DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Sewell Van Alstine diary, 1863-1864

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Duties of the day, page 2

103  redeemer and benefactor; It makes us entirely depend on him; seek him for guidance & protection; & submit to his will with patience & resignation: It crushes pride & haughtiness in the heart & appearance; & gives us a humble state of mind before God, & men:  It regulates the passions, & brings them into due moderation; It gives us a right estimate of this present world, & sets the hearts, & hopes above it, so he never loves it more than it deserves; They who truly fear, & love God, have a secret guidance, from a higher wisdom, than what is human; the spirit of truth & wisdom, which does really, though secretly, prevent, & direct them; even in external actions, incidents, & occurrences; He will not disappoint us of the best of directions; if we will in humility, & a sense of our own dificiency implore it, the great God has not left religion without a witness; (more or less, sooner or later,) in every bosom to direct us in the pursuit of it; & he has in his holy word, given us, though many things hard to be understood, yet enough that is plain & easy,to quiet our minds, & direct us concerning our future being,

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103 redeemer and benefactor; It makes us entirely depend on him; seek him for guidance & protection; & submit to his will with patience & resignation: It crushes pride & haughtiness in the heart & appearance; & gives us a humble state of mind before God, & men: It regulates the passions, & brings them into due moderation; It gives us a right estimate of this present world, & sets the hearts, & hopes above it, so he never loves it more than it deserves; They who truly fear, & love God, have a secret guidance, from a higher wisdom, than what is human; the spirit of truth & wisdom, which does really, though secretly, prevent, & direct them; even in external actions, incidents, & occurrences; He will not disappoint us of the best of directions; if we will in humility, & a sense of our own dificiency implore it, the great God has not left religion without a witness; (more or less, sooner or later,) in every bosom to direct us in the pursuit of it; & he has in his holy word, given us, though many things hard to be understood, yet enough that is plain & easy,to quiet our minds, & direct us concerning our future being,