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May 13, 2007
in every heart there is at least one germ of goodness
In every heart there is at least one germ of goodness. I would cultivate that, by every gentle, and kind, and appropriate means; making its practice and development become a pleasure, not less than a duty…I would, with God’s help, train up the tender-hearted child to be just, the just one to be merciful, the veracious one to add graciousness to truth, the heroic one to be moderate in triumph, and the magnanimous one to be powerful as well as endurant. In every assemblage of youth, all these good qualities are to be found, like gems strewed in darkness.
Children would understand this kind of religion better; they would love it better, they would imbibe it sooner, than the present one
Of sermonizing and catechizing,
And bell-ringing, and drone-singing,
And knee-bowing, and pride-showing,
Of vain finery, and mock shinery.
I would not have it all lip-worship, and form-worship; but heart-worship, coming from the heart, and heart-penetrative, wherever it was introduced. I would, in fact, have less of priestianity, and more of Christ’s own Christianity; less of creeds and dogmas, and more of the living faith which brings forth works, testifying to the reality of a true belief.
Samuel Bamford - Autobiography
Posted by amin at May 13, 2007 11:49 PM