if Jacob had been elected because of his future merits, then his election would no longer be from grace: and so he was not elected by God because of what he was going to become, but he became such because of his election.The Sentences, Book 1, Dist 41
The dying words of Mr. Ash, the Puritan, are well-deserving of notice. He said, "When I consider my best duties, I sink, I die, I despair. But when I think of Christ, I have enough. He is all and in all.
some things are sins and punishment of sin simultaneously, some are sins and the cause of sin, but others are sins and the cause and punishment of sin.The Sentences, Book 2, Distinction 36, C1
she was formed not from just any part of his body, but from his side, so that it should be shown that she was created for the partnership of love, lest, if perhaps she had been made from his head, she should be perceived as set over man in domination; or if from his feet, as if subject to him in servitudeThe Sentences, Book 2, Dist 18, Ch 2
Here [is stated] according to what reprobation is considered. Similarly, God's reprobation, by which he has reprobated some from eternity by not electing them, is considered according to two things, of which he foreknows one, but does not prepare it, that is, iniquity; the other he foreknows and prepares, namely eternal punishment.The Sentences, Book 1, Dist 40
When Mr. Standfast had thus set things in order, and the time had come for him to depart, he also went down to the river. There was a great calm on the river at that time. So Mr. Standfast went out into the water, stood awhile, and talked to his companions gathered on the shore: "This river," he said, "has been a terror to many. Yes, and the thoughts of it have also frightened me. But now I stand easy. My feet are fixed upon that on which the priests stood, who bore the ark of the covenant when Israel went over Jordan. The waters, indeed, are to the palate bitter, and to the body cold; yet the thought of what I am going to and of the convoy that awaits me on the other side lies like a glowing coal on my heart.Pilgrims Progress Part 2
A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.
the term faith is taken in three ways, namely for that by which one believes, and it is a virtue; also, for that by which one believers, and it is not a virtue; also, for that which is believed, which is different from that by which one believes.The Sentences, Book 3, Dist 23, C3
man was made in the image and likeness of God in respect to his mind, by which he excels irrational creatures; in his image, however, according to memory, intelligence, and love; in his likeness according to innocence and justice, which are naturally in the rational mind.The Sentences, Book 2, Dist 16, Ch3
if it is asked for what is the rational creature created, answer: to praise God, to serve him, to enjoy him. By these things the creature profits, not God.The Sentences, Book 2, Dist 1.
Here is stated what the effect of predestination is. For the effect of predestination is that grace by which we are justified in the present and are assisted to live rightly and to persevere in the good, and also the grace by which we are blessed in the future.The Sentences, Book 1, Dist 40
He predestined those whom he elected, but he reprobated the rest, that is, he foreknew that they would sin to eternal death.The Sentences, Book 1, Dist.39
As to the objection which they make from the Gospel (John 15:26), we respond as follows: Although in that text Truth says that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, he does not add alone, and so he does not deny that the Spirit proceeds also from himself. But he names the Father alone, "because he usually refers to the Father even that which is his own," because he has it from the Father.The Sentences, Book 1, D-XI, Ch1
let us say that the Son was born from the Father before all time, and is forever being born from the Father, but, more fittingly, is forever born.The Sentences, Book 1, D-IX, 8.
In God knowledge and will are one and the same, as also are foreknowledge and predestination. Thus, although the nature and will of God are one, yet it is said that the Father generated the Son by nature, not by will, and that he is God by nature, not by will.The Sentences, Vol 1, 40
[Christ] offered himself on the altar of the cross not to the devil, but to the triune God, and he did so for all with regard to the sufficiency of the price, but only for the elect with regard to its efficacy, because he brought about salvation only for the predestined.The Sentences, Book 3: On the Incarnation of the Word