November 7th. Every man's character remains as it is, or continues in the
direction in which it is going, until it is compelled by IMPRESSED FORCES
to change that state. Our failure has been the failure to put ourselves
in the way of the impressed forces. There is a clay, and there is a
Potter; we have tried to get the clay to mould the clay. The Changed
Life, p. 21.
November 8th. Character is a unity, and all the virtues must advance
together to make the perfect man. This method of sanctification,
nevertheless, is in the true direction. It is only in the details of
execution that it fails. The Changed Life, p. 14.
November 9th. We all reflecting as a mirror the character of Christ are
transformed into the same Image from character to character--from a poor
character to a better one, from a better one to one a little better
still, from that to one still more complete, until by slow degrees the
Perfect Image is attained. Here the solution of the problem of
sanctification is compressed into a sentence: Reflect the character of
Christ, and you will become like Christ. The Changed Life, p. 24.
November 10th. There are some men and some women in whose company we are
always at our best. While with them we cannot think mean thoughts or
speak ungenerous words. Their mere presence is elevation, purification,
sanctity. All the best stops in our nature are drawn out by their
intercourse, and we find a music in our souls that was never there
before. The Changed Life, p. 33.
November 11th. Take such a sentence as this: African explorers are
subject to fevers which cause restlessness and delirium. Note the
expression, "cause restlessness." RESTLESSNESS HAS A CAUSE. Clearly,
then, any one who wished to get rid of restlessness would proceed at once
to deal with the cause. Pax Vobiscum, p. 20.
November 12th. What Christian experience wants is THREAD, a vertebral
column, method. It is impossible to believe that there is no remedy for
its unevenness and dishevelment, or that the remedy is a secret. The
idea, also, that some few men, by happy chance or happier temperament,
have been given the secret--as if there were some sort of knack or trick
of it--is wholly incredible. Religion must ripen fruit for every
temperament; and the way even into its highest heights must be by a
gateway through which the peoples of the world may pass. Pax Vobiscum, p.
15.
November 13th. Nothing that happens in the world happens by chance. God
is a God of order. Everything is arranged upon definite principles, and
never at random. The world, even the religious world, is governed by law.
Character is governed by law. Happiness is governed by law. The Christian
experiences are governed by law. Pax Vobiscum, p. 17.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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