Flesh – Carnal Nature – Selfishness

Two Different Types of Fearing Sin – Andrew Willet

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:8-10 ESV)

He was more ashamed of his nakedness than of his sin. Thus do many fear rather to offend because of public shame than for any consciousness of sin just as Cain grieved more because he was made a vagabond than because he had killed his brother.

– Andrew Willet –
1562-1621

Don’t Run Into Sin – Thomas Watson

Many, to rid themselves out of trouble, run themselves into sin. When God has bound them with the cords of affliction, they go to the devil to loosen their bands. Better it is to stay in affliction than to sin ourselves out of it.

– Thomas Watson –

A Profession of Religion Without Practice – JC Ryle

I must honestly declare my conviction that, since the days of the Reformation, there never has been so much profession of religion without practice, so much talking about God without walking with Him, so much hearing God’s words without doing them, as there is in England at this present date. Never were there so many empty tubs and tinkling cymbals! Never was there so much formality and so little reality. The whole tone of men’s minds on what constitutes practical Christianity seems lowered. The old golden standard of the behaviour which becomes a Christian man or woman appears debased and degenerated. You may see scores of religious people (so-called) continually doing things which in days gone by would have been thought utterly inconsistent with vital religion. … The ancient tenderness of conscience about such things seems dying away and becoming extinct, like the dodo; and when you venture to remonstrate with young communicants who indulge in them, they only stare at you as an old-fashioned, narrow-minded, fossilized person, and say, “Where is the harm?” In short, laxity of ideas amoung young men, and “fastness” and levity among young women, are only too common characteristics of the rising generation of Christian professors.

– JC Ryle –
1816-1900 AD

Guard Against All Worldly Distractions – William Wilberforce

To so please God, it is also essential to guard against all the distractions of worldly cares. It needs the cultivation of heavenly-mindedness and a spirit of continual prayer. It requires you to watch incessantly over the workings of your own deceitful heart.

– William Wilberforce –
from Real Christianity, 1797

Falling Into Water – Thomas Watson

It is not falling into water that drowns, but lying in it. It is not falling into sin that damns, but lying in it without repentance.

– Thomas Watson –
from The Doctrine of Repentance, 1668

Set Your Heart on the Riches of Grace – Isaac Ambrose

O Christian, never be proud of things that are so transient, injurious, and uncertain as the riches of this evil world! But set your heart on the true and durable riches of grace in Christ Jesus.

– Isaac Ambrose – 

Playing His Song – Richard Wurmbrand

When the Messiah comes, many will try to play their own songs on His harp. The results will be tragically dissonant. On the Messiah’s harp, you must play His own song — the song of His eternal glory with God; the song of His humiliation as a babe in a manger; the song of a life in sorrow, opposition and poverty on Earth; the song of His being whipped and crucified and buried; and finally the song of His resurrection, ascension and enthronement in heaven. “Then the harp will give a beautiful sound. His congregation will shine like a sun.”

– Richard Wurmbrand –

To Understand God You Must Resemble Him – DL Moody

Those who resemble God are the most likely to understand God. If a man is not willing to turn from sin, he will not know God’s will. God will not reveal His secrets to him. But, if a man is willing to turn from sin, he will be surprised to see how the light will come in!

– DL Moody –
from The Way to God