Religion is not to be confined to devotional exercises

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(John Newton)

Religion is not to be confined to devotional exercises--but rather consists in doing all that we are called to do, with a single eye to His glory and will, from a grateful sense of His love and mercy to us. This is the chemistry which turns every mundane thing into gold, and stamps a value upon common actions!

When a mother is making or mending the children's clothes, or teaching them, or cleaning the kitchen, or a saucepan--she may be as well employed, as when she is upon her knees or at the Lord's Table.

It is an great mistake to think that all time is lost--which is not spent in bible-reading, or hearing sermons, or prayer.

These are properly called means of grace--and should be attended to in their proper season.

But the fruits of grace--are to appear in our common daily course of conduct.

It would be wrong for a mother to neglect the house of God--and it would be equally wrong to neglect the prudent management of her own house. It is chiefly as a wife and mother of a family, that she can let her light shine to His praise. I would not have her think that she could serve the Lord better in any other station, than in that in which God in His providence has placed her.

A simple desire to please God, to walk by the rule of His Word, and to do all to His glory . . .

  like the fabled magic stone, turns all to gold,

  consecrates the actions of common life, and

  makes everything that belongs to our situation and duty in domestic life, a part of our religion.

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do--do all to the glory of God!" 1 Corinthians 10:31

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