Christian Writers and Preachers

Was grieved that I could do so little for God before my bodily strength failed.

—David Brainerd

But let me tell you, my brother, eternity is another thing than we ordinarily take it to be in a healthful state. Oh, how vast and boundless! Oh, how fixed and unalterable! Oh, of what infinite importance is it, that we be prepared for eternity!

—David Brainerd

I enjoyed much more intenseness, fervency, and spirituality, than I expected; God was better to me than my fears.

—David Brainerd

Longed exceedingly for angelic holiness and purity, and to have all my thoughts, at all times, employed in divine and heavenly things.

—David Brainerd

O that my soul were holy, as he is holy! O that it were pure, even as Christ is pure; and perfect, as my Father in heaven is perfect!

—David Brainerd

“Infinite patience! Immeasurable longsuffering! where are ye to be found save in the breast of the Well-beloved? Surely the hoe has spared many of us simply and only because he who is meek and lowly in heart is the gardener.”

– Charles Spurgeon

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

…what a death it is, to strive, and strive; to be always in a hurry, and yet do nothing, or at least nothing for God!

—David Brainerd

In the evening, the hand of faith seemed to be strengthened in God; my soul seemed to rest and acquiesce in him; was supported under my burdens, reading the 125th Psalm; and found that it was sweet and comfortable to lean on God.

—David Brainerd

Truly God is a ‘present help in time of trouble.’

—David Brainerd

…upon a day of thanksgiving kept in this place, I was enabled to recall and recount over the mercies of God, in such a manner as greatly affected me, and filled me with thankfulness and praise.

—David Brainerd

Prayer was so sweet an exercise to me, that I knew not how to cease, lest I should lose the spirit of prayer.

—David Brainerd

It may much conduce to your willingness to die to consider that by death God oftentimes hides His people out of the way of all temptations and troubles upon earth.

—John Flavel

Lapsed man is not only deep in misery, but grossly ignorant, both that he is so, and how to recover himself from it: Sin has left him at once senseless of his state, and at a perfect loss about the true remedy.

—John Flavel

O for a prospect of (our) final deliverance from sin, never to be entangled, defiled, or troubled with it anymore.

—John Flavel

If you will be for Christ, and be His, you must embrace all pains, watchings, and laborings after holiness to the end of your days: holiness will cost a Christian abundance of labor, but this you must do, or you cannot be Christians.

—John Flavel

Most men need patience to die, but a saint that understands what death admits him to should rather need patience to live.

—John Flavel

Some who may be drawn to commit sin yet are none of the servants of sin, because they do heartily beg the assistance of grace to keep them from sin: Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins, says the psalmist, let them not have dominion over me (Ps. 19:13).

—John Flavel

Outward sins are sins majoris infamiae, of greatest scandal; but heart sins are oftentimes majoris reatus, sins of greater guilt.

—John Flavel

(2 Cor. 7:1) Here’s the work of a Christian, cleansing work, and perfecting work in the fear of God, to the end of our lives…. He that is contented with these terms is surely Christ’s as ever was any soul.

—John Flavel

Merely feeling troubled for your sin does not argue for sincerity of repentance.

—John Flavel

Are you contented to embrace all corrections from the hand of God for the killing of the remainders of sin in you? If you will be for Christ, you must submit to Christ’s: It is in vain to say, If I can travel to heaven without meeting a storm in the way, I am willing to go

—John Flavel

“The great ocean of Jesus’ loving self-sacrifice can swallow up the mountains of our sins.”

— Charles Spurgeon

The sufferings of His soul were the very soul of His sufferings. Did Christ bear such a burden for me with unbroken patience and constancy, and shall I shrink back from momentary and light afflictions for Him?

—John Flavel

Is not eternal life worth the suffering of a moment’s pain? If I suffer with Him, I shall reign with Him (2 Tim. 2:12).

—John Flavel

O my friends, it is not enough that the object of your duties is spiritual, that they respect a holy God or that the matter is spiritual, that you be conversant about holy things; but that the frame of your heart must be spiritual, a heavenly temper of soul is necessary.

—John Flavel

The renewed nature of a saint restrains him from sin. The spirit lusts against the flesh, so that you cannot do the thing you would (Gal. 5:17).

—John Flavel

A sincere Christian falls into sin and commits evil, yet he proceeds not from evil to evil as the ungodly do but makes his fall into one sin a caution to prevent another sin…. It is not so with the servants of sin. One sin leaves them much more disposed to another sin.

—John Flavel

To think of a grave is not pleasant in itself, but to think of a parting time with sin, that’s sweet and pleasant indeed.

—John Flavel

To complete the happiness of the redeemed; Christ is not only made of God unto them wisdom and righteousness, the one curing our ignorance, the other our guilt; but he is made sanctification also, to relieve us against the dominion and pollutions of our corruptions.

—John Flavel