Holy and Profitable Sayings
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A41580.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
Holy and Profitable SAYINGS Of Mr. J. G. who departed this life the Third day of this instant October, 1678.
1. WERE the World to write a Catalogue of its Mercies, that of our Redemption ought to be placed in the front of them.
2. The least Interest in the Blood of Christ, is more truly valuable than our firmest claims to the greatest Temporal Felicity.
3. A young Christian, like a young Soldier, may at first be afraid to enter into Spiritual Warfare, but when, through a faith in Christ, he has once repel'd Temptations, he will never after leave fighting under his Banner.
4. It is but reason we should trust God for Temporal Mercies, since, upon performance of the conditions of the Covenant, he assures us of those which are Aeternal.
5. They pray in vain for pardon of Sin, who endeavor not to prevent Sin by Prayer.
6. The strictness of Christianity ought not to be computed by the abundance of parts; it being often seen, that Men who have a large share in Natural Accomplishments, have a resembling quantity of Corruptions to balance them; so that it is certainly to be concluded, that it is the illiterate Saint, not the elaborate Sinner, which at the last day shall be justified.
7. Sin ought to be more terrible to us than Death, since there is nothing at our dissolution truly worthy our fear, but what the Impiety of our lives hath made so.
8. As Body and Soul are kept distinct in their Essence, though they be united to make a Man, so are the God-head and Man-hood of Christ distinct in their natures; notwithstanding the Union of them in one person.
9. He who thirsteth after Christ, as the Hart after the Water-brook, or truly longeth for him, shall not be long without him.
10. Private Prayer is often rewarded with a public Blessing, Mat. 6. 6.
11. It is the Practicer, not the Prater, of Religion shall be saved.
12. Our Relation to Christ is a most high Prerogative: We are his Servants, Rom, 〈…〉 gloried in it: yea, his Friends, Christ acknowledges it, Joh. 15. 14. yea, his Brethren, Christ blushes not to call us so, Heb. 2. 11. yea, his Spouse, for Christ and his Church are Husband and Wife, Eph. 5. 32. yea, Members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bone, Eph. 5. 30. 1 Cor. 6. 15.
13. He who is diligent for heaven, shall be rewarded with a delightfulness in Heaven. The puling Soldier offers at the prize, whilst the pursuing one carries it away.
14. He who has much wealth, has generally as much trouble mixed with it; he who has none, has more; Lord! grant me that suitable competency which may supply my necessities here, and debar me from that superfluity which may wed me to this troublesome World, and make me unwilling to part with it to go to thee hereafter.
How vainly do we set our affections on things below, since there is as much happiness in not desiring, as in enjoying the greatest temporal Felicity.
15. He who would die without fear, must endeavor to live without Sin.
16. The common partakers of all outward comforts, cannot distinguish the Righteous from the Wicked; the friends of Christ and his People, from their Enemies; the Heirs of Heaven, or Sons of Love, from the Children of Wrath. Because Eccles. 9. 1. 2. All things come alike to all; and no man knoweth either Love, or Hatred, by all that is before them.
17. Since Christ shed his Blood by reason of our Sins, how ought we to forgo our Sins, in consideration of his Blood!
18. It is very strange, but very true, that a Real Christian has more satisfaction in Persecution, than a Sinner in Prosperity.
19. When, in the various progress of Human Life, I had seriously considered the little satisfaction, and certain afflictions was to be had therein, Lord! (said I) how happy am I that my hopes bound at the things here below.
20. Nothing but the hopes of Heaven are sufficient to bribe me to undergo the troubles on Earth.
21. A Man had better not be, than not be a Christian.
22. Theres no Man on Earth shares so small a Portion of God's Blessings, or is so unacquainted with his power, but if he looks into the particulars of his preservation, and will but consult God's dealings with him in his necessities, how sometimes he is pleased to supply him even beyond his expectations, and at other times miraculously frames his contentment to his condition; but ought to fly from Despair as that most nigardly Sin. which, by confining his power, contracts his indignation, and if it were possible to alter his decree, were enough to close that liberal hand which was intended to be open before.
23. It is not the faint but the faithful; it is not the suspicious, but the circumspect Christistian that gains his assurance and evidence for Heaven.
24. As the way to die well is to live well, so the way to live well is to conceit we are always dying whilst we are living.
25. Were it not for the hopes of future happiness, no man would be hir'd to undergo the Penance of Human Wretchedness.
26. Afflictons are mercies when they draw us towards Heaven.
27. And Prosperity's a curse when it tempts us from it.
28. Pleasures, Riches, and Honors, and the rest of the Worlds trivial enjoyments, in the meridian of his Age, may seemingly render a man happy, but there is nothing but Piety, and a good Conscience can perfume his end.
29. Little do the Wicked think how many mercies the Godly enjoy, as the sweet earnests, or returns of their Prayers, with a satisfaction which the other are never capable of.
30. Experience is an Art of knowing well, which is learnt by observation: Religion is an art of living, or doing well, which is learnt (at least perfected) by Experience. If God's dealings with us escape our observation, they cannot come into our minds, much less enter into our hearts to consider them. It is a great Judgment of God to have an unseeing Eve, an unconsiderate mind, and an unaffected heart with his works. Experience in matters of God, helps to bring the Trade of Christianity to maturity and perfection; yea it is a stock to let up the Trade of Religion, which otherwise might impair without it.
31. Make good Thoughts your nightly, daily, and continual Companions.
32. Whilst you are going, walk as to your Graves; and when you lie down, conceit your Couches your Death-beds. A military Christian has no interval in his Warfare, his Condition, like that of a Kingdoms, when it ceases to be happy, retrogrades into destruction.
33. Most men would live Atheists, but none would die so; but he that would be a Christian in deed and in truth, must live one.
34. 'It is a hard thing to part with the world, but should not be so to a Christian who considers his advantageous Exchange.
35. 'It is the Holy man that alone is the Happy man.
36. 'It is a hard work to die, but when death is in order to life eternal, methinks it is easy.
37. What a vast advantage have the godly, of the wicked, when the righteous man's Meditations are a Sacrifice, and even the carnal man's Prayers are but as sins, Prov. 15. 8.
38. The unworthy contempt of God's Word and Ministers, is a most provoking sin to God, and a presaging symptom of ruin to a People.
39. He who is negligent in his Duty towards God, may reasonably expect that God will be as careless or oblivious in his preservation of him: And indeed he is infinitely unworthy the gracious privileges of the Gospel Covenant, who is willfully guilty of the breach of it, when the advantages thereby only redound to his proper interest.
40. The Life of man is a Riddle, which when Death unfolds, Heaven rewards ••••• ding to its demerits, whether it be 〈…〉 evil.
With Allowance.
LONDON, Printed for D. M. 1678.