11 Quotes & Sayings By William Gurnall

William Gurnall was born in Norwich in 1546, the son of a carpenter. He entered Gray's Inn in 1567 and was called to the bar in 1576. A year later he was elected recorder of Norwich, but he abandoned his judicial career when the local council appointed him rector of the parish church of St Nicholas in 1605. He was also rector of St Peter Mancroft in London, and was churchwarden of St Paul's, Covent Garden Read more

A prolific author, he wrote several theological works, homilies and poems. He is best known for his translation of the New Testament into English verse.

We fear men so much, because we fear God so...
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We fear men so much, because we fear God so little. William Gurnall
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When God intends a mercy for his people, he stirs up the spirit of prayer in them. Fervency unites the soul and directs the thoughts to the work at hand. It will not allow diversions and denies all foreign thoughts seeking to intrude. Pray fervently or you do nothing. Cold praying is no more prayer than a painting of fire is fire. How can prayers that do not even warm your own heart move God’s? A fervent prayer will never find a cold reception with God. Elijah’s prayer called fire down from heaven because it carried fire up to heaven. . William Gurnall
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Some prayers have a longer voyage than others, but they return with the richer lading at last, so that the praying soul is a gainer by waiting for an answer. William Gurnall
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Too many read a chapter or two in the Bible, then for lack of interest put it down for weeks at a time and never look at it. Bernard compares the study of the Word and the mere reading of it to the difference between a close friendship and a casual acquaintance. If you want genuine knowledge, he says, you will have to do more than greet the Word politely on Sundays or nod reverently when you chance to meet it on the street. You must walk with it and talk with it every day of the week. You must invite it into your private chambers, and forego other pleasures and worldly duties to spent time in its company. William Gurnall
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Above all sins, guard against bold or arrogant ones. You are not beyond the danger of such. If caught in the web of presumptuous sin, call quickly to God for help. If you hesitate, you only give Satan time to entangle you more tightly. But if you cry out to God in true repentance, He will come at once to rescue you. The sooner you yield to the Spirit, the less damage is done to your soul. William Gurnall
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Many lose heaven because they are ashamed to go in a fool's coat thither. William Gurnall
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Never was a faithful prayer lost. Some prayers have a longer voyage than others but then they return with their richer lading at last so that the praying soul is a gainer by waiting for an answer. William Gurnall
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Humble souls are fearful of their own strength. William Gurnall
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Godliness, as well as the doctrine of our faith, is a mystery. William Gurnall
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The devil had as good have let Paul alone, for he no sooner comes into prison but he falls a preaching, at which the gates of Satan's prison fly open, and poor sinners come forth. William Gurnall