"I sleep, I eat and drink, I read and meditate, I walk in my neighbour's pleasant fields, and see the varieties of natural beauties, and delight in all that in which God delights—that is, in virtue and wisdom, in the whole creation, and in God Himself. And he that hath so many causes of joy, and so great, is very much in love with sorrow and peevishness, who loses all these pleasures, and chooses to sit down upon his little handful of thorns."
Jeremy Taylor.
"Where much is given, much shall be required. There are never privileges to enjoy without corresponding duties to fulfil in return."
Phillips Brooks.
"Thou that hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more—a grateful heart."
George Herbert.
NOVEMBER 21
ON LEAVING A HOME FOR INCURABLES
"It didn't seem much to be able to walk away, to look back, to remember what we had seen; and yet how is it that we are not on our knees in gratitude and thankfulness for every active motion of the body, every word we speak, every intelligent experience and interest that passes through our minds?"