Horae Successivae; Or, Spare Hours of Meditations Upon Our Duty to God, to Others and to Ourselves (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1839. Excerpt: ... SPARE HOURS OP MEDITATIONS. ' Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." How are they poor that have a kingdom? or what kingdom is wealthy if not that of heaven? or why complainestthou of that poverty that saints thee? That is a happy soul that makes even with God every night, and every morn begins the world anew. God is love, and he that loveth is born of God, and God loveth him; so there is no love lost. By this are we known to be God's sons, and Christ's disciples, if we love one another. I may love others for other respects j my enemies, that they may be good to me, or my friends, because they are so; but God I will love, because I will love Him, and because he is to be beloved. When I at first look out into the world, and see many men (and those none of the best) in better case, I think myself forgotten, and wish for more; but, when I remember my account, I fear I have too much, and forget those wishes. It may be, if 1 had more wealth, I should be more riotous. Outward losses are sometimes gainful, and it is good for us that we are afflicted. It would be worse with us if it were not sometimes thus bad. Many, if they were not kept short of these, would come short of heaven. He knows us that keeps us, and if He will have us Lazarus' and not Dives'; bring us to heaven that way rather than another--His will be done. Let him give my goods to the poor, and my body to be burned, and bring me to heaven, though in a fiery chariot. I cannot complain of the foulness of that way that carries me to God. Things which we come easily by, we easily part with. Lightly come, lightly go. True friendship, as it is hard to find, so it is hardly lost, and therefore hardly lost, because hard to find. I will put up many injuries before I put off one friend. ...