Inspirational quotes
"All that I am I owe to Jesus Christ, revealed to me in His divine book." David Livingstone, English explorer and Congregationalist.
"I will go anywhere, as long as it is forward." David Livingstone, English explorer and Congregationalist.
"Hold yourself to a higher standard than anyone else expects of you. Never excuse yourself." Henry Ward Beecher, American Congregational minister known for his support of the abolishion of salvery.
"Of all books, study the Bible;
of all duties, be much in prayer;
of all graces, exercise faith;
of all days, observe the Lord's day;
and of all things in heaven and earth,
be sure that you get an interest in God by Jesus."
William Bridge, former Old Meeting House, minister.
"To every man there openth
A Way, and Ways, and a Way,
And the High Soul climbs the High Way,
And the Low Soul gropes the Low,
And in between on the misty flats,
The rest drift to and fro.
But to every man there openeth
A High Way and a Low,
And every man decideth
The Way his soul shall go."
John Oxenham
"There is a generation of men in the world that have the law of God in their hearts, though they cannot act and work towards God as they would. These sometimes are in a dry and barren condition, where no water or comfort is; yet if in this condition they dig pits, go to prayer, wait upon God in duty, though they find no comfort springing up in their duty for the present, yet in due time the rain of God's blessing will fill those dry pits and empty duties, whereby their life shall be like unto a pool of water, and they shall go from strength of grace to strength of grace, until they see the Lord. Know ye, therefore, any man that is in this valley of Baca, where no water is, yet if he can find in his heart to dig pits, to pray, read, hear, meditate, confer, and perform duties; through those duties be empty of comfort for the present, yet the rain of grace and mercy shall fall upon those pits, and he shall go from strength to strength until he appear before the Lord in Glory."
William Bridge, "Lifting Up For The Downcast."
"Suffering is a wonderful fertilizer for the roots of character. The great objective of this life is character, for it is the only thing we can carry with us into eternity. And gaining as much of the highest character is the purpose of our trials."
Austin Phelps, (1820 - 1890) American Congregational Minister, author of numerous books - The Still Hour: Prevailing Intercessory Prayer: and The New Birth.
"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."
George Mueller (1805 - 1898) Christian evangelist and Director of Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol.
"Life is not numbered by its hours, but by its cheerfulness. Money is not valued by the number of coins, but the value of the coins. It takes many silver coins to match the value of a gold coin. Is not one week in better health better than a year in a crazed state? Is not one hour of bright sunshine better than a day of gloom? To live well, is to live twice. A good man doubles and amplifies his days. One day lived by the rules of faith is better than an immortality of vanity. A man may live in as much contentment to himself and others for a short time as other do in a long life. Some are old in years tediously drawn out, and others in hours cheerfully spent. Living by faith is to enjoy, like the king of Israel, a continual portion, a kingly portion, all the days of our life (2 Kings 25:30)."
Samuel Ward, (1577 -1640) A Living Faith - Banner of Truth Books. An English Puritan minister of Ipswich and a friend of William Bridge, the founder of the Old Meeting House.
"Faith finds its lustre in action, and not just in notion. It enters our hearts and not just our heads. This is the difference between one who reads about pleasant rivers and high mountains and one who visits them. What a difference there is between understanding the notion of sweetness, and actually tasking honey or sugar. In a word, you see schools disputing it, preachers preaching it, profane men swearing by it, but few or none living by it. This is like a rich man that lives like a miser without the benefit of his money. It is possible for a man to have a gift of God and not the use of it. Among all the gifts of God, there is nothing more useful than faith. It is profitable for this life and the life to come. It is profitable for all parts and purposes of our lives. the uses of it are manifold, and rich in every possible way."
Samuel Ward, (1577 -1640) A Living Faith - Banner of Truth Books. An English Puritan minister of Ipswich and a friend of William Bridge, the founder of the Old Meeting House.
"Learn to commit your soul and the building of it to One who can keep it and build it as you never can."
P. T. Forsyth (1848 - 1921). He was ordained into the Congregational ministry and served churches as pastor at Bradford, Manchester, Leicester and Cambridge, before becoming Principal of Hackney College, London (later subsumed into the University of London) in 1901.
"God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters." Dr Jowett (1863-1923) - Pastor of Carr's Lane Congregational Church in Birmingham.
"The motto of David Livingstone (1813 - 1873, British Congregational pioneer and medical missionary) was in these words, "I determined never to stop until I had come to the end and achieved my purpose." By unfaltering persistence and faith in God he conquered.
"An active faith can give thanks for a promise, though it be not as yet performed; knowing that God's bonds are as good as ready money" Matthew Henry (1662 - 1814) Nonconformist minister and author.
"Believe God's word and power more than you believe your own feelings and experiences. Your Rock is Christ, and it is not the Rock which ebbs and flows, but your sea." Samuel Rutherford