Witness (continued)
The saints are to bear a threefold testimony to, and for Christ and His truths: Breath testimony, Life testimony, and Blood testimony. (Vavasor Powell)
One eye-witness is better than ten ear-witnesses. (Thomas Adams)
The upright soul is constant in his profession, and changes not his behavior according to his companions. Oh, that I might never through shame or fear disown Him who has already acknowledged me! (George Swinnock)
The World
Pleasure, profit, preferment are the worldling's trinity. (John Trapp)
A sea of glass, a pageant of fond delights, a theater of variety, a labyrinth of error, a gulf of grief, sty of filthiness, a vale of misery, a state of deceit, a cage full of owls, a den of scorpions, a wilderness of wolves, a cabin of bears, a whirlwind of passions, a feigned comedy, a detestable frenzy [is the world]. (Arthur Dent)
Let us not foolishly imagine that our minds can be satisfied and filled with worldly vanities, nor greedily affect and seek after a greater measure, when we are not satisfied with a less, supposing that the access of quantity may bring contentment; seeing the hunger which we feel in our hearts proceeds not from want of earthly abundance, but because it is unnatural nourishment for the mind of man, so that it can no more satisfy our souls' hunger, than it can satisfy our bodies to feed upon the wind. (George Downame)
Men that are in the valley think, if they were at the top of such a hill, they should touch the heavens. Men that are in the bottom of poverty, or disgrace, or pain, think if they could get up to such a mountain, such a measure of riches, and honors, and delights, they could reach happiness. Now Solomon had got to the top of this hiss, and seeing so many scrambling and laboring so hard, nay, riding on one another's necks, and pressing one another to death, to get foremost, doth seem thus to bespeak them: "Sirs, ye are all deceived in your expectations! I see the pains ye take to get up to this place, thinking that when you come hither, ye shall touch the heavens, and reach happiness: but I am before you at the top of the hiss - I have treasures, and honors, and pleasures in variety and abundance (Ecclesiastes 2:11-12), and I find the hill full of quagmires instead of delights, and so far from giving me satisfaction, that it causeth much vexation; therefore be advised to spare your pain, and spend your strength for that which will turn to more profit; for, believe it, you do but work at the labor in vain." "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity," saith the Preacher. (George Swinnock)
A godly man preferreth grace before goods, and wisdom before the world. (Richard Bernard)
(Pleasures) Prisoners' pittance, which neither keeps alive nor suffers to die. (John Trapp)
When the race is ended, and the play is either won or lost, and ye are in the utmost circle and border of time, and shall put your foot within the march of eternity, all the good things of your short nightdream shall seem to you like ashes of a blaze of thorns or straw. (Samuel Rutherford)
The world is therefore a purgatory, that it might not be our paradise. (George Swinnock)
Satiated they were, but not satisfied. (John Trapp)
We do not hold worldly things during our life, nor as long as we shall behave ourselves well in our places; but only as long as God pleases. (Thomas Manton)
I cannot but look upon all the glory and dignity of this world, lands and lordships, crowns and kingdoms, even as on some brain-sick, beggarly fellow, that borrowing fine clothes, and plays the part of a king or lord for an hour on a stage, and then comes down, and the sport is ended, and they are beggars again. (Richard Baxter)
He gives often more of the world to those that shall have no more hereafter. (Robert Leighton)
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