Precept & Practice – MARCH 5 – Being and Doing

The precept of the law is always ‘do’;  that of the Gospel is always ‘be.’   ‘To be’ is higher than ‘to do,’ because it embraces ‘to do’ within it.

To do deeds of mercy is only a part of the precept to be merciful;  to do deeds of kindness is only a part of the precept to be kind;  to do justice to others is only a part of the precept to be just;  and the Gospel requires not merely that man’s deeds should be in accordance with God’s Law, but that his spirit should also be penetrated with the spirit of that Law, and that his deeds should be in harmony with his inner life, and with all that comes forth from that inner life.

Archbishop Temple

It is the being that is the precious thing.   Being is the mother to all the little Doings, as well as the grown-up Deeds, and the mighty, heroic Sacrifice;  and these little Doings, like the good children of the house, make the bliss of it.

George MacDonald

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From the Introduction to Precept and Practice

The kindly welcome given to my other little books, ‘Being and Doing’ and ‘Character and Conduct,’ must be my excuse for adding another collection of extracts to the number now in circulation.

The quotations are gathered from the books of many earnest thinkers, and deal with Life in all its length and breadth, with ourselves, our characters, our plain unvarnished faults and weaknesses, our often untoward circumstances, and with all that drags us down;-  with our purposes, our religion, our love and friendships, and with all that uplifts us;-  with our relation to others, our influence and responsibilities, and finally with those stages of our journey which bring us to the Road’s Last Turn and to the Silent Land.

CONSTANCE  M. WHISHAW