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The School for Sisters; Or, the Lesson of Experience
The School for Sisters Or the Lesson of Experience Author:School General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1823 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER III. The pains bestowed by Mrs. Mordaunt on her interesting and affectionate pupil were not entirely thrown away. Barbara saw that it was possible to be happy in the country; she likewise perceived plainly, that Religion does not in itself render people gloomy, nor deprive them of any of the innocent pleasures of life. Indeed, she began to perceive that it was, at least, one of the paths to happiness; but " what a pity," said she to Ellen one Sunday evening, that they had been listening to an excellent sermon, " that it should be so very difficult! Indeed, to those who live in the world, it appears to me, almost impossible." " With the assistance of God's holy spirit, it is not impossible to any one," said Mrs. Mordaunt; " and in regard to difficulty, is there any one thing desirable to be known, that is not difficult. Consider how many tedious hours you have passed over music, French, and indeed whatever you have attempted to learn. Think of the time and labour required to make a man a scholar, or a lawyer, even to acquire a common trade. Yet what is the comparative value of all these, when measured with that wisdom which is to make us wise unto salvation ? Our blessed Lord says ' labour after the meat that perisheth not.' ' Strive to enter in at the strait gate, for he that seeketh only shall not be able.' Of ourselves, we can, indeed, do nothing; but we are expressly told, ' if any man lack wisdom, let him ask it of God, who giveth liberally, and upbraideth not.' Difficulties do not prevent your attempting many things far less certain of attainment, as well as incomparably less important; ...« less