The Puritannical Blog

Many have been lost who thought they were saved.



Now the first motive that I shall lay down to provoke you to get a well-grounded assurance, is, solemnly to consider, That many are now dropped into hell that have formerly presumed of their going to heaven; as those that came bouncing at heaven-gate crying "Lord, Lord, open to us, for we have prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have case out devils, and in thy name have done many wonderful works." And yet that direful and dreaded sentence is passed upon them, "Depart from me, ye workers of iniquities," Matt. 7. 22, 26, 27.



The foolish virgins were in the a golden dream that they were as happy as the best, and yet, when they were awakened, they found the bridgegroom enterd into his glory, and the door of mercy shut against them, Matat. 25:10-12. Men are naturally prone to flatter themselves that they have grace when they have none; and that their grace is true, when it is but conterfeit; and that their condition is not so bad as that of others, when it is worse; and, with Agag, that the bitterness of death is past, when God hath his sword in his hand ready to execute the vengeance written.



I have read of a madman at Athens that laid claim to every rich ship that came into the harbour, whereas he was poor, and had no part in any. Ah! This age is full of such mad souls, that lay claim to God and Christ, and the promises and gospel privileges, and all the glory of another world, when they are poor, and blind, and miserable, and wretched, and naked, when they are Christless and graceless, &c. Ah! Christians! Labour for a well grounded assurance, so that you may not miscarry to all eternity, but may at last be found worthy to receive a crown of glory and to enter into your Master's joy, which is a joy too great and too glorious to enter into you, and therefore you must enter into it, Matt. 25:21-23. [Thomas Brooks—Heaven on Earth Pages 126-127]

For more from this book, see @ Reformers Corner

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We need to examine ourselves to see our own weaknesses, and to note the power and efficacy of temptation. In ourselves, we are weakness itself. We have no strength, no power to withstand. Self-confidence produces a large part of our weakness, as it did with Peter. He who boasts that he can do anything, can in fact do nothing as he should. This is the worst form of weakness, similar to treachery. However strong a castle may be, if a treacherous party resides inside (ready to betray at the first opportunity possible), the castle cannot be kept safe from the enemy. Traitors occupy our own hearts, ready to side with every temptation and to surrender to them all.[John Owen]

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"I am made to think it strange, that Presbyterian ministers, whom God had once honoured with suffering, should have vented themselves--and that publically--so very far contrary to the principles of the Church of Scotland, the Covenants, and the faithful and honest Acts of the General Asembly." Richard Cameron

What is the reason that many go no further in the profession of religion, than to be almost Christians?



Reason 1. It is because they deceive themselves in the truth of their own condition; they mistake their state, and think it good and safe, when it is bad and dangerous. A man may look upon himself as a member of Christ, and yet God may look upon him as a vessel of wrath: as a child of God, by looking more upon his sins than his graces, more upon his failings than his faith, more upon indwelling lusts than renewing grace, may think his case very bad, when yet it is very good: "I am black," saith the spouse; and yet saith Christ, "O thou fairest among women!" [Song 1:5,8] So the sinner, by looking more upon his duties than his sins, may think he sees his name written in the book of life, and yet be in the account of God a very reprobate.

There is nothing more common than for a man to "think himself something when he is nothing;" and so he "deceives himself." [Gal 6:3] Many a man blesses himself in his interest in Christ, when he is indeed a stranger to him. Many a man thinks his sin pardoned, when, alas! "he is still in the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity." [Acts 8:23] Many a man thinks he hath grace, when he hath none: "There is," saith Solomon, "that makes himself rich, and yet hath nothing." [Prov 13:7] This was the very temper of Laodicea; "Thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not," (pray mind that,) "that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked." [Rev 3:17]

"Thou knowest not;" as bad as she was, she thought her state good; as poor as she was in grace, she thought she was rich; as miserable and naked as she was, yet she thought she had need of nothing.

Now there are several rises or grounds of this mistake. I will name five to you.

First, The desperate deceitfulness of the heart of every natural man. "The heart is deceitful above all things." [Jer 17:9] The Hebrew word is the same with Jacob's name. Now you know he was a supplanter of his brother Esau: "He is rightly called Jacob," saith he, "for he hath supplanted me these two times." [Gen 27:36] So the word signifies, to be fraudulent, subtle, deceitful, and supplanting. Thus is the heart of every natural man, "deceitful above all things." [Jer 17:9]

You read of the deceitfulness of the tongue,

And of the deceitfulness of riches,

And of the deceitfulness of beauty,

And of the deceitfulness of friends;

But yet the heart is deceitful above them all. Nay, you read of the deceitfulness of Satan, yet truly a man's heart is a greater deceiver than he; for he could never deceive a man, if his own heart did not deceive him. [Matthew Mead-The Almost Christian Discovered]

Q. 2. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?

A. The word of God (which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.



2.1. Do we need a rule to direct us to our chief end? Yes: for we all like sheep have gone astray, Isa 53:6. Could we not find it out of ourselves? No: for man is born like the wild ass's colt, Job 11:12.

2.2. Is divine revelation necessary to religion? Yes: for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, Rom 10:17. Is not the light of nature sufficient without it? No: for the world by wisdom knew not God, 1 Cor 1:21. Has God therefore given us a revelation? Yes: he hath showed thee, O man, what is good, Mic 6:3. Was there revelation from the beginning? Yes: at sundry times, and in divers manners, God spake unto the fathers, Heb 1:1.

2.3. Are the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament the word of God, and a divine revelation? Yes: for all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, 2 Tim 3:16. Were they indited by the blessed Spirit? Yes: for holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet 1:21. Were they confirmed by miracles? Yes; God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders, Heb 2:4. Do they recommend themselves? Yes; for the word of God is quick and powerful, Heb 4:12. Is not the Bible then a cheat put upon the world? No: for these are not the words of him that hath a devil, John 10:21.

2.4. Was the book of the Scripture written for our use? Yes: whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, Rom 15:4. And is it of great use? Yes: for it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2 Tim 3:16.

2.5. Are the Scriptures the great support of our religion? Yes: for we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Eph 2:20. Are they the standing rule of our faith and practice? Yes: we must have recourse to the law and to the testimony. Isa 8:20. Are they the only rule? Yes: for other foundation can no man lay, 1 Cor 3:11. Are they our guide? Yes; for the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light,

Prov 6:23. Do they show us the way to heaven and happiness? Yes: for in them we think we have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Christ, John 5:39.

2.6. Are the Scriptures our oracle which we must consult? Yes: What is written in the law, how readest thou? Luke 10:26. Are they our touchstone which we must try by? Yes: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them, Isa 8:20. Are they the weapons of our spiritual warfare? Yes: Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, Matt 4:10; Eph 6:17.

2.7. Is the written word a sufficient rule? Yes: for the law of the Lord is perfect, Ps 19:7. Is it plain? Yes: for the word is nigh thee, Rom 10:8. Is the church's authority the rule of our faith? No: for our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, 1 Cor 2:5. May we depend upon unwritten traditions? No: for we must refuse profane and old wives' fables, 1 Tim 4:7.

2.8. Will the written word be the rule of our judgment hereafter? Yes: for we must be judged by the law of liberty, James 2:12. Ought we therefore to be ruled by it now? Yes: as many as walk according to this rule, peace shall be on them, Gal 6:16. And to be comforted by it? Yes: for through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we have hope, Rom 15:4.

2.9. Are the Scriptures to be translated into vulgar tongues? Yes: for we should hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God, Acts 2:11. And must we study them? Yes: Search the Scriptures, John 5:39. And labour to understand them? Yes: Understandest thou what thou readest? Acts 8:30. And must we rest satisfied with this revelation of God's will? Yes: for if we believe not Moses and the prophets, neither would we be persuaded though one rose from the dead, Luke 16:31. Is it a great affront to God to neglect his word? Yes: I have written unto them the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing, Hos 8:12.

2.10. Must little children get the knowledge of the Scripture? Yes: Timothy is commended for this, that from a child he knew the Holy Scriptures, 2 Tim 3:15. And must their parents instruct them therein? Yes: they must teach them diligently unto their children, and talk of them, Deut 6:7.

2.11. Must we all love the word of God? Yes: O how love I thy law! And must we meditate therein? Yes: It is my meditation all the day, Ps 119:97. And will this be to our own advantage? Yes: for it is able to make us wise to salvation, 2 Tim 3:15. [Matthew Henry--Commentary on the Shorter Catechism]

There lived at Tilbury, in Essex, a gentleman who was a long time under such an eminent degree of despair, that he rejected all comfort that was tendered to him by any hand, and would not suffer any to pray with him; nay, he sent to the ministers and Christians that lived near him, and desired them, that as they would not wish to increase his torments in hell, they would cease praying for him. He would not suffer any religious service to be performed in his family, though formerly himself was much in the use of them; yet God gave him at last such inward refreshings, and by degrees filled him with such abundance of heavenly comforts, as he told all that came to him that it was impossible for any tongue to utter, or heart to imagine, that did not feel them. At last God gave him "the new name, and the white stone, that none knows but he that hath it," Rev. 2. 17. He lived about three quarters of a year, enjoying heaven upon earth, and then breathed out his last in the bosom of Christ. [Thomas Brooks--Heaven on Earth]

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Soft nature seeks a path of ease
Secure from strange alarms;
Borne through the troubled scenes of life
In Christ's protecting arms;
Yet nobler far our strength to draw
From grace to call His will our law.


For Christ who knows our feeble mould
Ordains that here below
Through brier and bush to heavenly ground
His bairns wet-shod must go;
Past hostile thorn His steps to trace
And follow still with steadfast
face.


Our heav'n is in the bud and soon
Must to a harvest grow;
For time's brief span shall eat away
And root out every woe.
Then watch in hope till sorrows end,
And Christ appear - our living Friend.

Greetings - Disdain Temporary Glory
Mistress,

Grace, Mercy, and peace be to you. I am glad that you follow closely after Christ in this dark and cloudy time. It is a good thing to sell the things of this world in order to buy Him,** for when all these days are over we will find that it was a good investment to have a part in Christ. I confidently believe that His enemies will be His footstool,** ** and what are now growing flowers will be dead, withered grass.** The honour and the glory will fall off many things that for a time appear beautiful.

Leave Worldly Comforts Behind
It would be foolish to think that Christ and the Gospel would come and sit down at our fireside.** No, we must leave our comfortable warm houses and seek after Christ and His Gospel. It is not the sunny side of Christ** that we must expect, and we must not forsake him if we lack it. Let us set our faces against whatever we find in life, until He and we are though the briers and prickly bushes and on dry ground. Our soft nature would prefer to be carried through the troubles of this life in Christ's arms.** But it is His wisdom, who knows what we're made of, that His bairns** go with wet and cold feet to heaven. Oh, how sweet a thing it would be for us, if we would learn how to make our burdens light, by preparing our hearts for the burden, which requires us to make our Lord's will the law of our hearts.

Christ's Light Will Shine
I find Christ and His cross** not unpleasant or troublesome guests, as men would call them. No, I think patience makes the water Christ gives us good wine, and His dross silver and gold. We have a good reason for continuing to wait: before long our Master will be back for us and shine His light into the whole world, making visible the blacks and whites.** Happy are those who will be found ready. Our hour-glass doesn't have long enough to run for us to become weary. In fact, time itself will dissolve our cares and sorrow. Our heaven is in the bud and growing up until the harvest.** Why shouldn't we persevere, seeing that our whole life time is a few grains of sand? Therefore I commend Christ to you, as your last-living and longest-living Husband, the staff of your old age.** Let Him now have the rest of your days. Don't worry about the storm when you're sailing in Christ's ship: no passenger will ever fall overboard. Even the most sea-sick passenger is sure to come to land safely.

His Great Love - Our Little Faith
I myself am in as sweet communion with Christ as a poor sinner can be. I am only pained that He has much beauty and loveliness, and I little love. He has great power and mercy, and I little faith. He has much light, and I poor eyesight. O that I would see Him in the sweetness of His love, and in His marriage-clothes,** and were over head and ears in love with that princely one, Christ Jesus my Lord! Alas, my broken dish, my leaky bottle, can hold so little of Christ Jesus!

Christ on the Auction Block
I have joy in this, that I would gladly die before I put Christ's property at the disposal of men who choose to follow their own wills.** Alas, this land has put Christ up for bid in a public auction. Blessed are they who would hold the crown on His head and buy Christ's honour with their own losses.

Family Advice - Farewell
I rejoice to hear that your son John is coming to visit Christ and taste of His love. I hope that he will not become careless** or regret his choice. I have always (as I often told you in person) a great love to Mr. John Brown because I thought I saw more of Christ in him than in his brothers. I wish I could write to him, to encourage him to stand by my sweet Master. Please have him read this letter, and tell him of the joy I will have if he will stand for my Lord Jesus.

Grace be with you, yours, in his sweet Jesus,

Samuel Rutherford

Aberdeen, Scotland March 13, 1637

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Why, or whence is it, that many men go so far, as that they come to be almost Christians?



First, It may be to answer the call of conscience. Though few men have grace, yet all men have conscience. Now do but observe, and you shall see how far conscience may go in this work.

1. Conscience owns a God, and that this God must be worshipped and served by the
creature. Atheists in practice, we have many; such as the apostle speak of: "They profess to know God, but in works they deny him." [Titus 1:16] But atheists in judgment none can be. Tully, a heathen, could say, "Nulla gens tam barbara," etc. Now there being such a light in conscience, as to discover that there is a God, and that he must be worshipped by the help of further light—the light of the word: a man may be enabled to do much in the ways of God, and yet his heart [be] without a particle of grace.

2. Know this, that natural conscience is capable of great improvements from the means of grace. Sitting under the ordinances may exceedingly heighten the endowments of conscience. It may be much regulated, though it be not at all renewed: it may be enlightened, convinced, and yet never savingly converted and changed. You read in Heb 6:4, of some that were "once enlightened, and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost." What work shall we call this? It could not be a saving work, a true change and conversion of state: for, notwithstanding this enlightening, and tasting, and partaking, yet they are here said to fall away, Heb 6:6. Had it been a true work of grace, they could never have fallen away from that. A believer may fall, but he cannot fall away: he may fall foully, but he cannot fall finally; for, "underneath are the everlasting arms." [Deut 33:27] His faith is established in the strength of that prayer of Christ,that our faith fail not. Nay, he tells us expressly, that it is eternal life which he gives, from which we shall never perish.

This work, then, here spoken of, cannot be any saving work, because it is not an abiding work; for they that are under it, are said to fall away from it. But though it be not a saving grace, yet it is a supernatural work. It is an improvement made by the word upon the consciences of men, through the power of the Spirit; and therefore they are said to "taste the good word of God," and to be made "partakers of the Holy Ghost." [Heb 6:4] They have not the Spirit abiding in them savingly, but striving with them, and working upon them convincingly, to the awakening and setting conscience on work. And conscience, thus stirred, may carry a man very far in religion, and in the duties of the gospel, and yet be but a natural conscience.

A common work of the Spirit, may stead a man very much in the duties of religion, though it must be a special work of the Spirit that steads a man to salvation. A man may have the assisting presence of the Spirit, enabling him to preach and pray, and yet he may perish for want of the renewing presence of the Spirit, enabling him to believe. Judas had the former, and yet perished for want of the latter. He had the Spirit assisting him to cast out devils; but yet he had not the Spirit renewing him; for he was cast out himself. Thus a man may have an improved conscience, and yet be a stranger to a renewed conscience; and conscience, thus improved, may put a man very much upon duty. I pray God none of us mistake a conscience, thus improved by the word, for a conscience renewed by the Spirit. The mistake is very easy, especially when a line of duties is the fruit of it.[Matthew Mead-The Almost Christian Discovered]

Many, by a fair profession, a false conviction, and a bastard conversion, seem half way to heaven, who yet will lodge for ever in hell. He who sits down at halfway, and rests there, will never come to the end of his journey, but is still afar off. O sirs, it is to be feared that the most part of you, that even come so near to Christ, in approaching to his house and ordinances; yet you are as far from him as light is from darkness, or darkness from light; and we need not go far to prove the charge; for, if you be not washed, you are far from God and Christ; yea, you have no part in him; "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part in me," [John 13:8] said our blessed Lord to Peter. If you be not washed from the guilt of sin in justification, and from the filth of sin in sanctification, you have no part in Christ, and so are far enough from him; and this is the state, not of a few, but of a multitude; "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness." [Prov 30:12][Ralph Erskine]

Loving and dear sister--I received your letter. I know that the favour of Christ in you (whom the virgins love to follow) cannot be blown away with the winds, either from hell, or the evil-smelled air of this defiled world. Sit afar back from the walls of this pesthouse, even the pollutions of this defiling world. Keep your taste, your love, and hope in heaven; it is not good that your love and your Lord should be in two sundry countries. Up, up after your lover, that ye and He maybe together. A King from heaven hath sent for you: by faith He showeth you the New Jerusalem, and taketh you alongst in the Spirit, through all the ease-rooms and dwelling-houses in heaven and saith, "All these are thine; this place is for thee and Christ." And if ye only hd been the chosen of God, Christ would have built that one house for you and Himself; now it is for you and many others also. Take with you in your journey what you may carry with you, your conscience, faith, hope, patiences, meekness, goodness, brotherly kindness; for such wares as these are of great price in the High and new country wither ye go. As for other things, which are but the worlds vanity and trash, since they are but the house-sweepings, ye will do best not to carry them with you. Ye found them here; leave them here, and let them keep the house. Your sun is well turned and low; be nigh your lodging against night. We go one and one out of this great market, till the town be empty, and the two lodgings, heaven and hell, be filled. at length there will be nothing in the earth but toom walls and burnt ashes; and therefore it is best to make away. Antichrist and his master are busy to plenish hell, and to seduce many: and stars, great church-light are falling from heaven, and many are misled and seduced, and m ake up with their faith and sell their birthrights by their hungry hunting for I know not what. Fasten your grips fast upon Christ. I verily esteem Him the best aught that I have. He is my second in prison. Having Him though my cross were as heavy as ten thousand mountains of iron, when He putteth His sweet shoulder under me and it, my cross is but a feather. I please myself in the choice of Christ; He is my wale in heaven and earth. I rejoice that He is in heaven before me. God send a joyful meeting; and in the meaningtime, the travellers charges for the way, I mean a burden of Christ's love, to sweeten the journey and to encourage the breathless runner; for when I lose breath, climbing up a mountain, He maketh new breath. [Samuel Rutherford]

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Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ, who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that, without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation: and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready henceforth to live unto him.

EXPOSITION.The question of comfort is placed, and treated first, because it embodies the design and substance of the catechism. The design is, that we may be led to the attainment of sure and solid comfort, both in life and death. On this account, all divine truth has been revealed by God, and is especially to be studied by us. The substance of this comfort consists in this, that we are ingrafted into Christ by faith, that through him we are reconciled to, and beloved of God, that thus he may care for and save us eternally. I. What is Comfort? Comfort is that which results from a certain process of reasoning, in which we oppose something good to something evil, that by a proper consideration of this good, we may mitigate our grief, and patiently endurethe evil. The good therefore, which we oppose to the evil, must necessarily be great, and certain, in proportion to the magnitude of the evil with which it is contrasted. And as consolation is here to be sought against the greatest evil, which is sin, and eternal death, it is not possible that any thing short of the highest good, can be a sufficient remedy for it. Without the word of God, however, to direct and reveal the truth, there are almost as many opinions entertained as to what this highest good is, as there are men. The Epicureans place it in sensual pleasure; the Stoics in a proper regulation and moderation of the affections, or in the habit of virtue; the Platonists in ideas; the Peripatetics in the exercise of virtue; whilst the ordinary class of men place it in honors, riches, and pleasure. But all these things are transitory, and are either lost already in life, or they are at best interrupted and left behind in the hour of death. But the highest good after which we seek never fades away—no, not in death. It is true, indeed, that the honor of virtue is immortal, and, as the Poet says, survives men\'s funerals; but it is rather with others than with ourselves. And it has well been said by a certain one, that virtues cannot be considered the highest good, since we have them witnesses of our calamities. Hypocrites, both within and without the church, as Jews, Pharisees and Mahommetans, seek a remedy against death in their own merits, in outward forms and ceremonies. The Papists do the same thing. But mere external rites can neither cleanse nor quiet the consciences of men; nor will God be mocked with such offerings.Therefore, although philosophy, and all the various sects, enquire after and promise such a good as that which affords solid comfort to man, both in life and death, yet they neither have, nor can bestow, that which is necessary to meet the demands of our moral nature. It is only the doctrine of the church that presents such a good, and that imparts a comfort that quiets, and satisfies the conscience; for it alone uncovers the fountain of all the miseries to which the human race is subject, and reveals the only way of escape through Christ. This, therefore, is that Christian comfort, spoken of in this question of the catechism, which is an only and solid comfort, both in life and death—a comfort consisting in the assurance of the free remission of sin, and of reconciliation with God, by and on account of Christ, and a certain expectation of eternal life, impressed upon the heart by the holy Spirit through the gospel, so that we have no doubt but that we are the property of Christ, and are beloved of God for his sake, and saved forever, according to the declaration of the Apostle Paul: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress," etc. (Rom 8:35.) Zacharias Ursinus Commentary on the Heidleberg Catechism

Mistress,--Grace, mercy and peace be to you.--I hope ye know what conditions passed betwixt Christ and you, at your first meeting. Ye remember that He said, your summer days would have clouds, and your rose a prickly thorn beside it. Christ is unmixed in heaven, all sweetness and honey. Here we have Him with His thorny and rough cross; yet I know no tree that beareth sweeter fruit than Christ's cross, except I would raise a lying report of it. It is your part to take Christ's cross, as He is to be had in this life. Sufferings are like a wood planted round about His house, over door and window. If we could hold fast our grips of Him, the field were won. Yet a little while, and Christ shall triumph. Give Christ His own short time to spin out these two long threads of heaven and hell to all mankind, for certainly the thread will not break; and when He hath accomplished His work in Mount Zion, and hath refined His silver, He will bring new vessels out of the furnace, and plenish His house, and take up His house again.

I counsel you to free yourself of clogging temptations, by overcoming some and contemning others, and watching over all. Abide true and loyal to Christ, for few now are fast to Him. They give Christ blank paper for a bond of service and attendance, now when Christ hath most ado. To waste a little blood with Christ, and to put our part of this drossy world in pawn over in His hand, as willing to quit it for Him, is the safest cabinet to keep the world in. But those who would take the world and all their flitting on their back, and run away from Christ, shall fall by the way, and leave their burden behind them, and be taken captive themselves. Well were my soul to have put all I have, life and soul over to Christ's hands. Let Him be forthcoming for all.

If any do ask how I do? I answer none but can be but well that are in christ: and if I were not so, my sufferings had melted me away in ashes and smoke. I thank my Lord that He hath something in me that His fire cannot consume. [A letter by Samuel Rutherford]

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"When I consider the sins that do everywhere abound, and the neglect and contempt of the Word of God, I am struck with horror, and tremble to think what God will do with us. We have some discipline among us with relation to men's lives, such as it is; but if any man would go about to persuade our nobility to submit their necks to that yoke, he may as well venture to pull the hair out of a lion's beard."[ Bishop Cox of Ely]

We must not only judge our neighbours doings by the law, but also examine our own lives by it. And when we find ourselves to have swerved from God's commandments, we must willingly condemn ourselves, and allow no further of our own doings, than they agree with God’s will. Although they seem good to ourselves, yet let us not stand upon that. For our eyes are so troubled and weak, that oftentimes one sin escapes and a hundred follow out after it; and that is because we be not sharp-sighted enough, to spy out the things that God perceives, and which are hid from us. And that is the case why Paul says, that although he had walked purely in his office, yet was he not justified for all that. For God requires another manner of perfection than we can see. So then, seeing we have so weak and dim a light, let us learn to refer ourselves unto God, and let everyone of us put that thing in use in himself, which is showed us by David when he says: Who is he that knoweth his faults? Lord forgive me the evil which I perceive not. We must not only ask God forgiveness of the sins that sting us, and whereof we have proof in ourselves, but we must also acknowledge that we have many sins which we know not of. [John Calvin]

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"In order to soften the sadness you suffer because of me, I cannot omit to tell you something of my pleasure and joy so that you may rejoice with me and praise the Lord. I will say what no person will want to believe when I tell it. I have found a nest of honey and honeycombs in the bowels of a lion. Who will believe what I say? Or what person will be able to imagine that one can find a paradise of pleasure in a deep and dark cave? That there is rest and hope of life in the place of sadness and death? That one finds joy in ones soul in a hell hole? Isn\'t it nearly unbelievable to be cheerful in a place where others weep? To be full of strength and full of courage where others fear and tremble? Who would be able to imagine this, or dare to believe it? To enjoy such pleasure in such a miserable condition. To find a company of good people in such a lonely place. To find such rest in tight bands and cold irons. Dear Brothers! The good hand of God has done all that for me. Look, the One who was once far from me is now present; he is with me; he whom I\'d hardly notice now I see very clearly; him whom I once saw from afar is now close by. He after whom I once hungered now comes and offers me His hand. He comforts and overwhelms me with gladness. He drives away all bitterness; he gives all strength and courage. He heals and refreshes me, makes me continue and comforts me. Oh how good is the Lord who does not allow his servants to be tempted above what they are able! Oh how light and pleasant is His yoke! Is there anyone like the Almighty, who takes up the burdened, heals and refreshes the wounded? Is there anyone like Him? Learn my dearly beloved how loving the Lord is, how good and merciful He is who visits His servants in their trials and condescends to allow them his companionship in such terrible and stinking holes. "[A letter by Pomponius Algerius who died a martyrs death in 1555]