Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/70

 sin against him, the soul will recover the beauty it has lost; and on leaving this natural world, where it has been perfected by suffering, it will live in a world of increasing beauty and loveliness, itself increasing in beauty to all eternity.

HE human mind is distinguished into three regions, from the highest of which a man regards his God; from the second, or middle, the world; and from the third, or lowest, himself: and in consequence of this being its nature and constitution, the mind is capable of being raised, and of raising itself upwards, towards God and heaven; it is capable of being diffused, and of diffusing itself laterally in every direction, because it can look around into the world, and its nature; and lastly, it is capable of being sunk, and of sinking itself downwards, because it can look towards earth and towards hell. Hence, to guide the mind judiciously should be our principal endeavour. To enable us to do this, the Almighty has given us a revelation of His will, in which our duty is plainly placed before us; and while we are encouraged in the legitimate exercise of all our powers, we are solemnly admonished not to abuse them. Our first duty is towards God. Hence we must venerate Him in His attributes. His qualities. His perfections; we must believe in Him, hope in Him, love Him with all our