NEWTON, John (1725-1807), English divine
Care
We can easily manage, if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed for it.—But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday's burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow to the weight before we are required to bear it.
Contentment
If two angels were sent down from heaven, one to conduct an empire, and the other to sweep a street, they would feel no inclination to change employments.
Disappointment
There is many a thing which the world calls disappointment, but there is no such a word in the dictionary of faith. What to others are disappointments are to believers intimations of the way of God.
Error
My principal method for defeating error and heresy, is, by establishing the truth. One purposes to fill a bushel with tares; but if I can fill it first with wheat, I may defy his attempts.
Evils
Many have puzzled themselves about the origin of evil. I am content to observe that there is evil, and that there is a way to escape from it, and with this I begin and end.
Experience
Experience is the Lord's school, and they who are taught by Him usually learn by the mistakes they make that in themselves they have no wisdom; and by their slips and falls, that they have no strength.
Happiness
I see in this world two heaps—one of happiness, and the other of misery. Now, if I can take but the smallest bit from the second, and add it to the first, I carry a point. I should be glad indeed to do great things; but I will not neglect such little ones as this.
Heaven
If I ever reach heaven I expect to find three wonders there: first, to meet some had not thought to see there; second, to miss some I had expected to see here; and third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there.
Instinct
The instinct of brutes and insects can be the effect of nothing else than the wisdom and skill of a powerful ever living agent.
Learning
Learning, though it is useful when we know how to make a right use of it, yet considered as in our own power, and to those who trust to it without seeking a superior guidance, is usually the source of perplexity, strife, skepticism, and infidelity. It is indeed, like a sword in a madman's hands, which gives him the more opportunity of hurting himself than others.
Ministers
The Christian ministry is the worst of all trades, but the best of all professions.
Nature
There is a signature of wisdom and power impressed on the works of God, which evidently distinguishes them from the feeble imitations of men.—Not only the splendor of the sun, but the glimmering light of the glowworm, proclaims his glory.
Newspaper
I read the newspapers to see how God governs the world.
Preaching
The Christian ministry is the worst of all trades, but the best of all professions.
My grand point in preaching is to break the hard heart, and to heal the broken one.
Religion
Religion is the best armor in the world, but the worst cloak.
When I was young, I was sure of many things; now there are only two things of which I am sure: one is that I am a miserable sinner; and the other, that Christ is an all-sufficient Savior.—He is well taught who learns these two lessons.
The religion of some people is constrained, like the cold bath when used, not for pleasure, but from necessity for health, into which one goes with reluctance, and is glad when able to get out.—But religion to the true believer is like water to a fish; it is his element; he lives in it, and could not live out of it.
Trials
Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise physician prescribes, because we need them; and he proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires. Let us trust in his skill, and thank him for his prescription.
Woman
One reason why women are forbidden to preach the gospel, is, that they would persuade without argument and reprove without giving offence.
World
A soul disengaged from the world is a heavenly one; and then are we ready for heaven when our heart is there before us.
Zeal
Zeal without knowledge is like expedition to a man in the dark.
