Self-Examination on Miscellanea

Generational Criticism and Nostalgia

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

And it is sometimes the fault of old people to discourage the services of the present age by crying up too much the performances and attainments of the former age.

A fault which is no fault

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:31:00 +0000

Men who are possessed with self-love and with prejudice against others will readily count that a fault in their neighbours which yet is no fault, and will allow that in themselves which they condemn in others.

Charity of Age

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

For myself, I find I become less cynical rather than more—remembering my own sins and follies; and realize that men’s hearts are not often as bad as their acts, and very seldom as bad as their words.

Quarrel with your own heart!

Wed, 22 May 2024 17:09:00 +0000

Prefer even vicious people to be cured rather than condemned …. If you want to quarrel with your enemy, quarrel first with your own heart. Quarrel, I tell you. Quarrel with your own heart.

Thinks Ill of You

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Brother, if any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him.

For you are worse than he thinks you to be.

Tokens of a Little and Narrow Mind

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In effect, to be much taken up with the interests of self, to live upon the breath of others, to be full of resentment for every injury, and watchful to retaliate it; these are the properties and tokens of a little and narrow mind.

Way of a Fool

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Man of Understanding Remains Silent

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

Ignorance of our own Faults

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 02:10:18 +0000

Ignorance of our own faults is the only cause that renders us unwilling to forgive our brethren.

Indignation at Sin

Tue, 06 Nov 2018 12:21:01 +0000

Many seem to have indignation at sin; but it is not because it is sin, but because it touches them. They will inform against a man that swears; but it is only if he swear at them, and affront them, not because he dishonours God. These disciples [in Matthew 20:24] were angry at their brethren’s ambition, though they themselves, nay *because *they themselves, were as ambitious.

Note, It is common for people to be angry at those sins in others which they allow of and indulge in themselves. Those that are proud and covetous themselves do not care to see others so. Nothing makes more mischief among brethren, or is the cause of more indignation and contention, than ambition, and desire of greatness.

Observing Your Own Failings

Wed, 12 Sep 2018 11:18:28 +0000

The zealous Christian is strictly observant of his own failings, candid and tender to the faults of others; he knows what allowances are due to the frailty of human nature and the temptations of the present state, and willingly makes all the allowances possible; and though he dare not call evil good, cannot but judge according to the rule of the Scripture, yet he will conceal the infirmities of men as much as he can, will not speak of them without just cause, much less will he aggravate the case, or boast himself over them.

Controversies

Tue, 03 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Controversies, for the most part, are so managed as to indulge rather than to repress this wrong disposition; and therefore, generally speaking, they are productive of little good. They provoke those whom they should convince, and puff up those whom they should edify. I hope your performance will savour a spirit of true humility, and be a means of promoting it in others.

Good Calvinists?

Tue, 01 May 2018 00:00:00 +0000

We rightly repudiate the common view that doctrine does not matter so long as one is upright in life; but if we let our reaction drive us into the opposite extreme of supposing that one’s life does not matter so long as one is theologically ‘sound’ (‘a good Calvinist’, we say), then the beam in our own eye will be worse than the mote in our brother’s.

To Never Speak Unfavorably

Sat, 31 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

He never allowed himself, even in the retirement of his own family, to speak unfavorably of the absent, and whenever any person told him the faults of another, he was wont to reply, ‘what good did you hope to gain by telling me that?’

Sit Loose on Their Opinions

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

People will find fault as they please, and it is a mercy to sit loose to their opinions, and let them talk on — provided we can do it in a right spirit.

I mean, from a humble consciousness that our views are upright before the Lord — and that we are simply aiming to serve him.

Stirring Up Division

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

The Ruin of Self Love

Sat, 02 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Each of us thinks we have just cause for elevating ourselves and despising all others in comparison to ourselves—our self-love ruins us with such blindness.

We Are Not Our Own

Sat, 02 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

We are not our own; therefore, neither our reason nor our will should dominate our plans and actions.

We are not our own; therefore, let us not make the gratification of our flesh our end.

We are not our own; therefore, as much as possible, let us forget ourselves and our own interests.

Rather, we are God’s. Therefore, let us live and die to Him.

Factions Among You

Fri, 01 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

…for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

Merciful Silence

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The Lord has mercifully kept us from the knowledge of each other’s hearts, any farther than we are willing to disclose ourselves.

If every man was compelled to speak all that he thinks—there would be an end of human society; and man would no more venture to dwell with man, than with tigers and bears!

A Truth to Be Observed

Sun, 19 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

This truth ought to be carefully observed, that they who are too rigid towards their brethren, provoke against themselves the severity of God.

Dirty Zeal

Sun, 12 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

If our zeal is embittered by expressions of anger, invective, or scorn—we may think we are doing service of the cause of truth, when in reality we shall only bring it into discredit!

Plod!

Sat, 03 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000

If I could engrave a single word on the heart of every young man with his life before him, it would be the short and homely word— Plod!

That is the secret of success. If you expect to accomplish any results of value in your manhood you must make up your mind to ‘scorn delights and live laborious days’ in your youth.

Chrysostom on the Ignorance of Christians

Sun, 02 Apr 2017 00:00:00 +0000

If you ask [Christians] who is Amos or Obadiah, how many apostles there were or prophets, they stand mute; but if you ask them about the horses or drivers, they answer with more solemnity than sophists or rhetors.

Stop Being Judgmental

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000

And it’s only when you know Jesus as Judge and judged in your place, that you will begin to stop being judgmental, and so will I.

The Humbling Effect of Life

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000

If you walk closely with God forty years, you will have a much lower opinion of yourself than you have now.

Could We Bear from One Another?

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Could we bear from one another,
What He daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother,
Loves us though we treat Him thus:
Though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.

Sibbes on The Best Men

Tue, 27 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The best men are severe to themselves, tender over others.

By Love, Bury Their Faults

Tue, 29 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

How it is possible that one who is in reality distinguished above others can reckon those to be superior to him who he knows are greatly beneath him?

Let him… employ himself in correcting and detecting his faults, and he will have abundant occasion for humility.

In others, on the other hand, he will regard with honor whatever there is of excellences, and will by means of love bury their faults.

Impatience in my Spirit

Sun, 06 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0000

I have felt an impatience in my spirit, utterly unsuitable to my state as a sinner and a beggar, and to my profession of yielding myself and all my concerns to the Lord’s disposal.

Judgmental Christians

Sun, 21 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Conversation with most Christians is something like going to court; where, except you are dressed exactly according to the prescribed standard, you will either not be admitted, or must expect to be heartily stared at.

Practice What is Good

Sat, 25 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Every day I am more persuaded of this because I see men for the most part spending their strength and time more to oppose things they disagree with than to practice the things they and others agree are most necessary.

Hasty and Censorious Spirit

Tue, 31 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Surely much of that hasty and censorious spirit, too often observable in young converts, arises from their having, as yet—a very imperfect acquaintance with the deceitfulness of their own hearts.

But, the old weather-beaten Christian, who has learned by sorrowful experience how weak he is in himself, and what powerful subtle enemies he has to grapple with—acquires a tenderness in dealing with bruises and broken bones, which greatly conduces to his acceptance and usefulness.

That Monster Self

Tue, 05 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

I long to be able to use Job’s words, with the same feeling as I believe Job had when he spoke them, Behold, I am vile! The acknowledgment in words is quite easy — but really and in good earnest to abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes — is most difficult. I know that I ought to be humbled before Him — but I want to be so indeed.

Our Strange Pride

Wed, 03 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000

It is strange that pride should ever find anything in my experience to feed upon; but this completes my character for folly, vileness, and inconsistence, that I’m not only poor but proud; and, though I’m convinced I am a very wretch, as nothing before the Lord, I’m prone to go forth among my fellow-creatures as though I were wise and good.

Disgrace of Low Blows

Mon, 01 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The treating of an adversary with fierceness, anger, or disdain; the representing his opinions in the worst light; and especially the inveighing against the blasphemes or absurdities which we think flow from his schemes, as if they were really part of them, and adopted by him; instead of doing any good, tend equally to disgrace the writer, and the disadvantage of his cause.

Too Hasty Assent to Calvinistic Principles

Sat, 19 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0000

I believe a too hasty assent to Calvinistic principles, before a person is duly acquainted with the plague of his own heart, is one principal cause of that lightness of profession which so lamentably abounds in this day, a chief reason why many professors are rash, heady, high-minded, contentious about words, and sadly remiss as to the means of divine appointment.

Badness of our Times

Wed, 15 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

It is folly to complain of the badness of our own times when we have more reason to complain of the badness of our own hearts (if men’s hearts were better, the times would mend) and when we have more reason to be thankful that they are not worse, but that even in the worst of times we enjoy many mercies, which help to make them not only tolerable, but comfortable.

The Ungoverned Tongue

Tue, 14 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

My own reading affords countless instances of the greatest disasters resulting from an ungoverned tongue. When upon the marriage of Philadelphus with his sister, Sotades composed a scurrilous verse, he paid ample atonement for talking out of season by rotting for a long time in prison. He thus purchased a laugh in others by long weeping of his own.

Talk to Yourself

Wed, 11 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

How faith-driven and Christ-centered is the conversation you have with yourself every day? No one is more influential in your life than you are, because no one talks to you more than you do.

Ten Looks at Christ

Sun, 22 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Do not take up your time so much with studying your own heart as with studying Christ’s heart. ‘For one look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.’

Improve What you Hear

Sun, 15 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

And when hypocrites and distempered Christians are quarreling with the imperfections of the speaker, or congregation, the mode of worship, do you rather make it your diligent endeavor, to watch your hearts, and improve what you hear?

Most Intelligent Animal on Earth

Thu, 22 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—while all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons.

Sinfulness of Ignorance

Sun, 11 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Ignorance and obstinacy are in themselves sinful, and no plea of sincerity will exempt them from the danger of being under their influence.

Acquainted with Controversy

Mon, 22 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Those who have been at all acquainted with controversy, will ﬁnd it the hardest thing for two warm disputants, when struggling hard for victory, not to throw about that dirt, whereby if they cannot overthrow, they are sure to blacken and bespatter, each other.

Zeal and Prudence

Mon, 10 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

There is often too much self in our zeal, and too much fear of man in our prudence.

Authority of Feelings

Sat, 04 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000

We invest our feelings with authority because we’re fools.

Lewis on Love of Neighbor

Sun, 06 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000

The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you ’love’ your neighbour; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.

Tolkien on Lewis

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000

C.S.L. of course had some oddities and could sometimes be irritating.

Frivolousness of Newsness

Mon, 31 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000

And it is sure the duty of the older generation to be embarrassingly old-fashioned, for the claims of the ’newness’ of any younger generation are mostly frivolous. The young are born to the human condition more than to their time, and they may face mainly the same trails and obligations as their elders have faced.

Temptations in Me

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000

In London I’m in a crowd of temptations, but in the country there is a crowd of temptations in me. My mind is a Vanity Fair.

Theory Induced Blindness

Wed, 05 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Once you have accepted a theory and used it as a tool in your thinking, it is extraordinarily difficult to notice its flaws. If you come upon an observation that does not seem to fit the model, you assume that there must be a perfectly good explanation that you are somehow missing.

Small Talk and the Heart

Mon, 27 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Something as innocuous, as seemingly meaningless, careless, casual as small talk, when you take it apart, bears a freight of profound messages that every word you say and don’t say bears the freight of the overflow of your heart.

Our Innate Disease

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

It is, as it were, an innate disease in mankind to seek reputation by blaming others.

Good Ol' Days

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

‘Say not, Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

Be Self Controlled

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

Jane Austen on Boys and Girls

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

It would be , could they be made to understand how little the heart of man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire; how little it is biased by the texture of their muslin, and how unsusceptible of peculiar tenderness towards the spotted, the sprigged, the mull, or the jackonet.

Chopin on Difficulties Slurred Over

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on.

Striving After the Wind

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.