DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0253
a Devout and Holy Life. 251
affected with an holy awe and veneration of his presence! But
if we consider everything as God's doing, either by order or per-
mission, we shall then be affected with common things, as they
would be who saw a miracle.
For as there is nothing to affect you in a miracle, but as it is
the action of God, and bespeaks his presence ; so when you con-
sider God, as acting in all things, and all events, then all things
will become venerable to you, like miracles, and fill you with the
same awful sentiments of the divine presence.
Now you must not reserve the exercise of this pious temper,
to any particular times or occasions, or fancy how resigned you
will be to God, if such or such trials should happen. For this
is amusing yourself with the notion or idea of resignation, instead
of the virtue itself.
Do not therefore please yourself with thinking, how piously
you would act and submit to God in a plague, a famine, or per-
secution, but be intent upon the perfection of the present day;
and be assured, that the best way of showing a true zeal, is to
make little things the occasion of great piety:
Begin therefore in the smallest matters, and most ordinary
occasions, and accustom your mind to the daily exercise of this
pious temper, in the lowest occurrences of life. And when a
contempt, an affront, a little injury, loss, or disappointment, or the
smallest events of every day, continually raise your mind to God
in proper acts of resignation, then you may justly hope, that you
shall be numbered amongst those that are resigned and thankful
to God in the greatest trials and afflictions.
Chapter XXIII.
Of Evening prayer. Of the nature and
necessity of examination. How we are to
be particular in the confession of all our
sins. How we are to fill our minds with a
just horror and dread of all sin.
I AM now come to six o'clock in the evening, which, accord-
ing to the Scripture account, is called the twelfth, or last
hour of the day. This is a time so proper for Devotion,
that I suppose nothing need be said to recommend it, as
a season of prayer to all people that profess any regard
to piety.
affected with an holy awe and veneration of his presence! But
if we consider everything as God's doing, either by order or per-
mission, we shall then be affected with common things, as they
would be who saw a miracle.
For as there is nothing to affect you in a miracle, but as it is
the action of God, and bespeaks his presence ; so when you con-
sider God, as acting in all things, and all events, then all things
will become venerable to you, like miracles, and fill you with the
same awful sentiments of the divine presence.
Now you must not reserve the exercise of this pious temper,
to any particular times or occasions, or fancy how resigned you
will be to God, if such or such trials should happen. For this
is amusing yourself with the notion or idea of resignation, instead
of the virtue itself.
Do not therefore please yourself with thinking, how piously
you would act and submit to God in a plague, a famine, or per-
secution, but be intent upon the perfection of the present day;
and be assured, that the best way of showing a true zeal, is to
make little things the occasion of great piety:
Begin therefore in the smallest matters, and most ordinary
occasions, and accustom your mind to the daily exercise of this
pious temper, in the lowest occurrences of life. And when a
contempt, an affront, a little injury, loss, or disappointment, or the
smallest events of every day, continually raise your mind to God
in proper acts of resignation, then you may justly hope, that you
shall be numbered amongst those that are resigned and thankful
to God in the greatest trials and afflictions.
Chapter XXIII.
Of Evening prayer. Of the nature and
necessity of examination. How we are to
be particular in the confession of all our
sins. How we are to fill our minds with a
just horror and dread of all sin.
I AM now come to six o'clock in the evening, which, accord-
ing to the Scripture account, is called the twelfth, or last
hour of the day. This is a time so proper for Devotion,
that I suppose nothing need be said to recommend it, as
a season of prayer to all people that profess any regard
to piety.