A Puritan at Heart

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]

This is the sum of all; for he which can abstain not only from evil, but from the appearance of evil, is so perfect as a man can be in this sinful life. [Henry Smith]

Well doth David call children "arrows"; for if they be well bred, they shoot at their parents enemies; and if they be evil bred, they shoot at their parents. [Henry Smith]

Mercy hath a heaven, and justice a hell, to display itself to eternity, but long-suffering hath only a short-lived earth. [Henry Smith]

It seems that there were some among the Thessalonians, as there must be amongst us, which did forsake all religion because the preachers did not agree, or because the lives of professors gave some offense; therefore Paul sheweth, that there is no cause why they should mislike the word for the preacher, or why they should despise religion for the professor, because the word and the religion are not theirs which teach it, and profess it, but God’s. [Henry Smith]

It seems that there were some among the Thessalonians, as there must be amongst us, which did forsake all religion because the preachers did not agree, or because the lives of professors gave some offense; therefore Paul sheweth, that there is no cause why they should mislike the word for the preacher, or why they should despise religion for the professor, because the word and the religion are not theirs which teach it, and profess it, but God’s. [Henry Smith]

Mighty and gracious lords, I will tell you to what your honour shall come; first, ye shall wax old like others, then ye shall fall sick like others, then ye shall die like others, then ye shall be buried like others, then ye shall be consumed like others, then ye shall be judged like others, even like the beggars which cry at your gates: one sickens, the other sickens; one dies, the other dies; one rots, the other rots: look in the grave, and show me which was Dives and which was Lazarus. This is some comfort to the poor, that once he shall be like the rich; one day he shall be as wealthy, and as glorious as a king; one hour of death will make all alike.[Henry Smith]