Friday, April 12, 2013

"For To Me, To Live Is CHRIST And To Die Is Gain!"

A welcome guest!
("A Few Sighs From Hell" or "The Groans of the Damned Soul" 
by that poor and contemptible servant of JESUS CHRIST, John Bunyan, 1658. 

Being an exposition of Luke 16:19-31, 
concerning the Rich Man and the Beggar
wherein is revealed the lamentable 
state of the Damned--
their cries, and their desires in their 
distresses, with the determined 
judgment of GOD upon them. 

A good warning word to lost sinners, 
both old and young, to seek salvation 
by faith in JESUS CHRIST--
lest they come into the same 
place of torment.)

"Although a wicked man commits 
hundred crimes and still lives a long time--
yet surely I know that it will be well 
with GOD-fearing men, who are 
reverent before GOD!" 
Ecclesiastes 8:12

Believer, 
it will be well with you!
Consider how safe, how sure, 
how happy are you!
For when others go to Hell--
you must go to Heaven!
When others go to the devil--
you must go to GOD!
When as others go to eternal prison--
you must be set at liberty, and at ease!
When others must roar 
for sorrow of heart--
you shall sing for 
the joy of heart!

Consider, you must have . . .
all your well-spent life to follow you--
instead of all your sins;
the glorious blessings of the gospel--
instead of the dreadful curses and 
condemnations of the law;
the blessing of the loving FATHER--
instead of a fiery sentence 
from the righteous JUDGE.

Let death come when it will, 
it can do you no harm; for it 
will be but only a passage . . .
   out of a prison--into a palace;
   out of a sea of troubles--
into a haven of rest;
   out of a crowd of enemies--
into an innumerable company 
of true, loving, and faithful friends;
   out of shame, reproach, and contempt--
into exceeding great and eternal glory!

For death shall not hurt you 
with his sting, nor bite you 
with his soul-murdering teeth; 
but shall be a welcome guest to you--
in that it is sent to free you from 
your troubles which you are in, 
while here in this poor world.

"For to me, to live is CHRIST and
to die is gain!" Philippians 1:21

"I desire to depart and be with CHRIST, 
which is better by far!" Philippians 1:23
    
 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

GraceGems has published Timothy Shay Arthur's superb short article,
"Three New Years Eves".

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