“Ecclesiastes shows that man without God is in total ignorance and inevitable misery.”

“Knowlege of God without knowledge of man's wretchedness leads to pride. Knowledge of man's wretchedness without knowledge of God leads to despair. Knowledge of Jesus Christ is the middle course, because by it we discover both God and our wretched state.”

“Pride counterbalances all these miseries; man either hides or displays them, and glories in his awareness of them.”

“Distraction is the only thing that consoles us for miseries and yet it is itself the greatest of our miseries.”

“It is dangerous to explain too clearly to man how like he is to the animals without pointing out his greatness. It is also dangerous to make too much of his greatness without his vileness. It is still more dangerous to leave him in ignorance of both, but it is most valuable to represent both to him.Man must not be allowed to believe that he is equal either to animals or to angels, nor to be unaware of either, but he must know both.”

“Nothing is so intolerable to man as being fully at rest, without a passion, without business, without entertainment, without care.”

“Knowing God without knowing our wretchedness leads to pride. Knowing our wretchedness without knowing God leads to despair. Knowing Jesus Christ is the middle course, because in him we find both God and our wretchedness.”