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God hath given us three books, which we ought to be studying whilst we are living: the book of conscience, the book of Scripture, and the book of the creature; in the book of conscience we may read ourselves, in the book of the creature we may read God, in the book of Scripture we may read both God and ourselves.
The best trees have a winter, wherein they seem to be dead and barren, yet they have their life and sap at that time remaining in the root. Christians under desertions and temptations may be judged by themselves and others to be dead and undone, but even at such seasons their life is hid with Christ in God; though they may fall foully, they cannot fall finally.The Christian Man\'s Calling
What wise man will despise or deny a mine to be gold, because it hath some dross or bad earth with it? or will throw away a beast, and say it is not good meat, because it hath guts and garbage in it? The vermin of sin may sometimes crawl in a cleanly, holy person, though they be not allowed there. One act will not prove a habit, nor a few bad actions a bad person.
One fervent prayer in secret will speak more for our sincerity than many in public.
The whole world is a great vast library, and every creature in it a several book, wherein he that runs may read the power, and goodness, and infinite perfections of its Maker.The Christian Man\'s Calling
For doctrine. Where Scripture hath not a tongue to speak, I must not have an ear to hear.
Reader, now God giveth thee health and strength, and Sabbaths and seasons of grace, do not loiter, but improve them to the uttermost, in laying up a good foundation against the time of need. Alas! thou knowest not how soon the weather may alter. God may speedily call thee to great changes in thy life.
Oh, suffer me not to be wise in mine own eyes, and thereby to turn away mine ears from the words of them that are indued with spiritual wisdom; but cause me to hear counsel, and receive instruction, that I may be wise for my latter end.
Friends lost may be reconciled, an estate lost may be regained, but time lost can never be recalled.
Consider the evil of neglecting Christian communion. I know the children of God must sometimes be solitary; there are some duties which cannot otherwise be performed, and some call-ings which cannot otherwise be followed; but as there are seasons for solitariness, so also for society. To forbear the society of saints without a necessary cause is a sin, and bringeth great disadvantage both upon ourselves and others.
O my soul, is it possible for thee to hear the excellency of Scripture thus opened to thee, and not to burn in love to it? Hast thou been all this while in such a host bath, and still cold and shivering?The Christian Man\'s Calling
How averse are our souls to anything that is spiritual! How many excuses, pretences, delays will they make! To sin man needs no tutor; he can ride post to hell without a spur
That they who are brethren, begotten of the same father, born of the same mother, fed at the same table, educated under the same tutor, attended with the same servants, arrayed with the same garments, and heirs of the same inheritance, should be strange to one another, is a great, a gross shame. Many hundred devils can agree together in one man, and yet in some parts not ten Christians can agree together in one house. One of the fathers was so much affected with the divisions of Christians, that he professed himself ready to let out his heart blood to cement them together. Both the honour of religion and our own interest do both command us to unite.
The Christian, like a net, must have both the lead of a godly fear and the cork of a lively faith.
I wish that my God would so strengthen my back, that I may bear with patience the burdens of my brethren. I know unkindnesses will happen between the nearest relations, and between the dearest friends. Whilst there is flesh in us, there will be failings and fallings out among us; till we come to that place where there is perfect purity, that can be no hope of perfect peace.
The smallest and meanest creatures were serviceable to the great God against the Egyptians; and shall my proud heart refuse the help of mean Christians against the enemies of my salvation?
It is better to receive the greatest thieves into our houses, than vain thoughts into our hearts.
Bee-masters tell us, that they are the best hives which make the greatest noise; so that conscience is the best which makes the greatest noise in daily reasonings and debates before it's own bar.
There is a woe to him that is alone: such a man shall be sure to have Satan for his companion. He is ever ready to assault when none is near to assist. Eve was tempted with too much success when she was alone, without her husband; Dinah, gadding from her father's house, was defiled; Joseph was then assaulted, when the whole family was gone, save the instrument of the assault. How soon are stragglers snapped up, when those that march with the body of the army are safe!
It is observable that the house of Job's eldest son, which was the grave wherein all his children were buried, stood alone, otherwise the wind from the wilderness could not have smote the four corners thereof. Oh, it is dangerous to be solitary, when God requires thy company amongst his chosen!
When Paul saw the brethren he blessed God, and took courage, Acts xxviii. 15. When many mariners pull at a rope together, they strive with the more alacrity; therefore Christ sent his disciples by two and two, Mark vi. 7.
As one circle caused by a stone thrown into the water begets a second, and that a third; and as one rainbow begets another, and they two together beget a third; so one Christian helps to beget another to Christ, and they two joining, turn more from the errors of their ways. Holiness, like an elixir, by contraction, if any dis-position in the metal, will render it of the same property. The Indians were brought to embrace the Christian faith, by the holy conference and company of Edesius and Frumentius, two private Christians.
The south wind of prosperity now bloweth, but expect the north wind of adversity. If thou hast two heavens, thou hast more than Christ himself had.
Those who enjoy many mercies, as the father saith of rich men, have more tools to work with than others; they have more opportunities for closet duties and public ordinances; they have more influence upon inferiors, who have many times some dependence on them; they have many advantages to do good, and receive good, which others have not; when others are working hard to earn bread for their families, or they must starve, these men may go to their chambers and beg hard for the bread of life; they have more time and more talents to trade with, and must do much more work, or they will hear at last,' Cast the unprofitable servant into utter darkness.' The man did not waste his talent, but because he did not improve it [therefore he was condemned.] Most come short of trading suitable to their talents.
Plutarch observeth that the ass hath the fattest heart, and is the dullest of all beasts. They who have the fattest possessions are generally the dullest in the matters of religion. Like the sun, they move most slowly when highest in the zodiac. Oh, it is far better to be a low tree and fruitful, than a tall one and barren.
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