Ecclesiastes 9:4
"A living dog is better than a dead lion."
Life is a precious thing, and in its humblest form it is superior to death. This truth is eminently certain in spiritual things. It is better to be the least in the kingdom of heaven than the greatest out of it. The lowest degree of grace is superior to the noblest development of unregenerate nature. Where the Holy Ghost implants divine life in the soul, there is a precious deposit which none of the refinements of education can equal.
The thief on the cross excels Caesar on his throne; Lazarus among the dogs is better than Cicero among the senators; and the most unlettered Christian is in the sight of God superior to Plato. Life is the badge of nobility in the realm of spiritual things, and men without it are only coarser or finer specimens of the same lifeless material, needing to be quickened, for they are dead in trespasses and sins.
A living, loving, gospel sermon, however unlearned in matter and uncouth in style, is better than the finest discourse devoid of unction and power. A living dog keeps better watch than a dead lion, and is of more service to his master; and so the poorest spiritual preacher is infinitely to be preferred to the exquisite orator who has no wisdom but that of words, no energy but that of sound.
The like holds good of our prayers and other religious exercises; if we are quickened in them by the Holy Spirit, they are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, though we may think them to be worthless things; while our grand performances in which our hearts were absent, like dead lions, are mere carrion in the sight of the living God.
O for living groans, living sighs, living despondencies, rather than lifeless songs and dead calms. Better anything than death. The snarlings of the dog of hell will at least keep us awake, but dead faith and dead profession, what greater curses can a man have? Quicken us, quicken us, O Lord!
—C.H. Spurgeon
"A living dog is better than a dead lion."
Life is a precious thing, and in its humblest form it is superior to death. This truth is eminently certain in spiritual things. It is better to be the least in the kingdom of heaven than the greatest out of it. The lowest degree of grace is superior to the noblest development of unregenerate nature. Where the Holy Ghost implants divine life in the soul, there is a precious deposit which none of the refinements of education can equal.
The thief on the cross excels Caesar on his throne; Lazarus among the dogs is better than Cicero among the senators; and the most unlettered Christian is in the sight of God superior to Plato. Life is the badge of nobility in the realm of spiritual things, and men without it are only coarser or finer specimens of the same lifeless material, needing to be quickened, for they are dead in trespasses and sins.
A living, loving, gospel sermon, however unlearned in matter and uncouth in style, is better than the finest discourse devoid of unction and power. A living dog keeps better watch than a dead lion, and is of more service to his master; and so the poorest spiritual preacher is infinitely to be preferred to the exquisite orator who has no wisdom but that of words, no energy but that of sound.
The like holds good of our prayers and other religious exercises; if we are quickened in them by the Holy Spirit, they are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, though we may think them to be worthless things; while our grand performances in which our hearts were absent, like dead lions, are mere carrion in the sight of the living God.
O for living groans, living sighs, living despondencies, rather than lifeless songs and dead calms. Better anything than death. The snarlings of the dog of hell will at least keep us awake, but dead faith and dead profession, what greater curses can a man have? Quicken us, quicken us, O Lord!
—C.H. Spurgeon
The Lord employs no small trials when he tests his people, and not only does he treat them most roughly, but he often presses extreme necessity upon them and leaves them to languish for a very long time before he gives them the taste and savour of his sweetness.
—John Calvin
—John Calvin
The door of God's mercy is thrown wide open, and Christ stands in the door and says to sinners, “Come.”
—Jonathan Edwards
—Jonathan Edwards
Those who have no inkling of Your mercy may be silent and offer You no word of praise, but from the depths of my heart I acknowledge Your mercy.
—Augustine
—Augustine
The calling of all believers, however outwardly different it may appear, is a matter solely of the Lord’s grace.
—Ambrose
—Ambrose
He drank for your sake, a cup of unmixed wrath, and only puts into your hand a cup of affliction mixed with many mercies.
—John Newton
—John Newton
There is none like Him; I would not exchange one smile of His lovely face with kingdoms.
—Samuel Rutherford
—Samuel Rutherford
The worst creature under Heaven, that has not a penny in the world, may be welcome unto God.
—George Whitefield
—George Whitefield
What is Christ but the love of God wrapt up in flesh and blood?
—John Flavel
—John Flavel
Fear not because your prayer is stammering, your words feeble, and your language poor. Jesus can understand you.
—J.C Ryle
—J.C Ryle
When we have gifts from God, desire grace to manage them well.
—Richard Sibbes
—Richard Sibbes
Christ will never leave you that are his, nor forsake you.
—George Swinnock
—George Swinnock
Success without the gospel, is nothing but a prosperous conspiracy against Jesus Christ.
—John Owen
—John Owen
You were ungrateful for past mercies; yet God not only continued those mercies, but bestowed unspeakably greater mercies upon you.
—Jonathan Edwards
—Jonathan Edwards
May we ever feel an influence drawing us Christward.
If it be so, our weakness will all vanish, for his strength will be remembered.
—Charles Spurgeon
If it be so, our weakness will all vanish, for his strength will be remembered.
—Charles Spurgeon
As a shoemaker makes a shoe, and a tailor makes a coat, so ought a Christian to pray. Prayer is the daily business of a Christian.
—Martin Luther
—Martin Luther
It is better to preach five words of God’s Word than five million words of man’s wisdom.
—Charles Spurgeon
—Charles Spurgeon
In taking our poverty on himself he made over his wealth to us; in shouldering our weakness he strengthened us with his power; in coming down to earth he made a way up to heaven; in becoming Son of man he made us children of God.
—John Calvin
—John Calvin