If, as the Psalmist says, “he made us, and not we ourselves” (Psa. 100:3), shall we think that we have a hand in making ourselves again? Will God allow his glory to be encroached upon by intercessions of saints’ merits, and satisfaction, and free will? Grace is not glorious if we add the least thing of our own to it.
– Richard Sibbes –
from Glorious Freedom, 1639
Oh that you might have such a strong love for perishing sinners that you will put up with their rebuffs and rebukes, and say to them, “Strike me if you will, but hear me; ridicule me, but still I will plead with you; cast me under your feet as though I were the offscouring of all things, but at any rate, I will not let you perish, if it be in my power to warn you of your danger.”
– Charles Spurgeon –
from Council for Christian Workers
Afflictions add to the saints’ glory. The more the diamond is cut, the more it sparkles; the heavier the saints’ cross is, the heavier shall be their crown.
– Thomas Watson –
Remember that secret prayer, reading the word of God, watchfulness, and self-examination are the great means of preserving comfort in religion, and of growing in grace. In proportion as you are exact and faithful in these, such usually will be your inward peace, and the safety of your state. Unite them all together, and never cease to practice them while you live.
– Ashbel Green –
1762 –1848
A man whose right hand was withered came to learn from Christ (see Luke 6:6). Whether he had any expectation to be healed by him does not appear. But those that would be cured by the grace of Christ must be willing to learn the doctrine of Christ.
– Matthew Henry –
The most ordinary way by which many are brought to Christ, is by a clear and discernible work of the law, and humiliation; which we generally call the spirit of bondage. … But there is a conviction of sin, an awakening of conscience, and work of humiliation, which as we shall point out, rarely miscarries, or fails of a gracious issue, but ordinarily doth resolve into the Spirit of adoption, and a gracious work of God’s Spirit.
– William Guthrie –
from The Christians Great Interest, 1658
Let us discern what is good and pleasing and acceptable in the sight of the one who created us. Let us contemplate the blood of Christ and note how precious it is to his Father, because its outpouring for our salvation has brought the grace of repentance to all the world.
– Clement –
from The Wisdom of the Apostolic Fathers
The teaching of this and that opinion may please a man’s fancy, but it is only the preaching of Christ that changes the heart, that conquers the heart, that turns the heart. Peter, by preaching a crucified Christ, converts three thousand souls at once.
– Thomas Brooks –
Keep the soul open to entertain the Holy Ghost, for he will bring in continually fresh forces to subdue corruption.
– Richard Sibbs –
from The Bruised Reed, 1630