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

Categorized in : Heart Desire Expectations

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

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

Piety and virtue are not only delightful for the present, but they leave peace and contentment behind them.

John Tillotson

piety contentment virtue