The goodness of patience
They who are wicked, although they cannot see the goodness of other virtues, yet can see the goodness of patience, and perceive when they see a patient man and an impatient man both sick of one disease; yet both are not troubled alike, but that he who has most patience has most ease, and he who is most impatient is most tormented, like a fish which strives with the hook. [Henry Smith]
In prosperity
Prosperity is no friend to a sanctified memory, and therefore we are cautioned, when we are full, lest we forget God. Noah, who had seen the whole of world drowned in water, was no sooner safe on shore, and in the enjoyment of plenty, than he forget God, and drowned himself in wine. [William Gurnall]
Concern for dying sinners souls
If that God that made, and will shortly judge you; if the Redeemer that shed his valuable blood, and now offers you the purchases and benefits of it; if you have any love to, or care of your own souls, which are of more worth than the whole world; if you have any value for Heaven, or dread of hell, then for God’s sake, for Christ’s sake, for your precious soul’s sake, trifle with Heaven and Hell no longer, but be in earnest to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Could I think of any other motives to secure your souls from danger, I would surely use them. Could I reach your hearts effectually, I would deeply impress this great concern upon them; but I can neither do God’s part nor yours; it is some ease to me, I have in sincerity (though with much imperfection and feebleness) done part of my own; the Lord prosper it by the Blessing of His Spirit on the Hearts of them that read it. Amen. [John Flavel]
Trying and trusting brethren
After proof and trial made of their fidelity, we are to trust our brethren without any further suspicion. Not to try before we trust is want fo wisdom, not to trust after we have tried is want of charity. The goldsmith must purify the dross and ore from the gold, but he must be wary lest he make waste of good metal if over anxious in too often refining. [Thomas Fuller]
The believer and the Law
His commandments are not burdenous [to them that are in Christ, and are freed from the curse of the Law, which makes the Law grievous, and are also guided by His Holy Spirit.][William Perkins]
The king of sins
Unbelief is the great anti-christ in the heart, setting up there in downright opposition to the Son of God. The end of Christ’s coming was to destroy sin, 1 John iii. 8, the effect of unbelief is to preserve sin,in life and vigour. It is the soul and life of all other sins, the shield that keeps their heads and hearts halo; take it away, they all die, and the soul revives; leave it upon their head, and they all live, and the soul dies, John viii. 24. It is the general of the army of hell in men’s breasts, against whom the Word is given in the day of power. [Thomas Boston]
The Plague of Discontent
Here is a just reproof to such as are discontented with their condition. This disease is almost epidemical. Some not content with the calling which God hath set them in, must be a step higher, from the plough to the throne; who like the spider in the Proverbs, will “take hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” Others from the shop to the pulpit; (Nu. 12. 2) they would be in the temple of honour, before they are in the temple of virtue; who step into Moses’ chair, without Aaron’s bells and pomegranates; like apes, which do most show their deformity when they are climbing. It is not enough that God hath bestowed gifts upon men, in private to edify; that he hath enriched them with many mercies? but, “seek ye the priesthood also?” (Nu. 16. 10) What is this but discontent arising from high flown pride? These do secretly tax the wisdom of God, that he hath not screwed them up in their condition a peg higher. Every man is complaining that his estate is no better, though he seldom complains that his heart is no better. One man commends this kind of life, another commends that; one man thinks a country-life best, another a city-life; the soldier thinks it best to be a merchant, and the merchant to be a soldier. Men can be content to be anything but what God would have them. How is it that no man is contented? Very few Christians have learned St Paul’s lesson: neither poor nor rich know how to be content, they can learn anything but this. [Thomas Watson]
Working hard
Sin brought in sweat (Genesis 3:19), but now, not to sweat increases sin. [John Flavel]
God troubles troublers of His people
When malicious and mischievous persecutors have done all they can to vex and fret, to daunt and affright, to dismay and discourage the people of God, then God will terrify the most terrible among them, and “they shall not prevail nor prosper, yea, they shall stumble and fall, they shall be ashamed and confounded.” When the time is expired that God has pre fixed for his people’s sufferings, then God will retaliate upon their persecutors, then they that spoiled his people shall be spoiled, and they that dealt perfidiously[8] and treacherously with them, shall be dealt perfidiously and treacherously withal: 2 Thessalonians 1:6, “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you.” It is but justice that God should trouble those that are the troublers of his people [Thomas Brooks]
Patience vs Impatience
The patient soul doth most sweetly enjoy itself; an impatient man is like a troubled sea, that cannot rest: he tortures himself upon the wrack of his own griefs and passions, whereas patience calms the heart, as Christ did the sea when it was rough; and now there is a sabbath in the heart, yea, an heaven, Luke xxi. 19. "In your patience, possess ye your souls:’ by faith a man possesseth God, and by patience he possesseth himself. [Thomas Watson]
on committing sin
To commit that sin, but two things are required–light in the mind, and malice in the heart. [Thomas Goodwin]
Faith
Trust in God and you need not fear.[Johnathan Edwards]
The Power of sin
It is easy to tell one lie, hard to tell but one lie. [Thomas Fuller]
when wisdom becomes madness
Whatever wisdom a person has of himself, is pure folly with regard to God; and when self-confidence is added it becomes madness.[ John Calvin]
Christian faithfulness in doing good
When the earth is soft, the plough will enter. Take a man when he is under affliction, or in the house of mourning, or newly stirred by some moving sermon, and then set it home, and you may do him good. Christian faithfulness doth require us, not only to do good when it falls in our way, but to watch for opportunities of doing good. [Richard Baxter]
God's love to us while we were yet sinners
Incomprehensible and immutable is the love of God. For it was not after we were reconciled to him by the blood of his Son that he began to love us, but he loved us before the foundation of the world, that with his only begotten Son we too might be sons of God before we were any thing at all. Our being reconciled by the death of Christ must not be understood as if the Son reconciled us, in order that the Father, then hating, might begin to love us, but that we were reconciled to him already, loving, though at enmity with us because of sin. To the truth of both propositions we have the attestation of the Apostle, ‘God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,’ (Romans 5:8.) Therefore he had this love towards us even when, exercising enmity towards him, we were the workers of iniquity. Accordingly in a manner wondrous and divine, he loved even when he hated us. For he hated us when we were such as he had not made us, and yet because our iniquity had not destroyed his work in every respect, he knew in regard to each one of us, both to hate what we had made, and love what he had made. [Augustine]
God's love to us while we were yet sinners
Incomprehensible and immutable is the love of God. For it was not after we were reconciled to him by the blood of his Son that he began to love us, but he loved us before the foundation of the world, that with his only begotten Son we too might be sons of God before we were any thing at all. Our being reconciled by the death of Christ must not be understood as if the Son reconciled us, in order that the Father, then hating, might begin to love us, but that we were reconciled to him already, loving, though at enmity with us because of sin. To the truth of both propositions we have the attestation of the Apostle, ‘God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,’ (Romans 5:8.) Therefore he had this love towards us even when, exercising enmity towards him, we were the workers of iniquity. Accordingly in a manner wondrous and divine, he loved even when he hated us. For he hated us when we were such as he had not made us, and yet because our iniquity had not destroyed his work in every respect, he knew in regard to each one of us, both to hate what we had made, and love what he had made. [Augustine]
charity without purity
A man that is charitable and not pure, is better to others than to himself. [Thomas Manton]
The True Worth of a man
The virtue of others cannot perfect us. It is not from whence a man comes, that is his true glory, but what he is, and what good he does.[Jeremiah Burroughs]
The glory of the faithful
The glory of the faithful is not in their learning or fine speech, but in a pure conscience. [John Calvin]
On instructing the young
If you neglect to instruct them in the way of holiness, will the devil neglect to instruct them in the way of wickedness? No; if you will not teach them to pray, he will teach them to curse, swear, and lie; if ground be uncultivated, weeds will spring. [John Flavel]
God's provision for His people
God…will not lightly or easily lose His people. He has provided well for us: blood to wash us in; a Priest to pray for us, that we may be made to persevere; and, in case we foully fall, an Advocate to plead our cause. [John Bunyan]
God's provision for His people
God…will not lightly or easily lose His people. He has provided well for us: blood to wash us in; a Priest to pray for us, that we may be made to persevere; and, in case we foully fall, an Advocate to plead our cause. [John Bunyan]
Enjoying God
God is not otherwise to be enjoyed than as He is obeyed. [John Howe]
Riches
Riches are long in getting with much pains, hard in keeping with much care, quick in losing with more sorrow. [Thomas Fuller]
About
Nothing much to tell. I’m walking a single solitary pilgrims walk, in England, that is not an easy one. I am a Calvinistic Covenanter Christian, My Autonomic Nervous system is failing slowly, which has led to severe disability, with an ultra rare disease than medics don’t even understand, often misdiagnose.and will no doubt kill me at some point. But, I trust the Lord to get me where I’m going. All glory to HIM.
The symptomology listed on the link, most porphyrics will only have most of those symptoms if in an acute attack. A few of us, with the ongoing, smouldering symptoms, that never go away, have most if not all of the symptom list, even when not in an acute attack, and are persistent and constant. Anyone who has ever been in the psychiactric system, diagnosed as this or that, even if physically well, should consider this illness could be responsible. King George III, the most famous porphyric, his sole symptom was “insanity.” Its so rare in part, because it’s massively under-diagnosed. But in making this illness known, when it struck me physically a few years ago, God vindicated me from every mis-diagnoses and bersmirchment upon me medically that has ever been made, and has made them all null and void.
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