Friday, April 24, 2015

Puritan Nuggets of Gold # 93

Truth (continued)

Take no truths upon trust, but all upon trial (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11). It was the glory of that church, that they would not trust Paul himself - Paul, that had the advantage above all for external qualifications - no, not Paul himself. Take no truth upon trust; bring them to the balance of the sanctuary. (Thomas Brooks)

God hath but three things dear unto Him in this world, His saints, His worship, and His truth; and it is hard to say which of these is dearest unto Him. (Thomas Goodwin)

Unbelief

For no sin whereof men can be guilty in this world is of so horrible a nature, and so dreadful an aspect, as is this unbelief, where a clear view of it is obtained in evangelical light. (John Owen)

Unbelief is the shield of every sin. (William Jenkyn)

It is common for men to make doubts when they have the mind to desert the truth. (Samuel Rutherford)

Generally, it is taken for granted by all that Christ is able to save us if He will; yea, who shall question His ability to save us, though we live in sin and unbelief? And many expect that He will do so because they believe He can if He will. But indeed Christ hath no such power, no such ability: He cannot save unbelieving, impenitent sinners; for this cannot be done without denying Himself, acting contrary to His Word and destroying His own glory. Christ is able to save all those, and only those, who come to God by Him. While you live in sin and unbelief, Christ Himself cannot save you. (John Owen)

What faith can do to a prophecy of judgment, the same can unbelief to a promise of mercy; overthrow it. (Joseph Caryl)

Unity

I do verily believe that when God shall accomplish it (unity), it will be the effect of love, and not the cause of love. It will proceed from love, before it brings forth love. (John Owen)

But never shall all the saints unite, and come to one in love, till wrath be poured forth on all their forms and flesh. Then the Spirit shall come from on high, and gather up all the saints and men in God. (William Erbery)

And if ever we intend to take one step towards any agreement or unity, it must be by fixing this principle in the minds of all men - that it is of no advantage to any man whatever church or way in Christian religion he be of, unless he personally believes the promises, and live in obedience unto all the precepts of Christ: and that for him who doth so, it is a trampling of the whole Gospel under foot to say that his salvation could be endangered by his not being of this or that church or way, especially considering how much of the world hath immixed itself into all the known ways that are in it. Were this once well fixed on the minds of men, and did they practically believe that men shall not be dealt withal at the last day by gross, as of this or that party or church, but that every individual must stand upon his own bottom, live by his own faith, o perish for want o it... we should quickly find their keenness in promoting and contending for their several parties taken off. (John Owen)

Articles or rules for doctrine or practice in matters of religion to be imposed upon men, should be as few as may be; there is very great danger in the unnecessary multiplying them. This in all ages has caused division and exceeding disturbances in the churches of Christ. (Jeremiah Burroughs)


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