“How should he come to Christ for pardon, that did not first find himself guilty, and condemned? or for life, that never found himself spiritually dead? _The whole need not a physician, but they that are sick._[192] The discovery of the remedy, as soon as the misery, must needs prevent a great part of the trouble.”
“I advise thee, Christian, who hast tasted the pleasures of a heavenly life, as ever thou wouldst taste of them any more, avoid this devouring gulf of an earthly mind.”
“I beseech thee, Christian, for the honor of the gospel, and for thy soul's comfort, be not to learn this heavenly art, when in thy greatest extremity thou hast most need to use it.”
“I beseech thee, Reader, as thou hast the hope of a Christian, or the reason of a man, judge thyself, as one that must shortly be judged by a righteous God, and faithfully answer these questions.”
“I do not ask, whether thou be assured of salvation? nor, whether thou canst believe that thy sins are pardoned, and that thou art beloved of God in Christ?”
“I hope, before I return, my Lord will bring my heart within the view of rest, and set it before his Father's presence, that I may return, as _the shepherds_, from the heavenly vision, _glorifying and praising God for all the things I have heard and seen_.”
“I wish you were able to defend every truth of God, and to this end would read and study; but still I would have the chief truths to be chiefly studied, and none to cast out your thoughts of eternity.”
“If a Christian could but look upon sun, moon, and stars, and reckon all his own in Christ, and say, "These are the blessings that my Lord hath procured me, and things incomparably greater than these;" what holy raptures would his spirit feel?”
“If an hypocrite entertains the gospel with joy; it is only in the surface of his soul, he never gives the seed any depth of earth: It changes his opinion, but never melts and new moulds his heart, nor sets up Christ there in full power and authority.”
“If God hath crossed you in wife, children, goods, friends, either by taking them away, or the comfort of them; try whether this be not the cause: For wheresoever your desires stop, and you say, "Now I am well;" that condition you make your God, and engage the jealousy of God against it.”
“If he proceed in the cure, and take the creature quite away, then how do we labor, and cry, and pray, that God would restore it, that we may make it our rest again?”
“If heaven and hell can meet together, and God become a lover of sin, then mayest thou live in thy sin, and in the tastes of glory; and have a conversation in heaven, though thou cherish thy corruption.”
