Deep thoughts and reflections on life, hope, love, forgiveness, God’s grace, charity, courage, conversion, etc. by prominent preachers.
The doctrine of the resurrection is full of joy to the bereaved. It clothes the grave with flowers and wreathes the tomb with unfading laurel. The sepulchre shines with a light brighter than the sun, and death grows fair, as we say, in full assurance of faith. “I know my brother shall arise again.” Bent … Read more
Christ is the Master of the grave. Just outside of the gate of the city of Nain, Death and Christ measured lances; and when the young man rose, Death dropped. Now we are sure of our resurrection. Oh, what a scene it was when that young man came back! The mother never expected to hear … Read more
On a summer’s day, the gentle western wind brings in all the sweets of the field and garden; and the child, overtasked by joy, comes back weary, and climbs for sport into the mother’s lap; and before he can sport, he feels the balm of rest stealing over him, and lays his curly head back … Read more
In order to hold yourselves masters of your appetites, begin early. It is no use for a man forty-five years of age beginning to say he is going to turn over a new leaf; the leaves won’t be turned then. I think, perhaps, I may be speaking discouragingly to some man who is making at … Read more
The ungodly “are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” Where—where—where? Where are they driven? The man is in health, the sun shines, the sky is calm, the world is still about him. Suddenly there is seen a little cloud the size of a man’s hand. A little signal overtakes him. The hurricane begins … Read more
I was at the Paris exhibition in 1867, and I noticed there a little oil painting, only about a foot square, and the face was the most hideous I have ever seen. On the paper attached to the painting were the words, “Sowing the Tares,” and the face looked more like a demon’s than a … Read more
Some years ago, on a grand jubilee occasion, a distinguished statesman rose up in the presence of assembled thousands, and, in reply to certain calumnious and dishonorable charges raised his hands in the vast assembly, exclaiming, “These hands are clean!” Now, if you or I, or any of our fallen race, did entertain a hope … Read more
Did not one who was as near to me almost, as flesh and blood, and who stood high both in church and in business circles, in an evil hour fall into forgeries? When he awoke to the magnitude of the transgression he would take no release, and said, “I have sinned, and I ought to … Read more
We sometimes say that punishment should be proportioned to sin. There is a sense in which that is most true and just. It is most true and just with regard to all punishment that comes from the outside. It is a law which must be obeyed by the parent, the magistrate, and every wronged or … Read more
My brother, I am afraid you may lose heaven the way Louis Phillipe lost his empire. The Parisian mob came around the Tuilleries. The national guard stood in defense of the palace, and the commander said to Louis Phillipe, “Shall I fire now? shall I order the troops to fire? With one volley we can … Read more