Every man hath greater assurance that God is good and just than he can have of any subtle speculations about predestination and the decrees of God. John Tillotson More Quotes by John Tillotson More Quotes From John Tillotson Ignorance and inconsideration are the two great causes of the ruin of mankind. John Tillotson ruins ignorance two A good word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill requires only our silence, which costs us nothing. John Tillotson silence relationship people Men expect that religion should cost them no pains, that happiness should drop into their laps without any design and endeavor on their part, and that, after they have done what they please while they live, God should snatch them up to heaven when they die. But though the commandments of God be not grievous, yet it is fit to let men know that they are not thus easy. John Tillotson pain happiness men When we have practiced good actions awhile, they become easy; when they are easy, we take pleasure in them; when they please us, we do them frequently; and then, by frequency of act, they grow into a habit. John Tillotson habit easy action Of all parts of wisdom the practice is the best. John Tillotson self-improvement practice inspirational Truth is always consistent with itself, and needs nothing to help it out. It is always near at hand, and sits upon our lips, and is ready to drop out before we are aware; whereas a lie is troublesome, and sets a man's invention upon the rack; and one trick needs a great many more to make it good. John Tillotson truth men lying He who is sincere hath the easiest task in the world, for, truth being always consistent with itself, he is put to no trouble about his words and actions; it is like traveling in a plain road, which is sure to bring you to your journey's end better than byways in which many lose themselves. John Tillotson tasks journey world Every Christian is endued with a power whereby he is enabled to resist temptations. John Tillotson temptation christian For the spiritual efficacy of the Sacrament doth not depend upon the nature of the thing received, supposing we received what our Lord appointed, and receive it with a right preparation and disposition of mind, but upon the supernatural blessing that goes along with it, and makes it effectual to those spiritual ends for which it was appointed. John Tillotson preparation spiritual blessing Wealth and riches, that is, an estate above what sufficeth our real occasions and necessities, is in no other sense a 'blessing' than as it is an opportunity put into our hands, by the providence of God, of doing more good. John Tillotson real blessing opportunity If people would but provide for eternity with the same solicitude and real care as they do for this life, they could not fail of heaven. John Tillotson real heaven people Let no man deceive you with vain words or vain hopes or false notions of a slight and sudden repentance. As if heaven were a hospital founded on purpose to receive all sick and maimed persons that, when they can live no longer to the lusts of the flesh and the sinful pleasures of this world, can but put up a cold and formal petition to be admitted there. No, no, as sure as God is true, they shall never see the Kingdom of God who, instead of seeking it in the first place, make it their last refuge and retreat. John Tillotson sick hope men In our pursuit of the things of this world, we usually prevent enjoyment, by expectation; we anticipate our own happiness, and eat out the heart and sweetness of worldly pleasures, by delightful forethoughts of them; so that when we come to possess them, they do not answer the expectation, nor satisfy the desires which were raised about them, and they vanish into nothing. John Tillotson expectations desire heart The covetous man heaps up riches, not to enjoy them, but to have them; and starves himself in the midst of plenty, and most unnaturally cheats and robs himself of that which is his own; and makes a hard shift, to be as poor and miserable with a great estate, as any man can be without it. John Tillotson riches miserable men Our belief or disbelief of a thing does not alter the nature of the thing. John Tillotson opinion belief doe The crafty person is always in danger; and when they think they walk in the dark, all their pretenses are transparent. John Tillotson danger dark thinking There are two restraints which God has laid upon human nature, shame and fear; shame is the weaker, and has place only in those in whom there are some reminders of virtue. John Tillotson shame human-nature two The true ground of most men's prejudice against the Christian doctrine is because they have no mind to obey it. John Tillotson christian mind men Integrity gains strength by use. John Tillotson honesty use integrity Sincerity is to speak as we think, to do as we pretend and profess, to perform and make good what we promise, and really to be what we would seem and appear to be. John Tillotson speak promise thinking
