You aim at a devout life, dear child, because as a Christian
you know that such devotion is most acceptable to God's Divine
Majesty. But seeing that the small errors people are wont to
commit in the beginning of any under taking are apt to wax
greater as they advance, and to become irreparable at last, it
is most important that you should thoroughly understand
wherein lies the grace of true devotion;--and that because
while there undoubtedly is such a true devotion, there are
also many spurious and idle semblances thereof; and unless you
know which is real, you may mistake, and waste your energy in
pursuing an empty, profitless shadow.
Arelius was wont to paint all his pictures with the
features and expression of the women he loved, and even so we
all colour devotion according to our own likings and
dispositions. One man sets great value on fasting, and
believes himself to be leading a very devout life, so long as
he fasts rigorously, although the while his heart is full of
bitterness;--and while he will not moisten his lips with wine,
perhaps not even with water, in his great abstinence, he does
not scruple to steep them in his neighbour's blood, through
slander and detraction.
Another man reckons himself as devout because he repeats
many prayers daily, although at the same time he does not
refrain from all manner of angry, irritating, conceited or
insulting speeches among his family and neighbours. This man
freely opens his purse in almsgiving, but closes his heart to
all gentle and forgiving feelings towards those who are
opposed to him; while that one is ready enough to forgive his
enemies, but will never pay his rightful debts save under
pressure.
Meanwhile all these people are conventionally called
religious, but nevertheless they are in no true sense really
devout. When Saul's servants sought to take David, Michal
induced them to suppose that the lifeless figure lying in his
bed, and covered with his garments, was the man they sought;
and in like manner many people dress up an exterior with the
visible acts expressive of earnest devotion, and the world
supposes them to be really devout and spiritual-minded, while
all the time they are mere lay figures, mere phantasms of
devotion.
But, in fact, all true and living devotion presupposes the
love of God;--and indeed it is neither more nor less than a
very real love of God, though not always of the same kind; for
that Love one while shining on the soul we call grace, which
makes us acceptable to His Divine Majesty;--when it
strengthens us to do well, it is called Charity;--but when it
attains its fullest perfection, in which it not only leads us
to do well, but to act carefully, diligently, and promptly,
then it is called Devotion.
The ostrich never flies,--the hen rises with difficulty,
and achieves but a brief and rare flight, but the eagle, the
dove, and the swallow, are continually on the wing, and soar
high;--even so sinners do not rise towards God, for all their
movements are earthly and earthbound. Well-meaning people, who
have not as yet attained a true devotion, attempt a manner of
flight by means of their good actions, but rarely, slowly and
heavily; while really devout men rise up to God frequently,
and with a swift and soaring wing.
In short, devotion is simply a spiritual activity and
liveliness by means of which Divine Love works in us, and
causes us to work briskly and lovingly; and just as charity
leads us to a general practice of all God's Commandments, so
devotion leads us to practise them readily and diligently.
And therefore we cannot call him who neglects to observe
all God's Commandments either good or devout, because in order
to be good, a man must be filled with love, and to be devout,
he must further be very ready and apt to perform the deeds of
love. And forasmuch as devotion consists in a high degree of
real love, it not only makes us ready, active, and diligent in
following all God's Commands, but it also excites us to be
ready and loving in performing as many good works as possible,
even such as are not enjoined upon us, but are only matters of
counsel or inspiration. Even as a man just recovering from
illness, walks only so far as he is obliged to go, with a slow
and weary step, so the converted sinner journeys along as far
as God commands him but slowly and wearily, until he attains a
true spirit of devotion, and then, like a sound man, he not
only gets along, but he runs and leaps in the way of God's
Commands, and hastens gladly along the paths of heavenly
counsels and inspirations.
The difference between love and devotion is just that which
exists between fire and flame;--love being a spiritual fire
which becomes devotion when it is fanned into a flame;--and
what devotion adds to the fire of love is that flame which
makes it eager, energetic and diligent, not merely in obeying
God's Commandments, but in fulfilling His Divine Counsels and
inspirations.
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