John Henry Newman's homiletic genius. 'Sincere and Insincere'
Do you, then, habitually thus unlock your
hearts and subject your thoughts to
Almighty God? Are you living in this conviction of His Presence, and have you
this special witness that that Presence is really set up within you unto your
salvation, viz. that you live in the sense of it? Do you believe, and act on
the belief, that His light penetrates and shines through your heart, as the sun's beams through a
room? You know how things look when the sun's beams are on it,—the very air
then appears full of impurities, which, before it came out, were not seen. So
is it with our souls.
In all circumstances, of joy or sorrow, hope or fear, let us aim at
having Him in our inmost heart; let
us have no secret apart from Him. Let us acknowledge Him as enthroned within us
at the very springs of thought and affection. Let us submit ourselves to His
guidance and sovereign direction; let us come to Him that He may forgive us,
cleanse us, change us, guide us, and save us.
This is the true life of saints. This is
to have the Spirit witnessing with our spirits that we are sons of God.
Newman P and P Vol 5 Serm 16. Sincerity
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