O Be Active - John Flavel

He is ever doing you good; be you always abounding in his work. His providence stands by you in your greatest distresses and dangers; do not then flinch from God when His service and your duty is compassed about with difficulties. O be active for that God who every moment is active for you

 

Taken from the book The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel 1678

 

Against Him, Him Only, You Have Sinned - Robert Candlish

 Let me remind the careless one, it is with God alone that you have to do. Against him, him only, you have sinned; and with him, him only, you have to reckon. You may satisfy the priest. You may conciliate your brother. You may pacify your own conscience. What will it avail you if your sin as against God still stands out? Consent, however, to let God justify you. Then you may utter the bold challenge, "Who is he that can condemn?"

 

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

by Robert Candlish 1873

 

Are We Prepared To Pray - Oswald Chambers

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV)

 

The majority of us are too indifferent, too religiously sentimental to be caught up in the sweep of the Apostle Paul's intercession. Have we a lesser idea than that God should do in us what he wants to do? Are we prepared to pray with Murray McCheyne, "Lord, make me as holy as Thou canst make a sinner saved by grace"?

 

Taken from the book If You Will Ask by Oswald Chambers 1874-1917

 

The Sin That Dwelt In Them - Andrew Fuller

 It is usual to denominate a character by his habitual or ruling disposition and not by occasional deviations from it. Thus, when we hear of him who was famed for meekness, speaking unadvisedly with his lips, we say this was not Moses or of him who was distinguished for his courageous avowal of his Lord, denying with oaths that he knew him, we say this was not Peter. Both these great characters in these instances acted beside themselves; it was not them, as it were, but sin that dwelt in them. (Heb. x. 26, Rom. vii. 15-25).

 

Taken from the book The Backslider: His Nature, Symptoms, and Recovery by Andrew Fuller 1754-1815

 

Self-Love Is Self-Hatred - Thomas Watson

 Exercise great self-denial: 'Let him deny himself' (Matthew 16:24). Self-ease, self-ends, whatever comes in competition with (or stand in opposition to) Christ's glory and interest must be denied. Self is the great snare; self-love undermines the power of godliness. The young man in the Gospel might have followed Christ, but something of self hindered (Matt. 19:20-22). Self-love is self-hatred. The man who cannot get beyond himself will never get to heaven.

 

Taken from the book The Godly Man's Picture by Thomas Watson 1666

 

The Memory of It - Thomas Watson

 If the manna was to be kept in the ark, that the memory of it should be preserved, how should the death and suffering of Christ be kept in our minds as a memorial?

 

Taken from the book The Lords Supper by Thomas Watson 1665

 

It Is the Lord Who Gives Us All Things to Enjoy - Jeremiah Burroughs

 It is the Lord who gives us all things to enjoy; we may have the thing and yet not enjoy it unless God comes in with his blessing. Now whatever you have, you enjoy it; many men have possessions and do not enjoy them. It is the blessing of God which gives us all things to enjoy, and it is God who through his blessing has fashioned your heart and made it suitable to your circumstances.

 

Taken from the book The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment By Jeremiah Burroughs 1648