January 15th. If we will accept and improve the gift God gives us in ourselves, we shall not have room or time for envious desires.
March 14th. On my way to the hall (Parker Fraternity, where she was to preach) I thought, .'If anyone asks me whether I love preaching, I shall reply, 'Yes, if one loves child-birth,' which
on this wise it much resembles."
May 19th. Woman Suffrage meeting at Concord. ...Was billeted on the dear Emersons, so had a glimpse of paradise.
June 13th. (After attending a revival meeting where she heard much violent talk.) I feel that I must attack this creed of blood, which does much to keep up the cruel and sanguinary views of barbarous ages about God and man. Will take text, '.Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven." Show that Christ brought a new interest into the world; a new vision of God, the loving one; a new view of man, the hopeful and universal one; his death in its character the seal to his perfect life. But we are saved by his doctrine, by the same spirit which animated his life,-we are saved by his life, not by his death, except as it was the necessary moral sequence of his life.
July 23rd. Must write a sermon; "Charity never faileth." This will probably teach me as much as it will teach anyone. Have read from the lovely chapter ( I Corinthians: xiii) which had to me a new significance-the limited and transient character of human knowledge: "We know in part and we prophesy in part." Charity is an unending self-discipline which always looks and leads towards the eternal affection. Therefore, its triumph shall be lasting and everlasting.
August 22nd. "We can teach no virtues we do not practice," occurred to me this afternoon; for without learning by experience how a virtue is acquired, how can we teach anyone to acquire it? I thought of this in connection with the experience of undutiful children. By the working of this natural cause, they will Not make their own children dutiful. Read in Luke of the angel which appeared to Christ in Gethsemane, strengthening Him. We all see this angel when we say truly, "Thy will, not mine, be done."
August 23rd. There is no hell like that of a selfish heart, and there is no misfortune so great as that of not being able to make a sacrifice. These two thoughts come to me strongly this morning. It is something to have learned these truths so that we can never again doubt them. September 12th. The Spirit seems to ask me always, "Shall it be my will or Thine ?" and
I say, after all my experience, "Thy will is best. Let it be in Thy way."
November 25th. Thanksgiving Day. ... Cannot go to church, but will thank the dear Father for the good that He brings even out of our evil. Pray earnestly never to repeat willfully any act of this year which I have found to be an error.
