Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Timothy Rogers Quote

"God is sometimes angry with His own people. It is indeed paternal castigatory wrath that He sends upon them, but not destroying fury" (Rogers Trouble of Mind and the Disease of Melancholy Pg.5).

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Augustine Quote

"'Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet'. ...My old loves, held me back. They tugged at the garment of my flesh and whispered: 'Are you getting rid of us?' And 'from this moment this and that are forbidden to you for ever and ever.' ...They held me back. ...I hesitated to detach myself, to be rid of them, to make the leap to where I was being called. Meanwhile the overwhelming force of habit was saying to me: 'Do you think you can live without them?'" (Augustine Confessions Bk. VIII Pg. 145, 151.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Timothy Rogers Quote

"To be without temptation is the greatest temptation" (Rogers xxxv, Trouble of Mind and the Disease of Melancholy).

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Scougal Quote

"Hypocrisy . . . Our design is not to appear better than we are, but that we may really become so." -Scougal The Life of God in the Soul of Man

Monday, December 22, 2008

Prayer

God save me from my greatest enemy-myself!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

John Colquhoun Quote

"'For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham' (Hebrews 2:16). Instead of saying that He took on him the seed of Adam, he represents Him as having taken on Him only the seed of Abraham, to intimate that it was only a part of Adam's posterity whom He represented, and for whom He became Surety" ((Colquhoun, Sermons on Important Doctrines 59).

Monday, December 15, 2008

Sinners Among Sinners

I find it a dreadful truth that when I am among people I sin against them and they sin against me. It seems to always be the case, however, that my sin against others is greater in severity and magnitude in offense than any sin I might suffer from someone else whether it be from a stranger, friend, or family member. It is an almost impossible task to love and not offend. Perhaps it is impossible.
But it cannot be disputed that it is much more easy to offend the very ones we are to love. It is second nature even.
I could possibly have some peace of mind on the matter if only my sins were less severe than, or at least equal to, the sins that I myself sustain. Here is the picture of a sad soul. What's worse is that some times I find it a more horrible thought to offend a total stranger than one whom I dearly love. Most abominable though, is that I sin against the Lord and savior who knew no sin but for the sons of Adam. I loath my condition because of this. But were it not for sin debt being paid there would be reason for utter despair. As of now I am just in despair and await the redemption of my body.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Augustine Quote

Woe even to those of praiseworthy life if you put their life under scrutiny and remove mercy. But because you do not search our faults with rigour, we confidently hope for some place with you. If anyone lists his true merits to you, what is he enumerating before you but your gifts? If only human beings would acknowledge themselves to be but human, and that 'he who glories would glory in the Lord' (2 Cor. 10:17)!" (Augustine Confessions Bk. IX Pg. 177)

Saturday, December 6, 2008

True Happiness

It is possible to have a false senses of happiness. There are many roads with signs called "The Happy Life." All have their various allurements promising pleasure and joy that will lead to happiness. What is offered, however, is not true happiness but a base and corrupt form of it. Love only that which can truly make you happy. Love of anything which cannot make us happy is sin against God and consequently misery to us. Love God and what he commands. Hate what he does not allow. This is how true happiness is to be known and where it is to be found.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Psalm 119:71

"It is good for me that I have been afflicted: that I might learn thy statutes" (Psalm 119:71).