Part 67

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.--LUKE ix. 23.

There lies thy cross; beneath it meekly bow; It fits thy stature now; Who scornful pass it with averted eye, 'Twill crush them by and by.

J. KEBLE.

To take up the cross of Christ is no great action done once for all; it consists in the continual practice of small duties which are distasteful to us.

J. H. NEWMAN.

On one occasion an intimate friend of his was fretting somewhat at not being able to put a cross on the grave of a relation, because the rest of the family disliked it. "Don't you see," he said to her, "that by giving up your own way, you will be virtually putting a cross on the grave? You 'll have it in its effect. The one is but a stone cross, the other is a true spiritual cross."

LIFE OF JAMES HINTON.

I would have you, one by one, ask yourselves, Wherein do I take up the cross daily?

E. B. PUSEY.

Every morning, receive thine own special cross from the hands of thy heavenly Father.

L. SCUPOLI.

September 7

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.--JAMES i. 27.

Not to ease and aimless quiet Doth that inward answer tend, But to works of love and duty As our being's end.

J. G. WHITTIER.

It is surprising how practical duty enriches the fancy and the heart, and action clears and deepens the affections. Indeed, no one can have a true idea of right, until he does it; any genuine reverence for it, till he has done it often and with cost; any peace ineffable in it, till he does it always and with alacrity. Does any one complain, that the best affections are transient visitors with him, and the heavenly spirit a stranger to his heart? Oh, let him not go forth, on any strained wing of thought, in distant quest of them; but rather stay at home, and set his house in the true order of conscience; and of their own accord the divinest guests will enter.

J. MARTINEAU.

September 8

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.--COL. iv. 2.

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.--I COR. xvi. 13.

We kneel how weak, we rise how full of power. Why therefore should we do ourselves this wrong, Or others--that we are not always strong, That we are ever overborne with care, That we should ever weak or heartless be, Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer, And joy and strength and courage are with Thee?

R. C. TRENCH.

It is impossible for us to make the duties of our lot minister to our sanctification without a habit of devout fellowship with God. This is the spring of all our life, and the strength of it. It is prayer, meditation, and converse with God, that refreshes, restores, and renews the temper of our minds, at all times, under all trials, after all conflicts with the world. By this contact with the world unseen we receive continual accesses of strength. As our day, so is our strength. Without this healing and refreshing of spirit, duties grow to be burdens, the events of life chafe our temper, employments lower the tone of our minds, and we become fretful, irritable, and impatient.

H. E. MANNING.

September 9

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.--TITUS iii. 8.

Faith's meanest deed more favor bears Where hearts and wills are weighed, Than brightest transports, choicest prayers, Which bloom their hour and fade.

J. H. NEWMAN.