Before conversion, the man made light of Christ, minded his farm, friends, merchandise, more than Christ; now, Christ is to him as his necessary food, his daily bread, the life of his heart, the staff of his life. His great desire is, that Christ may be magnified in him.
– Joseph Alleine –
from A Sure Guide to Heaven, 1671
Satan trembles, when he sees
the weakest saint upon his knees.
– William Cowper –
from the hymn What Various Hindrances We Meet, 1779
“Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
(2 Peter 3:18)
The man who has nothing more than a kind of Sunday religion—whose Christianity is like his Sunday clothes, put on once a week, and then laid aside—such a man cannot, of course, be expected to care about “growth in grace.” He knows nothing about such matters. “They are foolishness to him” (1 Corinthians 2:14). But to everyone who is in downright earnest about his soul, and hungers and thirsts after spiritual life, the question ought to come home with searching power. Do we make progress in our religion? Do we grow?
– JC Ryle –
1816-1900
The fear of God is a Christian’s safety. He is invulnerable; nothing can hurt him. Plunder him of his money, he carries a treasure about him of which he cannot be robbed (Isa. 33:6). Cast him into prison his conscience is free; kill his body, it shall rise again. He who has on this breastplate of God’s fear may be shot at, but can never be shot through.
– Thomas Watson –
from The Great Gain of Godliness, 1682
A man whose bones are filled with marrow, and his veins with good blood does not complain of the cold as others do. So a gracious heart, having the Spirit of God within him, and his heart filled with grace has that within him that makes him find contentment.
– Jeremiah Burroughs –
from The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, 1648
O, let the place of secret prayer become to me the most beloved spot on earth.
– Andrew Murray –
If you think you can walk in holiness without keeping up perpetual fellowship with Christ, you have made a great mistake. If you would be holy, you must live close to Jesus.
– Charles Spurgeon –
Have you ever stood on the same plot of ground with the publican, crying — God be merciful to me a sinner?
– William Tiptaft –
Many mourn for their sins that do not truly repent of them, weep bitterly for them, and yet continue in love and league with them.
– Matthew Henry –