CATEGORIES:

DEATH, RESURRECTION & LIFE

DEPRESSION & SELF-CONDEMNATION

MARRIAGE

MORALITY

OBEDIENCE

PASTORS, PREACHERS, & THOSE IN MINISTRY

READING AND STUDYING HOLY SCRIPTURE (BIBLE):

SALVATION BY GRACE

TRADITION

UNCONVERTED (to the)

YOUNG ADULTS (to)

Read Christian, Puritan, Reformed and Protestant exhortational works, Catholic and Protestant polemical & apologetical works, histories, and martyrologies, online:   Hail & Fire Library

St. John Chrysostom: ON SCRIPTURE "But some one will say, 'it is to the priests that these charges are given' ... But that the apostle gives the same charge to the laity, hear what he says in another epistle to other than the priesthood: 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.'" CLICK TO READ >>

"Our system was never intended to promote the glory of priests and pastors, but it is calculated to educate manly Christians, who will not take their faith at second-hand."

Charles H. Spurgeon

WILLIAM TYNDALE: AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE "God careth for his elect; and therefore hath provided them of scripture, to try all things, and to defend them from all false prophets." CLICK TO READ >>

WILLIAM TYNDALE: ON GODLY LOVE "For we love not God first, to compel him to love again; but he loved us first, and gave his Son for us, that we might see love and love again, saith St John in his first epistle" CLICK TO READ >>

"To pretend to preach the truth without offending carnal men, is to pretend to be able to do what Jesus Christ could not do."

Thomas Wilson

"If you be not acquainted with [Scripture], you must follow the opinions or examples of other men, and what if they lead you unto destruction?"

Hugh Binning

READ FREE Christian books, Puritan, Reformed and Protestant exhortational works, Catholic and Protestant polemical and apologetical works, bibles, histories, martyrologies, and works on eschatology in the Hail & Fire Online Library >>

	MP3 AUDIO LIBRARY - download or listen online to mp3 audiobooks of: Hugh Binning: The Works John Bunyan: The Works Jonathan Edwards: Religious Affections Isaac Watts: Hymns & Songs William Wilberforce: Real Christianity John Jewel: Apology of the Church of England Poggius: [John] Hus the Heretic MORE MP3 audios >>
	"by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." 2 Corinthians 3:2

EXHORTATIONS
An online resource for topical exhortations and sermons on Biblical Christian Doctrine and Christian Living in excerpts from Reformed, Puritan and Protestant Christian Books:

DEATH, RESURRECTION & LIFE:

  What Does the Bible Say on Death, Resurrection &

Life?

"If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved." (2 Corinthians 5)

QUOTES: "From beginning to end, God's Word teaches that we, though born flesh, are spiritual beings, and that we, though born flesh, were intended for a new birth, without which, we remain "but flesh" (John 3:6), neither can we inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50). This second birth whereby we are 'born again' is a spiritual birth and it is according to the will of God (John 1:13), and it is by the very Spirit of God (John 3:6), and it is unto eternal life (Romans 8)."

"If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness"
(Romans 8:10)

DEPRESSION & SELF-CONDEMNATION:

  Flavel, John (Puritan Preacher)

Times of Doubting, Spiritual Darkness and Self-Condemnation (excerpt from "Keeping the Heart")

QUOTES: "Every appearance of hypocrisy, does not prove the person who manifests it to be a hypocrite. You should carefully distinguish between the appearance and the predominance of hypocricy. There are remains of deceitfulness in the best hearts; this was examplified in David and Peter; but the prevailing frame of their hearts being upright, they were not denominated hypocrites for their conduct."

MARRIAGE:

  Elizabeth I (1533-1603, Queen of England)

An Homily on the State of Matrimony (excerpt from "Certain Sermons or Homilies Appointed to be Read in Churches in the Time of Queen Elizabeth I of Famous Memory," by various Puritan divines and Reformers, 1864 Edition)

QUOTES: "We see how wonderfully the devil deludeth and scorneth this state, how few matrimonies there be without chidings, brawlings, tauntings, repentings, bitter cursings, and fightings. ... yet they are of necessity compelled to live together, which yet cannot be in quiet together. ... Learn thou therefore ... if thou desirest to live peaceably and comfortably in wedlock, how to make thy earnest prayer to God, that he would govern both your hearts by his Holy Spirit, to restrain the devil's power, whereby your concord may remain perpetually."

  W. N.

On Marriage, addressed to Young Christians (excerpt, c. 19th century)

QUOTES: "The intermarriages of the godly with the ungodly have been the fruitful source of innumerable evils. I believe it has been one of the most successful devices that Satan ever employed to mingle the church and the world together, to impede the progress of true religion, and promote the interests of his own kingdom. No pen can describe the private sorrows, or the public scandals, which have had their origin from this transgression."

MORALITY:

  Wilberforce, William

On Morality and Society (excerpt from "Real Christianity")

QUOTES: "Let them boldly assert the cause of Christ in an age when so many, who bear the name of Christians, are ashamed of Him: and let them consider as devolved on them the important duty of suspending for a while the fall of their country and, perhaps, of performing a still more extensive service to society at large ... by that sure and radical benefit of restoring the influence of Religion, and of raising the standard of morality.

OBEDIENCE:

  Clement (30-100ad)

How We Ought to Obey God and Not Men (excerpt from "The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians")

QUOTES: "Let us cleave, therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not to those who hypocritically profess to desire it."

PASTORS, PREACHERS, & THOSE IN MINISTRY:

  Baxter, Richard (1615-1691ad, English Puritan Preacher and Minister)

You Are All Brethren, An Exhortation to Pastoral Humility (excerpt from "The Reformed Pastor" by Richard Baxter, section on "The Use of Humiliation," Originally Published in 1656, 1860 Edition)

QUOTES: "Is not pride the sin of devils, the firstborn of hell? .. and is it tolerable evil in a man that is so engaged against him and his kingdom as we are? The very design of the gospel doth tend to self-abasing; and the work of grace is begun and carried on in humiliation. Humility is not a mere ornament of a Christian, but an essential part of the new creature: it is a contradiction to be a sanctified man, or a true Christian, and not humble."

  Newton, John (1725-1807ad, English Preacher, formerly a slave trader)

To a Student in Divinity (excerpt from "The Works of the Rev. John Newton")

QUOTES: "You will likewise find advantage by attending, as much as you can, on those preachers whom God has blessed with much power, life, and success in their ministry. And in this you will do well not to confine yourself to any denomination or party, for the Spirit of the Lord is not confined. Different men have different gifts and talents. I would not wish you to be a slavish admirer of any man. Christ alone is our master and teacher. But study the excellencies of each"

READING & STUDYING HOLY SCRIPTURE (BIBLE READING):

  Elizabeth I (1533-1603, Queen of England)

A Fruitful Exhortation to the Reading of Holy Scripture (excerpt from "Certain Sermons or Homilies Appointed to be Read in Churches in the Time of Queen Elizabeth of Famous Memory," by various Puritan divines and Reformers, 1864 Edition)

QUOTES: "As many as be desirous to enter into the right and perfect way unto God must apply their minds to know holy Scripture; without the which they can neither sufficiently know God and his will, neither their office and duty. And, as drink is pleasant to them that be dry, and meat to them that be hungry, so is the reading, hearing, searching, and studying of holy Scripture to them that be desirous to know God or themselves, and to do his will."

SALVATION BY GRACE:

  Hail & Fire

Exhortation on Grace

QUOTES: "'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.' Eph 2:8-9 KJV ... in one word is overturned all the learning of the learned. ... in one word is overturned all the glory of man."

  Newton, John (1725-1807ad, English Preacher)

No Access to God but by the Gospel of Christ (excerpt from "The Works of the Rev. John Newton")

QUOTES: "Too many show, in this respect, that they are dead while they live; dead to God, insensible and regardless of their many obligations to him, in whom they live, and move, and have their being. They live without prayer; they offer no praises to the God of their lives, but rise up and lie down, go out and come in, without one reflection on his power, goodness, and providence; even like the beasts that perish. But the awakened soul cannot do so. He trembles to think that he once could neglect that God whom all the hosts of heaven worship; and is convinced, that however fair his character might have been amongst men, he justly deserved to have been struck to hell"

TRADITION:

  Wycliffe, John (1324 - 1384, English Reformer and Bible Translator)

On Vain Traditions (excerpt from "Tracts and Treatise of John Wycliffe")

QUOTES: "other true preachers ... will not flatter mighty men, and comfort them in their sins, but will sharply tell them the truth; and thus mighty men hire by great costs a false traitor, to lead them to hell"

UNCONVERTED (to the):

  Baxter, Richard (Puritan Preacher)

On Lamentations of the Lost (excerpt from "The Saint's Everlasting Rest")

QUOTES: "The want of this self-application is the main cause why they are so little troubled now. They are hardly brought to believe that there is such a state of misery; but more hardly to believe that it is like to be their own. This makes so many sermons lost to them, and all threatenings and warnings in vain."

YOUNG ADULTS (to):

  Welldon, J. E. C. (D.D., Dean of Manchester, Bishop of Calcutta, Head-Master of Harrow School)

Judas Iscariot (Matthew 10:4): Thoughts About the Character of Persons (excerpt from "Be Strong: Lessons for Young Lives")

QUOTES: "It is sometimes assumed that virtue is always attractive everywhere. But is it so? Are there not minds so dark, so foul, that when they see goodness, they try to defile it, and, if they cannot succeed in defiling it, hate and persecute it? Does he love virtue - the boy ... who would deliberately ... corrupt boys younger and more innocent than himself? Does he love virtue - the man who makes his boast of betraying and ruining and consigning to destruction the pure souls and bodies of the maidens who trusted him? Nay, to him virtue is not lovely, it is a reproach and an offence to him, he delights in violating its sanctity. Now look with me for a moment at the case of Judas Iscariot. I believe that from the time when he entered the society of the Lord's disciples he began to hate Him for His holiness. The divine words which awoke the consciences of others stirred in him only bitter malignant feelings. He could not bear to look upon His deeds of mercy. He could not sit by and see Him honoured by the loving gratitude of the souls which He had saved. He felt for the Saviour that very loathing which none can feel but such as have seen the vision of purity, and have turned their backs upon it and have committed that 'sin against the Holy Ghost' which, if it be anything, can be nothing else than the hatred of goodness just because it is so good." "