Being and Doing – 5 December – Moral Culture

INFINITE toil would not enable you to sweep away a mist, but by ascending a little, you may afterwards look over it altogether.   So it is with our moral improvement; we wrestle fiercely with a vicious habit which would have no hold upon us if we ascended into a higher moral atmosphere.   It is by adding to our good purposes and nourishing the affections which are rightly placed, that we shall be able to combat the bad ones.

A. HELPS

IF WE wish to overcome evil, we must overcome it by good.   There are doubtless many ways of overcoming the evil in our own hearts, but the simplest, easiest, most universal, is to overcome it by active occupation in some good word or work.   The best antidote against evil of all kinds, against the evil thoughts which haunt the soul, against the needless perplexities which distract the conscience, is to keep hold of the good we have.   Impure thoughts will not stand against pure words, and prayers, and deeds.   Little doubts will not avail against great certainties.   Fix your affections on things above, and then you will be less and less troubled by the cares, the temptations, the troubles of things on earth.

A.P. STANLEY

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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.