In all true conversion there are points of essential agreement: there must be in all a penitent confession of sin, and a looking to Jesus for forgiveness of it, and there must also be a real change of heart, such as shall affect the entire after life, and where these essential points are not to be found there is no genuine conversion.

Charles H. Spurgeon

It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he had revealed to others . . . A respectable acquaintance with the opinions of the giants of the past, might save many an erratic thinker from wild interpretations and outrageous inferences.

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

It is only God, and the precious things of His house, that can satisfy a thirsty soul.

Thomas Brooks

Do you want peace and inward quietude of soul? Whensoever the Lord then does but begin to speak the least peace unto your heart, take heed that you do not refuse it, but rather improve it, and stir up yourselves then in a way of believing. Praise God for every smile, and rejoice in the least.

William Bridge

Someday you will read in the papers that Moody is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I was born of the flesh in 1837, I was born of the spirit in 1855. That which is born of the flesh may die. That which is born of the Spirit shall live forever.

Dwight L. Moody

I never ask money directly from any person for the Lord's work. My part is done when I have told my story and shown the needs of the Heathen and the claims of Christ; but I gratefully receive all that the Lord moves His people to give for the Mission.

John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides (1824-1907)

He that will not seriously and frequently observe the internal motions and actings of God in and upon his noble part, his immortal soul, may talk of assurance, and complain of want of assurance, but it will be long before he shall obtain assurance.

Thomas Brooks

It is not faith that saves, but faith in Jesus Christ . . . It is not, strictly speaking, even faith in Christ that saves, but Christ that saves through faith. The saving power resides exclusively, not in the act of faith or the attitude of faith or the nature of faith, but in the object of faith; and in this the whole biblical representation centres, so that we could not more radically misconceive [Scripture] than by transferring to faith even the smallest fraction of that saving energy which is attributed in the Scriptures solely to Christ Himself.

B. B. Warfield

Thou must not neglect thy work, though God delays thy comfort; thou must be as obedient in the want of assurance, as thou art thankful under the enjoyment of assistance.

Thomas Brooks

Nothing can be more indecent than to hear a dead preacher speaking to dead sinners the living truth of the living God.

Richard Baxter

Afflictions wean the believer from the world, stimulate his spiritual growth, open new vistas of faith, increase his intimacy with God and submission to His attributes, and act overall as healing tonic for his soul.

Joel R. Beeke

God loves to smile most upon His people when the world frowns most.

Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)

I will now address myself specially to those who are known as Baptists. As for us, the baptized followers of Christ, our ancestry as a body of Christian men is not to be despised. Albeit that the name of Anabaptist has been made the football of reproach because it was wrongfully associated with fanatical opinions, we may rest assured that the more history is understood, the more apparent will it be that those who were the most humiliated were thus treated because they were before their times. They bore the brunt of battle because they led the way! God forbid that I should induce you to glory in them and so to wear borrowed laurels! Of all pride, I think that to be the most idle which hides its own nakedness beneath the tattered banners of ancestry. I do but dwell for a moment upon our past history to excite you to yet more earnest deeds! Prove yourselves to be these men’s sons by doing their deeds! Otherwise you are bastards and not sons. In every effort for civil and religious liberty, our fathers were at the front! In the utterance of those Divine Truths of God which have made tyrants and priests quake for fear, they have been among the boldest! Our fathers, for holding to Baptism as the Lord ordained it, suffered at the hands of men who knew no mercy.

C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892)

What certainty can there be of election, remission of sin, justification, or glorification, if there be not a certainty of your sanctification and renovation? If that persuasion that is in you about your grace or sanctification be false, then that persuasion that is in you concerning remission of sin, predestination, justification, and eternal salvation is false. This highly concerns all to consider, that would not be miserable in both worlds.

Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)

Prayer is to be made with faith, whereby a man must have certaine assurance to be heard. For he that praieth, must steadfastly beleevee, that God in Christ will grant his petition.

William Perkins (1558-1602)

Assurance is requisite to the well-bring of a Christian, but not to the being; it is requisite to the consolation of a Christian, but not to the salvation of a Christian; it is requisite to the well-being of grace, but not to the mere being of grace.

Thomas Brooks

We should never forget that the purpose of theology is doxology.

R. C. Sproul

It is the very drift and design of the whole Scripture, to bring souls first to an acquaintance with Christ, and then to an acceptance of Christ, and then to build them up in a sweet assurance of their actual interest in Christ.

Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)

Most men shape their religion according to the fashion of the times; they are for the music and the idol.

Thomas Watson (17th century Puritan)

God would have us part with nothing for Him, but that which would damn us if we keep it. He has no design upon us, but to make us happy.

Thomas Watson (c.1620-1686)

Affliction to one is as the bruising of spices, which cast forth a fragrant smell; to the other it is as the crushing of weeds in a mortar, which are more unsavoury. What is this, but the free grace of God?

Thomas Watson, 17th century pastor

There are but few that love God.

Thomas Watson

Love cannot be silent; we shall be as so many trumpets, sounding forth the freeness of God's grace, the transparency of His love, and the glory of His kingdom. Love is like fire: where it burns in the heart, it will break forth at the lips. It will be elegant in setting forth God's praise: love must have vent.

Thomas Watson

He who is afraid to own Christ has but little love to Him. . . Does he love God that can hear His blessed truths spoken against and be silent?

Thomas Watson

If God seek our good, let us seek His glory. If He make all things tend to our edification, let us make all things tend to His exaltation.

Thomas Watson