WILLIAM GURNALL - Christian in Complete Armor    

                                

 The trials of life are to prove what we are, to see

if we are fitted for larger things. We are tested in

the use of the ten talents to prove whether we are

fitted to rule the ten cities. The rope is tested by a

weight, not to break it, but to see if it is fitted to hold

up more precious things. The ship is tested, not to

destroy it, but to see if it is strong enough to carry

costly freight and precious lives through the storm.

2. The meaning of trial is not only to test worthiness

but to increase it, as the oak tree is not only tested by

the storms, but toughened by them. "The fire doth

not only discover which is true gold, but makes the

true gold more pure."       —  Wm.  Gurnall.

"But noble souls through dust and heat

Rise from disaster and defeat 

The stronger." — Longfellow.

 WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD. — a Word from Charles Spurgeon:

"I have read of one who dreamed a dream, when in great distress of mind, about religion. He thought he stood in the outer court of heaven, and he saw a glorious host marching up, singing sweet hymns and bearing the banners of victory, and they passed by him through the gate, and when they vanished he heard in the distance sweet strains of music. ' Who are they ?' he asked. ' They are the goodly fellowship of the prophets, who have gone to be with God.' And he heaved a deep sigh as he said, ' Alas, I am not one of them, and never shall be ; I cannot enter there.' By and by there came another band, equally lovely in appearance, and equally triumphant, and robed in white. They passed within the portals, and again were shouts of welcome heard within. ' Who are they?'  he asked. '' They are the goodly fellowship of the apostles.' he said, 'I belong not to that fellowship, and cannot enter there.' He still waited and lingered, in the hope that he might get in ; but the next multitude didn't encourage him, for they were a noble army of martyrs. He could not go with them, nor wave their palm branches. At last, as he walked, he saw a larger host than all the rest put together, marching and singing most melodiously, and in front walked a woman that was a sinner, and the thief that died on the cross, hard by the Saviour ; and he thought : ' There will be no shouting about them.' But to his astonishment, it seemed as if all heaven was rent with seven fold shouts as they passed in. And the angel said to him : ' These are they that are mighty sinners saved by mighty grace.' And then he said: 'Blessed be God, I can go in with them.' And so he awoke.

Blessed be God, you and I too can go in with that company. I cannot

hope to go in anywhere but with that company. Such is my own sense

of how I expect to enter heaven, and we will go together, brother sin

ner or sister sinner, trusting in the precious blood and washed in the

blood of the Lamb. God grant it may be so." — Spurgeon,