Intimacy

Hold Christ More Closely – JC Ryle

Let us hold to Christ more closely, love him more heartily, live for him more thoroughly, copy him more exactly, confess him more boldly, follow him more fully. Religion like this will always bring its own reward. Worldly people may laugh at it. Weak brethren may think it extreme. But it will wear well. In sickness it will bring peace. In the world to come it will give us a crown of glory that fades not away.

– JC Ryle –
from Sickness

God is a Rewarder of Them that Seek Him – Ralph Venning

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6 ESV)

He is a rewarder of them that seek him; they shall not seek in vain, if they seek in truth.

– Ralph Venning –
from Learning in Christ’s School, 1675

Discover This Love – John Bunyan

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

No Flowers Without Roots – JC Ryle

We cannot have flowers without roots, or fruit without trees. We cannot have the fruit of the Spirit, without vital union with Christ, and a new creation within.

– JC Ryle –
from Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Volume 2: Luke 6:27-38), 1856

Praying Against Idols – Andrew Bonar

Tried this morning especially to pray against idols in the shape of my books and studies. These encroach upon my direct communion with God, and need to be watched.

– Andrew Bonar –
from Andrew Bonar: Diary & Life (Saturday, September 7, 1850)