Guidance & Wisdom
In such a case an ordinary course of humiliation will not do the work: whatever it be, it will by this means insinuate itself more or less into all the faculties of the soul, and habituate the affections to its company and society.
A little reading and recollection every day, will be the means of insensibly giving you light and strength for all the sacrifices God will require of you.
That in order to form a habit of conversing with GOD continually, and referring all we do to Him; we must at first apply to Him with some diligence.
Union is the bud, but communion is the flower: union is the babe, but communion is the strong man.
But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
You therefore shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
We must not kick away the ladder by which we have climbed up.
Hearing is but as the sowing of the seed; talking is not sufficient to prove that fruit is indeed in the heart.
We should, as good traders in heaven’s market, covet to be enriched in the knowledge of Jesus.
Prayer is a trade to be learned. We must be apprentices and serve our time at it.
Great principles are always best and freshest when studied from the life, and it so happens that a circumstance in Paul’s life makes it peculiarly easy to act on this rule here.
Things that have not life will not grow.
We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
In short, let us be accustomed to recollect ourselves during the day and in the midst of our occupations, by a simple view of God.
As the branch thirsts for continued sap, so the believer thirsts for more of the Spirit.
Many do not advance in the Christian progress, because they stick in penances, and particular exercises, while they neglect the love of GOD, which is the end. That this appeared plainly by their works, and was the reason why we see so little solid virtue.
We may judge our advancement in humility by the delight we have in humiliations.
Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
The more you have of a rational knowledge of divine things, the more opportunity will there be, when the Spirit shall be breathed into your heart, to see the excellency of these things.
The man who is really concerned to live well must possess himself continually of the thought that he is not to live long.
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