The Wall

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“What a dear old wall that is that runs along by the river there! I never pass it without feeling better for the sight of it. Such a mellow, bright, sweet old wall; what a charming picture it would make, with the lichen creeping here, and the moss growing there, a shy young vine peeping over the top at this spot, to see what is going on upon the busy river, and the sober old ivy clustering a little farther down! There are fifty shades and tints and hues in every ten yards of that old wall. . . . It looks so peaceful and so quiet, and it is such a dear old place to ramble round in the early morning before many people are about.” Jerome K. Jerome, “Three Men In A Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)” Ch. 6 (1889)

What's the difference between one who goes to church and one who does not?

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"I fear many of you are going to endless misery, and you are not doing so like many of my countrymen, who never go to church at all, but spend their time at home or in the public house. There might be said to be a Scotch way of going to hell, and this seems to be it: You have got the Shorter Catechism in your head, your Bible in the one hand, and communion bread from your minister in the other, but the world is in your hearts, and hell fire will be the end of it 'except ye repent.'"

Quoted by William Reid in "Look to Jesus." (1814 - 1896)

"God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

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