Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Puritan Nuggets of Gold # 98

The World (continued)

Pleasures come like oxen, slow and heavily, and go away like post-horses, upon the spur. (Joseph Hall)

Thorns will not prick of themselves, but when they are grasped in a man's hand they prick deep. So this world and the things thereof are all good, and were all made of God for the benefit of His creatures, did not our immoderate affection make them hurtful. (Richard Sibbes)

All the danger is when the world gets into the heart. The water is useful for the sailing of the ship; all the danger is when the water gets into the ship; so the fear is when the world gets into the heart. "Thou shalt not covet." (Thomas Watson)

Let us use worldly things as wise pilgrims do their staves and other necessities convenient for their journey. So long as they help us forward in our way, let us make use of them, and accordingly esteem them. But if they become troublesome hindrances and cumbersome burdens, let us leave them behind us, or cast them away. (George Downame)

Some are not made better by God's gifts; yea, many are made worse. Give Saul a kingdom, and he will tyrannize; give Nabal good cheer, and he will be drunk; give Judas an apostleship, and he will sell his Master for money. (Thomas Adams)

Temporal good things are not the Christian's freight, but his ballast, and therefore are to be desired to poise, not load the vessel. (William Gurnall)

Let us use the world, but enjoy the Lord. (Thomas Adams)

Seek not great things for yourselves in this world, for if your garments be too long, they will make you stumble; and one staff helps a man in his journey, when many in his hands at once hinders him. (William Bridge)

Little do they think that worldliness is a most guiltful sin in respect of God, and most hurtful in respect of men. Hark what the Word of God saith of it (Ephesians 5:5) - it is idolatry, and idolatry is the first sin of the first table. (Richard Capel)

Times are bad, God is good. (Richard Sibbes)

The Gospel mentions not riches, honors, beauty, pleasures; it passes these over in silence, which yet the Old Testament everywhere makes promise of. They were then children, and God pleased them with the promise of these toys and rattles, as taking with them. But in the Gospel He has shown us He has provided some better things for us; things spiritual and heavenly. (Thomas Goodwin)


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