The World Damps Zeal As - Thomas Watson

Let us beware of having our hearts too much linked to the world. The world damps zeal as earth chokes the fire.

Taken from the book The Great Gain of Godliness by Thomas Watson 1682

We Cannot Have Flowers Without Roots - J.C. 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.

Taken from the book Expository Thoughts on the Gospels by J.C. Ryle 1856

Vol 2 Luke 6:27-38 Page 187

The Sinfulness of My Sin Truly Realized

Against you, you only, have I sinned

                        and done what is evil in your sight,

            so that you may be justified in your words

                        and blameless in your judgment.

Psalm 51:4 ESV

 

Against thee, thee only have I sinned.  In fact, it is only thus that the sinfulness of my sin, as against my fellows can be truly realized. If I look upon it merely as a wrong done to my neighbor, I am but too ready to apologize for it. I can explain it away, or offer some sort of restitution and satisfaction. I can palliate my conduct, or I can make amends for it. But any sin is against thee! "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 22:7)

Taken from the book The Prayer of a Broken Heart: Expository Discourses on Psalm 51

by Robert Candlish 1873

Those That Would Be Cured - Matthew Henry

On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. Luke 6:6 ESV

A man whose right hand was withered came to learn from Christ. 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. 

Taken from the book Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible

by Matthew Henry 1662-1714

 

 

Love Not - John Calvin

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15 KJV

Love not.  He had said before that the only rule for living religiously, is to love God; but as, when we are occupied with the vain love of the world, we turn away all our thoughts and affections another way, this vanity must first be torn away from us, in order that the love of God may reign within us. Until our minds are cleansed, the former doctrine may be iterated a hundred times, but with no effect:  it would be like pouring water on a ball; you can gather, no, not a drop, because there is no empty place to retain water.

Taken from the book Calvin's Commentaries by John Calvin 1509-1564

The Great Means of Preserving Comfort in Religion - Rev Ashbel Green

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.

Rev Ashbel Green 1762 –1848

Taken from the book A Pastor's Counsel: Wise Words for Weary, Wounded, and Wandering Sheep

Say Rather - Rev Legh Richmond

"Did you then feel for your relatives at home?"

"Yes, that I did indeed, Sir; they were never out of my thoughts. I prayed continually for them, and had a longing desire to do them good. In particular I felt for my father and mother, as they were getting into years, and were very ignorant and dark in matters of religion."

"Ay," interrupted her mother, sobbing, "ignorant and dark, sinful and miserable we were, till this dear Betsy- this dear Betsy- this dear child, Sir, brought Christ Jesus home to her poor father and mother's house."

"No, dearest mother, say rather, Christ Jesus brought your poor daughter home to tell you what he had done for her soul, and I hope, to do the same for yours."

Rev Legh Richmond

Taken from the book The Publications of the American Tract Society  

Tracts are from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries