One of the benefits connected with the state of inward recollection is, that it is favorable to the best improvement of time. It will be a matter of course, that the person, who lives in religious recollection, will avoid unnecessary employments. With the idea of God, and perhaps we may add with the reality of God, continually present in his heart, scrutinizing every motive and action, and continually enforcing the claims of moral obligation, he will find no time to be spent idly, nor for the mere purposes of pleasure. Nor can he under such circumstances be the subject of internal dissipation; of vain and wandering imaginations and reveries; but will be enabled, to a degree unknown before, to bring every thought as well as every feeling, into subjection.—
In order to prevent misapprehension, it may properly be added here, that whatever recreation of body or mind, either by social intercourse or in any other way, is really required by the physical and mental constitution and laws, is entirely consistent with duty and with inward recollection. A remark, however, which requires, in its practical application, no small share of wisdom.
— edited from The Interior or Hidden Life (2nd Edition, 1844) Part 3, Chapter 7.
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