Charles Bridges Quotes on God's Word, Wisdom, Ministry and Prayer
Charles Bridges was a country vicar in England who wrote for pastors and for ordinary believers. He didn't write in slogans. His sentences are careful and warm, and every so often one of them sums up a whole page. These are those sentences.
Every quotation below is copied exactly from his books in TheWay Library, with the book and chapter it comes from, so you can read each one in its setting. Bridges often quotes older writers in his own pages, and those lines are left out here: everything below is his own. For his life story, see who was Charles Bridges. For a guide to all six books, see Charles Bridges books.
On God and His Word
Psalm 119 was the first book Bridges wrote about, and his love for the Bible runs through everything he wrote after it.
The exchange of the world for God, and of the service of sin for the ways of heaven, leaves no room for regret in life, in death, or in eternity.
Exposition of Psalm CXIX, Verses 57–64
But a portion implies not a source of ordinary pleasure, but of rest and satisfaction, such as leaves nothing else to be desired.
Exposition of Psalm CXIX, Verses 57–64
The largest supply of Christian ordinances will fail to refresh us, except the heart be kept right with God in simplicity of faith, love, and diligence in the service of Christ.
Exposition of Psalm CXIX, Verses 41–48
So graciously has our God made his book, not only our guide to heaven, but the directory of our common life.
An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs, Proverbs 6
If our Bible is degraded to a common-place book, we shall lose the keen appetite for its contents.
An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes 10
On sin and the heart
Bridges took sin seriously because he took the heart seriously. He knew that the trouble starts inside.
The two services are at variance at every point; so that the love of sin must be cast out, where the love of God is ingrafted in the heart.
Exposition of Psalm CXIX, Verses 97–104
To have a soul cleaving to the dust, and not to feel the trouble, is the black mark of a sinner, dead in sins — dead to God.
Exposition of Psalm CXIX, Verses 25–32
The natural bias of the heart is to sin, and consequently to infidelity, the excuse and covering for sin.
A Memoir of Miss Mary Jane Graham, Her Relapse into Infidelity
What he wishes is one thing; what he really needs is another.
An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes 2
On grace and the gospel
For all his searching of the heart, Bridges always came back to the free grace of God in Christ.
Here, sinner, is thy warrant — not thy worthiness, but thy need, and the invitation of thy Lord.
An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs, Proverbs 9
The Master's heart flows along with every offer of his grace.
An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs, Proverbs 9
His commands do not imply our power to obey, but our dependence upon him for the grace of obedience.
An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs, Proverbs 16
For the Father is never weary of delighting in his dear Son, or in those who are one with him.
Exposition of Psalm CXIX, Verses 169–176
Our Great Pattern not only gave his tears but his blood, for the misery of man.
An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes 4
On wisdom and the Christian life
His books on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are full of plain sense for everyday living.
Earthly wisdom is gained by study; heavenly wisdom by prayer.
An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs, Proverbs 2
Study may form a Biblical scholar; prayer puts the heart under a heavenly pupilage, and therefore forms the wise and spiritual Christian.
An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs, Proverbs 2
Wisdom is proved, not by the quantum of knowledge, but by its right application.
An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs, Proverbs 15
The child of God has only one dread, to offend his Father; only one desire — to please and delight in him.
An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs, Proverbs 9
Poverty is never a disgrace, except when it is the fruit of ill-conduct.
An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs, Proverbs 19
He is gloomy, not because he has too much religion, but too little.
An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes 9
On trials and the cross
Bridges was honest that the Christian life has its crosses, and that this world is not our home.
Many desire conformity to Christ and his people in everything but in their cross.
Exposition of Psalm CXIX, Verses 105–112
How manifestly is this world, not our rest, but our exercise for rest!
Exposition of Psalm CXIX, Verses 153–160
Bless him for his past mercy, even if thou shouldest never taste it again.
Exposition of Psalm CXIX, Verses 121–128
On the ministry and preaching
The Christian Ministry is still read by pastors because Bridges is so direct about their temptations.
Our work is not to make or to improve the Gospel; but simply and fully to preach it.
The Christian Ministry, The Spirit of Scriptural Preaching
But the question is not, how our people may be pleased; but how they may be warned, instructed, and saved.
The Christian Ministry, The Spirit of Scriptural Preaching
Are we never satisfied with being the instruments of grace, without being habitually the subjects of it?
The Christian Ministry, Absence or Defect of Personal Religion
Human nature can never be raised to distinction without being tempted to vanity.
The Christian Ministry, The Influence of Spiritual Pride
But let it be remembered, that God never honours a compromising spirit.
The Christian Ministry, Conformity to the World
Difficulties heaped upon difficulties can never rise to the level of the promise of God.
The Christian Ministry, Want of Faith
The brazen serpent must be lifted up before him — not because he believes: but because he needs and that he may believe.
The Christian Ministry, The Scriptural Preaching of the Gospel
Teachers must be constant learners…
The Christian Ministry, The Nature and Importance of the Pastoral Work
On family prayer
Bridges' short essay on family worship has some of his most quoted lines.
For as personal religion cannot exist or be sustained without personal prayer; so neither can we identify family religion without family prayer…
An Essay on Family Prayer, An Essay on Family Prayer
Just as the twisted rope is stronger than the single cords which compose it; so we may conceive the united prayer of the household to be of stronger efficacy than the individual supplications of the several members…
An Essay on Family Prayer, An Essay on Family Prayer
A rich table in a godless house feeds the body; but the soul is left to starve in utter destitution.
An Essay on Family Prayer, An Essay on Family Prayer
If the eye be asleep, the soul cannot be fully awake.
An Essay on Family Prayer, An Essay on Family Prayer
Where to read more Bridges
If you want to read one book of his first, try his Exposition of Psalm CXIX, a stanza at a time. If you're in ministry, read The Christian Ministry slowly, especially Part III on the minister's own heart. All his books are on the Charles Bridges author page. For more on praying together at home, see our list of the best Christian books on prayer.