When [the saints] perform actions to God, then the soul says: 'Oh! that I could do what pleases God!' When they come to suffer any cross: 'Oh, that what God does might please me!' I labour to do what pleases God, and I labour that what God does shall please me: here is a Christian indeed, who shall endeavour both these. It is but one side of a Christian to endeavour to do what pleases God; you must as well endeavour to be pleased with what God does, and so you will come to be a complete Christian when you can do both, and that is the first thing in the excellence of this grace of contentment.

Oh, that we could but convince men and women that murmuring spirit is a greater evil than any affliction, whatever the affliction!

A noble heart is a thankful heart that loves to acknowledge whenever it has received any mercy.

Thus, a godly man wonders at his cross that it is not more, a wicked man wonders his cross is so much.

You will not find one Godly man who came out of an affliction worse than when he went into it. Though for a little while he was shaken, yet, at last, he was better for an affliction. But, a great many Godly men have been worse for their prosperity.

When God has given you your heart's desire, what have you done with your heart's desire?

the Lord does not so much look at the work that is done, as at the faithfulness of our hearts in doing it.