Prayer (Self Denial and Sin)

In that which I have been extremely bad at, which is pridefully trying to be a somebody, forgive me Lord; and grant to me rather that I would be content to be a good nobody. I confess that I am a sinner and that I cannot think of myself mean enough. Indeed I am always worse than I think I am. But give me more of your grace that teaches me that to win in religion is to loose, and to loose is to win.

Thomas Manton Quote (Forgiveness)

"Let us try who will be the most weary, they in offending or we in pardoning" (Thomas Manton A Treatise of Self-Denial: Ch. Self-Denial and Our Neighbor).

Augustine Quote (Free Will and Mortification of Sin)

"If he should say in respect of these commandments, 'I wish to keep them, but am mastered by my concupiscence,' then the scripture responds to his free will, as I have already said: 'Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good' (Romans 12:21). In order that, however, that this may be gained, grace renders its help; and were not this help given, then the law would be nothing but strength of sin Augustine On Grace and Free Will Ch.VIII).

Augustine Quote (The Episcopate)

"'He that desireth the episcopate desireth a good work.' The episcopate is the title of a work, not of an honour. He that loves to govern rather than to do good is no bishop. It is unseemly to covet the high position requisite for governing the people, even though that position be held and that government be administered in a seemly manner" (Augustine The City of God Bk. 19:19).

Miserable Counselors

I find that most religious people are all too eager to help one along in afflictions where sin is the topic of concern. But it is quite mysterious to me that they are not the least bit interested in having the favor returned.

Truly it takes a keen eye to see dust in another eye, especially from afar off, when that self same kindred optical organ plays host to a log itself!

But a gracious soul takes what one can get.

Augustine Quote (Righteousness)

"Our very righteousness, too, though true in so far as it has respect to the true good, is yet in this life of such a kind that it consists rather in the remission of sins than in the perfecting of virtues" (Augustine City of God Book 19:27).

Augustine Quote (Peace)

"The peace which is peculiar to ourselves we enjoy with God by faith, and shall hereafter enjoy eternally with Him by sight. But the peace which we enjoy is in this life, whether common to all or peculiar to ourselves, is rather the solace of our misery than the positive enjoyment of felicity (Augustine City of God Book 19:27).

Various Distinctions to Help the Troubled Christian in Time of Temptation

There are some fundamental distinctions between the Christian and unbeliever.

(1) A child is never under the ultimate wrath of God.
(2) What may seem as the retaliatory wrath of God to us for our sin is but the loving paternal chastening of a father.
(3) The devil or other people may be the cause of our afflictions and not God--though he may be. Regardless this is within the bounds of God's sovereignty over our lot in life.
(4) The sin of a son is not the same as the sin of one who is not. Though a sin may be the same in name it is not viewed by the Father in the same way.
(5) The believer, far from being self righteous, has the most pure righteousness of all, an imputed righteousness, equivalent in degree to that of Christ's. Indeed because it is his. The unbeliever rests on his own righteousness which is no true righteousness at all.
(6) The devil's temptations are not our sins.
(7) A Christian has never or never will be a hypocrite. A "genuine" hypocrite is an unbeliever.
(8) The worst Christian is better than the best unbeliever.
(9)The dominion of sin is so removed to the point that it is not the new creature at all that sins (Romans 7:17).
(10) All things work to the good of the believer while all things work for the destruction of the unbeliever.
(11) The weakest good work and prayer of a child is accepted by God while the greatest good work and heart felt prayer of the wicked is not.
(12) The unbeliever can do no good. The believer can do no evil(Matthew 7:17).
(13) The unbeliever and believer alike owe a sin debt to both God and man that cannot be payed in and of themselves. The child's debt is forgiven on both accounts. The unbeliever's debt is continually incuring and remains unpaid. The Christian is under grace while the other is under law.
(14) The poorest Christian is richer than the wealthiest unbeliever.

Note: In the future I hope to elaborate on these points.