Douglas Bond > Quotes

“Good writers don’t moralize, nor do they preach, but they do create longing for the true and the beautiful, and that is why you must write with Christ at the center of your reason for writing. That does not mean that every book must be a retelling of Luke’s gospel, however, every worthy book written by a Christian will direct readers away from self, and sin, and put them on a quest for God and his gospel. Create longing for these things.”
― Douglas Bond

“Good writers don’t moralize, nor do they preach, but they do create longing for the true and the beautiful.”
― Douglas Bond

“There is scarcely anything in this world which can more turn or bend hither and thither the ways of men than music,” said Calvin.”
― Douglas Bond, The Betrayal: A Novel on John Calvin

“For Knox, preaching was all about proclaiming the evangel of Jesus Christ, giving good news to a world that for too long had heard only bad news.”
― Douglas Bond, The Mighty Weakness of John Knox

“Let others choose the sons of mirth, To give a relish to their wine; I love the men of heavenly birth, Whose thoughts and language are divine.18”
― Douglas Bond, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts

“Ridiculed as "Knox the knave" and "a runagate Scot," he was outlawed and forbidden to preach by the archbishop of St. Andrews, and orders were issued that he be shot on sight if he failed to comply.
Knox did not comply. Years later, a would-be assassin fired a shot through a window of Knox's house in Edinburgh, narrowly missing his mark.? Still Knox preached.”
― Douglas Bond, The Mighty Weakness of John Knox

“tyrants always set about shaping history after their liking.”
― Douglas Bond, King's Arrow

“Today is, indeed, one of the days of the Son of Man, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
― Douglas Bond, Duncan's War

“Christ came to save sinners,” he said. “And only those who believe that they are great sinners will be saved. Paul persecuted the church; grace alone was sufficient to save him, the chief of sinners. You, good Jean-Louis, are a great sinner. Yet is Christ a far greater Savior. Flee to him alone.” “But will he have me?” I said in earnest now. “How can I be one of his elect?” “All who flee in faith, my son,” he said, seeming to gain new energy as he spoke, “are elect. Flee and live. Then tell the world of so great a doctrine of grace. Fall before the majesty of our great God, Jean-Louis, and acknowledge your sins, praying that he would make you increasingly conscious of them, so that you might hate your sin and embrace Christ’s mercy.”
― Douglas Bond, The Betrayal: A Novel on John Calvin

“For Watts, the doxological always followed the theological.”
― Douglas Bond, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts

“As with Watts, we see only dimly through the bewildering mysteries of life. Yet as Watts did, by grace alone, we too can know and believe that God has portioned out our lives for His glory and for our good. And strong in faith, upheld by divine love, we, too, can see through the gloom and sing the praises of our Savior, who passed through far deeper woes than ever Watts or we will endure.”
― Douglas Bond, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts

“The pure doctrine of the Gospel will not endure in its purity when we read the Bible for moral advice. . . . Clearly the Bible has instructions with implications that instruct us about many things, but that's not what we ought to go hunting for when we read it. We look for Christ in every phrase.”
― Douglas Bond

“The archbishop of St. Andrews threatened that if Knox preached, he would be shot on sight. Knox preached anyway, from Perth to Fife and beyond. As a result, the summer of 1559 saw an extraordinary revival spread throughout Scotland.59”
― Douglas Bond, The Mighty Weakness of John Knox

“our lot is to fear God and find our contentment in his providence,”
― Douglas Bond, King's Arrow

“He suddenly thought of the stretching vastness of the green moors he loved, of the rooty smells after the rains, the butting and frisking of new lambs, the faraway glimmer of the first star when evening fell, the song of the lark at the break of day, his mother's broth and oatcakes, the cozy of a peat fire while outside rain pummeled the thatch. Then he thought of his father's voice filling the family croft with love and warmth, and with a joy that he had often thought must be something very much like heaven.”
― Douglas Bond, Rebel's Keep

“My God”
― Douglas Bond, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts

“doxology can help stabilize theology. It is very difficult to sing bad theology.”
― Douglas Bond, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts

“Hughes often said that men fail to make progress in learning not for lack of time or ability but for lack of hard work.”
― Douglas Bond, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts

“We can be assured of salvation and feel that assurance aright only as we keep our eyes off ourselves and our performance and fix our gaze on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of true saving and sanctifying faith.”
― Douglas Bond, Grace Works!:

“He honored all His Father’s laws, Which we have disobeyed; He bore our sins upon the cross, And our full ransom paid.”
― Douglas Bond, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts

“Hughes often said that men fail to make progress in learning not for lack of time or ability but for lack of hard work. Unlike so many university students today, who stay up late partying, eating pizza, and playing video games, Watts and his friends did not fritter away the hours. They did, however, stay up late. Far into the night, Watts went on reading and annotating what he read.”
― Douglas Bond, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts

“Ye cannae fix injustice-with more of it.”
― Douglas Bond, King's Arrow

“Just as the medieval church cut off the congregation from participating in the sung worship of the service, today many well-meaning Christian leaders have reconstructed a sung worship wherein congregational participation does not matter.”
― Douglas Bond, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts

“above his Lord. Perhaps because Knox himself found such abundant strength in the midst of great personal weakness, he was used of God to raise”
― Douglas Bond, The Mighty Weakness of John Knox

“Father, will justice ever reign in Scotland?”
― Douglas Bond, King's Arrow

“a patient man is better than a warrior.”
― Douglas Bond, Duncan's War

“I am a vile polluted lump of earth; So I’ve continued since my birth; Although Jehovah grace does daily give me, As sure this monster Satan will deceive me. Come, therefore, Lord, from Satan’s claws relieve me.   Wash me in Thy blood, O Christ, And grace divine impart. Then search and try the corners of my heart, That I in all things may be fit to do Service to Thee, and sing Thy praises too.14”
― Douglas Bond, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts

“Youth is the time of acquiring knowledge, and as you have the important charge laid upon you of instructing some of the rising generation, let me beg that you will leave nothing undone to make your pupils love the beauties of religion. Teach them that religion has nothing in it of a gloomy nature, for how can that be gloomy that leads to everlasting pleasures?4”
― Douglas Bond, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts

“prayer is a divine worship due to none but God the Father, Son, and Spirit.9”
― Douglas Bond, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts