See that you buy the field where the Pearl is; sell all, and make a purchase of salvation. Think it not easy: for it is a steep ascent to eternal glory: many are lying dead by the way, slain with security.
Samuel RutherfordRead
I find it most true that the greatest temptation outside of hell is to live without temptations; if water stands, it rots; faith is the better for the sharp winter storm in its face and grace withers without adversity. The devil is but God's master fencer to teach us to handle our weapons.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Living without challenges can be detrimental, and adversity helps strengthen our faith and character.
In this quote, Samuel Rutherford expresses the idea that facing temptations and adversities is essential for personal growth and spiritual strength. He suggests that a life devoid of challenges leads to stagnation, much like standing water goes stale. The quote emphasizes that difficulties, represented as the 'sharp winter storm,' refine and strengthen faith, while the adversarial forces in life, personified as 'the devil,' can ultimately serve to sharpen our abilities and resilience.
Themes
TemptationAdversityFaithGrowthChallenges
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about overcoming life’s struggles, this quote can inspire listeners to embrace their challenges.
More from Samuel Rutherford
All quotes →Let your children be as so many flowers, borrowed from God. If the flowers die or wither, thank God for a summer loan of them.
Samuel RutherfordRead
Oh thrice fools are we who like new-born princes weeping in the cradle know not that there is a kingdom before them then let our Lord's sweet hand square us and hammer us and strike off the knots of pride self-love and world-worship and infidelity that He may make us stones and pillars in His Father's house.
Samuel RutherfordRead
I know that, as night and shadows are good for flowers, and moonlight and dews are better than a continual sun, so is Christ's absence of special use, and that it hath some nourishing virtue in it, and giveth sap to humility, and putteth an edge on hunger, and funisheth a fairfield to faith to put forth itself, and to exercise its fingers in gripping it seeth not what.
Samuel RutherfordRead
Those who can take that crabbed tree handsomely upon their back, and fasten it on cannily, shall find it such a burden as wings unto a bird, or sails to a ship.
Samuel RutherfordRead
You will not be carried to Heaven lying at ease upon a feather bed.
Samuel RutherfordRead
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