January 4, 2012

"If we sin, we are Thine, knowing Thy power: but we will not sin, knowing that we are counted Thine. For to know Thee is perfect righteousness: yea, to know Thy power is the root of immortality."  Wisdom of Solomon XV. 2,3

Oh, empty us of self, the world, and sin,

And then in all Thy fullness enter in;

Take full possession, Lord, and let each thought

Into obedience unto Thee be brought;

Thine is the power, and Thine the will, that we

Be wholly sanctified, O Lord, to Thee.

--C.E.J.

Take steadily some one sin, which seems to stand out before thee, to root it out, by God's grace, and every fibre of it. Purpose strongly, by the grace and strength of God, wholly to sacrifice this sin or sinful inclination to the love of God, to spare it not, until thou leave of it none remaining, neither root nor branch.

Fix, by God's help, not only to root out this sin, but to set thyself to gain, by that same help, the opposite grace. If thou art tempted to be angry, try hard, by God's grace, to be very meek; if to be proud, seek to be very humble.

                                                                          -- E.B. Pusey