DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0209
a Devout and Holy Life. 207
Now if this is the spirit of Christianity; if it requires us to
abstain from things thus lawful, innocent, and useful, when there
is any danger of betraying our weak brethren into any error
thereby: Surely it cannot be reckoned too nice ox needless a point
of conscience, for women to avoid such things, as are neither in-
nocent nor useful, but naturally tend to corrupt their own hearts,
and raise ill passions in other people.
Surely every woman of Christian piety ought to say, in the
spirit of the Apostle, if patching and paint, or any vain adorning
of my person, be a natural means of making weak, unwary eyes
to offend, I will renounce all these arts as long as I live, lest I
should make my fellow-creatures to offend.
I shall now leave this subject of humility; having said enough,
as I hope, to recommend the necessity of making it the constant,
chief subject of your devotion, at this hour of prayer.
I have considered the nature and necessity of humility, and its
great importance to a religious life. I have shown you how
many difficulties are formed against it from our natural tempers,
the spirit of the world, and the common education of both sexes.
These considerations will, I hope, instruct you how to form
your prayers for it to the best advantage; and teach you the
necessity of letting no day pass, without a serious, earnest appli-
cation to God, for the whole spirit of humility. Fervently be-
seeching him to fill every part of your soul with it, to make it
the ruling, constant habit of your mind, that you may not only
feel it, but feel all your other tempers arising from it ; that you
may have no thoughts, no desires, no designs, but such as are
the true fruits of an humble, meek, and lowly heart.
That you may always appear poor, and little, and mean in
your own eyes, and fully content that others should have the
same opinion of you.
That the whole course of your life, your expense, your house,
your dress, your manner of eating, drinking, conversing, and doing
everything, may be so many continual proofs of the true, un-
feigned humility of your heart.
That you may look for nothing, claim nothing, resent nothing;
that you may go through all the actions and accidents of life,
calmly and quietly, as in the presence of God, looking wholly
unto him, acting wholly for him ; neither seeking vain applause,
nor resenting neglects, Or affronts, but doing and receiving every-
thing in the meek and lowly spirit of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ.
Now if this is the spirit of Christianity; if it requires us to
abstain from things thus lawful, innocent, and useful, when there
is any danger of betraying our weak brethren into any error
thereby: Surely it cannot be reckoned too nice ox needless a point
of conscience, for women to avoid such things, as are neither in-
nocent nor useful, but naturally tend to corrupt their own hearts,
and raise ill passions in other people.
Surely every woman of Christian piety ought to say, in the
spirit of the Apostle, if patching and paint, or any vain adorning
of my person, be a natural means of making weak, unwary eyes
to offend, I will renounce all these arts as long as I live, lest I
should make my fellow-creatures to offend.
I shall now leave this subject of humility; having said enough,
as I hope, to recommend the necessity of making it the constant,
chief subject of your devotion, at this hour of prayer.
I have considered the nature and necessity of humility, and its
great importance to a religious life. I have shown you how
many difficulties are formed against it from our natural tempers,
the spirit of the world, and the common education of both sexes.
These considerations will, I hope, instruct you how to form
your prayers for it to the best advantage; and teach you the
necessity of letting no day pass, without a serious, earnest appli-
cation to God, for the whole spirit of humility. Fervently be-
seeching him to fill every part of your soul with it, to make it
the ruling, constant habit of your mind, that you may not only
feel it, but feel all your other tempers arising from it ; that you
may have no thoughts, no desires, no designs, but such as are
the true fruits of an humble, meek, and lowly heart.
That you may always appear poor, and little, and mean in
your own eyes, and fully content that others should have the
same opinion of you.
That the whole course of your life, your expense, your house,
your dress, your manner of eating, drinking, conversing, and doing
everything, may be so many continual proofs of the true, un-
feigned humility of your heart.
That you may look for nothing, claim nothing, resent nothing;
that you may go through all the actions and accidents of life,
calmly and quietly, as in the presence of God, looking wholly
unto him, acting wholly for him ; neither seeking vain applause,
nor resenting neglects, Or affronts, but doing and receiving every-
thing in the meek and lowly spirit of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ.