Two people may be at the same spot in manners and behaviour, and yet one may be getting better, and the other worse, which is the greatest of differences that could possibly exist between them.

But God lets men have their playthings, like the children they are, that they may learn to distinguish them from true possessions. If they are not learning that he takes them from them, and tries the other way: for lack of them and its misery, they will perhaps seek the true!

Afflictions are but the shadow of His wings.

Alas! how easily things go wrong!A sigh too deep or a kiss too long,And then comes a mist and a weeping rain,And life is never the same again.

What we call evil, is the only and best shape, which, for the person and his condition at the time, could be assumed by the best good.

We must do the thing we mustBefore the thing we may;We are unfit for any trustTill we can and do obey.

You would not think any duty small,If you yourself were great.

The man that feareth, Lord, to doubt,In that fear doubteth thee.