True religion is a thing, not fragmentary but continuous, not coming and going at separated and distant intervals, but existing always, moment by moment. It is obvious, therefore, that we need a test of religious character which is perpetual; one which is a permanent, ever living, and ever present expression of what exists within. Quietness of spirit, which shows itself so distinctly in the countenance and the outward manner, and which adjusts itself in all its acts so beautifully to the relations and the reciprocal duties of man with man, furnishes this test.
Gratitude arises on the occasion of gratitude; joy arises on the occasion of joy; sorrow arises on the occasion of sorrow; and those occasions may be more or less frequent. But there is no day, no hour, no moment, which may not be said to be the occasion for the proper exercise of a meek and quiet spirit. And this arises from the fact, which is so obvious as to be self-evident, that God’s dispensations, spreading themselves over every successive moment of time, are perpetual, never ceasing. These dispensations, which always involve and express a portion of the divine will, obviously require, considered merely as expressions of the divine will, a corresponding state of mind, equally perpetuated from moment to moment, equally unceasing. And this state of mind, existing on the part of God’s creatures, and corresponding to the momentary manifestations of his will, is, and from the nature of the case, it must be, that of a meek and peaceable acquiescence. And accordingly those, who possess this trait, and who in possessing it show the heaven-born nature of their Christianity, may be said in a special manner to obey the Savior’s commandment, “LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE.” It is a trait, when it exists in the highest degree, which sits so tranquilly and beautifully upon the outward manner, that it invariably attracts the attention of the beholder, and is truly the “ornament of great price,” as the Apostle Peter denominates it; something which can be seen of all men, at all times, and in all situations; the perpetual light of the creature which corresponds to God’s perpetual light in his providences; “the star that never sets.”
In bringing this subject to a close, we are willing to admit, that we have spoken in strong terms of this spiritual grace; but not stronger, as it seems to us, than the Scriptures will warrant; and not stronger, than are to be found in the writings of many devout and experienced persons. In the interesting little work, entitled the Mute Christian, to which we have already had occasion to refer, a work which from beginning to end may be regarded as an illustration and defense of the excellence of this Christian grace, we find the following remarks.
“A quiet, silent spirit is of great esteem with God. God sets the greatest value upon persons of a quiet spirit. A quiet spirit is a spark of the divine nature. It is a heaven-born spirit. No man is born with a holy silence in his heart, as he is born with a tongue in his mouth. This is a flower of Paradise; it is a precious gem that God makes very great reckoning of. A quiet spirit speaks a man most like to God; it capacitates a man for communion with God; it renders a man most serviceable to God, and it obliges a man to most accurate walking with God. A meek and quiet spirit is an incorruptible ornament, much more valuable than Gold.” [The Mute Christian by Rev. Thomas Brooks. Boston Ed. p. 97.]
— from The Life of Faith, Part 2, Chapter 13.
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