Coming up From the Wilderness- From Volume 5

For My New Year's Resolution!

My prayer  for you and me today is that God would lavish our hearts with His deep tenderness, and saturate our soul with His love and patience, that He would do whatever it takes to refine and mold  us completely to His image.... 

To find out why this short prayer, read January 1 post

This is an excerpt from the new uploaded Kindle which contains all the 11 volumes of J. C. Philpot's quotes

Download This Free Kindle HERE 

"Who is this coming up from the wilderness,

 leaning upon her Beloved?" Song of Solomon 8:5

To come up from the wilderness, is to come up out 

of OURSELVES; for we are ourselves the wilderness. 

It is our wilderness heart that makes the world 

what it is to us . . .

  our own barren frames; 

  our own bewildered minds; 

  our own worthlessness and inability;

  our own lack of spiritual fruitfulness;

  our own trials, temptations, and exercises;

  our own hungering and thirsting after righteousness.

In a word, it is what passes in our own bosom 

that makes the world to us a dreary desert. 

Carnal people find the world no wilderness. It is an 

Eden to them! Or at least they try hard to make it so. 

They seek all their pleasure from, and build all their 

happiness upon it. Nor do they dream of any other 

harvest of joy and delight, but what may be repaid 

in this 'happy valley', where youth, health, and good 

spirits are ever imagining new scenes of gratification.

But the child of grace, exercised with a thousand 

difficulties, passing through many temporal and 

spiritual sorrows, and inwardly grieved with his own 

lack of heavenly fruitfulness, finds the wilderness 

within. 

But he still comes up out of it, and this he does 

by looking upward with believing eyes to Him who 

alone can bring him out. 

He comes up out of his own righteousness, and 

shelters himself under Christ's righteousness.

He comes up out of his own strength, 

and trusts to Christ's strength.

He comes up out of his own wisdom, 

and hangs upon Jesus' wisdom.

He comes up out of his own tempted, tried, 

bewildered, and perplexed condition, to find rest 

and peace in the finished work of the Son of God.

And thus he comes up out of the wilderness of 

self, not actually, but experimentally. Every desire 

of his soul to be delivered from his 'wilderness

sickening sight' that he has of sin and of himself 

as a sinner. Every aspiration after Jesus, every 

longing look, earnest sigh, piteous cry, or laboring 

groan, all are a coming up from the wilderness. 

His turning his back upon an ungodly world; renouncing 

its pleasures, its honors, its pride, and its ambition; 

seeking communion with Jesus as his chief delight; 

and accounting all things but loss and rubbish for 

the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus his Lord 

as revealed to his soul by the power of God; this,

also, is coming up from the wilderness.

When we gaze upon the lifeless corpse

From the cradle to the coffin, affliction and sorrow are

the appointed lot of man. He comes into the world with 

a wailing cry, and he often leaves it with an agonizing 

groan! Rightly is this earth called "a valley of tears," for 

it is wet with them in infancy, youth, manhood, and old 

age. In every land, in every climate, scenes of misery 

and wretchedness everywhere meet the eye, besides 

those deeper griefs and heart-rending sorrows which lie 

concealed from all observation. So that we may well say 

of the life of man that, like Ezekiel's scroll, it is "written 

with lamentations, and mourning and woe." 

But this is not all. The scene does not end here! 

We see up to death, but we do not see beyond death. 

To see a man die without Christ is like standing 

at a distance, and seeing a man fall from a lofty 

cliff—we see him fall, but we do not see the crash 

on the rocks below. 

So we see an unsaved man die, but when we gaze 

upon the lifeless corpse, we do not see how his soul 

falls with a mighty crash upon the rock of God's eternal 

justice! When his temporal trials come to a close, his 

eternal sorrows only begin! After weeks or months of 

sickness and pain, the pale, cold face may lie in calm 

repose under the coffin lid; when the soul is only just 

entering upon an eternity of woe! 

But is it all thus dark and gloomy both in life and death? 

Is heaven always hung with a canopy of black? Are there 

no beams of light, no rays of gladness, that shine through 

these dark clouds of affliction, misery, and woe that are 

spread over the human race?

Yes! there is one point in this dark scene out of which

beams of light and rays of glory shine! "God did not 

appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation 

through our Lord Jesus Christ."  1 Thessalonians 5:9

There, on the other side, is my solitary soul

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gains the

 whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what can

 a man give in exchange for his soul?" Mt. 16:26

Here is my scale of profit and loss.

I have a soul to be saved or lost.

What then shall I give in exchange for my soul? 

What am I profited if I gain the 

whole world and lose my soul? 

This deep conviction of a soul to be saved 

or lost lies at the root of all our religion. 

Here, on one side, is the WORLD and all . . .

  its profits 

  its pleasures,

  its charms,

  its smiles,

  its winning ways,

  its comforts,

  its luxuries,

  its honors, 

to gain which is the grand struggle of human life.

There, on the other side, is my solitary SOUL,

to live after death, forever and ever, when the 

world and all its pleasures and profits will sink 

under the wrath of the Almighty.

And this dear soul of mine, my very self, my

only self, my all, must be lost or saved. 

Even your own relatives think you are almost insane

"The Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, 

 because it neither sees Him nor knows Him." 

    John 14:17

The world—that is, the world dead in sin, and the 

world dead in profession—men destitute of the life 

and power of God—must have something that it can 

see. And, as heavenly things can only be seen by 

heavenly eyes, they cannot receive the things which 

are invisible. 

Now this explains why a religion that presents itself 

with a degree of beauty and grandeur to the natural 

eye will always be received by the world; while a . . .

  spiritual,

  internal,

  heartfelt and

  experimental 

religion will always be rejected.

The world can receive a religion that consists of . . .

  forms, 

  rites, and 

  ceremonies. 

These are things seen.

Beautiful buildings,

painted windows,

pealing organs,

melodious choirs,

the pomp and parade of an earthly priesthood,

and a whole apparatus of 'religious ceremony', 

carry with them something that the natural eye can 

see and admire. The world receives all this 'external 

religion' because it is suitable to the natural mind 

and intelligible to the reasoning faculties.

But the . . .

  quiet, 

  inward, 

  experimental, 

  divine religion,

which presents no attractions to the outward eye, but 

is wrought in the heart by a divine operation—the world 

cannot receive this—because it presents nothing that 

the natural eye can rest upon with pleasure, or is 

adapted to gratify their general idea of what religion 

is or should be.

Do not marvel, then, that worldly professors despise a 

religion wrought in the soul by the power of God. Do not 

be surprised if even your own relatives think you are 

almost insane, when you speak of the consolations of 

the Spirit, or of the teachings of God in your soul. They 

cannot receive these things, for they have no experience 

of them; and being such as are altogether opposed to 

the carnal mind, they reject them with enmity and scorn.

Trouble, Sorrow, and Affliction - From Volume 4

For My New Year's Resolution!

My prayer  is that we would acquire Godly Characteristics which come only through pruning and adversities. May we respond to Christ with obedient and humble hearts and without grumbling.

To find out why this short prayer, read January 1 post)

This is an excerpt from the new uploaded Kindle which contains all the 11 volumes of J. C. Philpot's quotes

"And He led them forth by the right way, 
 that they might go to a city of habitation."
     Psalm 107:7

Those very times when God's people think 
they are faring ill, may be the seasons when 
they are really faring well. For instance, when 
their souls are bowed down with trouble, it 
often seems to them that they are faring ill. 
God's hand appears to be gone out against 
them. Yet perhaps they never fare better than
when under these circumstances of trouble,
sorrow, and affliction.
These things wean them from the world. 

If their heart and affections were going out 
after idols—they instrumentally bring them back. 

If they were hewing out broken cisterns 
—they dash them all to pieces. 

If they were setting up, and bowing down to 
idols in the chambers of imagery, affliction 
and trouble smite them to pieces before their
eyes—take away their gods—and leave them 
no refuge but the Lord God of hosts. 

So that when a child of God thinks he is faring very 
ill, because burdened with sorrows, temptations, 
and afflictions—he is never faring so well. The darkest 
clouds in due time will break, the most puzzling 
enigmas will sooner or later be unriddled by the 
blessed Spirit interpreting them—and the darkest 
providences cleared up—and we shall see that God 
is in them all—leading and guiding us by the right 
way, that we may go to a city of habitation.


If you are at home in the world

"We are here for only a moment, sojourners and 
 strangers in the land as our ancestors were 
 before us. Our days on earth are like a shadow, 
 gone so soon without a trace." 1 Chron. 29:15

If you possess the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and 
Jacob, you, like them, confess that you are a stranger;
and your confession springs out of a believing heart 
and a sincere experience. 

You feel yourself a stranger in this ungodly world.

It is not your element. 

It is not your home. 

You are in it during God's appointed time, 
but you wander up and down this world . . .
  a stranger to its company,
  a stranger to its maxims,
  a stranger to its fashions,
  a stranger to its principles,
  a stranger to its motives,
  a stranger to its lusts, 
  a stranger to its inclinations—and all in which 
this world moves as in its native element. 

Grace has separated you by God's sovereign power,
that though you are in the world, you are not of it. 

I can tell you plainly if you are at home in the 
world—if the things of time and sense are your 
element—if you feel one with . . .
    the company of the world, 
    the maxims of the world, 
    the fashions of the world, and 
    the principles of the world, 
grace has not reached your heart—the faith 
of God's elect does not dwell in your bosom. 

The first effect of grace is to separate. 

It was so in the case of Abraham. He was called 
by grace to leave the land of his fathers, and go 
out into a land that God would show him. And so 
God's own word to His people is now, "Come out 
from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, 
and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive 
you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall 
be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 

Separation, separation, separation from the world;
is the grand distinguishing mark of vital godliness. 

There may be indeed separation of body where there 
is no separation of heart. But what I mean is . . .
  separation of heart,
  separation of principle,
  separation of affection,
  separation of spirit. 
And if grace has touched your heart, and you are 
a partaker of the faith of God's elect—you are a 
stranger in the world—and will make it manifest 
by your life and conduct that you are such.



From a burning hell—to a blissful heaven!

"I consider that our present sufferings are
 not worth comparing with the glory that
 will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18

What is to be compared with the salvation of the
soul? What are—riches, honors, health, long life? 
What are all the pleasures which the world can 
offer, sin promise, or the flesh enjoy? What is 
all that men call good or great? What is everything 
which the eye has seen, or the ear heard, or has 
entered into the carnal heart of man—put side by 
side with being saved in the Lord Jesus Christ 
with an everlasting salvation? 

For consider what we are saved FROM, 
as well as what we are saved UNTO. 

From a burning hell—to a blissful heaven!

From endless wrath—to eternal glory!

From the dreadful company of devils and damned 
spirits, mutually tormenting and tormented—to
the blessed companionship of the glorified saints, 
all perfectly conformed in body and soul to the image 
of Christ, with thousands and tens of thousands of 
holy angels—and, above all, to seeing the glorious 
Son of God as he is, in all the perfection of His beauty, 
and all the ravishments of His presence and love. 

To be done forever with . . .
  all the sorrows, troubles, and afflictions of this life;
  all the pains and aches of the present clay tabernacle;
  all the darkness, bondage, and misery of the body of sin and death.

To be perfectly holy in body and soul, being in both 
without spot, or blemish, or any such thing, and ever 
to enjoy uninterrupted communion with God! 

This Hard School of Painful Experience - Volume 3

For My New Year's Resolution!

My prayer  is that we would learn to draw near to God and stand on the authority of the truth, the whole truth of His word. 

To find out why this short prayer, read January 1 post) 

This is an excerpt from the new uploaded Kindle which contains all the 11 volumes of J. C. Philpot's quotes

Download This Free Kindle HERE 

In times of trial and darkness, the saints and servants 
of God are instructed. They see and feel what the flesh 
really is, how alienated from the life of God—they learn 
in whom all their strength and sufficiency lie—they are 
taught that in them, that is, in their flesh, dwells no 
good thing—that no exertions of their own can maintain 
in strength and vigor the life of God—and that all they 
are and have, all they believe, know, feel, and enjoy, 
with all their ability, usefulness, gifts, and grace—flow 
from the pure, sovereign grace—the rich, free, undeserved, 
yet unceasing goodness and mercy of God. 

They learn in this hard school of painful experience 
their emptiness and nothingness—and that without Christ 
indeed they can do nothing. They thus become clothed 
with humility, that lovely, becoming garb—cease from 
their own strength and wisdom—and learn experimentally 
that Christ is, and ever must be, all in all to them, and 
all in all in them.


Many difficulties, obstacles, and hindrances

"Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press
 on to know Him!" Hosea 6:3

The expression, "press on," implies that there are many 
difficulties, obstacles, and hindrances in a man's way, 
which keep him back from "knowing the Lord." Now the 
work of the Spirit in his soul is to carry him on in spite 
of all these obstacles—to lead him forward—to keep 
alive in him the fear of God—to strengthen him in his 
inner man—to drop in those hopes—to communicate 
that inward grace—so that he is compelled to press on. 

Sometimes he seems driven, 
sometimes drawn, 
sometimes led, and 
sometimes carried, 
but in one way or another the Spirit of God so 
works upon him that, though he scarcely knows 
how—he still "presses on." 

His very burdens make him groan for deliverance—his 
very temptations cause him to cry for help—the very 
difficulty and ruggedness of the road make him want 
to be carried every step—the very intricacy of the path 
compels him to cry out for a guide—so that the Spirit 
working in the midst of, and under, and through every 
difficulty and discouragement, still bears him through, 
and carries him on—and thus brings him through every 
trial and trouble and temptation and obstacle, until He 
sets him in glory. 

It is astonishing to me how our souls are kept alive.
The Christian is a marvel to himself. Carried on, and 
yet so secretly—worked upon, and yet so mysteriously;
and yet led on, guided, and supported through so many 
difficulties and obstacles—that he is a miracle of mercy
as he is carried on amid all . . .
  difficulties,
  obstacles,
  trials, and
  temptations.

Preserving Grace Before Regeneration - Volume 2

For My New Year's Resolution!

My prayer  is that God would take away all unholy dispositions in my heart and in yours

To find out why this short prayer, read January 1 post) 

This is an excerpt from the new uploaded Kindle which contains all the 11 volumes of J. C. Philpot's quotes

Download This Free Kindle HERE  

Preserving grace before regeneration

"To those who have been called,
 who are loved by God the Father
 and preserved in Jesus Christ."
    Jude 1

What a mercy it is for God's people that before
they have a 'vital union' with Christ—before they
are grafted into Him experimentally—they have an
'eternal, immanent union' with Him before all worlds.
It is by virtue of this eternal union that they come
into the world . . .
   at such a time,
   at such a place,
   from such parents,
   under such circumstances,
as God has appointed.

It is by virtue of this eternal union that the circumstances
of their lives are ordained. By virtue of this eternal union
they are preserved in Christ before they are effectually
called. 

They cannot die until God has brought about a vital
union with Christ!

Whatever sickness they may pass through—whatever 
injuries they may be exposed to—whatever perils assault
them on sea or land—die they will not, die they cannot;
until God's purposes are executed in bringing them into
a vital union with the Son of His love.

Thus, this eternal union watched over every circumstance
of their birth, watched over their childhood, watched over
their manhood, watched over them until the appointed
time and spot, when "the God of all grace," according to
His eternal purpose, was pleased to quicken their souls,
and thus bring about an experimental union with the Lord
of life and glory.