Tillotson was the son of a Puritan clothier at Haughend, Sowerby, Yorkshire. Little is known of his early youth; he studied at Colne Grammar School, before entering as a pensioner of Clare Hall, Cambridge. He was as man of the world as well as a divine, and in his sermons he exhibited a tact which enabled him at once to win the ear of his audience. The result of reading, and of the influence of John Wilkins, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, was seen in the general tone of his preaching, which was practical rather than theological, concerned with issues of personal morality instead of theoretical doctrine. (via Wikipedia)
Read Tillotson’s wise quotes and dive into the sea of his wisdom.
On Happiness:
Men expect that religion should cost them no pains, that happiness should drop into their laps without any design and endeavor on their part, and that, after they have done what they please while they live, God should snatch them up to heaven when they die. But though ‘the commandments of God be not grievous,’ yet it is fit to let men know that they are not thus easy.
To be happy is not only to be freed from the pains and diseases of the body, but from anxiety and vexation of spirit; not only to enjoy the pleasures of sense, but peace of conscience and tranquility of mind.
On God:
Every man hath greater assurance that God is good and just than he can have of any subtle speculations about predestination and the decrees of God.
Let no man deceive you with vain words or vain hopes or false notions of a slight and sudden repentance. As if heaven were a hospital founded on purpose to receive all sick and maimed persons that, when they can live no longer to the lusts of the flesh and the sinful pleasures of this world, can but put up a cold and formal petition to be admitted there. No, no, as sure as God is true, they shall never see the Kingdom of God who, instead of seeking it in the first place, make it their last refuge and retreat. ~John Tillotson
Men expect that religion should cost them no pains, that happiness should drop into their laps without any design and endeavor on their part, and that, after they have done what they please while they live, God should snatch them up to heaven when they die. But though ‘the commandments of God be not grievous,’ yet it is fit to let men know that they are not thus easy.
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On Religion:
Men expect that religion should cost them no pains, that happiness should drop into their laps without any design and endeavor on their part, and that, after they have done what they please while they live, God should snatch them up to heaven when they die. But though ‘the commandments of God be not grievous,’ yet it is fit to let men know that they are not thus easy.
Every Christian is endued with a power whereby he is enabled to resist temptations.
The true ground of most men’s prejudice against the Christian doctrine is because they have no mind to obey it.
On Blessings:
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For the spiritual efficacy of the Sacrament doth not depend upon the nature of the thing received, supposing we received what our Lord appointed, and receive it with a right preparation and disposition of mind, but upon the supernatural blessing that goes along with it, and makes it effectual to those spiritual ends for which it was appointed.