Quotes from Thomas Goodwin

Where God gives opportunity for preaching it is more than likely that he has some people to convert. Usually the Word of God takes root among some, though often in but a few.

When God will have any great matters done, he sets his people's hearts to work at prayer by a kind of gracious instinct. He stirs them up and moves their hearts by the influence of his Holy Spirit.

Now, take an estimate of Christ's heart herein, from those two holy apostles Paul and John, who were smaller resemblances of this in Christ. What, next to immediate communion with Christ himself, was the greatest joy they had to live upon in this world, but only the fruit of their ministry, appearing in the graces both of the lives and hearts of such as they had begotten unto Christ?

And the word ??????????is a deep word, signifying to suffer with us until we are relieved. And this affection, thus stirred up, is it which moves him so cordially to help us.

Love descends better than ascends, and so does the love of Christ, who indeed is love itself, and therefore comes down to us himself; "I will come again and receive you unto myself" (says Christ), "that so where I am, you may be also." That last part of his speech gives the reason of it, and also divulges his entire affection.

Nuestros pensamientos y entendimiento fueron asignados para moderar, suavizar, enfriar y apartar nuestras pasiones cuando estas se desbordan, para gobernarlas y dominarlas. Pero, en lugar de eso, se sujetan a nuestras emociones, convirtiéndose en algo parecido al combustible para nuestros malos deseos, y haciéndoles arder más.

Paul heard not one sermon of Christ's (that he knew of) while on earth, and received the gospel from no man, apostle or other, but by the immediate revelation of Jesus Christ from heaven, as he speaks, Galatians 1:11-12. But he was converted by Christ himself from heaven, by immediate speech and conference of Christ himself with him, and this long after his ascension.

If through all thy discouragemnets thy condition prove worse and worse, so that thou canst not pray, but are struck dumb when thou comest into his presence, as David, then fall making signs when thou canst not speak; groan, sigh, sob, "chatter, "as Hezekiah did; bemoan thyself for thine unworthiness, and desire Christ to speak thy requests for thee, and God to hear him for thee.

Algunos suspiran durante toda la semana hasta que suceden cosas nuevas, convierten en parte de la felicidad de sus vidas el estudiar cómo va el estado, más que el estudiar cómo marchan sus propios corazones, o incluso sus propios negocios. Sin embargo, no piensan en las miserias de la iglesia de Cristo, ni ayudan con sus oraciones.

Now the same Spirit dwelling in Christ's heart in heaven, that does in yours here, and always working in his heart first for you, and then in yours by commission from him; rest assured, therefore, that that Spirit stirs up in him bowels of mercy infinitely larger towards you than you can have unto yourselves.

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?' saith the Apostle; 'it is God that justifieth,' and it is their being elect that carries it. Yea, his love is so strong that if there be any accusation,—the Apostle makes the supposition, 'Who shall lay anything to their charge?' Sin or devil? —that if at any time sin or devil come to accuse, it moves God to bless. His love is so violent, it is so set, that he takes occasion to bless so much the more.

Dios es lo más glorioso en lo que nuestras mentes pueden fijarse, lo más atrayente. Los pensamientos acerca de Él deberían tragarse otros pensamientos, ya que no son dignos ni de compartir con Él el mismo día.