Status Updates From The Art of Man-Fishing

“Reflect on what thou art when God is pleased to desert thee; how then thou tuggest and rowest, but it will not do, either in studying or delivering sermons.”

“Lord, thou knowest how weighty the sins of this land have been unto me, how they do lie somewhat heavy on me; and at this time in particular, the laxness of many in joining with the people of these abominations, the unfaithfulness of some professors, the lack of zeal for God in not making a more narrow search for the accursed thing in our camp, now when God's wrath is going out violently against us.”

“We may call ordinances Ichabod; and name the faithful preachers of Scotland no more Naomi, but Marah, for the Lord deals bitterly with them, in so much forsaking his ordinances as at this day. The Lord hath forsaken them in a great measure, as to success attending their labours. They toil all the night; but little or nothing is caught: few or none can they find to come into the net.”