Quotes from William Gurnall

There is no less wickedness potentially in the tamest sinner on earth, than in the devils themselves, and that one day thou, whoever thou art, wilt show to purpose, if God prevent thee not by his renewing grace. Thou

God hath ap pointed prayer as a help to our diligence, not as a cloak for our sloth.

Blind zeal is soon put to a shameful retreat, while holy resolution, built on fast principles, lifts up its head like a rock in the midst of waves.

he hath no cause to complain for being cast out of man's society that gains Christ's presence by the same.

This indeed makes it easy for Christ's sheep to be infected with the scab of error, because that weed which breeds the rot is so like the grass that nourisheth them.

As it is impossible to please God without faith, so it is impossible not to desire to please God with faith.

It is not the nature of grace, but the salt of covenant, keeps and preserves the purity of it. In

As the unicorn heals the waters by dipping his horn in them, that all the beasts may drink without danger, so Christ hath healed creature-enjoyments, that there is no death now in the saints' cup.

But O! what desperate madness is it of sinners then, not to endure a little hardship here, but [to] entail on themselves the eternal wrath of God here after, for the short feast and running banquet their lusts entertain them here withal; which often is not gaudium unius horœ—a joy that lasts an hour.

A sinner truly convinced is not only convinced of this sin or that sin, but of the evil of all sin.

Every soul clad with this armour of God shall stand and persevere; or thus, true grace can never be vanquished.

It is faith on Christ that alone can purify thy heart. Without it thy washed face and hands—external righteousness I mean— will never commend thee to God.

Had I not best look up to him, by whose blessing I live more than by my bread?

But as for thee, poor soul, who art persuaded to renounce thy lusts, to throw away the conceit of thy own righteousness, that thou mayest run with more speed to Christ, and art so possessed with the excellency of Christ, thy own present need of him, and salvation by him, that thou pantest after him more than life itself, in God's name go and speed, be of good comfort; he

so to make a good Christian, there is required a conscientious care to use all appointed means.

Compurgator, one that under oath vouches for the character or conduct of an accused person. From Webster's.—SDB

Let me ask thee, poor soul, hast thou seriously considered who Christ is, and what his sweet government is? and couldst thou find in thy heart—out of an inward abhorrency of sin and Satan, and a liking to Christ—to renounce sin and Satan, and choose Christ for thy Lord? Doth

Do we not live in a time when the church is turned into a sophister's school? where such a wrangling and jangling hath been that the most precious truths of the gospel are lost already to many.

Are not heaven and happiness things desirable, and to be preferred before sin and misery? Why then do you not embrace them? Or are they the worse because they come swimming to you in the blood of Christ?

Love to joy is as fuel to the fire.

Sincerity is to the soul as the soul is to the body. It is a spark of divine life kindled in the bosom of the creature by the Spirit of God.

Unhappy man he, that hath no surer portion than what this variable world will afford him. The

Heaven is a kingdom that cannot be shaken—Christ an abiding portion—his graces and comforts, sure waters that fail not, but spring up into eternal life. The

Knowledge doth not make the heart good, but it is impossible that without knowledge it should be good. There