Daily Strength for Daily Needs Part 14

E. B. PUSEY.

There is something very solemn in the thought that that part of our work which we have left undone may first be revealed to us at the end of a life filled up, as we had fondly hoped, with useful and necessary employments.

SARAH W. STEPHEN.

March 18

_Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compa.s.sion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous_.--I PETER iii. 8.

Make us of one heart and mind; Courteous, pitiful, and kind; Lowly, meek, in thought and word, Altogether like our Lord.

C. WESLEY.

A little thought will show you how vastly your own happiness depends on the way other people bear themselves toward you. The looks and tones at your breakfast-table, the conduct of your fellow-workers or employers, the faithful or unreliable men you deal with, what people say to you on the street, the way your cook and housemaid do their work, the letters you get, the friends or foes you meet,--these things make up very much of the pleasure or misery of your day. Turn the idea around, and remember that just so much are you adding to the pleasure or the misery of other people's days. And this is the half of the matter which you can control. Whether any particular day shall bring to you more of happiness or of suffering is largely beyond your power to determine. Whether each day of your life shall give happiness or suffering rests with yourself.

GEORGE S. MERRIAM.

March 19

_Showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of G.o.d our Saviour in all things_.--t.i.tUS ii. 10.

If on our daily course our mind Be set to hallow all we find, New treasures still, of countless price, G.o.d will provide for sacrifice.

J. KEBLE

If content and thankfulness, if the patient bearing of evil, be duties to G.o.d, they are the duties of every day, and in every circ.u.mstance of our life. If we are to follow Christ, it must be in our common way of spending every day.

WM. LAW.

He who is faithful over a few things is a lord of cities. It does not matter whether you preach in Westminster Abbey, or teach a ragged cla.s.s, so you be faithful. The faithfulness is all.

G. MACDONALD.

I would have you invoke G.o.d often through the day, asking Him to kindle a love for your vocation within you, and saying with St. Paul, "'Lord, what wouldst Thou have me to do?' Wouldst Thou have me serve Thee in the lowest ministries of Thy house? too happy if I may but serve Thee anyhow." And when any special thing is repugnant to you, ask "Wouldst Thou have me do it? Then, unworthy though I be, I will do it gladly."

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES.

March 20

_Thou shalt wors.h.i.+p the Lord thy G.o.d, and Him only shalt thou serve_.--MATT. iv. 10.

_Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart_.--PS. cxix. 2.

The comfort of a mind at rest From every care Thou hast not blest; A heart from all the world set free, To wors.h.i.+p and to wait on Thee.

A. L. WARING.

Resign every forbidden joy; restrain every wish that is not referred to His will; banish all eager desires, all anxiety. Desire only the will of G.o.d; seek Him alone, and you will find peace.

FRANcOIS DE LA MOTHE FeNELON.

"I've been a great deal happier since I have given up thinking about what is easy and pleasant, and being discontented because I couldn't have my own will. Our life is determined for us; and it makes the mind very free when we give up wis.h.i.+ng, and only think of bearing what is laid upon us, and doing what is given us to do."

GEORGE ELIOT.

March 21

_Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things_.--MATT. vi. 32.

All as G.o.d wills, who wisely heeds To give or to withhold; And knoweth more of all my needs Than all my prayers have told.

J. G. WHITTIER.

Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee; Thou only knowest what I need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. O Father! give to Thy child that which he himself knows not how to ask. I dare not ask either for crosses or consolations; I simply present myself before Thee; I open my heart to Thee. Behold my needs which I know not myself; see, and do according to Thy tender mercy. Smite, or heal; depress me, or raise me up; I adore all Thy purposes without knowing them; I am silent; I offer myself in sacrifice; I yield myself to Thee; I would have no other desire than to accomplish Thy will. Teach me to pray; pray Thyself in me.

FRANcOIS DE LA MOTHE FeNELON.

March 22

_He that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little_.--ECCLESIASTICUS xix. I.

One finger's-breadth at hand will mar A world of light in heaven afar, A mote eclipse a glorious star, An eyelid hide the sky.

J. KEBLE.

A single sin, however apparently trifling, however hidden in some obscure corner of our consciousness,--a sin _which we do not intend to renounce_,--is enough to render real prayer impracticable. A course of action not wholly upright and honorable, feelings not entirely kind and loving, habits not spotlessly chaste and temperate,--any of these are impa.s.sable obstacles. If we know of a kind act which we might, but do not intend to, perform,--if we be aware that our moral health requires the abandonment of some pleasure which yet we do not intend to abandon, here is cause enough for the loss of all spiritual power.

F. P. COBBE.

It is astonis.h.i.+ng how soon the whole conscience begins to unravel, if a single st.i.tch drops; one little sin indulged makes a hole you could put your head through.

CHARLES BUXTON.