Quotes May 1

Moral relativism can easily be a trick of an egotistical mind to silence the voice of conscience -  Theodore Dalrymple, 'The Uses of Metaphysical Skepticism', in: In Praise of Prejudice. The Necessity of Preconceived Ideas, p. 6 (chapter 2).

Hell is the highest reward that the devil can offer you for being a servant of his. --Billy Sunday (1862-1935)

If I wish to fly from Portland to North Carolina I can get there a number of ways.  I can fly through
Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Salt Lake City, Dallas, or Atlanta. But if I want to arrive in Heaven, I cannot go through Buddha, Mohammed, or Moses.  I can only go through Jesus. -- Randy Alcorn (1954-    )

I was always a devourer of books that came in my way, ... My reading also was very miscellaneous ... In divinity, and for unction, illustration, excitement, and effect, I have much preferred the old authors to most of the moderns.- William Jay, Bath

Quotes 30 Apr

I don't know whether we'll have wristwatches on the New Earth, but if we do, we won't be looking at them during worship.--Randy Alcorn (1954-    )

“I confess I would rather, much rather, spend all my time and days in making up and healing the breaches and schisms that are amongst Christians than one hour in justifying our divisions, even therein wherein, on the one side, they are capable of a fair defence. But who is sufficient for such an attempt? The closing of differences amongst Christians is like opening the book in the Revelation, — there is none able or worthy to do it, in heaven or in earth, but the Lamb: when he will put forth the greatness of his power for it, it shall be accomplished, and not before. In the meantime, a reconciliation amongst all Protestants is our duty, and practicable, and had perhaps ere this been in some forwardness of accomplishment had men rightly understood wherein such a reconciliation, according to the mind of God, doth consist. When men have laboured as much in the improvement of the principle of forbearance as they have done to subdue other men to their opinions, religion will have another appearance in the world.”-John Owen, Of Schism (Ch. 1)

Ships are 'she', not 'it' – and we will erode our history if we bow to the PC brigade on this ~ ADMIRAL LORD WEST

There is much to be said for trying to improve some disadvantaged people's lot. There is nothing to be said for trying to create heaven on earth.- Margaret Thatcher@MrsMThatcher

 "to regret religion [...] is to regret our civilisation and its monuments, its achievements, and its legacy". - Dalrymple, Theodore. "What the New Atheists Don't See". City Journal. (Dalrymple is an atheist)

Quotes 29 Apr

Spiritual light is sweeter and more ravishing than the light of the sun. To the mind that understands it, the word of God discovers the glorious excellency of God, the beauty of Christ and the glory of the way of salvation. -Jonathan Edwards

"As men with no hands should not pursue carpentry, men who can't preach should not seek the ministry." - A wise old elder, from Gavin Beers

Two biblical principles must be practiced simultaneously, at each step of the way, if we are to be really Bible-believing Christians.  One is the principle of the practice of the purity of the visible church.  The other is the principle of an observable love among all true Christians.- Francis A. Schaeffer, 1980 “Consultation on Presbyterian Alternatives” sponsored by the Presbyterian Church in America.

Quotes 27 Apr

O most happy time, wherein poverty, need, pining in prison, fetters, chains, stock, rebukes, reviling, the dens and caves of the wilderness, banishments, gallows, fires and the cruelty of tyrants, are again restored to the church! - John Scory, An Epistle, Emden, 1555 in Peter Marshall, Heretics and Believers,p. p.395 (an exile writing in the time of Bloody Mary)

Calvin had described Henry VIII's headship as 'blasphemy'. = Peter Marshall, Heretics and Believers,p. p.430

All scripture seems to sign the title of head of Church to Chris alone. - Thomas Sampson, better to Peter Martyr, Dec 1558 quoted in Peter Marshall, Heretics and Believers,p.430

Quotes 26 Apr

Now is the time of trial.to see whether we fear more God or man. -  John Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester, Letter from prison,1555, before he was burned at the stake quoted in,  Peter Marshall, Heretics and Believers, p.123

Erasmus told Luther's collaborator, Philip Melanchthon that Cardinal Wolsey, 'a supporter of liberal studies', could find in Luther nothing to take offence at - 'except his denial that the primacy of the supremer pontiff is part to the divine law'.- Peter Marshall, Heretics and Believers, p.123

Freddie Trueman was not too impressed with David(Sheppard)'s slip catching prowess, and after seeing chance put down he strolled over and mutters, 'I think, Reverend, that when you, of all people, put yer 'ands together, you'd met it stick.'- Dickie Bird, Dickie Bird's Britain, p.94

Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life

It's not what we don't know that gets us into trouble. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so. -Mark Twain quoted in Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p12

We cannot navigate without something to aim and, while we are in this world we must always navigate.-Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p92

What you aim at determines what you see.--Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p96

Life doesn't have the problem; you do. -Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p99


The tendency for modern people to think, when confronted with Jehovah. 'I would never believe in a God like that.'With the old Testament god doesn't much care what modern people think. He often and didn't care what old Testament people thought either.- -Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p104

Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today. --Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p111

Parents should come in pairs.-Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p142

Solzhenitsyn's writing utterly and finally demolished the intellectual credibility of communism as ideology or society, - Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p155

It is the greatest temptation of the rational faculty to glorify its own capacity and its own productions and to claim that in the face of its theories, nothing transcendent or outside its domain need exist. - -Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life p.218

Life is suffering. That's clear.There is no more basic, irrefutable truth, - - Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p 161

The Word that produced order from Chaos sacrifices everything, even itself to God. That single sentence, wise beyond comprehension, sums up Christianity, - Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,  (surely Himself not itself- GJW)

Things fall apart. This is one of the great discoveries of humanity. -Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p 228

Your inaction, inertia and cynicism removes fro the word that part of you that could learn to quell suffering and make peace..  -Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p 367

At the beginning of time ... the Word of God transformed chaos into Being through the act of speech.   We also transform chaos into Being through speech. - Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p 230

Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don't.Things fall apart. This is one of the great discoveries of humanity. -Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p 228

Quotes 25 Apr

If you wish you had a better pastor, pray for the pastor you have now.-
Sam Allberry@SamAllberry

Is God the same forever both in himself and in his dealings with his children? Has God before used his power for their protection, his wisdom for their direction and his mercy for their consolation? Then he will do the same for us. - John Dod 1549-1645

“Faith and fear go hand in hand. Faith keeps the heart cheerful, fear keeps the heart serious. Faith keeps the heart from sinking in despair, fear keeps it from floating in presumption.”- Thomas Watson@TheThomasWatson

Quotes Apr 24

Great nations are never impoverished by private, though they sometimes are by public prodigality and misconduct. It is the highest impertinence and presumption, therefore, in kings and ministers, to pretend to watch over the economy of private people.For kings and ministers are themselves always, and without exception, the greatest spendthrifts in the society.  - Adam Smith

Under the pseudonym 'William Ross', More published a lengthy Response ad Lutherum, which conveyed low personal invective in elevated humanist Latin - a text disconcertingly full of sewage, shit, vomit, poison, pimps, asses and pigs. - - Peter Marshall, Heretics and Believers,p. 127

Ex-friar Barnes --- replied from the same pulpit ... denouncing Gardiner (Bishop Stephen Gardiner is the Bishop of Winchester ) as ' as a 'sower of evil herbs in the garden of scripture'. - - Peter Marshall, Heretics and Believers,p. 278

Quotes Apr 23

You have conquered, Galilean.
     --Julian (332-363)
      (In Theodoret's _Ecclesiastical History_ [c. 429];
       Book 3, Chapter 20)

Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret?
There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.
     --C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

It is well, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go.
     --George Washington (1732-1799)
      (Last words; December 14, 1799)

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life.  Longevity has its
place.  But I'm not concerned about that now.  I just want to do
God's will.  And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain.  And
I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land.  I may not get
there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people
will get to the promised land . . . . So I'm happy tonight.  I'm not
worried about anything.  I'm not fearing any man.
     --Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)
      _Address to sanitation workers, Memphis, Tennessee_
       [April 3, 1968], (The night before his assassination)

The soul-stirring image of death is no bugbear to the sage, and is
looked on without despair by the pious.  It teaches the former to
live, and it strengthens the hopes of the latter in salvation in the
midst of distress.  Death is new life to both.
     --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
      _Herman and Dorothea_ [1797]

Quotes Aor 22

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths,
And superficial relationships
So that you may live
Deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression,
And exploitation of people,
So that you may work for
Justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears,
To shed for those who suffer pain,
Rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand
To comfort them and
To turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you
With enough foolishness
To believe that you can
Make a difference in the world,
So that you can do
What others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness
To all our children and the poor.
A prayer Francis of Assisi.


Foe Wyclif, the bible was the only source of truth and revelation, and nothing in faith, morals or law could be bubbling unless scripture expressly authorised it.- - Peter Marshall, Heretics and Believers,p. 100  p.101

(Henry VIII) was a 'a stupid and sacreligious king',  'an ass',  'dunghill',  'lying buffoon', 'spawn of an adder', a 'mad fool with a frothy mouth and whorish face.' - Martin Luther, Contra Henry Regicem Angliae, 1522 quoted in - Peter Marshall, Heretics and Believers,p. 100 p.127

Quotes Easter 2019

If Easter is not true, death is Lord.
If Easter is true, Jesus is Lord.
It's one or the other.
Glen Scrivener @glenscrivener

To Christ, who won for sinners grace
By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransom'd race
For ever and for evermore.
Isaac Watts, When I survey the wondrous cross

Quotes 20 Apr

Christ yielded himself to be crushed by the weight of divine wrath for those who had no love for him and were his enemies. In love he resolved to yield himself up to the will of God to take the cup of wrath and drink it.- Jonathan Edwards

"If the Cross of Christ is anything to the mind, it is surely everything – the most profound reality and the sublimest mystery", John Stott, The Cross of Christ.

"...in an age of synthesis, men will not take our protestations of truth seriously unless they see by our actions that we practice truth and antithesis in the unity we try to establish, and in our activities." ~Dr. Francis Schaeffer, The God Who is There Appendix C. The Practice of Truth

Quotes for 19 Apr

Your inaction, inertia and cynicism removes fro the word that part of you that Could learn to quell suffering and make peace..  -Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p 367

‘Jesus is in a garden, not of delight, like the first Adam, who there fell and took with him all mankind. But of agony—where he saved himself and all mankind.’
-Pascal

There can be no liberty unless there is economic liberty.-Margaret Thatcher@MrsMThatcher

Quotes 18 Apr

"This is a terrible fire that has destroyed this heritage building but the stones of the church are a living thing; we are not burned… the Church is alive, this week we will celebrate the passion and resurrection of Christ." - A French nun interviewed by Lyse Doucet, on BBC News at One

First they will silence us in the workplace then they will try and silence us in our churches.
Biblical sexual ethics is the touchstone but the exclusivity of Jesus is the cornerstone.
So Christians must witness despite totalitarian persecution.-Gavin Peacock ( on Vinupola)

At the beginning of time ... the Word of God transformed chaos into Being through the act of speech.   We also transform chaos into Being through speech. - Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p 230

“If it is I who determine where God is to be found, then I shall always find a God who corresponds to me in some way, who is obliging, who is connected with my own nature. But if God determines where he is to be found, then it will be in a place not immediately pleasing to my nature and which is not at all congenial to me. This place is the Cross of Christ. And whoever would find him must go to the foot of the Cross, as the Sermon on the Mount commands. This is not according to our nature at all, it is entirely contrary to it. But this is the message of the Bible.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Assume that the pearl you are listening to might know something you don't.Things fall apart. This is one of the great discoveries of humanity. -Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p 228

Quotes 17 Apr

Things fall apart. This is one of the great discoveries of humanity. -Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p 228

Just imagine! In the early nineteenth century, this cathedral was in such a state of disrepair that the city considered tearing it down. Luckily for us, Victor Hugo heard about the plans to destroy it and wrote The Hunchback of Notre-Dame to raise awareness of its glorious history. And, by golly, did it work! Parisians campaigned to save it, and the building was repaired and polished to the pristine state you find today.
-- Stephanie Perkins, Anna and the French Kiss, 2010

“I have learned racist impulses and instincts and I will never lose these, though I can become more aware and struggle against them.” ~ S Brookfield

Since “They”arrived in Europe:-In France, two churches are desecrated every day on average. 1,063 attacks on Christian churches or symbols (crucifixes, icons, statues) in France in 2018; a 17% increase compared to the previous year of 878 -Gavin Ashend@gavinashenden

‘God… showers blessings on those who decide to live wholeheartedly for Him and make obedience to Him their lifestyle.’– Joyce Meyer  (Standing alone Meyer's quote speaks the truth but is she not known for  a prosperity gospel?)

Quotes 16 Apr

Humility can be sought but never celebrated.  --David C. Egner  _Our Daily Bread_ [November 3, 1998], "Candidates For Humility"  https://odb.org/1998/11/03/candidates-for-humility/

The Word that produced order from Chaos sacrifices everything, even itself to God. That single sentence, wise beyond comprehension, sums up Christianity, - Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p  (surely Himself not itself- GJW)

"It's obviously a decision that's in the process right now but I believe in a God that's in control of all things. Whatever His will is, whether that's to continue playing or not, I'm more than happy to do what He wants me to do. First and foremost, I live for God now. Whatever He wants me to do, I believe His plans for me are better than whatever I can think. If that's not to continue on playing, so be it. In saying that, obviously I love playing footy and if it goes down that path I'll definitely miss it. But my faith in Jesus Christ is what comes first."- Israel Folau

We are not heirs by nature, but by adoption because it pleased God to take us for His children...are we heirs? Then we are saved.—John Calvin

Quotes 15 Apr

Are you sinners? So am I. Are you the chief of sinners? So am I. Are you backsliding sinners? So am I. And yet the Lord (for ever adored be his rich, free and sovereign grace) the Lord is my righteousness.-  George Whitefield@WhitefieldG

Life is suffering. That's clear.There is no more basic, irrefutable truth, - - Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p 161

In November 1511 Henry VIII's Latin secretary, Andreas Ammonio wrote jokingly to Erasmus ... that the price of firewood had gone up yet gain, for 'eery day there are a great number pf heretics (Lollards) to make bonfires for us.'- Peter Marshall, Heretics and Believers,p. 100 .

Quotes 13 Apr

If you ask me concerning the precepts of the Christian religion, first, second, third, and always I would answer, "Humility". —Augustine

Solzhenitsyn's writing utterly and finally demolished the intellectual credibility of communism as ideology or society, - Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p155

It is the greatest temptation of the rational faculty to glorify its own capacity and its own productions and to claim that in the face of its theories, nothing transcendent or outside its domain need exist. - -Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p.218

Quotes 12 Apr

Muslims do not see God as their father … Men are servants of a just master; they cannot, in orthodox Islam, typically attain any greater degree of intimacy with their creator.-Shabbir Akhtar,  A Faith for All Seasons(Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 1990) p180.

Allah does not reveal Himself to anyone in any way. Allah reveals only his will … Allah does not reveal himself to anyone … that is the great difference between Christianity and Islam.- Isma’il al Furuqi, Christian Mission and Islamic Da’wah: Proceedings of the Chambésy Dialogue Consultation (Leicester: The Islamic Foundation, 1982) p47-48.

In vain were the habits of grace planted, if the fruits of holiness and mortification be not produced; yea, mortification is not only the design and aim, but it is a special part, even the one half of our sanctification.- John Flavel@FlavelJohn

To persevere in our faith, let us seek God's power to help us. A child is safe when held in his mother's arms; so are we, when we are held in the arms of free grace. It is not our holding God, but his holding us which enables our perseverance. -Thomas Watson

Quotes 12 Apr

Parents should come in pairs.-Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p142

Purgatory was the defining doctrine of late medieval Catholicism, a religion which has even been called 'a cult of the living in the service of the dead'.- Peter Marshall, Heretics and Believers, p.21

“In order to lay claim to the honours of royalty, he enters Jerusalem, riding an ass. A magnificent display, truly! more especially when the ass was borrowed from some person, and when the want of a saddle and of accouterments compelled the disciples to throw their garments on it, which was mark of mean and disgraceful poverty.” – John Calvin. Sunday is coming and we cry out with the disciples, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!.”

Quotes 10 Apr

April 9, 1945: The Gestapo hangs German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, based on accusations of his involvement in a failed plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer's last recorded words were, "This is the end—for me, the beginning of life."

The tendency for modern people to think, when confronted with Jehovah. 'I would never believe in a God like that.'With the old Testament god doesn't much care what modern people think. He often and didn't care what old Testament people thought either.- -Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p104

Compared yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today. --Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p111

Quotes 9 Apr

Life doesn't have the problem; you do. -Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p99

Everyone knows what is the most pleasant to him;but God alone knows what is the most profitable - - Thomas Boston, The Crook In the Lot, Banner of Truth, 2017, p27

We must be free or die who speak the tongue
That Shakespeare spake, the faith and morals hold
Which Milton held.
William Wordsworth. 1770-1850

Quotes 8 Apr

Sin has changed the world from paradise into a thicket; there is no getting through without being scratched. - Thomas Boston, The Crook In the Lot, Banner of Truth, 2017 page 74 A

Cows are amazing.
Cows turn grass into steak.
Sam Allberry@SamAllberry

"When someone is properly grounded in life, they shouldn't have to look outside themselves for approval." Epictetus

Quotes 6 Apr

In most hierarchies, super-competence is more
objectionable than incompetence.
     --Laurence J. Peter (1919-1990)
      _The Peter Principle_ [1969], Chapter 3

“ our ruling elite in Britain– the politicians, lawyers, academics and media people – view the current state of affairs as a positive thing;”we have banished superstition”, they say, rejoicing at the thought; but there remains a sceptical minority who look at the society brought into being by this type of thinking and see little to admire. The liberal hegemony has created an unhappy society which doesn’t really know what it believes in. And whether you are a supporter of the current orthodoxy or not, here is one thing you can rely on: it is not permanent. The qualities that make Christianity a force to be reckoned with– the truth that wins human hearts and compels belief – will not change, and will go on winning converts to its banner. In the coming years, who is to say whether the old beliefs will not triumph again over the arid fictions of our current noble lie?” Robin Aitken - The Noble Liar .

I am a Bible-bigot.  I follow it in all things,
both great and small.
     --John Wesley (1703-1791)
      _Journal_ [June 2, 1766]

The Bible is one of the greatest blessings bestowed
by God on the children of men.  It has God for its
author, salvation for its end, and truth without any
mixture for its matter.  It is all pure, all
sincere; nothing too much; nothing wanting.
     --John Locke (1632-1704)

Quotes 5 Apr

Britain's continuing membership of the Community would mean the end of Britain as a completely self-governing nation. - Anthony Neil Wedgwood Benn (3 April 1925 – 14 March 2014), 

When I saw how the European Union was developing, it was very obvious what they had in mind was not democratic. In Britain, you vote for a government so the government has to listen to you, and if you don't like it you can change it.

Tony Benn

If one meets a powerful person--Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin or Bill Gates--ask them five questions: "What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?- Tony Benn

Quotes 4 Apr

‘Whoever drinks beer, is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps long, doesn't sin; whoever doesn't sin, enters Heaven! Drink beer!’-Martin Luther

‘Faith has two hands; with one it pulls off its own righteousness and throws it away. With the other it puts on Christ’s righteousness.’ William Gurnall

I don't object to Gladstone always having the ace of trumps up his sleeve, but merely to his belief that the Almighty put it there. -- Henry Labouchere, in Hesketh Pearson, _Lives of the Wits_

Love makes all hard hearts gentle. --George Herbert (1593-1633) _Outlandish Proverbs_ [1640]

Quotes Apr 3

"A sophistical rhetorician, inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity, and gifted with an egotistical imagination that can at all times command an interminable and inconsistent series of arguments to malign an opponent and to glorify himself."-Disraeli's description of Gladstone.

"Remember the rights of the savage, as we call him. Remember that the happiness of his humble home, remember that the sanctity of life in the hill villages of Afghanistan among the winter snows, is as inviolable in the eye of Almighty God as can be your own. Remember that He who has united you together as human beings in the same flesh and blood, has bound you by the law of mutual love; that that mutual love is not limited by the shores of this island, is not limited by the boundaries of Christian civilisation; that it passes over the whole surface of the earth, and embraces the meanest along with the greatest in its unmeasured scope."- Gladstone in the Midlothian campaign in 1879, when he was speaking about the "enormous mischief of war,"

For two centuries (17th -18th), if judged by the standards of most of Christendom, Scottish worship had been peculiarly defective, colourless. drab, dominated by doctrinal preaching, and lacking in the devotion. - Quoted in Andrew L Drummond and James Bulloch, The Church in Victorian Scotland,p.201

Quotes 2 Apr

What you aim at determines what you see.--Jordan B Peterson, 12 Rules for Life,p96

The Free Kirk, the wee kirk, the kirk without the steeple;

The Auld Kirk the cold kirk, the kirk without the people.

Quoted in Andrew L Drummond and James Bulloch, The Church in Victorian Scotland,p.276 (Rhyme popular water the Disruption 1843)