The Works of the Lord and the Mercies of God as Hidden Clues.

Chasing something else, I came across this from the 17th Century Puritan Thomas Goodwin on looking for evidence in our lives of the love and friendship of God - he is commenting on Psalm 111.2 "Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who have pleasure in them."

 

(This, may partly explain why photography doubles as a form of contemplative and grateful seeing!)

 

"The LORD is gracious and full of compassion. This is the grand discovery of all the searching, and therein lies the glory that is the conclusion of all. As in searching into any experiments in nature, there is an infinite pleasure that accompanies such a study to them that are addicted thereunto; so to [each] that hath pleasure in the works of God, and is addicted to spy out his kindness in them, there is nothing so pleasant as the discovery of new circumstances of mercy that render his work glorious and honourable. Get, therefore, skill in his dealings with thee, and study thy friend's carriage to thee. It is the end why he raised thee up, and admitted thee into friendship with him, to show his art of love and friendship to thee; to show, in a word, how well he could love thee."

 

Thomas Goodwin. Holiness in the Heart and Life. Works Vol. 7. (Edinburgh: James Nichol, 1863) p.213.

 

Photo from the walled Garden at Holthill Gardens near Windermere