John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
2920 William Stoughton 1631-1701 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 2920 |
| AUTHOR: | William Stoughton (1631–1701) |
| QUOTATION: | God sifted a whole nation that he might send choice grain over into this wilderness. 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Election Sermon at Boston, April 29, 1669. |
| Note 1. God had sifted three kingdoms to find the wheat for this planting.—Henry W. Longfellow: Courtship of Miles Standish, iv. [back] |