By one hour’s intimate access to the throne of grace, where the Lord causes His glory to pass before the soul that seeks Him you may acquire more true spiritual knowledge and comfort than a day’s or a week’s converse with the best of men, or the most.

It is indeed natural to us to wish and to plan, and it is merciful in the Lord to disappoint our plans, and to cross our wishes. For we cannot be safe, much less happy, but in proportion as we are weaned from our own wills, and made simply desirous of being directed by his guidance.

If our zeal is embittered by expressions of anger, invective, or scorn – we may think we are doing service of the cause of truth, when in reality we shall only bring it into discredit!

We judge things by their present appearances, but the Lord sees them in their consequences.

Here is the humble confidence of faith – that what God begins shall not miscarry and those whom He leads shall not be lost.

It is a great thing to die; and, when flesh and a heart fail, to have God for the strength of our hearts, and our portion forever. I know whom I have believed, and he is able to keep that which I have committed against that great day. Hence forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the lord, the righteous judge, shall give me that day.

Time, by moments, steals away, First the hour, and then the day; Small the daily loss appears, Yet it soon amounts to years.

But though my disease is grievous, it is not desperate; I have a gracious and infallible Physician. I shall not die – but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

We learn to tread more warily, to trust less to our own strength, to have lower thoughts of ourselves, and higher thoughts of Him; in which two last particulars I apprehend what the Scripture means by a growth of grace does properly consist. Both are increasing in the lively Christian: – -every day shows him more of his own heart, and more of the power, sufficiency, compassion, and grace of his adorable Redeemer; but neither will be complete till we get to Heaven. I.

A secret dependence upon our prayers, tears, resolutions, repentance and endeavors, prevents us from looking solely and simply to the Savior, so as to ground our whole hope for acceptance upon his obedience unto death, and his whole mediation.