God takes a safe course with His children, that they may not be condemned with the world, He permits the world to condemn them, that they may not love the world, the world hates them.

It is good to divert our sorrow for other things to the root of all, which is sin. Let our grief run most in that channel, that as sin bred grief, so grief may consume sin.

Therefore, when we find our heart inflamed with love to God, we may know that God hath shined upon our souls in the pardon of sin; and proportionally to our measure of love is our assurance of pardon. Therefore we should labour for a greater measure thereof, that our hearts may be the more inflamed in the love of God.

Times are bad, God is good.

The winter prepares the earth for the spring, so do afflictions sanctified prepare the soul for glory.

Christ does not choose you because you are good, but to make you good.

The soul is never quiet till it comes to God . . . and that is the one thing the soul desireth.