Let us never forget that, to be profited, that is, to be spiritually improved in knowledge, faith, holiness, joy and love, is the end of hearing sermons, and not merely to have our taste gratified by genius, eloquence and oratory.

Read the following passages of God’s word, and see if religion be a light and easy work. “Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” “Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” “Labor for that food which endures unto eternal life.” “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” “Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Too many have no idea of the subjection of their temper to the influence of religion, and yet what is changed, if the temper is not? If a man is as passionate, malicious, resentful, sullen, moody, or morose after his conversion as before it, what is he converted from or to?

You cannot be too active as regards your own efforts; you cannot be too dependent as regards Divine grace. Do every thing as if God did nothing; depend upon God as if He did everything.

Holiness is happiness; and the more you have of the former, the more you will undoubtedly enjoy of the latter.

The inquirer after holiness should associate with those whose intelligence will instruct him; whose example will guide him; whose conversation will inspire him; whose cautions will warn him.

We are not saved by nations or by churches or by families, but as individuals, through a personal interest in a personal Saviour.

All who wait upon the Lord shall rise higher and higher upon the mighty pinions of strong devotion, and with the unblinking eye of faith, into the regions of heavenly-mindedness, and shall approach nearer and nearer to God, the Sun of our spiritual day.

A good Christian cannot be a bad husband or father and, as this is equally true in everything, he who has the most piety will shine the most in all the relationships of life.

Afflictions tend to wean us from the world – and to fix our affections on things above.