Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 13
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Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 13
Literature -- Collections
Holiness, as I then wrote down some of my contemplations on it,
appeared to me to be of a sweet, pleasant, charming, serene, calm
nature, which brought an inexpressible purity, brightness,
peacefulness, and ravishment to the soul. In other words, that it made
the soul like a field or garden of God, with all manner of pleasant
flowers; enjoying a sweet calm and the gently vivifying beams of the
sun. The soul of a true Christian, as I then wrote my meditations,
appeared like such a little white flower as we see in the spring of
the year; low and humble on the ground, opening its bosom to receive
the pleasant beams of the sun's glory; rejoicing as it were in a calm
rapture; diffusing around a sweet fragrancy; standing peacefully and
lovingly in the midst of other flowers round about; all in like manner
opening their bosoms, to drink in the light of the sun. There was no
part of creature-holiness, that I had so great a sense of its
loveliness, as humility, brokenness of heart, and poverty of spirit;
and there was nothing that I so earnestly longed for. My heart panted
after this--to lie low before God, as in the dust; that I might be
nothing, and that God might be All; that I might become as a little
child.
RESOLUTIONS
"Resolved, Never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul
or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God;
nor be nor suffer it, if I can possibly avoid it."
"Resolved, To live with all my might while I do live."
"Resolved, When I think of any theorem in divinity to be
solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if
circumstances do not hinder."
"Resolved, To endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not
most agreeable to a good and universally sweet and
benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy,
compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and
obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even,
patient, moderate, forgiving and sincere temper; and to do at
all times what such a temper would lead me to; and to examine
strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have so done."
"On the supposition that there was never to be but one
individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a
complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having
Christianity always shining in its true lustre, and appearing
excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever
character viewed: Resolved, To act just as I would do, if I
strive with all my might to be that one, who should live in
my time."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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