; prayer is the second; prayer is the third; and indeed, it is necessary through the whole Christian course.
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All true piety in the heart is the work of the Holy Spirit. Not a single really holy feeling will ever come into the mind, or be kept there—but by God.
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It is sometimes a matter of surprise to me, to think upon how small a stock of moral excellence—I am keeping up so respectable an appearance. Of one thing I am certain—that, if I do any good to my generation, the work is not only to be ascribed to grace, but will prove in the eternal world, how much of Divine agency and how little of human instrumentality there was in anything done by me. I am sure, that if others thought of me as I think of myself—I would soon be forgotten and unnoticed. I blush over my own fame—from an entire consciousness how little I deserve it. I have all along been sensitive and jealous for the honor of God, and was alarmed and afraid lest the Master should be robbed of His glory—and the servant invested with sinful spoils.
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Men are now so busy, either with their own secularities, or with church work—that they have but little time, and therefore little opportunity, to read a profitable Christian book.
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"God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness." Heb_12:10. God must set a high value upon holiness when, in order to produce it, He puts His children whom He loves, to so much pain. It is a great mercy to grow in grace, and, when nothing else will promote it—we should be thankful even for afflictions.
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Don't puzzle yourself about the mystery of the death of your dear wife. It is God who has done it! He never does a foolish or unkind action. Submission and occupation will be the best balm for your wounded spirit. Christ's service will be your best cordial. May God comfort, sanctify and bless you in this dark dispensation. God knows what He has done; why He has done it; and how to comfort you under it.
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We cannot, for the sake of union and peace, sacrifice truth. There must be no compromise.
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Our principle defects as ministers, lie chiefly in our character as Christians. We would be better preachers, and better pastors—if we were holier men.
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I am sure that it is the gospel in all its fullness—earnestly, feelingly, and powerfully preached—which God will bless to the conversion of souls.
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My habits of social interaction have been somewhat restrained. To sit three hours in mere chit-chat, or hearing young ladies play the piano and sing—was a waste of time which I could not endure.
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That Christian laymen may be useful in the cause of the gospel, cannot be questioned; and that many of them do far more good than some preachers—is quite clear.
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We preach too little from the heart—and to the heart. We need more pathos, which flows out of intense earnestness. I am more than ever convinced that this is the kind of preaching that is needed today—a combination of the intellectual, doctrinal, experimental, and practical—sermons coming from the head through the heart; or from the heart through the head.
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There is a richness and fullness of divine truth in the old writers, which, with all their antiquated style—the modern writers lack. And oh! Their devotion—their communion with God—their sustained and elevated piety! This is what we lack—this is our deficiency!
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I intend on preaching a series of very rousing, searching sermons—"Four Last Things"—Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell.
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It is a great thing to live and labor for God and souls. This alone, is to work for immortality. But how difficult to keep the waters pure—to live for Christ alone.
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Men's minds are wholly engrossed by the things which are seen and temporal. In general, the church partakes of the spirit of the world. Worldliness, in various forms, is eating out the core of personal godliness.
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The state of individual piety is undevout and feeble. A spirit of worldliness characterizes the church; and its separation from the ungodly is less conspicuous than it ought to be. Men's minds, hearts, and hands are so full, that it is difficult, even with the themes of eternity, to gain a serious hearing—and arrest the torrent of worldliness that is flowing through society.
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I dwell much alone—but He whose company is a substitute for all others, is with me.
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What a mercy it is—that others do not know us, as we know ourselves!
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How sweet and sacred a thing, is Christian friendship. And how blissful a reflection, that it is to be perfected in heaven—and perpetuated through eternity!
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By God's grace, you are to derive spiritual benefit from your dire affliction. Have you communed with your own heart upon your bed? Have you been taking the candle of the Lord—which is His Word—and gone down into the depths of your soul, searching for besetting sins and defects? Has the gold shone in the furnace? Has the dross of earthliness been consumed? God's design in afflicting us, is that we may be partakers of His holiness. An affliction sanctified—is better than an affliction removed. Oh, let us long, intensely long, to be made more holy, spiritual, heavenly.
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We all know far more of the Bible—than we practice. The head is far in advance of the heart. It is no easy thing to be a Christian—however easy it is to be called one.
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Be eminently holy, spiritual, and heavenly men. Be examples in all these things, to the flock. You will need much wisdom, grace, and a mixture of firmness and kindness.
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It is a great mercy for me to be brought nearly to sixty years of age—without any serious mistake. I often think and say, that in looking back, I see many things which, if I could go over life again, I would correct and do better. But then again, perhaps I would commit still greater blunders; so that while I am humble—and there is much to make me so—I am thankful.
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Oh, what a life of unmerited and unexpected mercy I have enjoyed! Never, no, never was so much favor shown to one so undeserving of it! My lengthened affliction has caused me to search my heart—and oh, what strange and humbling disclosures! I thought I knew myself, but I find now, at age seventy, I have much to learn. How humbling the discoveries I have made! I need no other argument for Sovereign Grace, than the knowledge of myself—compared with the multitudinous and wondrous blessings showered upon me.
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