Sacrifice

It must be a totally resigned and yielded will, in which God himself searches and works, and which continually pierces into God, in yielding and resigned humility, seeking nothing but his eternal native country, and to do his neighbor service with it.

Let the performance and completion of the pleasure of the Universal Nature seem to you to be your pleasure, precisely as the conduct of your health is seen to be, and so welcome all that comes to pass, even though it appears rather cruel, because it leads to that end, to the health of the universe, that is to the welfare and well-being of Zeus.

We have seen above that one kind of spiritual hell is the forcible separation from worldly things to which the heart clave too fondly.

To serve one's prince without reference to the act, but only to the service, is the perfection of a subject's loyalty.

Picture to yourself every man who gives way to pain or discontent at anything at all as like a pig being sacrificed, kicking and squealing. Such also is the man who groans on his bed, alone and in silence. Think of the chain we are bound by, and that to the rational creature only is it given to obey circumstances of his own will, while mere obedience is necessary for all.

The second test of sincerity is that a man should be willing to sacrifice his will to God's, should cleave to what brings him nearer to God, and should shun what places him at a distance from God.

The things that one gains are always paid for by the things that one loses.

Fast on behalf of those that persecute you; for what thank is there if ye love them that love you? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? But love them that hate you, and ye will not have an enemy.

If any one give thee a blow on thy right cheek, turn unto him the other also, and thou shalt be perfect; if any one compel thee to go a mile, go with him two; if a man take away thy cloak, give him thy coat also; if a man take from thee what is thine, ask not for it again, for neither art thou able to do so.

Be not a stretcher out of thy hand to receive, and a drawer of it back in giving. If thou hast, give by means of thy hands a redemption for thy sins.

Thou shalt not doubt to give, neither shalt thou murmur when giving; for thou shouldest know who is the fair recompenser of the reward.

Keep with care from things sacrificed to idols, for it is the worship of the infernal deities.

Let grace come, and let this world pass away. Hosanna to the Son of David.

Thou shalt, therefore, take the first-fruits of every produce of the wine-press and threshing-floor, of oxen and sheep, and shalt give it to the prophets, for they are your chief priests; but if ye have not a prophet, give it unto the poor.

But let not any one who hath a quarrel with his companion join with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be polluted.

In every place and time offer unto me a pure sacrifice, for I am a great King, saith the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the Gentiles.

I give to the Conquerors and their Sons myself entirely. Take me for your chattel, O noble beings; I make myself in love your slave.

The bird flying in the environment of this unrestrained light, must inevitably be consumed by the fire of it.

A lamp for them who need a lamp, a bed for them who need a bed, a stave for all beings who need a slave.

The Perfect Charity is declared to be the thought of surrendering to all beings our whole possessions and likewise the merit thereof; thus it is but a thought.

My present tribulation is not so heavy, and will be very gainful; let me be glad of a suffering that redeems the world from its suffering.

To win the grace of the Blessed Ones to-day I make myself utterly the slave of the world. Let the crowds of living beings set their feet upon my head, or smite me, and the Lord of the World be glad.

The spirit that knows not despair, the troops of the Army, devoted heed, self-submission, equal esteem of self and others, and regard of others in place of self are the supports of strength.

I will think of myself as a sinner, of others as oceans of virtue; I will cease to live as self, and will take as my self my fellow-creatures.

If thou lowest thyself, thou must have no love of self; if thou wouldst save thyself, thou dose not well to be saving of self.