AUTHOR QUICK LINKS:
ALSO SEE Quotable Quotes: Notable and Notorious >>
"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
Acts 17:11
All men hope in God - the boldest hypocrites hope assuredly in God. But by a test of the heart and mind in the thoughts and intents, even the deeds thereof, for the deeds proceed thereof, is a man known. Does a man have knowledge? - well indeed, because God is a God of knowledge, and truth is knowledge. But the knowledge that saves is an obedient faith, not faith that is free of the truth, though it knows it. Is a man free? - he is then a harmless man and he will evidence this in word and deed. Is he a justifier of himself, an accuser of the innocent and an excuser of the unjust? - such a man is not free but a slave. Can a free man serve sin? - he who serves sin is overcome by sin and the slave thereof. But he who is free serves God in holiness and his neighbor in harmlessness. He it is who swears to his own hurt and yet fulfills it; he exalts not himself; avenges not himself. He makes himself of no account - walking as Jesus did, not as one who would be honored by men. He is no railer, he is not without law. He loves the children of God, for God is in them, and his love is without partiality and without hypocrisy. Only such a man - who is free - has a reason for the hope that is in him. He shows himself in Christ; he shows himself a new creature, old things are passed away and all things are new, thus the manifestation of the gift of God is in him and he has a reason for his hope.
Hail & Fire, 2009
People consider themselves blessed when some outward good comes upon them; and indeed they are. However, the truest, the best, and the most lasting blessings are inward - and not outward. And the best outward blessings will prove to be nothing in the end, without the inward blessings of light and knowledge. "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." Rev 3:17-18
Hail & Fire, 2009
Some day there shall be much rest, but for now, we work. "Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." John 5:17
Hail & Fire, 2008
Counterfeits are sent to tell you that you are no different than they are. The hypocrite enters into the congregation of the just believing that they are even as he is: filled with all things natural and carnal. Compare, then, your 'walk' in this world to theirs, compare the understanding of your heart to his, and then compare the understanding of your mind to that which Jesus Christ taught. Do you use natural and carnal methods or do you walk in grace? Do you follow Christ and hear no other, or do you hear and love this present world? And if Christ is in you, take heart and stand fast, and let no one take your crown from you, so that, in that day you might rejoice, having overcome all. "Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Heb 12:12-14
Hail & Fire, 2008
How does a man who cares not for godliness and truth say, 'I am born of Him,' when the very conception of a child of God is a forming of him in the image of Him, even a forming of the mind and heart after Him in godliness and fear.
Hail & Fire, 2008
To say that those do or that we were serving God when we were reverencing images and praying to other mediators, is to say that a woman may serve her husband when she commits adultery and chases after her lovers. Let us not by such reasoning justify ourselves against the witness of God who says, "Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord. And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." Jer 3:6-15
Hail & Fire, 2008
May we by His grace confirm some, wake some, and call some to life. May those who love God find us, and we them; and may those who despise the truth and love their imaginations sit not with us.
Hail & Fire, 2008
As it is not wisdom to gather up worthless dross and call it precious, because it is found mingled with true gold; so it is not wisdom to cast away true gold as worthless because some dross remains in it and is yet to be refined away. So it is with the teachings of men and their creeds. For to take up both dross and gold indiscriminately, out of admiration for your brother, is to proactively stumble over every twig and stick upon which he himself stumbles; and to tread the straight and narrow path only as much as he himself is able to.
Hail & Fire, 2009
We know that we fear God's Word because we fear it as God's Word; we know that we believe God's Word because our hearts consent to it, our deepest delights are in it, and we struggle against the inclinations of the flesh to keep it. Having found these things truly so, in power, within ourselves, we evidence that God's Word is in us and we are servants of him whose Word it is. "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the Word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." 1 Thessalonians 2:13
Hail & Fire, 2009
Read Christian, Puritan, Reformed and Protestant exhortational works, Catholic and Protestant polemical & apologetical works, histories, and martyrologies, online: Hail & Fire Library
| |
|
SAMPLER: Reformed & Puritan Quotes
|
 The excellency of a meek and quiet spirit will appear, if we consider the credit of it, and the comfort of it - the present profit there is by it, and the preparedness there is in it for future blessings.
Consider how creditable a meek and quiet spirit is. Credit or reputation all desire, though few consider aright either what it is, or what is the right way of obtaining it; and particularly it is little believed what a great deal of true honor there is in the grace of meekness, and what a sure and ready way mild and quiet souls take to gain the approval of their Master, and of all their fellow-servants who love him, and are like him. There is in it the credit of a victory. What a great figure do the names of high and mighty conquerors make in the records of fame! How are their conduct, their valor and success cried up and celebrated! But if we will believe the word of truth, and pass a judgment upon things acording to it, 'He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.' Behold, a greater than Alexander or Caesar is here; the former of whom (some think) lost more true honor by yielding to his own ungoverned anger, than he got by all his conquests. No triumphant chariot so easy, so safe, so truly glorious, as that in which the meek and quiet soul rides over all the provocations of an injurious world with a gracious unconcernedness; no train so splendid, so noble, as that train of comforts and graces which attend this chariot. The conquest of an unruly passion is more honorable than that of an unruly people, for it requires more true courage. It is easier to kill an enemy without, which may be done at a blow, than to chain up and govern an enemy within, which requires a constant, even, steady hand and a long and regular management. It was more to the honor of David to yield himself conquered by Abigail's persuasions, than to have made himself a conqueror over Nabal and all his house. Arational victory must needs be allowed more honorable to a rational creature than a brutal one. This is a cheap, safe and unbloody conquest that does nobody any harm, no lives, no treasures are sacrificed to it, the glory of these triumphs are not stained as others generally are, with funerals. Every battle of the warrior, says the prophet, 'is with confused noise, and garmets rolled in blood;' but this victory shall be obtained by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts. Nay, in meek and quiet sufferings we are "more than conquerors with little loss, we lose nothing but the gratifying of a base lust; conquerors with great gain, the spoils we divide are very rich - the favor of God, the comforts of the Spirit, the foretastes of everlasting pleasures; these are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. We are more than conquerors; that is, triumphers; we live a life of victory; every day is a day of triumph to the meek and quiet soul. Meekness is a victory over ourselves and the rebellious lusts in our own bosoms" Matthew Henry, "On Meekness" THOMAS TAYLOR (1576-1632ad), Puritan Preacher known as “a brazen wall against Popery.”
“Unfeelingness of hardness, and unwillingness to feel it: no mislike of it, no desire to understand the danger of it. When men desire to sit quiet in sin, and nothing so offends them, as to hear their sin disgraced; when they turn their backs, and stop their ears, Zech. 7:11. Being as loath to be drawn to a sermon powerful against sin, as Israel to come near the mountain. Whereas a soft heart is most sensible of much hardness in it, and counts no burden comparable”
Thomas Taylor, "The Parable of the Sower, and of the Seed” WILLIAM TYNDALE (1494-1536ad), Tyndale was an English Reformer (known as 'the Apostle of England in the time of the Reformation') and the translator of the first English New Testament from the Greek (1526). Tyndale was martyred for his translation work and his writings in the defence of Biblical Christianity. Tyndale was hunted as a heretic, taken and imprissioned under the laws of the Church; after being condemned for heresy, he was formally stripped of his priesthood, strangled and then burned at the stake. Tyndale's English Translation is read yet today as the greater part of the King James Bible, first published in 1611. (H&F)
“Christ forbideth his disciples and that oft (as thou mayest see Matt 18 and also 20, Mark 9 and also 10, Luke 9 and also 22, even at his last supper) not only to climb above lords, kings and emperors in worldly rule, but also to exalt themselves one above another in the kingdom of God. But in vain: for the Pope would not hear it: though he had commanded it ten thousand times, God's Word should rule only and not bishops' decrees or Pope's pleasure. That ought they to preach purely and spiritually and to fashion their lives thereafter and with all example of godly living and long suffering, to draw all to Christ: and not to expound the scriptures carnally and worldly saying: God spake this to Peter and I am his successor, therefore his authority is mine only: and then bring in the tyranny of their fleshly wisdom, in presentia maioris cessat potestas minoris, that is in the presence of the greater the less hath no power. There is no brotherhood where such philosophy is taught.”
William Tyndale, "The Obedience of a Christian Man" THOMAS BROOKS (1608-1680ad), English Puritan Preacher
“Whenever Satan shall present God to the soul as one made up all of mercy, that he may draw thee to do wickedly, say unto him, that sins against mercy will bring upon the soul the greatest misery; and therefore whatever becomes of thee, thou wilt not sin against mercy ... Saith Satan, You may walk by the harlot's door though you won't go into the harlot's bed; you may sit and sup with the drunkard, though you won't be drunk with the drunkard; you may look upon Jezebel's beauty, and you may play and toy with Delilah, though you do not commit wickedness with the one or the other ... The first remedy is, solemnly to dwell upon those scriptures that do expressly command us to avoid the occasions of sin, and the least appearance of evil (1 Thes 5:22): 'Abstain from all appearance of evil.' Whatsoever is heterodox, unsound and unsavoury, shun it, as you would do a serpent in your way, or poison in your meat. ... He that would not be burnt, must dread the fire; he that would not hear the bell, must not meddle with the rope. To venture upon the occasion of sin, and then to pray, 'Lead us not into temptation,' is all one as to thrust thy finger into the fire, and then to pray that it might not be burnt.”
Thomas Brooks, "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices" WILLIAM BRIDGE (1600-1670ad), English Puritan Preacher
“I will tell you what small, weak, little grace will do, and not do, to dinstinguish it from common grace. It will not oppose much grace; the least spark of fire will not oppose the flame, or resist the flame. Water will, because fire and water are contrary: and so, false grace will oppose the highest degree of grace, saying, Why need you be so strict and precise? You may go to heaven with less ado: but the least degree of true gace will not oppose the highest. True grace loves examination. It loves to examine, and to be examined; for it is sincere, and sincerity is much in examination.”
William Bridge, "A Lifting Up for the Downcast" JOHN FLAVEL (1627-1691ad), English Puritan Preacher
“For you that are parents, or to whom the education of children is comitted, I beseech you mind the duty which lies on you. ... For to what purpose do we desire them before we have them, rejoice in them when we have them, value them so highly, sympathize with them so tenderly, grieve for their death so excessively, if in the meantime no care be taken what shall become of them to eternity? ... If you neglect to instruct them in the way of holiness, will the devil neglect to instruct them in the way of wickedness? No, no, if you will not teach them to pray, he will teach them to curse, swear and lie. If ground be uncultivated, weeds will spring up.”
John Flavel, "Mystery of Providence"
JOHN OWEN An English Puritan Preacher
"The outward administration of this ordinance considered materially, extends only to the washing away the filth of the flesh; but it signifies the answer of a good conscience; a conscience purged from sin, and quickened by virtue of the resurrection of Christ to holy obedience, Heb. ix. 14; Rom. vi. 3-7."
John Owen, "A Discourse Concerning
RICHARD BAXTER An English Puritan Preacher
"A hard heart now makes heaven and hell seem but trifles. We have showed them everlasting glory and misery, and they are as men asleep; our words are as stones cast against a wall, which fly back in our faces. We talk of terrible things, but it is to dead men; we search the wounds, but they never feel it; we speak to rocks rather than to men; the earth will as soon tremble as they. But when these dead souls are revived, what passionate sensibility, what working affections, what pangs of horror, what depths of sorrow will there then be! How violently will they denounce and reproach themselves! How will they rage against their former madness! The lamentations of the most affectionate wife for the loss of her husband, or of the tenderest mother for the loss of her children, will be nothing to theirs for the loss of heaven."
Richard Baxter, "The Saint's Everlasting Rest" |
“Men are too apt to flatter themselves that God will not be so severe as He has threatened. This hardens men in sin, and makes them boldly venture upon damnation. This is to represent God as a God not terrible in judgment. Let a just fear of God's vengeance have its proper effect, etc. The Spirit of God makes use of flames, of fire and brimestone, to awaken us, to represent it to us. ... A man has no other security of his virtue, but the fear of offending God.”
Thomas Wilson, "Maxims of Piety, and of Christianity" JOSEPH ALLEINE (1634-1668ad), English Puritan Preacher
“Conversion is a work above man's power. We are 'born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God' (Joh 1:13). Never think you can convert yourself. If ever you would be savingly converted, you must despair of doing it in your own strength. It is a resurrection from the dead (Eph 2:1), a new creation (Gal 6:15; Eph 2:10), a work of absolute omnipotence (Eph 1:19). Are not these out of the reach of human power? ... This is a supernatural work ... 'Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but of mercy he saved us' ... 'Of his own will he begat us' (Jam 1:18). We are chosen and called unto sanctification, not for it (Eph 1:4). God finds nothing in man to turn His heart, but enough to turn His stomach; He finds enough to provoke His loathing, but nothing to excite His love. Look back upon yourself, O Christian! Reflect upon your swinish nature, your filthy swill, your once beloved mire (2 Pet 2). Behold your slime and corruption ... How then should holiness and purity love you? ... Who but must needs cry, Grace! Grace! ... What but free grace could move God to love you.”
Joseph Alleine, "A Sure Guide to Heaven" HUGH BINNING (1627-1653), English Puritan Preacher
“I wish that souls would read the Scriptures as profitable Scriptures with the intention to profit. If you do not read with such a purpose, you read not the Scriptures of God, they become as another book unto you. But what are they profitable for? For doctrine, and a divine doctrine, a doctrine of life and happiness. It is the great promise of the new covenant, “You shall be all taught of God.” The Scriptures can make a man learned and wise, learned to salvation, it is foolishness to the world, “but the world through wisdom knew not God.” Alas! What then do they know? Is there any besides God? And is there any knowledge besides the knowledge of God? ... The doctrine of Jesus Christ written on the heart is a deep profound learning and the poor, simple, rudest people may, by the Spirit’s teaching, become wiser than their ancients and than their ministers. Oh, it is an excellent point of learning, to know how to be saved. ... If you would seek unto God and seek eyes opened to behold the mystery of the word, you would become wiser than your pastors, you would learn from the Spirit to pray better, you would find the way to heaven better than they can teach you or walk in it."
Hugh Binning, "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion" RICHARD SIBBES (1577-1635ad), English Puritan Preacher
“Suffering brings discouragements, because of our impatience. 'Alas!' We lament, 'I shall never get through such a trial.' But if God brings us into the trial he will be with us in the trial and at length bring us out, more refined. We shall lose nothing but dross (Zechariah 13:9). From our own strength we cannot bear the least trouble, but by the Spirit's assistance we can bear the greatest.”
Richard Sibbes, "The Bruised Reed" THOMAS WATSON (1620-1686ad), English Puritan Preacher
“See the difference between God and men: God takes notice of the good in his people; the wicked pass by the good in the godly, and take notice only of their failings. If they can spy any impropriety or blemish in them, they upbraid them with it; like those children who reproached Elisha for his baldness, but took no notice of the prophet's miracles (2 Kin 2:23) ... They think because God does not speak to them by his loud judgments, therefore God does not know their sins ... 'They consider not in their heart that I remember all their wickedness' (Hos 7:2) ... Every lie a sinner tells, every oath he swears, every drunken bout, God writes it down in his books of remembrance; and woe to him if the book is not crossed out with the blood of Christ! See the mercifulness of God to his children, who blots their sins out of his book of remembrance, and writes their good deeds in his book of remembrance: 'I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions' (Isa 43:25) ... Oh, the heavenly indulgence and kindness of God to his people! He remembers everything but their sins.”
Thomas Watson, "The Great Gain of Godliness" WILLIAM WILBERFORCE (1759-1833ad), English Politician and a leading Abolitionist to end the slave trade in England.
“The apostles ... in addressing others also whom they conceive to be living in habits of sin, and under the wrath of God, they rather advise them to amend their ways as a preparation for their coming to Christ, than exhort them to throw themselves with deep prostration of soul at the foot of the cross, there to obtain pardon and find grace to help in time of need. ... Doubtless there have been too many who, to their eternal ruin, have abused the doctrine of Salvation by Grace; and have vainly trusted in Christ for pardon and acceptance, when by their vicious lives they have plainly proved the groundlessness of their pretensions. The tree is to be known by its fruits; and there is too much reason to fear that there is no principle of faith, when it does not decidedly evince itself by the fruits of holiness. ... Repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, was the sum of the apostolical instructions.”
William Wilberforce, "Real Christianity" JOHN BUNYAN (1628-1688ad), English Preacher
“I concluded, a little grace, a little love, a little of the true fear of God, is better than all the gifts: yea, and I am fully convinced of it, that it is possible for souls that can scarce give a man an answer, but with great confusion as to method; I say, it is possible for them to have a thousand times more grace, and so to be more in the love and favour of the Lord, than some who by the virtue of the gift of knowledge, can deliver themselves like angels.”
John Bunyan, "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners" THOMAS BECON (1512-1567ad), English Reformer and Chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer.
“When we ask anything of God, we may not ask it in our own name, in our own dignity and worthiness, in our own justice and righteousness, in our own good deeds and merits, in our own innocency and pureness, but in the name of Christ. What is it to ask in the name of Christ, but only to confess that for our own dignity and worthiness we are not worthy to be heard, and therefore, desiring to obtain mercy, grace, favour, and remission of our sins, we approach unto the throne of God with our faithful prayers, not in our own name, but in the name of Christ; that is to say, in Christ's dignity, worthiness, justice, righteousness, innocency, pureness, good deeds, and merits? And for his sake and for his goodness do we desire to be heard and to have our petitions granted.
This is a great comfort for them that shall pray, that, though they be imperfect, yet is Christ perfect, and his perfection is their perfection; though they be unrighteous, yet is Christ righteous, and his righteousness is their righteousness; though they be unholy, yet is Christ holy, and his holiness is their holiness; though they be void of perfect good works, yet hath Christ perfect good works, and his good works are their good works, if they leave their ungodliness, turn from their wicked ways, and study to live innocently; and therefore need they not fear for to pray, but boldly to ask all things in the name of Christ.” Thomas Becon, "The Early Works" (treatise published during the reign of King Henry VIII) JOHN NEWTON (1725-1807ad), English Preacher.
“You will likewise find advantage, by attending as much as you can on those preachers whom God has blessed with much power, life, and success in their ministry. And in this you will do well not to confine yourself to any denomination or party for the Spirit of the Lord is not confined. Different men have different gifts and talents. I would not wish you to be a slavish admirer of any man. Christ alone is our Master and Teacher. But study the excellencies of each: and if you observe a fault in any (for no human models are perfect), you will see what you are yourself to avoid."
John Newton, "The Works of John Newton" |
Copyright ©
HAIL and FIRE
www.hailandfire.com