Theme: Self-Control
Nothing so stills the elephant when enraged as the sight of a lamb; nor does anything break the force of a cannon ball so well as wool.
Our victory does not consist in being insensible to them, but in not consenting to them.
That all bodily mortifications and other exercises are useless, but as they serve to arrive at the union with GOD by love; that he had well considered this, and found it the shortest way to go straight to Him by a continual exercise of love, and doing all things for His sake.
So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
When one attempts to sanctify himself by effort, he is trying to make his boat go by pushing against the mast. He is like a drowning man trying to lift himself out of the water by pulling at the hair of his own head.
Mortification itself, when once practised, is the greatest pleasure in the world.
This is great wisdom, not to be hasty in action, or stubborn in our own opinions.
The will rules the whole heart and life; if I really will to have anything that is within my reach, I do not rest till I have it.
Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still.
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
The secret of purity, and the momentum that shall keep us pure, comes through constant contact with Jesus.
He cannot, at one and the same time, follow his own will, and follow the will of God: He must choose the one or the other.
My days of sloth have ruinously destroyed all that I had achieved in times of zealous industry.
Many a time I wish that I had held my peace, and had not gone amongst men.
The strength of a man is in proportion to the feelings which he curbs and subdues, and not which subdue him.
A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
So then, let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also. Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
The cause of the weakness of your Christian life is that you want to work it out partly, and to let God help you. And that cannot be. You must come to be utterly helpless, to let God work, and God will work gloriously.
Practise it universally, on every one of the thousand occasions which will occur in all circumstances of life! Practise it daily, without intermission.
MannaScroll