It is an undoubted truth that every doctrine that comes from God, leads to God; and that which doth not tend to promote holiness is not of God.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that divine teachings inherently lead individuals towards holiness and a connection with God.
George Whitefield asserts that any doctrine or teaching that claims to be of divine origin must ultimately guide individuals towards a deeper understanding of holiness and the divine. If a doctrine does not promote holiness, it cannot be from God, highlighting the importance of moral and spiritual growth in religious teachings.
In practice
This quote can be used in a sermon to emphasize the importance of aligning one's beliefs with holiness.
And now let me address all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one with another, to accept of mercy and grace while it is offered to you; Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation; and will you not accept it, now it is offered unto you?
God is well pleased when all our actions proceed from love, love to Himself, and love to immortal souls.
If your souls were not immortal, and you in danger of losing them, I would not thus speak unto you; but the love of your souls constrains me to speak: methinks this would constrain me to speak unto you forever.
Whoever reads the gospel with a single eye, and sincere intentions, will find, that our blessed Lord took all opportunities of reminding his disciples that His Kingdom was not of this world; that His doctrine was a doctrine of the Cross; and that their professing themselves to be His followers, would call them to a constant state of voluntary suffering and self-denial.
The Christian world is in a deep sleep; nothing but a loud shout can awaken them out of it!
What could the Lord Jesus Christ have done for you more than he has? Then do not abuse his mercy, but let your time be spent in thinking and talking of the love of Jesus, who was incarnate for us, who was born of a woman, and made under the law, to redeem us from the wrath to come.
It is inconceivable to me that a million or three million or half a million human beings will think and feel precisely the same way on any single subject.
Each day has been chained to the previous one. But the weeks have wings. Anyone who believes that a second is faster than a decade did not live my life.
I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him.
And the principle which distinguishes democracy from all other forms of government is that in a democracy the opposition not only is tolerated as constitutional but must be maintained because it is in fact indispensable.
To be suspicious is not a fault. To be suspicious all the time without coming to a conclusion is the defect.
I was suffering from a peculiar and persistent sense that I was being pursued, and also the conviction that under the political order of the times, our lives had no meaning.
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