Christian Writers and Preachers

Some people hold the truth, but in such a cold stern way that it will do no good. Other people want to love everything, and so they give up much of the truth; but we are to hold the truth in love; we are to hold the truth even if we lose all, but we are to hold it in love.

—D. L. Moody

Not law but gospel, not demand but promise is the center of revelation, even in the days of the old covenant, to which man’s part is to respond in faith and in the walk of faith (Gen. 17:1), just as Paul in Romans 4 and Galatians 3 understood the revelation of God to Abraham.

—Herman Bavinck

Christianity is no less than the real, supreme work of the Triune God, in which the Father reconciles his created but fallen world through the death of his Son and re-creates it through his Spirit into the kingdom of God.

—Herman Bavinck

God did not reveal himself, so that from his revelation we might construct a philosophical concept of God, but so that we might receive, acknowledge, and confess him, the one true, living God, as our God.

—Herman Bavinck

He who has been smitten with the love of God & the wonder of the cross can never again be tolerant in things that touch his soul & the souls of his fellow men. He will live beside, be patient with, minister to, pray for & love anyone, but never will he compromise the truth

—Tozer

How wonderful that a private man should have such an influence on the temporal and eternal happiness of millions; literally, millions on millions yet unborn! O God, make me more earnest for Thy glory; and may I act more from real love and gratitude to my redeeming Lord.

—William Wilberforce

O turn unto your rest! Turn to Him in whom are hid all the treasures of happiness! Turn unto him who giveth liberally unto all men; and he will give you to drink of the water of life freely.

—John Wesley

Felt an abasing sense of my own impurity and unholiness; and felt my soul melt and mourn, that I had abused and grieved a very gracious God, who was still kind to me, notwithstanding all my unworthiness.

—David Brainerd

My God shall supply all your need according to His riches (Phil. 4:19). We lay those words before our Lord and we say to Him very earnestly, And now, O Lord, do as You have said.

—Amy Carmichael

It is confessedly true, that God’s good pleasure appointing us from eternity to salvation, is, in its kind, a most full and sufficient impulsive cause of our salvation, and every way able (for so much as it is concerned) to produce its effect.

—John Flavel

The work of the Spirit does not only evidence and manifest that difference which God’s election has made between man and man, but it also makes a twofold difference itself; namely in state and temper? whereby they visibly differ, not only from other men, but also from themselves.

—John Flavel

Knowledge is power—so much we can understand, at least to a certain extent. All knowing is a triumph of the spirit over matter, a subjection of the earth to the lordship of man. But that knowledge should be life—who can understand that?

—Herman Bavinck

I have sadly neglected the cultivation of my natural talents. Let me now attend to it, imploring the divine blessing. I will form a plan of study and exercise, having a special reference to the faults of my intellect, whether natural or superinduced.

—William Wilberforce

The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do. And the Spirit can do nothing of himself; but what he hears from the Father and Son; and it is impossible it should be otherwise, considering not only the unity of their nature, but also of their will and design.

—John Flavel

AW Tozer:

“As a boy, I was not a Christian. I did not have the privilege of growing up in a home where Christ was known & loved.

God spoke to me through a street preacher who quoted the words of Jesus, “Come unto me, all ye that labour & are heavy laden & I will give you rest.”

The application of Christ, by the work of regeneration, is that which yield unto men all the sensible sweetness and refreshing comforts that they have in Christ, and in all that he has done, suffered, or purchased for sinners.

—John Flavel

Through the infinite goodness of God, I felt what I spoke; he enabled me to treat on divine truth with uncommon clearness: and yet I was so sensible of my defects in preaching, that I could not be proud of my performance, as at some times; and blessed be the Lord for this mercy.

—David Brainerd

If you want to pray strategically, in a way which would please God, pray that God might raise up men who see the beauty of the Lord our God & would begin to preach it & hold it out to people, instead of offering peace of mind, deliverance from cigarettes, a better job & cottage.

Oh, methinks, if he would punish me for my sins, it would not wound my heart so deep to offend him: but though I sin continually, yet he continually repeats his kindness to me! Oh, methinks I could bear any sufferings; but how can I bear to grieve and dishonour this blessed God!

—David Brainerd

The teaching of the New Testament is that God and spiritual things can be known finally only by a direct work of God within the soul. The true understanding of God must be by personal spiritual awareness. The Holy Spirit is indispensable.

—AW Tozer

Men say they don’t want to give up their freedom. There is no freedom until a man knows the Lord Jesus Christ. A man is slave to sin, to his passions and lusts until Christ snaps the fetters and sets him free.

—D. L. Moody

O what reason of thankfulness have I on account of this retirement! I find that I do not, and it seems I cannot, lead a Christian life when I am abroad, and cannot spend time in devotion, Christian conversation, and serious meditation, as I should do.

—David Brainerd

It is a petty view of our Father’s love and wisdom which demands or expects an answer according to our desires, apart from His wisdom. We see hardly one inch of the narrow lane of time. To our God eternity lies open as a meadow.

—Amy Carmichael

We must believe that God is love & that, being love, He cannot harm us but must ever do us good. Then we must throw ourselves before Him & pray with boldness for whatever we know our good & His glory require, and the cost is no object!

—AW Tozer

Oh speak and spare not, whatever thou believest may conduce, either to the amending my faults, the strengthening my weakness, the building me up in love, or the making me more fit, in any kind, for the Master’s use!

—John Wesley

The resurrection is the day of Christ’s crowning. He was Son and Messiah already before His incarnation. He was that also in His humiliation. But then His inner being was hidden under the form of a servant.

—Herman Bavinck

Have we a bitter zeal, inciting us to strive sharply and passionately with them that are out of the way? Or is our zeal the flame of love, so as to direct all our words with sweetness, lowliness, and meekness of wisdom?

—John Wesley

Men don’t like to have Christ preached faithfully; but it is just what they don’t like to have that we must give them. I learned that long ago. The very truths that men object to, and that make them angry, are the truths that bring them to the cross of Christ.

—D. L. Moody

Oh, how heavy is my work, when faith cannot take hold of an almighty arm, for the performance of it! Many times have I been ready to sink in this case. Blessed be God, that I may repair to a full fountain.

—David Brainerd

It was not to the unsaved that the words “Do not fret” were spoken, but to God-fearing persons capable of understanding spiritual things. We Christians need to watch & pray lest we fall into this temptation by an irritable spirit under the stress & strain of life.

—AW Tozer