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Division
Division is better than agreement in evil. [George Hutcheson]
Posted by Deejay July 31, 2008@23:16
Gifts and Graces
Gifts are but as dead graces, but graces are living gifts. [Christopher Nesse]
Posted by Deejay, July 31, 2008 16:01
Health & Holiness
What health is to the heart, that holiness is to the soul. [John Flavel]
Posted by Deejay, July 30, 2008 17:27
The Value of Books
A few books well-chosen, and well made use of, will be more profitable to you than a great confused Alexandrian library. [Thomas Fuller]
See todays Puritan Daily Devotional Chronicle also on books
Posted by Deejay, July 30, 2008 12:12
Envy Is Destructive to Ourselves
Envy is sin, and it punisheth itself like gluttony; for it fretteth the heart, shorteneth the life, and eateth the flesh. [Henry Smith]
Posted by Deejay, July 30, 2008 01:56
The Names of God
The Name Jehovah carries majesty in it: the name Father, carries mercy in it. [Thomas Watson]
Posted by Deejay, July 29, 2008 21:33
Never Too Early
None can be too young to amend, that is old enough to die. [Thomas Adams]
Posted by Deejay, July 29, 2008 13:41
Religious Conversation
I esteem religious conversation one of the best helps to keep up religion in the soul, excepting secret devotion, I don' t know but the very best--Then what a lamentable thing that tis so neglected by God's own children. [Esther Edwards--Daughter of Jonathan]
Posted by Deejay, July 28, 2008 23:26
Heartfelt Repentance
A repenting man is more angry at his own heart that consenteth to sin than he is at the devil who did tempt him to sin. [Samuel Rutherford]
Posted by Deejay, July 28, 2008 13:37
Universal Sin
As long as there are spots in the moon, it is vain to expect anything spotless under it. [Thomas Fuller]
Posted by Deejay, July 28, 2008 03:02
Why we Need to Revive the Sabbath as Instituted by God
It doth too evidently appear that God is more dishonored and the devil better served on the Sunday than upon all the days of the week besides. [from the homily "Of the place and time for prayer-1563]
Posted by Deejay, July 27, 2008 21:42
The Life of Faith
The life of faith is available to all. The poorest among us, and the least educated can travel this road to heaven. The poor may have little opportunity to become wealthy or honourable, but they can live a truly happy life through faith! Whoever you are, if you desire to lift up your condition and change the few days of your pilgrimage into happier and longer days, faith is the art of living well and living long! [Samuel Ward]
Posted by Deejay, July 27, 2008 12:42
We Need to be Upright to Instruce or Reprove Others
If my carriage be unblamable, my counsel and reproof will be more acceptable. Wholesome meat often is distasteful, coming out of nasty hands. A bad liver cannot be a good counselor or reprover; such a man must speak softly for fear of awakening his own guilty conscience. If the bell be cracked the sound must needs be jarring. [George Swinnock]
Posted by Deejay, July 27, 2008 00:11
Religion and Contention Cannot Live Together
Contention is directly against that which is the very sum of all that is essential and distinguishing in true Christianity, even a spirit of love and peace. No wonder, therefore, that Christianity cannot flourish in a time of strife and contention amongst its professors. No wonder that religion and contention cannot live together. [Jonathan Edwards--Charity and its fruits, P. 23]
Posted by Deejay, July 26, 2008 20:43
Where the Scriptures Speak
In brief, where the Scripture is silent, the Church is my text: where that speaks, 'tis but my comment; where there is a joint silence of both, I borrow not the rules of my religion from Rome or Genenva, but the dictates of my own reason. [Sir Thomas Browne]
Posted by Deejay, July 26, 2008 15:03
Futility of Materialism
A man's life consists not in the abundance of the things he possesses, and where man has least material goods, he maybe more cast upon God's faithfulness and become more truly dependent upon Him. {Joseph Alleine]
Posted by Deejay, July 26, 2008 00:06
The Mercy of Christ
There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us. [Richard Sibbes]
Posted by Deejay, July 25, 2008 13:46
The Mutual Care of Spouses One Toward The other
After the good of the soul, follows the good of the body, wherein husband and wife must show their provident care of each other and do what lies in them to procure the welfare of another person..this duty extends itself to all estates of prosperity and adversity of health and sickness, even as they mutually covenant and promise when they are first joined in marriage ..Wherefore they ought both to rejoice in the welfare of one another, and also in all distress to succor and comfort each other, putting their shoulders under one another burden, and helping to ease one another as much as they can. [William Gouge[
Posted by Deejay, July 24, 2008 23:01
Being Fishers of Men
It was Paul's office to teach the Romans, but his policy to beseech the Romans. Paul humbled himself to his inferiors, to make them humble themselves to God. God is love, and his ministers must speak like love, or else they do not speak like Paul. Whoever fishes for souls, and does not take this net, shall fish all day in vain. [Henry Smith]
Posted by Deejay, July 24, 2008 12:08
The Scum of Discontent
Murmuring is a great sin...it is the scum of discontent or the vent of impatience, or such bold expostulations and complaints as flow from an exulcerated mind ...First men mutter, then complain. The heart boils with impatience and then the froth is cast out in passionate speeches and complaints. Humble complaints are not murmurings, else there would be no place for prayer; but bold expostulations are murmurings when we complain rather of God than to God. [Thomas Manton]
Posted by Deejay, July 24, 2008 00:01
Persevering Faith
Faith will draw out these infallible conclusions: the trouble is not the axe of destruction, but the pruning knife of affliction; not to poison but to heal, no matter how bitter the taste. Whatever befalls you as a Christian cannot lead to your condemnation or utter overthrow, but there will be a way out of it. Though the storm make a terrible noise over your head, it will be like hailstones on a roof that rattle more than hurt. You are kept by the power of his might. You're in a safe harbour under the rock of Christ. You know in whom you have trusted and you will never be confounded. Sickness or poverty are in your Father's hand. [Samuel Ward]
Posted by Deejay, July 23, 2008 15:46
Assurance
The greatest thing that we can desire, next to the glory of God is our own salvation; and the sweetest thing we can desire is the assurance of our salvation...All saints enjoy a heaven when they leave this earth; some saints enjoy a heaven while hey are here on earth. [Joseph Caryl]
Posted by Deejay, July 23, 2008 05:23
I know there is nothing in the Word or in the works of God that is repugnant to sound reason, but there are some things in both which are opposite to carnal reason, as well as above right reason; and therefore, our reason never shows itself more unreasonable than in summoning those things to its bar which transcend its sphere and capacity. [John Flavel]
Posted by Deejay, July 22, 2008 14:37
Righteousness
All Christ's soldiers should have on the breastplate of righteousness ..Scripture speaks of a... perfect, personal and perpetual obedience...Not the holiest saint that ever lived can stand righteous before the bar of God's justice..The second righteousness which the Scripture speaks of is an evangelical righteousness---a righteousness imputed or imparted. The imputed righteousness is that which is wrought by Christ for the believer; the imparted, that which is wrought by Christ in the believer [or] the righteousness of our justification [and] the righteousness of our sanctification. [William Gurnall]
Posted by Deejay, July 22, 2008 00:07
The Ends of Marriage
The ends for which marriage was ordained...are especially three. First, that the world might be increased..with a legitimate brood and distinct families which are the seminaries of cities and commonwealths; also that in the world the Church might be perserved and propagated by an holy seed. Second, that men might avoid fornication ...Against this hereditary disease no remedy is so effective as this...For those that have not the gift of continence, this is the only warranted and sanctified remedy ..Third, that man and wife might be a mutual help to one another..in health and sickness. [William Gouge]
Posted by Deejay, July 21, 2008 11:58
Sin and the Saint
It is one thing for thee to possess sin, another thing for sin to possess thee. [Thomas Adams]
Posted by Deejay, July 20, 2008 00:48
Sacrifice Without Obedience is Sacrilege
Heaven is not won with good words and a fair profession...The doing Christian is the man that shall stand, when the empty boaster of his faith shall fall. The great talkers of religion are oft the least doers. His religion is in vain whose profession brings not letters testimonial to a holy life. Sacrifice without obedience is sacrilege. [John Bunyan]
Posted by Deejay, July 19, 2008 22:48
Distermpers of the Spirit
We must have two eyes, one to see imperfections in ourselves and others; the others to see what is good...They will ever lack comfort that are much quarrelling with themselves, and through their infirmities are prone to feed upon such bitter things as will most nourish the very distemper they are sick of. These delight to be looking on only the dark side of the cloud. [Richard Sibbes]
Posted by Deejay, July 19, 2008 17:53
The Minister's Office
A minister by his office is to be the guide and instructor of his people. To that end he is to study and search the Scriptures and to teach the people, not the opinions of men--of other divines or of their ancestors--but the mind of Christ. As he is set to enlighten them out of the way, of duty is to rectify their mistakes, and, if he sees them out of the way of truth or duty, to be a voice behind them saying, 'This is the way, walk ye in it.' Hence, if what he offers to exhibit them as the mind of Christ be different from their previous apprehensions, unless it be on some point which is established in the Church of God as fundamental, surely they are obliged to hear him. If not, there is an end at once to all the use and benefit of teachers in the church in these respects--as the means of increasing its light and knowledge and of reclaiming it from mistakes and errors. This would be in effect to establish, not the word of Christ, but the opinion of the last generation in each town and church, as an immutable rule to all future generations to the end of the world. [Jonathan Edwards]
Posted by Deejay, July 19, 2008 00:00
Getting Back our First Love
A child who has a principle of life, a good, natural constitution, and suitable food, will grow and thrive; but one who has obstructions from within, or distempers or disease, or falls and bruises, maybe weak and thriftless. When we are regenerated, we are as new born babes, and ordinarily, if we have the sincere milk of the Word we shall grow thereby. But if we give way to temptations, corruptions, negligence's, conformity to the world, is it any wonder if we are lifeless and thriftless?
It is time for us to be rather casting off every weight and the sin that so easily besets us, to be by all means stirring ourselves unto a vigorous recovery of our first faith and love, with an abundant growth in them, before our wounds become incurable. [John Owen]
Posted by Deejay, July 18, 2008 13:32
Malice and Envy
Malice and envy are but two branches growing out of the same bitter root. Self-love and evil-speaking's are the fruit they bear. Malice is properly the procuring or wishing another's evil; envy, the repining at his good. And those vent themselves by evil-speaking.
The infernal fire within smokes and flashes out by tongue (james 3:6)...censuring the actions of those they hate or envy, aggravating their failings and detracting from their virtues.
The art of taking things by the better side, which charity always does, would save much of those jangling's and heart-burnings, that so abound in the world. [Robert Leighton]
Posted by Deejay, July 18, 2008 00:52
Obedience
Let us get humble hearts. Pride is the spring of disobedience (Ex 5:2)..The humble soul says, "Lord, what will you have me to do?" He puts as it were, a blank cheque into God's hand and bids him write what he will, and he will subscribe to it. [Thomas Watson]
Posted by Deejay, July 17, 2008 19:35
Consideration, Humiliation, Reformation!
Be rooted and grounded in love (Eph. 3:17)...a tree that has taken root is in less danger of withering. Increase and grow in love (1 Thess. 4:10)...Every day you should love sin less, self less, world less, but Christ more and more. Observe the first declining's, for these are the causes of the rest...In case of decay, take the advice the Holy Ghost has given you, where three things are required (Rev. 2:5)--consideration, humiliation, reformation...It is not enough to know yourselves fallen...we must also repent of the decays of love...Some may repent that do not reform..."Do your first works." [Thomas Manton]
Posted by Deejay, July 17, 2008 07:53
The Troubles of the Righteous
Although the troubles of the righteous are many, the Lord delivers him out of them all...There are two things which make us take our troubes grievously: one, because we do not expect them before they come...second, we are like the prophet's servant who saw his foes but not his friends (1 Kings 6). So we see our sore, but not our salve...Therefore we go about to deliver ourselves, as though we could...Bear both these sentences in mind, that you must go through a sea of troubles, and then you shall come to the haven of of rest, and no affliction shall take you before you are armed for it, and in every trouble you shall know where to find your remedy. [Henry Smith]
Posted by Deejay, July 16, 2008 18:47
Applying Christ's Love
Christ in his death aimed at our good. He was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him...This proves Christ's giving of himself to be a fruit of his love...Let us learn to apply all that Christ did to ourselves.. Let us also learn how to manifest love--namely, by seeking and procuring the good of others...if this were practiced, would there be such oppressing, such undermining, such deceiving, such wronging of one another as there is? [William Gouge]
Posted by Deejay, July 16, 2008 13:11
Blessings
Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayers and worn with thanks. [Thomas Goodwin]
Posted by Deejay, July 16, 2008 00:06
Atheism
Unless the being of God is presupposed, no tolerable account can be given on the being of anything. [Ezekiel Hopkins]
Posted by Deejay, July 15, 2008 09:23
The Calamity of Sinful Man
if God, and heaven, and hell, were as near and open to our apprehensions, as the things are which we see and feel, this life would not be what God intended it to be, a life of trial and preparation for another. What trial would there be of any man's faith, or love, or obedience, or consistency, or self-denial, if we saw God stand by, or apprehended him as if we saw him? It would be no more praiseworthy or rewardable to abhor all temptations to worldliness, ambition, gluttony, drunkenness, lust, cruelty, than it is for a man to be kept from sleeping that is pierced with thorns; or for a man to bear to drink a cup of melted gold, which he knows will burn out his bowels.
But though in this life we may neither hope for, nor desire, such overwhelming sensible apprehensions of God, as the rest of our faculties cannot answer, nor our bodies bear; yet that our apprehensions of him should be so base, and small, and dull, and inconstant, as to be borne down by the noise of worldly business, or by the presence of any creature, or by the tempting baits of sensuality, this is the more odious, by how much God is more great and glorious than the creature, and even because the use of the creature itself is but to reveal the glory of the Lord. It is no unjust dishonour or injury to the creature, to be accounted as nothing in comparison with God, that it may (thus) be able to do nothing against him and his interests; but to make such a nothing of the most glorious God, by our contemptuous forgetfulness or neglect, as that our apprehensions of him cannot prevail against the sordid pleasures of the flesh, and against the richest baits of sin, and all the wrath and allurements of man, --this is but to make a god of dust, and dung, and nothing. It is a wonder that man's understanding can become so sottish, as to thus to wink the sin itself into constant darkness. O sinful man, into how great a depth of ignorance, stupidity and misery, art thou fallen! [Richard Baxter]
Posted by Deejay, July 14, 2008 18:52
God Tries His People to Convict Satan
God tries the graces of his people by persecutions, that the truth and power of his grace in them may appear to his own glory, both before men, angels and devils. One end is that by such a discovery of the truth and strength of their faith and love, he may, as it were, triumph over Satan; and make him to see what a victory is obtained over him, by so rescuing those souls that were once his captives from his power; and convince him of the real success of his design of redeeming and sanctifying souls--notwithstanding all that he had done to [them], whereby he thought he had utterly ruined mankind, and put them past the possibility of cure. For this end, God tried Job. God gloried in Job as a perfect and upright man, that did good and eschewed evil [JOb 1:8]. Satan don't own the truth of it, but charges that Job was a hypocrite, and his service mercenary. But God tries Job with grievous affliction for Satan's conviction. So it is in the Church in general, their trials being for Satan's conviction. [Jonathan Edwards]
Posted by Deejay, July 13, 2008 15:27
The Heart is Displayed in the Hands
As the saint is described sometimes by a "clean heart," so also sometimes by "clean hands," because he has both; the holiness of his heart is seen at his fingers ends. [George Swinnock]
Posted by Deejay, July 12, 2008 10:38
On Hearing
Jesus heard all of Christ's sermons. [Thomas Goodwin]
Posted by Deejay, July 12, 2008 02:55
On Assurance
We have peace with God as soon as we believe, but not always with ourselves. The pardon may be past the prince's hand and seal, and yet not put into the prisoner's hand. [William Gurnall]
Posted by Deejay, July 10, 2008 21:37
Touchstone of Sincerity
To have frequent and devout thoughts of God witness sincerity. No truer touchstone of sincerity exists than the Spirituality of the thoughts. What a man is, that his thoughts are: 'For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he' (Prov 23:7). Thoughts are freer from hypocrisy than words. One may speak well for applause, or to stand right in the opinion of others; but when we are alone and think of God's Name, and admire his excellencies, this shows the heart to be right. Thoughts are freer from hypocrisy than an unblamable life. A man may in his outward behavior be fair, yet have a covetous, revengeful mind. The acts of sin may be conceived when the heart sits brooding upon sin; but to have the thoughts spiritualized and set upon God is a truer symptom of sincerity, than a life free from vice. [Thomas Watson]
Posted by Deejay, July 10, 2008 13:07
Men's folly in ignoring the Warnings
The folly of the hearts of men is nowhere shown more openly in the days in which we live than by a cursed boldness and neglect of the warnings of God, and by a lack of consideration of so many that have already fallen into such a sad estate. Yet men run into and put themselves under the power of temptation. They will risk anything, not considering their own weakness, or the concerns of their poor souls. They walk over the dead and slain who have fallen on this path. They see others fall before their eyes, but on they go without regard or trembling! Through this snare hundreds and thousands of professors have fallen within just a few short years. [John Owen--from "Temptation resisted and repulsed]]
Posted by Deejay, July 09, 2008 10:58
The inward affect of Truth
Truth reforms, as well as informs. [William Jenkyn]
Posted by Deejay, July 09, 2008 02:26
Civil Dealings
It is a sure sign of hypocrisy to be unrighteous and careless in civil dealings, how conscientious soever thou mayest seem to be in sacred duties. He that seems righteous towards men, and is irreligious towards God, is but an honest heathen; and he that seems religious towards God and is unrighteous towards men, is but a dissembling Christian. [George Swinnock]
Posted by Deejay, July 08, 2008051:27
We should endeavour to keep undefiled consciences
If our hearts or consciences condemn us, it is impossible to remember him without being troubled. It will then be painful to remember that he is our Creator and Redeemer, for the remembrance will be attended with a consciousness of base ingratitude. It will be painful to think of him as Lawgiver; for such thoughts will remind us that we have broken his law. It will be painful to think of his holiness; for if he is holy, he must hate our sins, and be angry with us as sinners: -- of his justice and truth, for these perfections make it necessary that he should fulfil his threatenings and punish us for our sins. It will be painful to think of his omniscience -- for this perfection makes him acquainted with our most secret offences, and renders it impossible for conceal them from his view; of his omnipresence -- for the constant presence of an invisible witness must be disagreeable to those who wish to indulge their sinful propensities. It will be painful to think of his power -- for it enables him to restrain or destroy, as he pleases: of his sovereignty, for sinners always hate to see themselves in the hands of a sovereign God: of his eternity and immutability -- for from his possessing these perfections it follows that he will never alter the threatening which he has denounced against sinners, and that he will always live to execute them. It will be painful to think of him as judge; for we shall feel, that as sinners, we have no reason to expect a favourable sentence from his lips. It will even be painful to think of the perfect goodness and excellence of his character; for his goodness leaves us without excuse in rebelling against him, and makes our sins appear exceedingly sinful. [ Edward Payson.]
Posted by Deejay, July 07, 2008@21:22
Mercy Please
It is a greater mercy to have a heart willing to refer all to God, and be at His disposal, than to enjoy presently the mercy we are most eager and impatient for; for in that, God pleases you, in this, you please God. [John Flavel]
Posted by Deejay, July 07, 2008@03:33
Duty
If we once become listless to duty, we shall quicly become lifeless in it. [Stephen Charnock]
Posted by Deejay, July 06, 2008@21:21
One Flesh
Woman takes her being from man, man takes his well-being from woman. [Thomas Adams]
Posted by Deejay, July 06, 2008@13:06
Pressing Towards the Mark
We are not yet home, but we should long to be there, and keep up holy desires of that glory to be revealed, that we may be quickened, as long as we are here, 'to press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling.' [Matthew Henry]
Posted by Deejay, July 06, 2008@02:37
Dead Men Live Every Day
The raising a dead body to life would astonish us, but we are unaffected that every day so many living men are born. [Owen Bates]
Posted by Deejay, July 05, 2008@13:15
Meditations
Meditate on our making, that we may fall in love with our maker. [David Dickson]
Posted by Deejay, July 05, 2008@02:46
God Dwells in Dark Places
God dwells as glorious in a saint when he is in the dark, as when he is in the light, for darkness is His secret place, and His pavilion round about Him are dark waters. [William Erbery]
Posted by Deejay, July 04, 2008@18:55
Sanctified Blows
As the wicked are hurt by the best things, so the godly are bettered by the worst. [William Jenkyn]
Posted by Deejay, July 04, 2008@13:08
Dark Providence
Whoever brings an affliction, it is God that sends it. [Thomas Watson]
Posted by Deejay, July 03, 2008@23:03
Moralistic vs Pure
The want of a renewed heart is a hair on the moral man's pen, that blurs and blots his copy when he writes fairest. His uprightness does others more good in this world than himself in the next. [William Gurnall]
Posted by Deejay, July 03, 2008@16:10
Be of Good Courage
Shall I hint some of the weighty services that are charged upon all our consciences? The work of mortification, to pick out our eyes, to chop off our hands, to cut off our feet; do you think that a milksop, a man that is not a man of a stout spirit, will do this? Now to massacre fleshly lusts, is (as it were) for a man to mangle and dismember his own body; it is a work painful and grievous, as for a man to cut off his own feet, to chop off his own hands, and to pick out his own eyes, as Christ and the apostle Paul do express it. Besides this, there are in Christian's bosoms strongholds to be battered, fortifications to be demolished; there are high hills and mountains that must be levelled with the ground; there are trenches to be made, valleys to be filled. O beloved, I may not mention the hills that lie before us in heaven way, which we must climb up, and craggy rocks that we must get over; and without courage certainly the work put upon our hands will not be discharged. There are also the walls of Jerusalem to be repaired, and the temple to be edified again. If Nehemiah had not been a man of a brave spirit he would never have gone through stitch with that church work, those weighty services which he did undertake. How this is applicable to us for the present time, the time of our begun reformation, I speak not, but rather do refer it to your considerations. I beseech you to read Ne 4:17-18, "They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded, and he that sounded the trumpet was by me." While they were at work, they were all ready for war. [Simeon Ash]
Posted by Deejay, July 02, 2008@00:02
The Rewards of Piety
Piety shall have riches without rust, wealth without want, store without sore, beauty without blemish, mirth without mixture. [John Trapp]
Posted by Deejay, July 01, 2008@12:36
Why Should we be Holiest in Evil times?
God charges us to be singular (Matt 5:47), to be circumspect (Eph 5:15), to be separate from idolaters, (2 Cor 6:17), to shine as lights in the world (Phil 2:15). He forbids us to join together with sinners, or do as they do. The way to hell is a well-trodden road, and the Lord calls us to turn out of the road: Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil (Exodus 23:2). This is sufficient reason to keep ourselves pure in a time of common infection. As God's Word is our rule, so his will is our warrant. [Thomas Watson-Great Gain of Godliness]
Posted by Deejay, July 01, 2008@00:41
