Daily Strength for Daily Needs, Mary W. Tileston [good book recommendations .TXT] 📗

which is as a sea casting out mire and dirt, rage against thee? There is a river, a sweet, still, flowing river, the streams whereof will make glad thy heart. And, learn but in quietness and stillness to retire to the Lord, and wait upon Him; in whom thou shall feel peace and joy, in the midst of thy trouble from the cruel and vexatious spirit of this world. So, wait to know thy work and service to the Lord every day, in thy place and station; and the Lord make thee faithful therein, and thou wilt want neither help, support, nor comfort.

I. PENINGTON.

November 16

_Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee_.--ISA. xxvi. 3.

What comforts, Lord, to those are given, Who seek in Thee their home and rest! They find on earth an opening heaven, And in Thy peace are amply blest.

W. C. DESSLER.

God is a tranquil Being, and abides in a tranquil eternity. So must thy spirit become a tranquil and clear little pool, wherein the serene light of God can be mirrored. Therefore shun all that is disquieting and distracting, both within and without. Nothing in the whole world is worth the loss of thy peace; even the faults which thou hast committed should only humble, but not disquiet thee. God is full of joy, peace, and happiness. Endeavor then to obtain a continually joyful and peaceful spirit. Avoid all anxious care, vexation, murmuring, and melancholy, which darken thy soul, and render thee unfit for the friendship of God. If thou dost perceive such feelings arising, turn gently away from them.

G. TERSTEEGEN.

November 17

_Every day will I bless Thee; and I will praise Thy name for ever and ever_.--PS. cxlv. 2.

_Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established_.--PROV. xvi. 3.

Lord, I my vows to Thee renew; Disperse my sins as morning dew; Guard my first springs of thought and will, And with Thyself my spirit fill.

THOMAS KEN.

Morning by morning think, for a few moments, of the chief employments of the day, any one thing of greater moment than others, thine own especial trial, any occasions of it which are likely to come that day, and by one short strong act commend thyself beforehand in all to God; offer all thy thoughts, words, and deeds to Him--to be governed, guided, accepted by Him. Choose some great occasions of the day, such as bring with them most trial to thee, on which, above others, to commend thyself to God.

E. B. PUSEY.

Will you not, before venturing away from your early quiet hour, "commit thy works" to Him definitely, the special things you have to do to-day, and the unforeseen work which He may add in the course of it?

F. R. HAVERGAL.

November 18

_Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He bath given us of His Spirit_.--I JOHN iv. 13.

Within! within, oh turn Thy spirit's eyes, and learn Thy wandering senses gently to control; Thy dearest Friend dwells deep within thy soul, And asks thyself of thee, That heart, and mind, and sense, He may make whole In perfect harmony.

G. TERSTEEGEN.

Wait patiently, trust humbly, depend only upon, seek solely to a God of Light and Love, of Mercy and Goodness, of Glory and Majesty, ever dwelling in the inmost depth and spirit of your soul. There you have all the secret, hidden, invisible Upholder of all the creation, whose blessed operation will always be found by a humble, faithful, loving, calm, patient introversion of your heart to Him, who has His hidden heaven within you, and which will open itself to you, as soon as your heart is left wholly to His eternal, ever-speaking Word, and ever-sanctifying Spirit within you. Beware of all eagerness and activity of your own natural spirit and temper. Run not in any hasty ways of your own. Be patient under the sense of your own vanity and weakness; and patiently wait for God to do His own work, and in His own way.

WM. LAW.

November 19

_If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain_.--JAMES i. 26.

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue.--PS. xxxix. I.

No sinful word, nor deed of wrong, Nor thoughts that idly rove; But simple truth be on our tongue, And in our hearts be love.

ST. AMBROSE.

Let us all resolve,--First, to attain the grace of SILENCE; Second, to deem all FAULT-FINDING that does no good a SIN, and to resolve, when we are happy ourselves, not to poison the atmosphere for our neighbors by calling on them to remark every painful and disagreeable feature of their daily life; Third, to practise the grace and virtue of PRAISE.

HARRIET B. STOWE.

Surrounded by those who constantly exhibit defects of character and conduct, if we yield to a complaining and impatient spirit, we shall mar our own peace without having the satisfaction of benefiting others.

T. C. UPHAM.

November 20

_Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the--will of God, ye might receive the promise_.--HEB. x. 36.

Sweet Patience, come: Not from a low and earthly source,-- Waiting, till things shall have their course,-- Not as accepting present pain In hope of some hereafter gain,-- Not in a dull and sullen calm,-- But as a breath of heavenly balm, Bidding my weary heart submit To bear whatever God sees fit: Sweet Patience, come!

HYMNS OF THE CHURCH MILITANT.

Patience endues her scholars with content of mind, and evenness of temper, preventing all repining grumbling, and impatient desires, and inordinate affections; disappointments here are no crosses, and all anxious thoughts are disarmed of their sting; in her habitations dwell quietness, submission, and long-suffering, all fierce turbulent inclinations are hereby allayed. The eyes of the patient fixedly wait the inward power of God's providence, and they are thereby mightily enabled towards their salvation and preservation.

THOMAS TRYON.

November 21

_Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God_.--MATT. iv. 4.

_A man's life conisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth_.--LUKE xii. 15.

Whate'er God does is well, Whether He gives or takes! And what we from His hand receive Suffices us to live. He takes and gives, while yet He loves us still; Then love His will.

B. SCHMOLCK.

Is that beast better, that hath two or three mountains to graze on, than a little bee, that feeds on dew or manna, and lives upon what falls every morning from the storehouse of heaven, clouds, and providence?

JEREMY TAYLOR.

For myself I am certain that the good of human life cannot lie in the possession of things which for one man to possess is for the rest to lose, but rather in things which all can possess alike, and where one man's wealth promotes his neighbor's.

B. SPINOZA.

Every lot is happy to a person who bears it with tranquillity.

BOETHIUS.

November 22

Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of.--MATT. vi. 8.

_Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you_.--MATT. vi. 33.

Thy kingdom come, with power and grace, To every heart of man; Thy peace, and joy, and righteousness In all our bosoms reign.

C. WESLEY.

God bids us, then, by past mercies, by present grace, by fears of coming ill, by hopes in His goodness, earnestly, with our whole hearts, seek Him and His righteousness, and all these things, all ye need for soul and body, peace, comfort, joy, the overflowing of His consolations, shall be added over and above to you.

E. B. PUSEY.

Grant us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, always to seek Thy kingdom and righteousness, and of whatsoever Thou seest us to stand in need, mercifully grant us an abundant portion. Amen.

Be content to be a child, and let the Father proportion out daily to thee what light, what power, what exercises, what straits, what fears, what troubles He sees fit for thee.

I. PENINGTON.

November 23

_I have taught thee In the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths_.--PROV. iv. 11.

We know not what the path may be As yet by us untrod; But we can trust our all to Thee, Our Father and our God.

WM. J. IRONS.

We have very little command over the circumstances in which we may be called by God to bear our part--unlimited command over the temper of our souls, but next to no command over the outward forms of trial. The most energetic will cannot order the events by which our spirits are to be perilled and tested. Powers quite beyond our reach--death, accident, fortune, another's sin--may change in a moment all the conditions of our life. With to-morrow's sun existence may have new and awful aspects for any of us.

J. H. THOM.

Oh, my friend, look not out at what stands in the way; what if it look dreadfully as a lion, is not the Lord stronger than the mountains of prey? but look in, where the law of life is written, and the will of the Lord revealed, that thou mayest know what is the Lord's will concerning thee.

I. PENINGTON.

November 24

_Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord_.--PS. xxxi. 24.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.--JOHN xiv. 27.

In heavenly love abiding, No change my heart shall fear; And safe is such confiding, For nothing changes here.

A. L. WARING.

A true Christian, that hath power over his own will, may live nobly and happily, and enjoy a clear heaven within the serenity of his own mind perpetually. When the sea of this world is most rough and tempestuous about him, then can he ride safely at anchor within the haven, by a sweet compliance of his will with God's will. He can look about him, and with an even and indifferent mind behold the world either to smile or frown upon him; neither will he abate of the least of his contentment for all the ill and unkind usage he meets withal in this life. He that hath got the mastery over his own will feels no violence from without, finds no contests within; and when God calls for him out of this state of mortality, he finds in himself a power to lay down his own life; neither is it so much taken from him, as quietly and freely surrendered up by him.

DR. JOHN SMITH.

November 25

_And the Lord, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed_.--DEUT. xxxi. 8.

Know well, my soul, God's hand controls Whatever thou fearest; Round Him in calmest music rolls Whate'er thou hearest.

J. G. WHITTIER.

The lessons of the moral sentiment are, once for all, an emancipation from that anxiety which takes the joy out of all life. It teaches a great peace. It comes itself from the highest place. It is that, which being in all sound natures, and strongest in the best and