Day Unto Day by E. Littleton, Jr

PREFACE

Though even in very early youth I have reason to believe the seeds of grace were in my heart, it was not till beyond my 40th year that the Lord enabled me to get past that portion of His word, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). Satan, by his own methods—and these are only fully known to God and myself—successfully closed my mouth till then. But at last, as my hope is, the word of the Word went forth with omnipotent power concerning him, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further" (Job 38:11). The mouth which had been for so many long years closed, and unable to confess to a heart-conscious reliance of faith upon God, I trust had then the fetters broken from it by the same power; and it has since been my desire to exalt the mercy of Him "who remembered me in my low estate" (Psa. 136:23); of Him "who hath delivered, and doth deliver; in whom I trust that He will yet deliver" ( 2 Cor. 1:10). This is now some years ago; and my heart has felt sensibly drawn, with many seasons of sweet dependence upon Him, to attempt the solemn task of writing the following series of meditations upon the Word of His Truth.

We have ourselves, and daily read at our family gatherings around the throne of grace from, two or three series of daily meditations upon spiritual truth by well-known godly men. These have been read year after year; and, though change (even if to less worthy instrumentality), after which these might with renewed profit be again returned to.*

However, he has felt led to pen and publish these thoughts, with many a humbled season at the throne of grace concerning his unworthy attempts. His chief encouragement to hope in the matter has been a from time to time sweet and heart-softening sense of the Lord's presence on such occasions, as well as at many seasons whilst writing the meditations themselves; his heart having been sometimes sensibly melted in the dust whilst dwelling upon and endeavouring to write concerning the mercy and goodness of the Lord to sinners so signally unworthy of His love.

The seasons of these contemplations have often been sweet to him; and his at times hopeful prayer has therefore been that they may—by a Divine power outside of himself—be made so to some other poor sinners seeking the Lord in meditation on His goodness, and upon their hopes in an everlasting salvation. Under these circumstances they are now committed into His gracious hands to do with them as shall be in accordance with His sovereign purposes, and the good pleasure of His will.

Amongst his friends, and perhaps others unknown, it may possibly be observed that there is found in certain of these meditations the substance of some of the writer's unworthy remarks before the Lord's people; but he has not felt justified in excluding them on that account. It is hoped, indeed, that perhaps that which has been with many fears and prayers attempted before Him in the sanctuary, may not be disowned by the Lord for some humble purpose even in the present volume. With these, and a few other slight exceptions, the contents have been written entirely for these pages.

The notes (at the end) of the remarks upon the source of the believer's strength, dealing as they do with the power of God running through the Christian's life and experience, seemed a perhaps not unfitting conclusion to a volume of the present kind.

As will be seen, I have written a few of the meditations in the form of verse. In former, and comparatively early years (being then much taken up with literary pursuits), I was led largely into the composition of poetry on natural themes, much of which I would now, if possible, gladly recall from print. The present verses I must commit—and what a blessed change to be able to do so!—into the hands of the living God, whose name, I trust, in the words of the poet, may evermore—

"...the theme of my son, The joy of my heart, and the boast of my tongue."

And now,having made these necessary explanations, may the covenant God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, condescend to take into His gracious keeping these humble pages, and to forgive and overrule the weaknesses of so unworthy a writer.

Yours in the hope of the gospel of the grace of God,—E. Littleton, Jr.

Chapel House
Crowborough,
January 1906.

* [Some of these are I think also out of print, and therefore now unobtainable]

December 11, 2003

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Shiloh Online Library is pleased to make available this fine devotional by E. Littleton, Jr.

Our research shows the author to be the son of Ebenezer Littleton, who was pastor of the Forest Fold Baptist Chapel in Crowborough, England. Ebenezer Littleton pastored that church from 1868 to 1920.

If you should have better information regarding the author, please pass it along to us.

This work was originally published in Sussex and is dated 1906.

PREFACE

Though even in very early youth I have reason to believe the seeds of grace were in my heart, it was not till beyond my 40th year that the Lord enabled me to get past that portion of His word, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). Satan, by his own methods—and these are only fully known to God and myself—successfully closed my mouth till then. But at last, as my hope is, the word of the Word went forth with omnipotent power concerning him, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further" (Job 38:11). The mouth which had been for so many long years closed, and unable to confess to a heart-conscious reliance of faith upon God, I trust had then the fetters broken from it by the same power; and it has since been my desire to exalt the mercy of Him "who remembered me in my low estate" (Psa. 136:23); of Him "who hath delivered, and doth deliver; in whom I trust that He will yet deliver" ( 2 Cor. 1:10). This is now some years ago; and my heart has felt sensibly drawn, with many seasons of sweet dependence upon Him, to attempt the solemn task of writing the following series of meditations upon the Word of His Truth.

We have ourselves, and daily read at our family gatherings around the throne of grace from, two or three series of daily meditations upon spiritual truth by well-known godly men. These have been read year after year; and, though change (even if to less worthy instrumentality), after which these might with renewed profit be again returned to.*

However, he has felt led to pen and publish these thoughts, with many a humbled season at the throne of grace concerning his unworthy attempts. His chief encouragement to hope in the matter has been a from time to time sweet and heart-softening sense of the Lord's presence on such occasions, as well as at many seasons whilst writing the meditations themselves; his heart having been sometimes sensibly melted in the dust whilst dwelling upon and endeavouring to write concerning the mercy and goodness of the Lord to sinners so signally unworthy of His love.

The seasons of these contemplations have often been sweet to him; and his at times hopeful prayer has therefore been that they may—by a Divine power outside of himself—be made so to some other poor sinners seeking the Lord in meditation on His goodness, and upon their hopes in an everlasting salvation. Under these circumstances they are now committed into His gracious hands to do with them as shall be in accordance with His sovereign purposes, and the good pleasure of His will.

Amongst his friends, and perhaps others unknown, it may possibly be observed that there is found in certain of these meditations the substance of some of the writer's unworthy remarks before the Lord's people; but he has not felt justified in excluding them on that account. It is hoped, indeed, that perhaps that which has been with many fears and prayers attempted before Him in the sanctuary, may not be disowned by the Lord for some humble purpose even in the present volume. With these, and a few other slight exceptions, the contents have been written entirely for these pages.

The notes (at the end) of the remarks upon the source of the believer's strength, dealing as they do with the power of God running through the Christian's life and experience, seemed a perhaps not unfitting conclusion to a volume of the present kind.

As will be seen, I have written a few of the meditations in the form of verse. In former, and comparatively early years (being then much taken up with literary pursuits), I was led largely into the composition of poetry on natural themes, much of which I would now, if possible, gladly recall from print. The present verses I must commit—and what a blessed change to be able to do so!—into the hands of the living God, whose name, I trust, in the words of the poet, may evermore—

"...the theme of my son, The joy of my heart, and the boast of my tongue."

And now,having made these necessary explanations, may the covenant God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, condescend to take into His gracious keeping these humble pages, and to forgive and overrule the weaknesses of so unworthy a writer.

Yours in the hope of the gospel of the grace of God,—E. Littleton, Jr.

Chapel House
Crowborough,
January 1906.

* [Some of these are I think also out of print, and therefore now unobtainable]

December 11, 2003