Christopher Connell

“Therefore, the humble working man, toiling faithfully at his job, nurturing and shepherding his wife, and seeking to bring up his children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, conforms to God's picture of a real man.”
― Richard D. Phillips, The Masculine Mandate: God's Calling to Men

“So, after your times of sweetest fellowship with God, after the happiest enjoyment of gospel ordinances. After the sealing of the Spirit within your hearts, you must expect to be tempted of the devil. You must not suppose that, in your Christian life, all will be sweetness, — that all will be spiritual witness-bearing.”
― Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Verse Exposition Of Matthew: The Expansive Commentary Collection

“He tries to cast a doubt upon the Saviour’s Sonship, and this is the way that he often attacks a child of God now. He says to him, “If thou be a son of God, do so-and-so.” He challenged Christ to work a miracle for himself, — to use his divine power on his own behalf, but this the Saviour never did. He challenged Christ to distrust the providence of God, and to be his own Provider; and this is still a very common temptation to God’s people.”
― Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Verse Exposition Of Matthew: The Expansive Commentary Collection

“Mercy! mercy!” he vociferated; “that is what makes my situation so dreadful! I have despised mercy! I have scoffed at God! I have refused Christ! If God was only just, I could bear it. But now the thought of his abused mercy is worst of all! There is no mercy for me any longer! for years I have refused Christ! My day has gone by! I am lost! I am lost!” “You think wrong,” said I, “God has not limited his invitations. Christ says, ‘Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.’” “My day has gone by!” said he. “No; it has not,” I replied, in a voice as firm as his own: “behold now is the accepted time—now is the day of salvation.”
― Ichabod Spencer, A PASTOR'S SKETCHES: The Art of Evangelistic Pastoral Visitation