PURITANS (and other goodness)

charl · Post by **charl** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:01 pm

I threatened to start an awesome Puritan quote thread, and since no one seems to be doing much posting, here it is!

I think it's fitting to start with the Divine John Owen:

[quote]Woe to professors of the gospel who shall be seduced to believe that all they have to do with God consists in their attendance unto moral virtue! It is fit for them so to do who, being weary of Christianity, have a mind to turn Pagans.

But â€œour fellowship is,â€

charl · Post by **charl** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 6:40 pm

Here is a ground for the worship of God. Wisdom and power are the grounds of the respect we give to men; they being both infinite in God, are the foundation of a solemn honor to be returned to him by his creatures...All worship is shot wrong that is not directed to, and conducted by, the thoughts of this attribute, whose assistance we need.

When we beg the pardon of our sins, we should eye mercy and power; when we beg his righting us in any case where we are unjustly oppressed, we do not eye righteousness without power; when we plead the performance of his promise, we do not regard his faithfulness only without the prop of his power. As power ushers in all the attributes of God in their exercise and manifestation in the world, so should it be the target our eyes should be fixed upon in all our acts of worship: as without his power his other attributes would be useless, so without due apprehensions of his power our prayers will be faithless and comfortless.

Stephen Charnock, Discourse on the Power of God.

charl · Post by **charl** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 6:45 pm

Eh yeah pithy statements make their way in there (we learn to stand by falls is a good one), however the best stuff is the great long and deep treatises on God and the gospel.

charl · Post by **charl** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:43 am

As for pithy, I give you Richard Sibbes:

We are only poor for this reason, that we do not know our riches in Christ.

The Bruised Reed ch 8

And for long and deep I give you also Richard Sibbes:

And what a comfort is it now, in our daily approach to God, to minister boldness to us in all our perplexities, that we go to God in the name of one that he loves, 'in whom his soul delights,' that we have a friend in court, a friend in heaven for us, that is at the right hand of God, and interposeth himself there for us in all our suits, that makes us acceptable, that perfumes our prayers and makes them acceptable.

He intercedes by virtue of his redemption. If God loves him for the work of redemption, he loves him for his intercession, therefore God is required to regard the prayers made by him, by virtue of his dying for us, when he loves him for dying for us.

Be sure therefore, whenever we bring our needs to God, to take along our elder brother, to take our beloved brother, take Benjamin with us, and offer all to God in him, our persons to be accepted in him, our prayers, our hearing, our works, and all that we do, and we shall be sure to speed; for he is one in whom the soul of God delights.

There must be this passage and repassage, as God looks upon us lovely in him, and delights in us as we are members of him. All God's love and the fruits of it come to us as we are in Christ, and are one with him. Then in our passage to God again we must return all, and do all, to God in Christ.
Be sure not to go to a naked God; for so he is 'a consuming fire,' but go to him in the mediation of him whom he loves, 'and in whom his soul delighteth.'

A Description of Christ

charl · Post by **charl** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:46 pm

I tried to quote out of Flavel's sermon Christ Altogether Lovely, but I just can't, too much goodness there. Short and sweet, read the whole thing.

But I will throw out this part:

Is Jesus Christ altogether lovely? Then I beseech you set your souls upon this lovely Jesus. I am sure such an object as has been here represented, would compel love from the coldest breast and hardest heart. Away with those empty nothings, away with this vain deceitful world, which deserves not the thousandth part of the love you give it. Let all stand aside and give way to Christ. O if only you knew his worth and excellency, what he is in himself, what he has done for you, and deserved from you, you would need no arguments of mine to persuade you to love him!

charl · Post by **charl** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:28 pm

Awesomeness out of the domain of the Puritans;

With a weak faith and a fearful heart many a sinner stands before the altar. But it is not the strength of his faith, but the perfection of the sacrifice, that saves; and no feebleness of faith, no dimness of eye, no trembling of hand, can change the efficacy of our burnt-offering. The vigor of our faith can add nothing to it, nor can the poverty of it take anything from it. Faith, in all its degrees, still reads the inscription, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin"; and if at times the eye is so dim that it cannot read these words, through blinding tears or bewildering mist, faith rests itself on the certain knowledge of the fact hat the inscription is still there, or at least that the blood itself (of which these words remind us) remains, in all its power and suitableness, upon the altar unchanged and uneffaced. God says that the believing man is justified; who are we, then, that we should say, "We believe, but we do not know whether we are justified"? What God has joined together, let not man put asunder.

The question as to the right way of believing is that which puzzles many, and engrosses all their anxiety, to the exclusion of the far greater questions as to the person and work of Him who is the object of their believing. Thus their thoughts run in a self-righteous direction, and are occupied, not with what Christ has done, but with what they have yet to do, to get themselves connected with His work.

Horatius Bonar, The Everlasting Righteousness, ch 2

separateunion · Post by **separateunion** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:23 pm

Charl is having way to much fun by herself in this thread. I bet you recite Puritanical quote in the shower, don't you? Do you also recite the Westminster confession while you're blow drying your hair?

charl · Post by **charl** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:42 am

Well why don't you post a good quote then??

I most certainly do NOT recite the Westminster. I recite the London Baptist 1689. Remember, where we fixed mistakes and threw in some Owen.

As we're talking about Westminster stuff, here is one of my fave quotes from a presbyterian:

Confession is an act of mortification. It is as it were the vomit of the soul; it breeds a dislike of the sweetest morsels when they are cast up in loathsome ejections. Sin is sweet in commission, but bitter in the remembrance. God's children find that their hatred is never more keen and exasperated against sin than in confessing. So then come and open your case to God without guile of spirit, and then you may seek your pardon. David makes this a reason for his confidence, "blot out my transgressions...for I acknowledge my transgressions.

Thomas Manton, Commentary on James

Haa I LOVE that one.

separateunion · Post by **separateunion** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:38 am

I can't quote any Puritans because I really haven't read any and I don't have any of their writings memorized. Besides, you know I prefer Osteen to any of those old, stuffy writers.

charl · Post by **charl** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:54 pm

It doesn't have to be Puritans, it just has to be good. This completely excludes Joel Osteen of course.

Regard;

[quote]â€œHaving put off from himself the principalities and the powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.â€

charl · Post by **charl** » Wed May 21, 2008 6:24 am

I was reminded of this great (and certainly pithy) quote by the other discussion.

God doesn't need your good works. Your neighbour does.

Some attribute this directly to Luther, but I can't find a source. Still it is distinctly Lutheran sounding isn't it.

brent · Post by **brent** » Wed May 21, 2008 6:30 am

Have to be careful about quoting Luther. He didn't exactly love Jews. He was a hero of mine in some respects. He was a man. The best of men are men at best.

charl · Post by **charl** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:25 am

Yep Luther was pretty crazy. And often pretty awesome. Chrysostom has the same rep. Luther just said too many fantastic and bombastic things, like the entire Heidelberg Disputation, to be ignored. Shall I start in on awesome Luther quotes?

I believe that by my own reason or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the one true faith...

Small Catechism, article three

Woo!!

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PURITANS (and other goodness)

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PURITANS (and other goodness)

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