O then, for what should my soul more pray, than for a clearer and stronger faith? ‘I believe; Lord, help my unbelief!’ I have many thousand times groaned to thee under this burden of remaining darkness and unbelief; I have many thousand times thought of the evidences of Christianity, and of the necessity of a lively, powerful, active faith. I have cried to thee night and day, ‘Lord, increase my faith!’
– Richard Baxter –
from Dying Thoughts, 34
Some sins of omission are like great men, that never go without followers.
– George Swinnock –
(1627 -1673)
The glory that overflows to Christ from our daily dependence is seen in His becoming to us our daily bread. His flesh is meat indeed, his blood is drink indeed (John 6:55), and we must feed upon these continually or die. Eating is not an operation to be performed only once, but it is to be done, throughout life. Likewise, we have to go to Jesus again and again and find sustenance in him as long as life lasts.
– Charles Spurgeon –
from God Loves You, 26
Be frequent in closet prayer, and not now and then only. He will never have a yearning for closet prayer who is not frequent in closet prayer.
– Thomas Brooks –
from The Secret Key To Heaven, 183
You see, then, that the grace in the gospel is not mere persuasion and entreaty, but a powerful work of the Spirit entering into the soul and changing it, and altering the inclination of the will heavenward. We must have great notions of the work of grace. The Scripture has great words of it. It is an alternation, a change, a new man, a new creation, a new birth.
– Richard Sibbes –
from Glorious Freedom, 106
If I be convinced that there is any equity and beauty in that command which charges others to love me, forgive me, forbear with me, and restore me in meekness, why, then, should it be a grievous command that I should pay that debt of love and tenderness to others?
– Hugh Binning –
from Christian Love, 38
A great faith is like the anchor or cable of a ship that holds it steady in the midst of storms. A Christian who is steeled with this heroic faith is settled in the mysteries of religion. The Spirit of God has so firmly printed heavenly truths upon his heart that you may we well remove the sun out of the firmament as remove him from those holy principles he has absorbed. Behold here, a pillar in the temple of God (Rev. 3:12).
– Thomas Watson –
from The Lords Supper, 70
If you want to scatter your doubts, look at the blood; and if you want to increase your doubts look at yourself. You will get doubts enough for years by being occupied with yourself only a few days.
– DL Moody –
A thorough knowledge of the Bible is the foundation of all clear views of religion. He that is well-grounded in it will not generally be found a waverer, and carried about by every wind of new doctrine. Any system of training which does not make a knowledge of Scripture the first thing is unsafe and unsound.
– JC Ryle –
from The Duties of Parents