God who made you and placed you where you are, He, who can read the heart, thoroughly understands that to do what your hand findeth to do is worship.
THE DUTIES OF TRUE RELIGION
I would not seem for one minute to underrate the duties of religion, but I must say that I think young girls are too apt to remember the letter of the faith rather than the spirit. It is right that you should show the world what you believe, that there should be the outward visible sign in the attendance at church, in the respect shown to those occupying spiritual positions, and in the doing of charity, but, and this is too often the case, these good acts are counted first of all, and the duties that come into one's life, and which are just as important, are neglected. A girl of my acquaintance, who was very enthusiastic, said during Holy Week, last year, to her clergyman: "Oh, Mr. Brown, I am so weak, I can hardly walk to church, I have almost starved myself this Lent!" She expected approbation, she got none; instead the clergyman said to her: "You are not only a foolish, but a wicked girl. You are not strong and should not have fasted at all. As it is you will be ill, you will cause your mother, who is a very busy woman, much trouble and a great deal
