Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Puritan Nuggets of Gold # 64

Perfection

God is perfectly good. All the perfection we can arrive at in this life is sincerity. We may resemble God a little, but not equal Him; He is infinitely perfect. (Thomas Watson)

This is the sum of all; for he which can abstain not only from evil, but from the appearance of evil, is so perfect as a man can be in this sinful life. (Henry Smith)

This life was not intended to be the place of our perfection, but the preparation for it. (Richard Baxter)

O good God, guide me by Thy holy hand, that I may keep myself within the lists of Christianity, being modest in apparel, moderate in diet, chaste and temperate in speech, sober in fashion and my ordinary deportment, respective to my superiors, amiable to my equals, without pride and insolency towards these that are below me, courteous and affable and yet without vanity and popularity towards all. Amen (Samuel Hierson)

Persecution

God examineth with trials, the devil examineth with temptations; the world examineth with persecutions. (Henry Smith)

Much grace exercised, brings persecution: for the sweeter and better the fruit is, the more slinging there will be at the tree. (Vavasor Powell)

It much more concerned us, to be sure that we deserved not suffering, than that we be delivered from it. (Richard Baxter)

He that liveth the life of the persecutor dieth also the death of the bloody man. (John Penry)

Praise

Praise is a soul in flower. (Thomas Watson)

Praise shall conclude that work which prayer began. (William Jenkyn)

Alas, for that capital crime of the Lord's people - barrenness in praises! Oh, how fully I am persuaded that a line of praises is worth a leaf of prayer, and an hour of praises is worth  a day of fasting and mourning. (John Livingstone)

The servants of the Lord are to sing His praises in this life to the world's end; and in the next life, world without end. (John Boys)

Praising God is one of the highest and purest acts of religion. In prayer we act like men; in praise we act like angels. (Thomas Watson)

Self-love may lead us to prayers, but love to God excites us to praises. (Thomas Manton)


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