April 23
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeTuesday after Third Sunday in Lent
For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness. Ephesians 5:9.
LOVING and rejoicing in all the good thou seest in others; desiring and seeking after all the good thou canst attain unto thyself; and being more pleased with the society of godly persons than any other, such as will put thee, and keep thee, most in mind of thy home and the way thither. The most advanced and elevated forms of human character are those in which love and suffering meet and intermingle—love forming in spring of life and determining its actings; suffering imparting to love its chastening, its depth of tenderness and refinement. Such characters live longest enshrined in the affections and reverence of mankind. Such meeting us in our path, leave the most powerful spell on our minds and hearts. No greatness wins or enthrals us unless love predominate in it. No love ever yet attained true greatness without the sharpness of inward trial and pain. No opposition will drive thee from the truth of God and His ways, which are only good, if thy heart be once glued by love and fastened to them. Yea, thou wilt cleave the closer to it the more thou art persecuted for the truth; and the more thou sufferest for it, wilt love it the better. The word that is used in marriage of the husband cleaving to the wife, holds true in the soul once married to that which is good; all violence will be too weak to sever thee. Learn to know what this is that is truly good to know, the excellency and sweetness of holiness, and it will be impossible to part thy affection from it.
Go, labour on; spend, and be spent,
Thy joy to do the Father's will;
It is the way the Master went,
Should not the servant tread it still?