William Jay Quotes on Prayer, Contentment, Marriage and Grace

Devotional Prayer Christian Life

William Jay preached at Argyle Chapel in Bath, England, for more than sixty years, and he had a gift for the short, memorable sentence. His readers in the 1800s copied his lines into their notebooks, and his Morning Exercises for the Closet is still read for them today.

Every quotation below is copied exactly from his books in TheWay Library, with the book and the day or chapter it comes from, so you can read each line in its setting. For his life story, see who was William Jay. For a guide to his books, see William Jay books.

On prayer and the home

Jay cared about the family more than most preachers of his day. He wrote a whole book of prayers for households, and he came back again and again to prayer at home.

A family without prayer is like a house without a roof.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, January 1

It is good to begin the day early with God; and whatever lies before us, to seek first his favor and assistance.
Lectures on Female Scripture Characters, Lecture VI: Hannah, Part I

There are persons who pray spiritually with a form; and there are persons that pray very formally without a form.
The Autobiography of the Rev. William Jay, Letter XI

We know not what a day may bring forth; but we encourage ourselves in the Lord our God, and go forward.
Prayers for the Use of Families, First Morning of the New Year

On belonging to God

You will never be truly your own till you are his.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, January 1

The best way to know this grace is by tasting it.
The Autobiography of the Rev. William Jay, Letter V

God does not believe and repent, but enables us to believe and repent.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, September 11

Restraint from evil is a mercy, as well as sanctification and good works.
The Autobiography of the Rev. William Jay, Letter III

On contentment

Jay preached in a wealthy spa town, to people who often had more than they needed and still weren't at rest. He spoke to them often about contentment.

If we are not content with such things as we have, we shall never be satisfied with such things as we desire.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, February 2

Felicity depends not upon external condition, but the state of the mind. Paul was happy in prison; Nero was miserable in a palace.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, February 2

There is scarcely any condition so low but may satisfy our wants; and there is none so high as to satisfy our desires.
Lectures on Female Scripture Characters, Lecture I: The Shunamite, Part I

Endeavor to reduce your wishes, rather than to enlarge your means.
Lectures on Female Scripture Characters, Lecture I: The Shunamite, Part I

A bed is desirable, but who sleeps the sounder for having the posts gilt?
Lectures on Female Scripture Characters, Lecture I: The Shunamite, Part I

There are thorns in the nest that pierce through the down that lines it, known and felt only by the occupier.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, February 2

On trusting God

We must always distinguish between what is pleasing and what is profitable.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, January 2

The Lord does not always give his people a giant's arm, or an iron sinew; but his strength is made perfect in weakness.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, January 4

We turn from the Rock of ages, and lean on the broken reed.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, March 3

His presence is a substitute for any creature; it can more than repair every loss.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, September 21

Character is not only displayed by trials, but it very much results from them.
Lectures on Female Scripture Characters, Lecture VI: Hannah, Part I

On sin and growth in grace

Jay was honest about the struggle with sin in a Christian's heart, and hopeful about growth.

The more he advances in the divine life, the more he sinks in his own estimation.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, January 5

We may feel what we utter at the time, but emotions are not principles, impulses are not dispositions.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, February 1

Spiritual principles may be weak, but if they are divine, they will evince it by a tendency to growth.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, February 20

Perhaps our greatest perfection here is not to escape imperfections, but to see and acknowledge, and lament, and correct them.
Lectures on Female Scripture Characters, Lecture VI: Hannah, Part I

Men think lightly of sin, but an awakened conscience feels it a burden too heavy to bear.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, April 1

On Christ

In his penury he always displayed his riches; in his deepest abasement he emitted some rays of his glory.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, April 3

We can dispense with the channels when we are at the fountainhead, and with the types when we have the reality.
Morning Exercises for the Closet, January 3

On marriage

His Thoughts on Marriage is direct and practical. He held that faith in Christ comes first in choosing a husband or wife, and that love keeps a marriage alive.

Religion is indeed essential, but is not, abstracted from all other considerations, sufficient to justify choice.
Thoughts on Marriage, Chapter VII

Much depends on the cultivation of the mind; more on the regulation of the temper.
Thoughts on Marriage, The Mutual Duties of Husbands and Wives

Nothing can atone for the want of confidence in the marriage state.
Lectures on Female Scripture Characters, Lecture I: The Shunamite, Part I

If love be withdrawn, wedded life is confinement, misery, hell.
Thoughts on Marriage, The Wife's Advocate

On preaching

Last, a few lines from his autobiography on the work he gave his life to.

If it be a good one it need not be long; and if it be a bad one it ought not to be long.
The Autobiography of the Rev. William Jay, Letter XV

Their sermons have had theology enough in them, and were well methodized; but there was little in them to rend or to melt.
The Autobiography of the Rev. William Jay, Letter XV

Had the ark been built by a committee, it would never have been finished.
The Autobiography of the Rev. William Jay, Letter XV

Where to read more Jay

Most of these lines come from Morning Exercises for the Closet, and that's the best place to start: one short reading for every morning of the year. If you'd like his own story, with his memories of John Newton, Wilberforce and Hannah More, read The Autobiography of the Rev. William Jay. All five of his books are on the William Jay author page.