Puritan Nuggets of Gold # 43

Hope

Hope fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy an consolation, that it can laugh while tears are in the eyes, sigh and sing all in a breath; it is called "the rejoicing of hope" (Hebrews 3:6) (William Gurnall)

Hope is never ill when faith is well. (John Bunyan)

Nothing more unbecomes an heavenly hope than an earthly heart. (William Gurnall)

Hospitality

Hospitality is threefold: for one's family, this of necessity; for strangers, this of courtesy; for the poor, this is charity. (Thomas Fuller)

Human Nature

Sometimes, indeed, there appears a scuffle between satan and a carnal heart; but it is a mere cheat, like the fighting of two fencers on a stage. You would think at first they were in earnest; but observing how wary they are where they hit one another, you may soon know they do not mean to kill: and that which puts all out of doubt when the guise is done, you shall see them making merry together with what they have got of their spectators, which was all they fought for. When a carnal heart makes the greatest bustle against sin, by complaining of it, or praying against it, follow him but off  the stage of duty and you shall see them sit as friendly in a corner as ever. (William Gurnall)

The force of gunpowder is not known until some spark light on it; and oftentimes the stillest natures, if crossed, discover the deepest corruptions. (Richard Sibbes)

"What is man?" asks the prophet Isaiah, and he answers, man is "grass". Ask David, he answers, man is a "lie", not a liar only, or a deceiver, but "a lie" and a deceit. All the answers the Holy Spirit gives concerning man, are to humble man. The sinful nature of man is an enemy to the nature of God, and would pull God out of heaven; yet God even at that time is raising man to heaven; sin would lessen the great God, and yet God greatens sinful man. (Joseph Caryl)

"Lord, what is man?" Take him in his four elements, of earth, air, fire, and water. In the earth, he is as fleeting dust; in the air, he is as a disappearing vapor; in the water, he is as a breaking bubble; and in the fire, he is as consuming smoke. (William Secker)