Seriousness is the Christian's ballast which keeps him from being overturned with vanity. - Thomas Watson

Repentance is a grace of God's Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed.

Though heaven be given us freely, yet we must contend for it, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" (Eccl 9:10). Our work is great, our time short, our Master urgent. We have need therefore to summon together all the powers of our souls and strive as in a matter of life and death, that we may arrive at the kingdom above.

There is nothing that can hurt the soul but sin; it is not affliction that hurts it, it often makes it better, as the furnace makes gold the purer; but it is sin that damnifies.