John Flavel

“By affliction God separates the sin which He hates from the soul which He loves.”

“The greatest difficulty in conversion is to win the heart to God; and the greatest difficulty after conversion is to keep the heart with God.”

“Christ is the very essence of all delights and pleasures, the very soul and substance of them.”

“The heart of man is his worst part before it is regenerated, and the best afterward; it is the seat of principles, and the fountain of actions.”

“The providence of God is like a Hebrew word; it can only be read backwards.”

“A man may be damned for despairing of mercy, as well as for presuming upon it.”

“Unbelief is the mother of sin, the nurse of sin, and the strength of sin.”

“It is the duty of the saints, especially in times of straits, to reflect upon the performances of Providence for them in former straits.”

“Man's extremity is God's opportunity.”

“God kills thy comforts from two designs: to wean thee from the world, and to draw thee to himself.”

“Providence is a soft pillow for a good man's head, but a rack and a torture for a bad man's conscience.”

“Prayer is the breath of the new man, sucking in the air of mercy in petitions, and returning it in praises.”

“They that know God will be humble. They that know themselves cannot be proud.”

“He that will not have the sweat of religion will have the sting of conscience.”

“How spiritually rich is that man that hath a God to go to in all his needs, and a promise to plead for the supply of all his wants!”