Austin Phelps Quotes & Sayings

We never feel Christ to be a reality, until we feel Him to be a necessity. — Austin Phelps

Wear the old coat and buy the new book. — Austin Phelps

Christianity is the only system of faith which combines religious beliefs with corresponding principles of morality. It builds ethics on religion. — Austin Phelps

Vigilance in watching opportunity, tact and daring in seizing upon opportunity, force and persistence in crowding opportunity to its utmost of possible achievement - these are the martial virtues which must command success — Austin Phelps

Possibly our hearts are shockingly deceitful in such iniquity. Are we strangers to an experience like this - that when we mourn over our cold prayers as a misfortune, we evade a search of that disputed territory for the cause of them, through fear that we shall find it there, and we struggle to satisfy ourselves with an increase of spiritual duties which shall cost us no sacrifice? — Austin Phelps

It has been said that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often long alone with God. — Austin Phelps

A disciplined conscience is a man's best friend. It may not be his most amiable, but it is his most faithful monitor. — Austin Phelps

Prayer is the preface to the book of Christian living; the text of the new life sermon; the girding on of the armor for battle; the pilgrim's preparation for his journey. It must be supplemented by action or it amounts to nothing. — Austin Phelps

The most intelligent hearers are those who enjoy most heartily the simplest preaching. It is not they who clamor for superlatively intellectual or aesthetic sermons. Daniel Webster used to complain of some of the preaching to which he listened. "In the house of God" he wanted to meditate "upon the simple varieties, and the undoubted facts of religion;" not upon mysteries and abstractions. — Austin Phelps

The consciousness of Divine friendship in devotion, so far from being impaired, is deepened by holy veneration. The purest and most lasting human friendships are permeated with an element of reverence; much more this friendship of a man with God. — Austin Phelps

Are you living for the things you are praying for? — Austin Phelps

Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought. — Austin Phelps

We are never more like Christ than in prayers of intercession. — Austin Phelps

The feeling which will become spontaneous with a Christian, under the influence of such a trust, is this: 'I come to my devotions this morning, on an errand of real life. This is no romance and no farce. I do not come here to go through a form of words. I have no hopeless desires to express. I have an object to gain. I have an end to accomplish. This is a business in which I am about to engage. — Austin Phelps