Mary Goss Diary

[EG?] Herrick Dec. 1862

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them for they are spiritually discerened"

Visitors to Europe often speak of the strange and beautiful effect, of the painted window. of the old Cathedrals - To one, standing in the "dim religious" light" of the interior, and looking up through the storied windows, the sunlight shining in illuminating the faces of saints and angels, painted on the glass, with a radience almost celestial, But to one looking up through the window from the exterior, all this vision is lost. the shapes seen from within were glorious, from without, appear but dim and unmeaningless - Though the pencil of Rapheal has adorned the windows, he who stands on the outside, sees nothing to love or admire, he catches no glimpse of the inner glory Such a cathedral is the Christian religion - To the unbeliever standing without, the lovely forms of truth on its dimly painted windows seem shadowy and unreal; but to him who by

Christian experience has entered through the door, and stands on the inner side to him the light of heaven shines through and reveals visions of unutterable glory,

Christian experiance unlocks is the key that unlocks the mysteries of religious truth

Religious truth is known by the heart; more than the head - yet not by the natural only by the regenerate heart -

The natural man cannot discern spiritual things, because there is nothing spritual within him -

There must be in a man's soul a certain affinity and harmony with truth, before he can apprehend or clasp it, only like recognises like -

To the unloving heart, there is no beauty in divine things, Christ himself the All Glorious one, to such a one is but a root out of dry ground - You must love him if you would know him, This spirit of [love?] this kindredness to God, which was lost in paradise, may be regained in Christ

The first excellence of spiritual vision is, that is a deliverance from spiritual blindness, in

(turn over two leaves)

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The love of God increases daily, with the soul that seeks him daily. The mind immersed in worldly cares is apt to attach but little value over to the most High, and the consolations of God, to such as one are small even as nought.

The world is obtrusive - it has a perpetual tendency to fasten its objects on the mind and cast them like stumbling blocks, in the pathway of the soul to God. Allow the world, and the things of it, to interweave themselves so deeply with our affections, that they cannot be cast aside, and then we may indeed go into our closets, and shut our door, but our power of spiritual discernment will be so blinded, that we shall hear nothing of a spiritual nature shall perceive nothing of that still small voice, that whisper in secrecy to the heart - But keep the world in due subjection, and then when we will we may retire and can always find that secret chamber in the heart, where we may feel conscious of the presence of God, the centre and joy of our souls.

Man never communes with his Maker in true sincerity, till he realises the actual presence of God. and is conscious within himself, that an all seeing eye is looking through his heart, and is conscious that an all searching eye is upon his thoughts and motives. It is then and then only, that the guilty soul sees its secret sins in the light of His countenance and then only, when the presence of his Creator is realised, can man, from out his heart unto the God who heareth prayer.

Amid the excitements of external objects and the cares of the world, man discerns no spiritual Judge - no advising Lord - no affectionate Father of the Spirit. - no sympathising Friend in the inward regions of the soul.

He has no true perception of the presence of the living God, and therefore can have no commu nion with him, - he must leave these things of earth behind, and go into the secret chambers of his own spirit, if he will hold communion with the things of the spirit. And if earnestly desire to see as it were the face of God, and hold sincere communion with him. We must abstract the mind from earth, with its loves & cares and stand in the secrecy of the spirit, listening for the still small voice, that alone speaks to the heart.

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contemplating spriritual blindness. let me my christian friends appeal to your past experien Before your regeneration, you were groping in a region of spiritual blindness the manifestations of Gods mercies and his love were all about you, but you did not perceive them, as a corpse is insensible to the objects of sense so were you insensible to the objects of the spirit - the hand of affection may deck the pale brow of the sleeper, with the myrtle and the lily, but their fragrance is nothing to him, so was it with you God has flooded the world with beauty but you would not behold it, you saw the form indeed, but you did not penetrate to the spirit within, you did not realise as you now do, that all these things are but the expression, the shining out of the character of God - In that state all your aims your ambitions, were unworthy the dignity of an immortal spirit - all things appear to you in false and unnatural relations life was all a mystery

You placed the things of time above those of eternity - strange as it may [seem?]

the dim visions of earth, filled your gas and shut out the glories of heaven - the word of God was dull book, and the story of redemption, which charms the ears of angels, moved you no more, than a fable or a romance -

The natural man is shut out from communion with spiritual things, God expresses to him a thousand thougths of beauty They awaken no response! God offers him visions of love, and truth, and goodness but he chills the heart of God, by turning away from them.

The evils of spiritual darkness do not stop with this life, for in these words, "depart into outer darkness" there is a meaning greater than we can know -

The second excellence of spiritual vision is the enjoy ment it affords the possesor the possesion of knowledge always affords a rational delight, but spiritual knowledge gives the highest joy of all it is a source of the most refined enjoyment of which the soul is capable -

there is a happiness in the contemplation of purely intellectual objects which is worthy

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