We must come to good works by faith, and not to faith by good works.

Paul was Nero's prisoner, but Nero was much more God's... But how does the great apostle spend his time in prison?... We read of no dispatches sent to court to procure his liberty; but many to the churches, to help them to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free... 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.

Weak faith will as surely land the Christian in heaven as strong faith, for it is impossible the least dram of true grace should perish

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.

God's wounds cure, sin's kisses kill.

The possessions God allows us to have are intended for our use, not our enjoyment. Trying to squeeze something out of them that was never in them in the first place is a futile endeavor. A cow's udders, gently pressed, will yield sweet milk, nourishing and refreshing. Applying more and more pressure will not produce greater quantities of milk. We lose the good of material things by expecting too much from them. Those who try hardest to please themselves with earthly goods find the least satisfaction in them.

The soldier is summoned to a life of active duty and so is the Christian.