Being and Doing – 19 May – Small Beginnings
SELDOM in any case, and never save by the special grace of God, do guilty thoughts end in guilty thoughts; they are but the serpent’s egg, from which breaks forth the cockatrice. On us, as on Eve, at some unguarded moment, the temptation springs, ‘terrible and with tiger’s leap,’ and then we fall; we fall and we pity ourselves because we fall in a moment, but that fall is the fall not of a moment but of all the previous life; it was but the ‘sign manual of deed’ which sooner or later the powers of evil demand from him who in heart has been long their own.
…… A LITTLE seed
Of sin was sown that grew with little heed.
By door or window little sins will win
A way that widens for the larger sin,
As tiniest lichens, climbing up the wall,
May lend a hand to help the Ivy crawl
That is to tower a conqueror over all
The house in ruin, crumbling to the fall.
Once life is set in motion there upspring
Infinite issues to the smallest thing.”
GERALD MASSEY
oooOOOooo
These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.
Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.
Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.
For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith. I hope they will encourage others also.
Suffolk Vicar 