William Adams (minister)

Not to be confused with William Adams (Master of Pembroke).

William Adams (January 25, 1807 – August 31, 1880) was a noted American clergyman and academic.

Attributed

• Faith is the continuation of reason.
  • C. N. Douglas (ed.) Forty Thousand Quotations: Prose and Poetical (1917)

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1883)

Josiah H. Gilbert (ed.) Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1883)

• Activity in the kingdom of God augments the power of spiritual life, and deepens the consciousness of religious realities.
  • "Action", p. 4

• What do we know about the world unseen? What reasonings, what curiosity, what misgivings there have been concerning that impenetrable mystery! Out of this mystery and vagueness and vastness comes the human form of the Divine Redeemer. He assures us that there is an unmixed and endless life, and that all we have to do to secure it is, to trust ourselves to Him who came to declare it and to confer it.
  • "Christ: Prophet", p. 91

• To-day Christ, in a certain sense, is on trial before us all. In these living hearts, in every one to-day, there will be a judgment of some sort passed upon His sacred person.
  • "Christ's Second Coming", p. 102

• This is always the way in which the reality of Christian conversion evidences itself. It makes the selfish man charitable; the churlish, liberal; and implants in the soul, which hitherto has cared only for the things belonging to himself, a disposition to seek also the things of others.
  • "Conversion", p. 163

• To remember that once we were near the salvation of Christ, so near that our right hand might have touched and taken it, and after all that hand was withheld; this is a memory which will enhance remorse forever.
  • "Courage", p. 165

• Eternal life does not depend upon our perfection; but because it does depend upon the grace of Christ and the love of the Spirit, that love shall prompt us to emulate perfection.
  • "Eternal Life", p. 210

• There is a boundary to the understanding, and when it is reached, faith is the continuation of reason.
  • "Faith", p. 219

• Our Lord does not praise the centurion for his amiable care of his servants, nor for his generosity to the Jews, nor for his public spirit, nor for his humility, but for his faith.
  • "Faith", p. 222

• Faith is a simple trust in a personal Redeemer. The simpler our trust in Christ for all things, the surer our peace.
  • "Faith", p. 224

• The only qualification for knowing Divine things is to love them; to know Christ and to see the light of His revelation, we have only to aspire after a filial temper.
  • "Faith in Christ", p. 230

• Thirsty, weary, dissatisfied in this sultry life, come as you are; come at once; come because you are invited; as you would not do affront to infinite Generosity, come, and drink, and live forever.
  • "Impenitent", p. 342

• But how shall this love be demonstrated? After what method shall it be expressed? Not by secret musings alone; not by the chanting of religious sonnets alone; not by grateful remembrances of Him — at His table only — but by deeds of love towards those who in a real sense represent Him, because partakers of that nature, our common humanity, which He condescended to assume.
  • "Love to Christ and God", p. 396

• Lovest thou me? This is the one test question of our religion: for he that loveth is born of God.
  • "Love to Christ and God", p. 398

• The law can never save us; and he is nearest to the forgiveness of the gospel who, with a contrite heart, discerns most clearly and feels most profoundly that perfection of the Divine statute which impeaches and condemns him.
  • "Penitence", p. 448

• Christian penitence is something more than a thought or an emotion or a tear; it is action.
  • "Penitence", p. 448

• Do you ask why Mary Magdalene was the one chosen to whom first of all Christ should show Himself after the resurrection? This we know — she trusted in Him, and she loved Him; she waited at His sepulchre; she sought, she looked, she wept; and if we would have Christ reveal Himself to us, we, too, must seek and wait and long and trust and love.
  • "Trust in Christ", p. 589

External links

• Encyclopedic article on William Adams (minister) on Wikipedia