Are they willing that Christ save them in his way, and therefore willingly give themselves over to him, and are willing and content that Christ, by his Spirit, work more hunger in them, and a more lively faith, and work both to will and to do according to his own good pleasure, it is well.But it will be said, that the terms and conditions on which he offereth himself are hard.…Cited from Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life, by John Brown (of Wamphray)
It is required, that we accept of him really and cordially, with our heart and soul, and not by a mere external verbal profession, And is there not all the reason in the world for this?He offereth himself really to us, and shall we not be real in accepting of him?…Cited from Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life, by John Brown (of Wamphray)
He who only prepareth himself when a festival is at hand or custom compelleth, will too often be unprepared.Blessed is he who offereth himself to God for a whole burnt-offering, so often as he celebrateth of communicateth!Be not too slow nor too hurried in thy celebrating, but preserve the good received custom of those with whom thou livest.…Cited from The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas A Kempis
In Church or commonwealth (for in both these this mongrel weed will shoot) it is hard to say whether he be physic or a disease, for he is both in divers respects.As he is gilt with an outside of seeming purity, or as he offereth himself to you to be taken down in a cup or taste of golden zeal and simplicity, you may call him physic.Nay, and never let potion give patient good stool if, being truly tasted and relished, he be not as loathsome to the stomach of any honest man.…Cited from Character Writings of the 17th Century, by Various
What master would not take that ill at his servant's hands?Hence, then, we see, that there is nothing in all the conditions on which he offereth himself to us, that can give the least ground, in reason, why a poor soul should draw back, and be unwilling to accept of this noble offer, or think that the conditions are hard.…Cited from Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life, by John Brown (of Wamphray)
Now have I told you of very [true] confession, that is the second part of penitence: The third part of penitence is satisfaction, and that standeth generally in almsdeed and bodily pain.Now be there three manner of almsdeed: contrition of heart, where a man offereth himself to God; the second is, to have pity of the default of his neighbour; the third is, in giving of good counsel and comfort, ghostly and bodily, where men have need, and namely [specially] sustenance of man's food.And take keep [heed] that a man hath need of these things generally; he hath need of food, of clothing, and of herberow [lodging], he hath need of charitable counsel and visiting in prison and malady, and sepulture of his dead body.…Cited from Canterbury Tales and Other Poems, Geoffrey Chaucer