James Smith and was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841-1850. He also ministered with great blessing in Cheltenham. His devotional, The Believer's Daily Remembrancer, subtitled Pastor's Morning and Evening Visit, was very popular in its own day, and has received a new lease of life through recent republication.
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A Birthday Meditation
How great has been the mercy of my God to me--a poor, worthless, ill-deserving worm! I trace his goodness from my birth to the present moment.
I was born in a land of gospel light--when I might have been born in heathen darkness.
I was instructed to read God's holy word--when I might have been left like others, in nature's ignorance.
I was prese ...read
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A Kind Inquiry
"Joab said to Amasa, 'Are you in health, my brother?' Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab's hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground!" 2 Samuel 20:9-10
Kind words often proceed from cruel hearts. Hatred is frequently ...read
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A New Year's Address
James Smith, New Park Street Church, London, 1849
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!" Hebrews 13:8
Everything around us is changing and fast passing away! Nothing appears settled or secure! The old year has fled and has told its tale; a new year begins today and will introduce mercies and trials, comforts and distresses, ...read
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A Question for Professors
"Do you have a father?" Genesis 44:19
Standing at my window one day, while the cholera was raging in London, I saw two corpses carried by, followed by one little child, walking alone next the coffins, with a few neighbors behind. That child was now an orphan. Both parents had been carried off by the pestilence. The sight of that child produced ...read
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A Vessel of Mercy
"That God might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory, even us whom he has called, not of the Jews only--but also of the Gentiles." Romans 9:23, 24
The Holy Spirit has employed a variety of titles to set forth the character, and describe the privileges of the Lord's people; they are alw ...read
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A Word to the Unconverted
My dear fellow-sinner, I feel deeply concerned for your present and everlasting welfare; and with that feeling I write these lines for you. You have an immortal soul--it can never die, or cease to exist--it must live forever! You are at present in a lost state; it is not merely the case that you may be lost, you are lost now! You are a sinner again ...read
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Abundance of Grace
"Abundant grace." 2 Corinthians 4:15
"The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly." 1 Timothy 1:14
Grace IN God is the loving tendency of his nature to pity the miserable, pardon the guilty, and bless the unworthy. It is the graciousness of God. Now our God is the God of grace--the God of all grace. He is naturally inclined to sympath ...read
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An All-sufficient Savior
A poor Christian had been brought to the gates of death by disease of the heart--but, contrary to all expectation, he rallied, and was once more able to attend to his secular duties, and enjoy his Christian privileges. Just at this time his wife was seized with rheumatic fever, and laid helpless on her bed. During his own illness he had enjoyed the ...read
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An Antidote
The dispensations of divine providence are confessedly trying--and they are intended to be trying! God intends to try our faith, our patience, and our submission to his will. At times we forget this, and then we misunderstand God's design, are ready to complain of his dealings, and conduct ourselves improperly in his sight. God will not change his ...read
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An Appeal to Reason and Faith
By Elihu, God asks Job: "Should I do just as you imagine--ought I to consult your whims? Should it be according to your mind?" Job 34:33
Poor Job found his trial too great for his patience, and he complained, he fretted himself, he reflected badly on God's dealings with him, and stumbled at the dispensations of Divine Providence. How often, how ve ...read
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An Exhortation and Caution
"Be doers of the word, and not hearers only--deceiving your own selves." James 1:22
"To him that knows to do good, and does it not--to him it is sin." James 4:17
The Word of God is intended to be our daily counselor, guide, and friend. It contains all that is necessary to be known for our comfort, direction, and safety. It never flatters our va ...read
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Appearance and Reality
We are all too much taken up with appearances. We do not look beneath the surface as we should. A title, a grand equipage, a good name, large property, a splendid house, fine dress, or popular applause--attract our attention, win our admiration, and even at times excite our envy! But it should not be so. Many are titled on earth--who are despised i ...read
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Are You Anxious about Your Soul?
"John," said a gentleman the other day to a laboring man, "Are you anxious about your soul?" The speaker knew the value of the soul, and had secured the salvation of his own--by faith in Christ. Being saved himself, he was anxious that others should be saved too, and therefore he put the question. Just so, the writer of this article, having obtaine ...read
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Are You Safe for Eternity?
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves!" 2 Corinthians 13:5
There is much spurious religion in the world. Many pass for Christians--who are not. This fact places professors in solemn circumstances. When there is much counterfeit coin in circulation, people in trade are doubly cautious. They look at the proffere ...read
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Asa's Prayer
Then Asa cried to the Lord his God and said, "Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!" 2 Chronicles 14:11
"Then Asa cried to the Lord his God and said," Here is, f ...read
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Be Still
"Be still--and know that I am God!" Psalm 46:10
This most precious Psalm has been a source of blessing to many of the Lord's people. It is in general the language of one deeply taught of God, living in close communion with God, and therefore exercising strong confidence in God. Rising above second causes, God is seen working, supplying, and mak ...read
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Christ Precious
"Unto you therefore who believe--He is precious!" 1 Peter 2:7
To the spiritual mind, there is a charm in the very name of Jesus; and when graciously assisted by the presence of the Holy Comforter, we immediately conceive of something sweet, glorious and delightful, when the name of Jesus is but mentioned. It is a name that never wearies, because ...read
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Christian Liberty
"The liberty that we have in Christ Jesus" Galatians 2:4
No man by nature is free. He may boast of the freedom of his will, but it is biased by evil principles which rule his heart. He may talk loudly of his independence--but he is the slave of habit, custom, and depraved passions. The Jews were in bondage under the law, and the Gentiles were i ...read
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Cling to the Cross
The cross of Christ represents his perfect work. On the cross he finished the work the Father had given him to do. Here he finished the atonement for transgression, here he expiated sin, and here he brought in an everlasting righteousness, for all who truly believe in him.
To embrace the cross, therefore, is to receive and rest upon the perfect wo ...read
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Communion with God
The fruitful source of my misery is distance from my God; my happiness and peace spring from his presence; and yet how willing I seem to live at a sensible distance from him. Frequently Satan suggests, and my heart seems to believe, that it is vain to draw near to him, call upon him, or wait before him; but sweet experience has often proved the con ...read
