Christopher Dock

“ I have explained to the friend, at his request, as has been said, how I treat the children with love, that they both love and fear me, and that I claim no honor for myself in it.
Love is a gift of God, and according as a man desires it and strives for it, from his heart, he can, through God's mercy, be a participator in it, and according as he proves and uses it, can it be lessened or increased. Still this much information may be given — through what furthering or hindering attributes a man can have part or loss in love. ”

“ I submit anew to Thee, and break with Satan, the world and my flesh-loving selfishness, that until now have turned me from Thee and Thy grace. O God, be merciful to me, a sinner, and give me the mediator between Thee and men, that is Thy dear Son, in whom Thou art well pleased. For He is the peace-offering for my sins and those of the whole world. Him hast Thou given us in love, commit me to His care as His own, that I may be cleansed of my sins through His bitter sufferings and death. ”

“ Then know that short the measure, ⁠For life is never sure, And through eternity, The soul will ever be, ⁠The time for pardon wasted, In woful misery. 3. Saint Luke has plainly written ⁠About a man of pride — With riches was he smitten, ⁠And worldliness beside — He lived a little while, Luxurious in style, ⁠And fixed his heart on pleasures That only do beguile. 4. In purple was he clothed, ⁠The whiles he lived on earth, Soon vanities were loathed ⁠And pride of little worth. Death put an end to gain — He found himself in pain — ⁠And from the direst sorrow He ne'er was free again. ”

“ If, on the other hand, we recognize it all, but follow the footsteps of the world in the lusts of the eye and the flesh, and lead a proud life, we can hope for little growth in the love of God, let him be who he will, and entitled as he will, even if he have before the world the most Christian title. Since, if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ”

“ If any one hath done good by thee, Of him shalt thou ever mindful be; A heartfelt sorrow shall come to thee If thou shalt show ingratitude. 9. In thy youth thou shalt keep Thyself at labor with all zeal; Hereafter labor will be o'erhard, When thou shalt be of ripe old age. 10. Be not disturbed by every one Who claims before thine eyes to serve thee; Not all proceeds from a true heart. However sweet and lovely speaks the tongue. 11. Let not misfortune trouble thee, When success doth withdraw itself; Beginning and end are not the same, As one hath often noticed this. ”

“ But hatred, envy and hostility have an odor of death to death in themselves, and lead him who follows to death and destruction, since they are the opposite and contrary to love. This is also the case with belief and unbelief, with mercy and inclemency, with righteousness and unrighteousness, with chastity and impurity, with humility and pride. Upon the whole all godly acts have life in themselves, and bear an odor of everlasting life with them. He who will labor and let himself be governed by their strength and operation comes through them to be born again, out of death into life. ”

“ We should renounce our own unregenerated life and restrain it. We should take up willingly the cross of Christ and not be ashamed to follow Him. Oh, dear Jesus, support us and grant us Thy spirit and power. Oh, help us to overcome all that would bind us to this world. What does it amount to if we achieve great success through which the soul is lost? What does it amount to if we love the world with all its splendor and despise humility? ”

“ I considered my own unworthiness, and the unequal influence of parents in the training of children, since some seek the welfare and happiness of their children in teaching and life with their whole hearts, and turn all their energies to advance the honor of God, and the welfare of their children, but, on the other hand, others are just the opposite in life and teaching, and set evil examples before their children. ”

“ Put thy trust in God alone, On the help of men thou shalt not rely, It is only God whose faith doth hold, No other trust is there on earth. 2. Guard thine honor, avoid shame; Honor is indeed the greatest gain; If thou should'st miss a single chance, Then wilt thine honor pass away. 3. Talk not too much, but listen more, It will bring thee glory, honor, praise, With silence no one makes a slip, Gabbling leads many into sin and shame. ”

“ If we the way pursuing ⁠Should ever turn aside Unto our own undoing, ⁠Induced by worldly pride, As oft indeed has been, And for the grievous sin ⁠Might punishment severest Deservedly begin. 23. Oh, God, and glorious Father, ⁠Our failures do not heed, But for Thy Son's sake rather ⁠Be merciful indeed, So that when sorrows toss No earthly trial or loss, ⁠Not even death, itself, can Divide us from the cross. ”

“ Concerning the means to prevent these evil growths from getting the upper-hand, I see clearly that it is not an the power of man to destroy the root in the ground. God alone through the strength of his Holy Spirit must gives us this blessing. Still it is the duty of preachers and elders, parents and schoolmasters, first to themselves and their neighbors and fellow men, and then to the young to work as much as they are able through God's mercy, not only to make this stained coat hateful, but that it may be taken off. ”

“ The natural sparks of love which, after the fall, God has not permitted to be entirely quenched, but has allowed to appear and be seen in reasoning and unreasoning creatures according to their natures and attributes, will also, through improper worldly love in many respects be weakened and overcome. I will only cite the natural love among natural men. They are impelled through these sparks of love in their hearts to unite with each other in marriage. ”

“ God is willing to forgive his sin. Christ, through His righteousness, Will renew him through His spirit, And clothe him with the wedding garment. Then begins the rejoicing of the angels, When one soul is willing to repent. 19. Consider well, dear children, And practice godliness; Let not the world be a hindrance to you In your salvation and blessedness. Then you will yonder in eternity, Rejoice without pain or sorrow. ”

“ But may God, Who is a light, in Whom there is no darkness, send us His light and His truth, that they may lead and conduct us through this dark valley and shadow of death to His holy mount and to His dwelling, that we also, in truth, may say with David, Psalms xxxvi, In Thy light see we the light. ”

“ Now as helpless as new born babes are we to cleanse ourselves, but if we recognize our worthlessness and how wretched we are and are eager for the same pure milk of grace, as the new born child for its mother's milk, this healing grace of God is available for every man. If we are willing to be chastised by the wholesome grace of God, to leave our ungodly conduct and worldly desires, and would fain live piously, righteously and godfearingly in this world, we are of our own strength as unable to do this as the new born child. ”

“ It was before known to me that school teaching in this country was far different from in Germany, since there the school stands upon such pillars that the common people cannot well overthrow it, I thought of the duties which this call imposed and formed the earnest resolution to truly live up to these duties, but I saw the depraved condition of the young, and the many difficulties of this world by which they are depraved and injured by those older. ”

“ The sun and e'en the moon Are with darkness overcast; In pain He now doth reap The penalty, the reward of sin 4. Therefore, ye Christians all, Be mindful of this time, They moist His tongue with gall, In His great suffering; Through thorns, scoffs and scorn, He wins the heavenly crown, These we shall bear with joy, A trophy of His victory. 5. Oh, Jesus, let Thy sorrow, Thy bitter pain of death On me, when I must part, Be not in vain. Grant to us Thy grace, When life's end draws nigh, And when I pass death's dark vale, Then lend to me Thy guiding hand. ”

“ If any one comes up again and fails as many as three times it is shown with a word to the scholars that he has failed three times, and all shout out at him “Lazy” and then his name is written down. Now whether a child naturally fears the rod or does not fear it, this I know from experience that this shaming cry of the children gives them more pain and drives them more to study than if I should hold the rod before them and use it all the time. If such a child under these circumstances has friends in the school who can and will teach it, it will try more earnestly than before. ”

“ Let the world no longer deceive you with pleasures of the eye and of the flesh and vain living. Free your hearts from such false love, and love and betroth yourselves with Jesus, our soul's Bridegroom, who for love gave His life. ”

“ The murderer of souls all the time seeks to combat the true upright love with his false Delilah, the worldly love, which with its burden of lust is dead to the good, so that he may crush out the natural sparks of love which were remaining after the fall. ”