Forty Scripture Directions

John Willison, 1680-1750

1. Never let the world come into God's place. (1 John 2:15)

2. Keep up the same opinion now of things of the world, that you will have when you come to die. (Matthew 16:26)

3. Be not strangers to yourselves , but often commune with your own hearts. (Psalm 4:4)

4. Begin early in the service of God, and give Him the days of your youth. (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

5. Shun the company that shuns God, and keep the company that God keeps. (Psalm 119:63)

6. Put a high value upon precious time , and lose none of it by sloth. (Ephesians 5:16)

7. Allow a little time every day to think upon eternity . (Matthew 25:46)

8. Throughout your whole life be mindful of the chief business of life . (Philippians 2:12)

9. Let the rational soul govern , and the body be subservient to it. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

10. Study both to live and die in the exercise of repentance and godly mourning for sin. (Matthew 5:4)

11. While you strive to live a holy and righteous life (1 Peter 1:16; 2 Peter 3:11)—let it never take the place of imputed righteousness. (Romans 10:3)

12. Employ Christ as your surety in all cases, and in every strait go to Him for relief. (Hebrews 12:2)

13. As you expect to live with Christ in Heaven, study to live for Christ on earth. (2 Corinthians 5:15)

14. Cleave fast to Christ and the way of holiness, whatever it may cost you. (Acts 11:23; 2 Timothy 3:12)

15. Seek the approval of God , above that of men. (2 Corinthians 10:18)

16. Be much employed in admiring God's redeeming love , and Christ's suretyship for us. (1 John 3:1, 16).

17. Delight much in thinking upon Christ--particularly of His death and sufferings for us. (1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 6:14)

18. Treat objections raised against the Gospel, as suggestions of the enemy who is seeking the ruin of your souls. (Matthew 16:23; Lamentations 3:25)

19. Study much these great Gospel lessons of denying yourselves , and exalting God's free grace . (Matthew 16:24; 1 Corinthians 1:31)

20. Draw all your strength for work and warfare from Christ, and present all your duties to God in Christ's name. (Isaiah 45:24; Colossians 3:17)

21. In all the actions of your life, set the Lord always before you. (Psalm 16:8; 25:15)

22. Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17)

23. Spend as much time as possible in secret prayer and converse with God. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

24. Make conscience of family religion , as well as of closet duties. (Joshua 24:15)

25. Begin and end every day with God. (Psalm 4:8; Psalm 5:3)

26. Seeing none knows what a day may bring forth, spend every day as if it were to be your last . (Proverbs 27:1)

27. Sojourn in this world as pilgrims, keeping so loose from the world as to be able to pack up and be gone from it upon short warning. (1 Peter 1:17; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

28. Walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:12; Philippians 3:14)

29. Improve the talents God gives you for His service and glory. (Luke 19:13)

30. Let all believers be thankful to God for His distinguishing favors and mercies to them. (Psalm 116:8, 12)

31. Since God distinguishes you from others, in His mercies to you—see that you distinguish yourselves from others, in your service to Him. (Matthew 5:47)

32. Be not content with a fair profession of religion, or with a form of godliness, and a name to live among men. (Titus 1:16)

33. Always keep a watch upon the door of your lips . (Psalm 141:3)

34. Walk cheerfully and contentedly in every condition. (Philippians 4:11)

35. Keep always the first and second table of the law joined together and make conscience of both. (Matthew 22:37-39)

36. Carefully guard against apostasy and backsliding from God and His ways. (Hebrews 10:38-39)

37. Be watchful against all sin, and particularly against your ensnaring sin, or your darling—the sin that most easily besets you. (Psalm 18:23; Hebrews 12:1)

38. Be heartily concerned for the coming and enlarging of Christ's kingdom in the world. (Matthew 6:10; Psalm 72:19)

39. Be busy laying up a stock for a sickbed or deathbed, when all the comforts of life shall be tasteless to you. (1 Timothy 6:19)

40. Be looking and longing for the eternal marriage supper of the Lord. (Philippians 1:23; Revelation 19:9)