Precept and Practice – SEPTEMBER 25 – Righteousness – A Direction

Try to draw the line between industry and idleness, and to say exactly how industrious a man ought to be in order not to be counted an idler.

But you cannot do it!   Or, take selfishness.   Who can lay down exactly how far I ought to consider myself, and mark the point at which selfishness begins;  or how far I ought to do what I like, or how far give up to others.   Why, it cannot be done, if you were to argue about it for a year!…..   The difference between right and wrong is the most tremendous distinction in the world.   No distinction of painful or pleasant can compare with it only it is not of that sort.

There comes in the thought – and I think it is a helpful thought, that it is not a difference of place or position, but of direction…..   Do people set out to sin?   Do they intend to do wrong?   No! I do not believe they do.   But they do constantly set out with that idea, that all that is necessary is to keep out of some actually forbidden ground of actual sin, and that so long as they do not cross its boundary line, they are all right.   And the consequence is that they are often facing towards sin all the time, and there being no such actual line, they find themselves in sin, unmistakably, almost before they know it.

(Brooke Herford – Anchors of the Soul)

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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