Thursday, January 25, 2007

From a letter to John Wesley by Susanna Wesley

... I cannot yet dismiss this subject, as self-will is the root of all sin and misery, so whatever cherishes this in children, insures their after-wretchedness and irreligion: Whatever checks and mortifies it, promotes their future happiness and piety. This is still more evident, if we farther consider, that religion is nothing else than the doing the will of God, and not our own: That the one grand impediment to our temporal and eternal happiness being this self-will, no indulgences of it can be trivial, no denial unprofitable. Heaven or hell depends on this alone. So that the parent who studies to subdue it in his child, works together with God in the renewing and saving a soul. The parent who indulges it does the devil's work, makes religion impractible, salvation unattainable; and does all that in him lies to damn his child, soul and body for ever.

Compare this news story.

Hmm.....

No comments: