Albert Barnes was an influential American theologian, clergyman, abolitionist, author and temperance advocate.
Notably, Barnes is celebrated for his comprehensive Bible commentary on both the Old and New Testaments, spanning 14 volumes in the 1830s.
Born in Rome, New York, he studied at Hamilton College and Princeton Theological Seminary.
Ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1825, Barnes served churches in New Jersey and Philadelphia.
During the Presbyterian Church’s Old School-New School Controversy, Barnes sided with the New School, facing a heresy trial in 1836 due to his views on original sin.
His expository works gained vast popularity both in America and Europe, particularly his Notes on the New Testament.
A staunch abolitionist, Barnes penned works condemning slavery, even being quoted by Frederick Douglass.
He led the Pennsylvania Bible Society and was recognized as Pastor Emeritus before his death in 1870.
Below you will find the best quotes by Albert Barnes.
Best Albert Barnes Quotes
Such was God’s original love for man that He was willing to stoop to any sacrifice to save him; and the gift of a Savior was the mere expression of that love. ~ Albert Barnes.
There is nothing more foolish than an act of wickedness; there is no wisdom equal to that of obeying God. ~ Albert Barnes.
Praise now is one of the great duties of the redeemed. It will be their employment for ever. ~ Albert Barnes.
Life is great if properly viewed in any aspect; it is mainly great when viewed in connection with the world to come. ~ Albert Barnes.
It is, in a great measure, by rising up and endowing great minds that God secures the advance of human affairs, and the accomplishment of His own plans on earth. ~ Albert Barnes.
It does not require great learning to be a Christian and be convinced of the truth of the Bible. It requires only an honest heart and a willingness to obey God. ~ Albert Barnes.
We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning. ~ Albert Barnes.
A ‘disorderly walk’ denotes conduct that is in any way contrary to the rules of Christ. The word would include any violation of the rules of Christ. ~ Albert Barnes.
Think amid your plans and anticipations of future gaiety what the redemption of your soul has cost, and how the dying Savior would wish you to act. His wounds plead that you will live for better things. ~ Albert Barnes.
There is no piety in the world which is not the result of cultivation, and which cannot be increased by the degree of care and attention bestowed upon it. ~ Albert Barnes.
When life has been well spent; when there is a conscience without reproach; when there is faith in the Savior; when there is a well-founded hope of heaven, there can be nothing that should disquiet us. ~ Albert Barnes.
God calls you – alike by Scripture, by your reason, by your conscience, by the events of His providence, by heavenly influences – to consecrate all you have to His service and the good of man; Heaven appeals to you, and the world appeals to you, not to live in vain. ~ Albert Barnes.
Top Albert Barnes Quotes
It has become a settled principle that nothing which is good and true can be destroyed by persecution, but that the effect ultimately is to establish more firmly, and to spread more widely, that which it was designed to overthrow. It has long since passed into a proverb that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”. ~ Albert Barnes.
It is not the profession of religion which creates the obligation for the performance of duty; for that existed before any such profession was made. The profession of religion only recognizes the obligation. ~ Albert Barnes.
As no one can adventure nearer the throne of God by virtue of his rank, his wealth, or his talent, so no one is kept farther from that throne by his low condition, or by his poverty of wealth, of learning, or of intellect. The prince and the sage are not more welcome to heaven than the poor and ignorant. ~ Albert Barnes.
Many a barren church owes its present sad estate to its inconsistent behavior, and many a barren Christian has come into this mournful condition by a careless, unsanctified walk before the Lord. Let not saints who are now useful run the risk of enduring the loss of their mercies, but let them be watchful that all things may go well with them. ~ Albert Barnes.
Famous Albert Barnes Quotes
The idea of preaching the gospel to all nations alike, regardless of nationality, of internal divisions as to rank and color, complexion and religion, constituted the beginning of a new era in history. You cannot preach the gospel in its purity over the world, without proclaiming the doctrine of civil and religious liberty, – without overthrowing the barriers reared between nations and clans and classes of men, – without ultimately undermining the thrones of despots, and breaking off the shackles of slavery, – without making men everywhere free. ~ Albert Barnes.
Whatever be the topic of conversation, the spirit of piety should be diffused through it – as the salt in our food should properly season it all, whatever the article of food may be. ~ Albert Barnes.
The Psalms are selected by the Christian from the whole Bible, as they were by the Jew from the books in his possession – the Old Testament … nor will there ever be in the world such an advance in religious light, experience, and knowledge, that they will lose their relative place as connected with the exercises of practical piety. ~ Albert Barnes.
Our earthly possessions will indeed perish in the final wreck of all things; but let the ship perish, let all we have sink in the deep, if we may come “safe to land.” From these storms and billows – these dangerous seas – these tempestuous voyages – may we all be brought at last safe to heaven. ~ Albert Barnes.
Christians should be grave and serious, though cheerful and pleasant. They should feel that they have great interests at stake, and that the world has too. They are redeemed – not to make sport; purchased with precious blood – for other purposes than to make men laugh. They are soon to be in heaven – and a man who has any impressive sense of that will habitually feel he has much else to do than to make men laugh. The true course of life is midway between moroseness and levity; sourness and lightness; harshness and jesting. Be benevolent, kind, cheerful, bland, courteous – but serious. Be solemn, thoughtful, deeply impressed with the presence of God and with eternal things – but pleasant affable and benignant. Think not a smile sinful; but think not levity and jesting harmless. ~ Albert Barnes.
In our manner of speech, our plans of living, our dealings with others, our conduct and walk in the church and out of it – all should be done as becomes the gospel. ~ Albert Barnes.
The Bible, as a revelation from God, was not designed to give us all the information we might desire, nor to solve all the questions about which the human soul is perplexed, but to impart enough to be a safe guide to the haven of eternal rest. ~ Albert Barnes.
Who has ever told the evils and the curses and the crimes of war? Who can describe the horrors of the carnage of battle? Who can portray the fiendish passions which reign there! If there is anything in which earth, more than any other, resembles hell, it is its wars. ~ Albert Barnes.
While we seek to fill up life in a way that will best secure the ends of our existence here, our whole plan and course of action should be such as will not hinder but serve our preparation for a future world. ~ Albert Barnes.
One of the best maxims in determining our course in life is, to select, at the outset, that in which virtue and principle will be least likely to be put to a test, and in which, from the nature of the calling, a man may bring around him such associations and influences as will be an auxiliary in keeping him in the path of virtue. ~ Albert Barnes.
So these were the 27 top Albert Barnes quotes and sayings.
If you like these quotes and sayings, then you can also read my other posts on Alan Redpath quotes and Karl Barth quotes.
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