James MartineauДжеймс Мартино

In proportion as our nature rises in its nobleness, does it realize its immortality.

… the veil is lifted up from the future, the darkness breaks away, and the spirit walks in dignity within the paradise of God’s eternity.

… in proportion as our nature rises in its nobleness, does it realize its immortality.

As it retires from animal grossness, from selfish meanness, from pitiable ignorance or sordid neglect, — as it opens forth into its true intellectual and moral glory, — do its doubts disperse, its affections aspire : the veil is uplifted from the future, the darkness breaks away, and the spirit walks in dignity within the paradise of God's Eternity.

Чем жизнь наша становится духовнее, тем более мы верим в бессмертие.

The animating spring of all improvement, in individuals and in societies, is not their knowledge of the actual but their conception of the possible.

In truth, the animating spring of all improvement, in individuals and in societies, is not their knowledge of the actual but their conception of the possible.

… any genuine reverence for it until he has done it often and with cost; any peace ineffable in it, till he does it always and with alacrity.

Indeed, no one can have a true idea of right, until he does it; …

… any peace ineffable in it, till he does it always and with alacrity.

Wretched and barren is the discontent that quarrels with its tools instead of with its skill; and by criticising Providence manages to keep up complacency with self. How gentle should we be, if we were not provoked; how pious, if we were not busy; the sick would be patient, only he is not in health; the obscure would do great things, only he is not conspicuous !

Of nothing may we be more sure than this; that, if we cannot sanctify our present lot, we could sanctify no other.

Wretched and barren is the discontent that quarrels with its tools instead of with its skill; and, by criticizing Providence, manages to keep up complacency with self.

How gentle should we be, if we were not provoked ; how pious, if we were not busy ; the sick would be patient, only he is not in health; the obscure would do great things, only he is not conspicuous !

… if we cannot sanctify our present lot, we could sanctify no other.

The obstructions of that lot are given for us to heave away by the concurrent touch of a holy spirit, and labor of strenuous will; its gloom, for us to tint with some celestial light ; its mysteries are for our worship; its sorrows for our trust; its perils for our courage ; its temptations for our faith.

Безнадежно положение того, кто в своих невзгодах упрекает не себя, а судьбу, утверждая этим свое самодовольство.

Then only shall we wisely economize moments when we anticipate for ourselves an eternity.

Then will even the merest drudgery of duty cease to humble us, when we transfigure it by the glory of our own spirit.

Then only shall we wisely economize moments when we anticipate for ourselves an eternity, and lose no grain of wisdom, when we discern the glorious and immortal structure which its successive accumulations shall raise.

Then will even the merest drudgery of duty cease to humble us, when we transfigure it by the glory of our own spirit.

I pretend not to draw the untraceable line that separates his being from ours.

His inspiration is perennial; and he never ceases to work within us if we consent to will and to do his good pleasure.

But he is expelled by the least unfaithfulness.

I pretend not to draw the untraceable line that separates his being from ours.

The decisions of the Will, doubtless, are our own, and constitute the proper sphere of our personal agency.

Whatever is most deep within us is the reflection of himself.

He befriends our moral efforts; encourages us to maintain our resolute fidelity and truth; accepts our co-operation with his designs against all evil; and reveals to us many things far too fair and deep for language to express.

The voice of Duty, — what is it, if it be not the suggestion of God ? Is it the mandate of your own fancy, imposed upon yourself, — the mere imperative mood in the soliloquies of your own will ? Not so ; for were the law of your making, you might forgive its violation, and the thought that set it up might take it down ; yet you feel its authority above your reach, and your boast of indifference to be a sad pretence.

Is it a mere echo of men's opinion, — a deference to their arbitrary demands ? Not so ; for how often does it lift you above that opinion, nerve your heart to withstand the injustice of a crowd, …

As well might you persuade me that my own eyes created the daylight or that the sunshine was the gift of public opinion, as that the sense of right was anything but the direct illumination of God, …

Not more certainly does Perception teach us what is external to our senses, than Consciousness what lies beyond our personality ; and that the authority of Justice, Purity, and Truth is no manufacture of my own, but is imposed upon me by a Divine source above me, …