The Goodness of God

“Labor to attain to this estate of being spiritually convinced of the goodness of God, that we may by experience say, ‘It is good for me to draw near to God,’ . . . the more we are convinced of God’s goodness, the better we are; for God’s goodness, tasted and felt by the soul, does ennoble it, as a pearl set in a gold ring makes it the more rich and precious.”—Richard Sibbes (1577–1635) in “The Saints Happiness.”

Contentment

“I will always account myself happy in the favor of God, although I should have no earthly thing to give me any satisfaction.”—Dr. Cotton Mather.
Resolutions: A Collection of Wisdom.

Spiritual Motivation

“Thus may the terror of the Lord make a Pharisee; but only the sweet voice of mercy in the gospel, can make a Christian.”—William Cowper.

Memoir of the Early Life of William Cowper

When God is Near

“When we see and feel that nothing but his favor can make us happy; then we may be sure the Lord is near.”—John Newton, Twenty-One Letters to Elizabeth Catlett.

Full Assurance

A debtor to Mercy alone,

Of covenant Mercy I sing;

Nor fear, with thy Righteousness on,

My Person and Off ’ring to bring:

The Terrors of Law, and of God,

With me can have nothing to do;

My Saviour’s Obedience and Blood

Hide all my Transgressions from view.

—Augustus Toplady

Hymns and Sacred Poems of Augustus Toplady

The Best Place to Be

“Where can the soul be better than in drawing near to God?”—Thomas Watson.

Wise Sayings of Thomas Watson.

Blessedness

“I saw my blessedness did not chiefly lie in receiving good and comfort from God, and in God, but in holding forth the glory of God and his virtues.”—Thomas Shepard.

Meditations and Spiritual Experiences