If you neglect to instruct children in the way of holiness, will the devil neglect to instruct them in the way of wickedness? No; if you will not teach them to pray, he will to curse, swear, and lie; if ground be uncultivated, weeds will spring.
John Flavel (Minister, 1627 – 1691)
I think, that a man never passes the verge of moral humility, till self-righteousness be dethroned, till the high and towering imaginations of the man’s own righteousness by the law be levelled by the mighty weapons of the gospel, and he brought to submit to the righteousness of God for justification, which is, in the gospel revealed ‘from faith to faith.’
Ebenezer Erskine (Minister, 1680 – 1754)
The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment. Whereas the groanings of the righteous are but short, and their jubilee and triumph shall be everlasting.
Ebenezer Erskine (Minister, 1680 – 1754)
So often we give God a partial obedience. We do not dare to disobey, but we do not care to obey fully. So we compromise. We do some of what we should, thus removing the stigma of disobedience. But we refrain from the most difficult or objectionable or uncomfortable part, and thus try to get the best of both worlds.
Ebenezer Erskine (Minister, 1680 – 1754)
Saving faith is the faith of God’s elect; the special gift of God to them, wrought in them by his Spirit.
Thomas Boston (Theologian, 1676 – 1732)
The believer is sensible of his infirmities, for it is supposed that he is wrestling under them. He sees, he feels, that he is not man enough for his work; that his own hands are not sufficient for him, nor his own back for his burden; this is what drives him out of himself to the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And thus he lies open to the help of the Spirit, while proud nature in unbelievers is left helpless.
Thomas Boston (Theologian, 1676 – 1732)
The regenerate man’s desires are rectified; they are set on God himself, and the things above… Before, he saw no beauty in Christ, for which he was to be desired; but now he is all he desires, he is altogether lovely… regenerating grace sets the affections so firmly on God, that the man is disposed, at God’s command, to quit his hold of every thing else, in order to keep his hold of Christ… If the stream of our affections were never thus turned, we are, doubtless, going down the stream into the pit.
Thomas Boston (Theologian, 1676 – 1732)
If a man be new-born, he will desire the sincere milk of the word.
Thomas Boston (Theologian, 1676 – 1732)
Sinners in their natural state lie dead, lifeless, and moveless; they can no more believe in Christ, nor repent, than a dead man can speak or walk: but, in virtue of the promise, the Spirit of life from Christ Jesus, at the time appointed, enters into the dead soul, and quickens it; so that it is no more morally dead, but alive, having new spiritual powers put into it, that were lost by Adam’s fall.
Thomas Boston (Theologian, 1676 – 1732)
Let the mantle of worldly enjoyments hang loose about you, that it may be easily dropped when death comes to carry you into another world.
Thomas Boston (Theologian, 1676 – 1732)