Time goes to the making of the oak, and the man and the Christian.
Moral development is slow. We must not be surprized nor disappointed to
find it so. As one says:
The sunrise is gradual, as we have seen--there are many
tremulous gleams before the wheels of his chariot are moving
over the sea. And so we should beware in a measure of momentary
impulsive religion: the idea that we can pass in a moment from
deadness, darkness, worldliness, to the full assurance of the
favor of God. There are such cases, but they are rare, and the
religion of sudden emotion is apt with many to prove not lasting.
If religion is a growth, let us be patient in the process.
(2654)