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true , she has drawn a faithful picture of the difficulties , the temptations and dangers of the followers of Christ , but let those who a ^ e discouraged refer to her picture of the death-bed of a Christian : let them declare if all the
privations and anxieties which can be endured in a life of a few short years , may not willingly be undergone to secure the peace and tranquillity , nay , more , the hope and joy which she describes as being the portion of the good man , even on the bed of pain , of sickness and of death . Who would
not resign the world and its fleeting pleasures , for an immortal inheritance , and for such a transition to it as is here described ? * The power of distinguishing objects increases with our approach to them . The Christian feels that he is
entering on a state where every care will cease , every fear vanish , every desire be fulfilled , every sin be done away , every grace perfected . Where there will be no more temptations to
resist , no more passions to subdue , no more insensibility to mercies , no more deadness in service , no more wandering in prayer , no more sorrows to be felt for himself , nor tears to be
shed for others . He is going where his devotion will be without languor , his love without alloy , his doubts certainty , his expectation enjoyment , his hope fruition . All will be perfect , for God will be all in all . "
" From God he knows that he shall derive immediately all his happiness . It will no longer pass through any of those channels which now sully its purity . It will be offered him through
no second cause which may fail , no intermediate agent which may deceive , no uncertain medium which may disappoint . The felicity is not only certain , but perfect ; not only perfect , but eternal /*— " As he approaches the land of realities , the shadows of
this earth cease to interest or mislead him . The films are removed from his eyes . Objects are stripped of their false lustre . Nothing that is really little , any longer looks great . The mists of vanity are dispersed . Every
thing which is to have an end appears small , appears nothing . Eternal things assume their proper magnitude—for he beholds them in the true point of vision . He has ceased to lean on the
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world , for he has found it both a reed and a spear ; it has failed , and it has pierced him . He leans not on himself , for he has long known his weakness . He leans not on his virtues , for they can do nothing for him . Had he no better refuge , he feels that his sun would set in darkness , his life close
in despair . "—* ' But he knows in whom he has trusted , and therefore knows not what he should fear . He looks upwards with holy but humble confidence to that great Shepherd , who , having long since conducted him into
green pastures , having by his rod corrected and by his staff supported him , will , he humbly trusts , guide him through the dark valley of the shadow of death , and safely conduct him to the peaceful realms of everlasting rest . "—Practical Piety , Vol . II . Chap .
XXI . This work has often been objected to by those of different religious opinions from Mrs . More , on account of its doctrines , but this appears to me highly unreasonable . I differ nearly as much from the author , with respect to religious belief , as one Protestant
can from another ; but I find nothing really offensive to my feelings in comparison with those portions which excite my high admiration . There are opinions grounded on a belief in the doctrines of the atonement , of original sin , of the pre-existence of our
Saviour , and some others ; but these may our , and some others ; but these may be either omitted , or made to rest on another foundation . At all events , it appears highly unreasonable and absurd to decline receiving instruction from a work , because some parts do not accord with our opinions . The other works of Mrs . More do
not come under the description ot those which I propose at present to consider , and are in the main points so similar in design and execution , that it will be unnecessary for rue to
observe more than that they all deserve a serious perusal , and that from the effects which they have already produced , much benefit may be anticipated from the further diffusion ot
them . I propose in my next article to offer some remarks on the productions ot other authors of the same class . DISC 1 PULUS .
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596 Female Writers on Practical Divinity .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1822, page 596, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2517/page/12/
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