IT is a sad thing when Christians borrow spectacles to behold their weak brethren’s weaknesses and refuse looking glasses wherein they may see their weak brethren’s graces.
Zeal is like fire; in the chimney it is one of the best servants but out of the chimney it is one of the worst masters.
Zeal, kept by knowledge and wisdom in its proper place is a choice servant of Christ and the saints but zeal not bounded by wisdom and knowledge is the highway to undo all and to make a hell for many at once.
The strongest creature, the lion, and the wisest, the serpent if they be dormant are as easily surprised as the weakest.
Faith is like a silver thread, that runs through a chain of pearls; it puts strength and vivacity into all other graces. Those sins shall never be a Christian’s bane that are now his greatest burden.
It is not falling into water but lying in it that drowns.
A man may be truly holy and yet may not have assurance that he shall be eternally happy. His estate may be good yet he not see it: he may be in a safe condition when he is not in a comfortable condition. All may be well with him in a court of glory, when he would give a thousand worlds that all were well with him in the court of conscience.
— That man who finds correction attended with instruction and lashing with lessoning is a happy man.
God’s strokes and a Christian’s strength are suited one to another, all is in love. Let the load be ever so heavy that God lays on, if He puts under this the everlasting arms all is well.
Over-loved mercies are seldom long-lived mercies.
Murmuring is a black garment, and it becomes none so ill as saints.
As many a man may lose sight of a city when he is nearest to it so may a choice soul lose the sight of heaven when he is nearest to it. The mercies of God are not styled the swift mercies of David but the sure mercies of David and therefore a gracious soul patiently awaits for them.
Satan promises the best but pays with the worst; he promises honour and pays with disgrace. He promises pleasure and pays with pain. He promises profit and pays with loss; He promises life and pays with death. But God pays as He promises; all His payments are made of pure gold. Faith is a root grace from whence spring all the sweet flowers of joy and
peace. Faith is like the bee it will suck sweetness out of every flower; it will extract light out of darkness, comforts out of distresses; wine out of water; honey out of the rock; and meat out of the eater.
Though death, says Seneca, be before the old man’s face yet he may be as near the young man’s back.
Mary Magdalene was very near Christ yet she stands sighing, mourning and complaining that they had stolen away her Lord because she did not see Him.