Though the love that is in Him is essential to His nature, and can vary no more than God himself: yet we see not this love but by the fruits of it, nor can it otherwise be discerned. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). We must then betake ourselves to the discoveries of this love.
– John Bunyan –
from All Loves Excelling, 1692
The best prayers have often more groans than words.
– John Bunyan –
The great God, the former of all things, taketh part with them that fear him, and engage themselves to walk in his ways, of love, and respect, they bear unto him; so that such may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6).
– John Bunyan –
from All Loves Excelling, 1692
Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.
– John Bunyan –
Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.
– John Bunyan –
When thou prayest, rather let thy heart be without words, than thy words without thy heart.
– John Bunyan –
Prayer is sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to His Word, for the good of the church, within submission in faith to the will of God.
– John Bunyan –
It is but a vain thing to talk of going to heaven, if thou let thy heart be encumbered with those things that would hinder. Would you not say that such a man would be in danger of losing, though he run, if he fill his pockets with stones, hang heavy garments on his shoulders, and great lumpish shoes on his feet? So it is here. Thou talkest of going to heaven, and yet fillest thy pockets with stones; that is, fillest thy heart with this world; lettest that hang on thy shoulders with its profits and pleasures. Alas, alas! thou art widely mistaken. If thou intendest to win, thou must strip, thou must lay aside every weight, thou must be temperate in all things. Thou must so run.
– John Bunyan –
He did not only die, but died such a death, as indeed cannot be expressed. He was content to be counted the sinner: yea, to be counted the sin of the sinner, nor could this but be odious to so holy a Lamb as he was, yet willing to be this and thus for that love that he bare to men.
– John Bunyan –
from All Loves Excelling, 1692