Jonathan Alligood > Recent Status Updates

Luther and the other Reformers cast their vote for unity, but not for unity at all costs.

As the church father Ambrose of Milan once wrote in his exposition of the gospel of Luke, "It is fitting that it be recorded that the first Adam was cast out of Paradise in the desert, that you may observe how the second Adam returned from the desert to Paradise." Ambrose presses the point: "Adam brought death through the tree. Christ brought life through the tree."

You keep saying, "I have come to my ethical position”… I keep saying, “Yes, quite. But why did you do so?”

Now, Reader,
I have told my dream to thee;
See if you can interpret it to me,
…
Take heed also, that thou be not extreme,
In playing with the outside of my dream:
Nor let my figure or similitude
Put thee into laughter or a feud.
Leave this for boys and fools; but as for thee,
Do thou the substance of my matter see.

The stubborn root of anxiety is a fundamental distrust in God's sovereignty, love, and goodness to us—We must sever the root of unbelief at its deepest point by applying the gospel, which is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16).

“In the bloody sacrifice of Christ, see the horrid nature of sin… We should look upon sin with indignation, and pursue it with an holy malice… The sight of Christ's bleeding body should incense us against sin; let us not parley with it, let not that be our joy, which made Christ a man of sorrow.”

Oriental scenes look best in steel engravings. I cannot be imposed upon any more by that picture of the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon. I shall say to myself, You look fine, madam, but your feet are not clean, and you smell like a camel.

“Necessity is the plea of tyrants, and if our Constitution ceases to operate the moment a person charged with its observance thinks there is a necessity to violate it, it is of little value.”

From time to time, offers were made to different prisoners to discharge them conditionally. Sometimes an oath of allegiance, which bound the party taking it to support the "United States Government," notwithstanding any action which his State might take, was proposed as the price of his release. This was almost uniformly declined.

It seemed extraordinary that Hermione’s mania for upholding rules could have abandoned her at this crucial juncture.

…we are not always fit to receive comfort and ease, or a change of our burdens. God sees there are times in which it is needful for His people to be "in heaviness," to have their "hearts brought down with grief: " But then there is a time really appointed for it in the Divine wisdom, when He will think it as needful to comfort them as before to bring down.

“Home is the place where habits are formed;—home is the place where the foundations of character are laid;—home gives the bias to our tastes, and likings, and opinions. See then, I pray you, that there be careful training at home.”

“Depend on it, there is no surer road to unhappiness than always having our own way. To have our wills checked and denied is a blessed thing for us; it makes us value enjoyments when they come. To be indulged perpetually is the way to be made selfish; and selfish people and spoiled children, believe me, are seldom happy.”

“There is nothing that gives temptation more easy access than the crook in the lot”

“…the idolatries of a person's heart don’t become apparent until a person stops getting what they want.”

The true Southern watermelon is a boon apart, and not to be mentioned with commoner things. It is chief of this world's luxuries, king by the grace of God over all the fruits of the earth. When one has tasted it, he knows what the angels eat. It was not a Southern watermelon that Eve took; we know it because she repented.

‘Then we must take the road, Mr. Frodo,' said Sam. 'We must take it and chance our luck, if there is any luck in Mordor. We might as well give ourselves up as wander about any more, or try to go back. Our food won't last. We've got to make a dash for it!'
'All right, Sam,' said Frodo. 'Lead me! As long as you've got any hope left. Mine is gone. But I can't dash, Sam. I'll just plod along after you.'

The unlawful and oppressive acts of Mr. Lincoln, his advisers, and subordinates, during the war between this Government and that of the Confederate States, will here-after constitute no insignificant portion of the history of there times. As one of the victims of the despotism… I desire to add my testimony to that which has been heretofore furnished, in relation to the outrages perpetrated under his Administration