William Gurnall Quotes - Page 4

God, to prevent all escape, hath sown the seeds of death in our very constitution and nature, so that we can as soon run from ourselves, as run from death. We need no feller to come with a hand of violence and hew us down; there is in the tree a worm, which grows out of its own substance, that will destroy it; so in us, those infirmities of nature that will bring us down to the dust.

And therefore you who think so basely of the gospel and the professors of it, because at present their peace and comfort is not come, know it is on the way to them, and comes to stay everlastingly with them; whereas your peace is going from you every moment, and is sure to leave you without any hope of returning to you again. Look not how the Christian begins, but ends. The Spirit of God by his convictions comes into the soul with some terrors, but it closeth with peace and joy.

Sometimes, perhaps, thou hearest another pray with much freedom and fluency, whilst thou canst hardly get out a few broken words. Hence thou art ready to accuse thyself and admire him, as if the gilding of the key made it open the door the better.

Godliness is the child of truth, and it must be nursed by its own mother.

Blind zeal is soon put to a shameful retreat, while holy resolution, built on fast principles, lifts up its head like a rock in the midst of the waves.

Paul was Nero's prisoner, but Nero was much more God's.

There is no such way to be even with the devil and his instruments, for all their spite against us, as by doing what good we can wherever we be come.

Justifying faith is not a naked assent to the truths of the gospel.

The longer a soul hath neglected duty, the more ado there is to get it taken up.

It is one thing to know a truth, and another thing to know it by unction.

And while God had work for Paul, he found him friends both in court and prison. Let persecutors send saints to prison, God can provide a keeper for their turn.

God hath made it a debt which one saint owes to another to carry their names to a throne of grace.

Oh, it is sad for a poor Christian to stand at the door of the promise, in the dark night of affliction, afraid to draw the latch, whereas he should then come boldly for shelter as a child into his father's house.

The Christian, like a chalice without a base, cannot stand on his own nor hold what he has received any longer that God holds him in His strong hands.

If thou beest ever so exact in thy morals, and not a worshiper of God, then thou art an atheist.

Thou hast no life to lose, because thou hast given it already to Christ, nor can man take away that without God's leave.

We have peace with God as soon as we believe, but not always with ourselves. The pardon may be past the prince's hand and seal, and yet not put into the prisoner's hand.

Many lose heaven because they are ashamed to go in a fool's coat thither.

What is Jordan that I should wash in it? What is the preaching that I should attend on it, while I hear nothing but what I knew before? What are these beggarly elements of water, bread, and wine? Are not these the reasonings of a soul that forgets who appoints the means of grace?

The grace thou hast will soon be less, if thou addest not more to it.

The devil had as good have let Paul alone, for he no sooner comes into prison but he falls a preaching, at which the gates of Satan's prison fly open, and poor sinners come forth.

How many, alas, of the precious saints of God must we shut out from being believers, if there is no faith but what amounts to assurance.... shall we say their faith went away in the departure of their assurance?

Godliness, as well as the doctrine of our faith, is a mystery.

Few are made better by prosperity, whom afflictions make worse.

Whoever hath a seed time of grace pass over his soul, shall have his harvest time also of joy.