Doing God's Will - Catherine Booth

[b]Doing God's Will - Catherine Booth[/b]

I don't believe i any religion apart from doing the will of God. Faith is the uniting link between it and the soul but if we don't do the will of our Father it will then be broken. If my dear husband can find a sphere where he can preach the gospel to the masses I shall want no further evidence as to the will of God concerning him. If he cannot find a sphere I shall conclude that we are mistaken and be willing to wait until one opens up. But I cannot believe that we ought to wait until God guarantees us as much salary as we now receive. I think we ought to do His will and trust Him to send us the supply of our need... but I am willing to go with my dear husband either way and do all I can to help him which ever way he decides upon.

(Catherine to her mother, 24 June 1861)

[b]All Or Nothing - Catherine Booth[/b]

I do not find two standards of Christian experience... at all. I do not believe God ever intended there should be a lower life and a higher life, and I am afraid that those people who rest in the lower life will find themselves awfully mistaken at last. ?I believe that religion is all or nothing. God is either first, or he is nowhere with us, individually. The very essence and core of religion is 'God first', and allegiance and obedience to Him first.

(Catherine in London's West End, summer 1880)

[b]Essence Of The Gospel - Catherine Booth[/b]

All through the New Testament, and indeed the Bible, no truth is taught with greater force and frequency than this, that without a vital union of the soul with Christ all ceremonies, creeds, beliefs, professions, church ordinances, are sounding brass and tinkling cymbals, and all who trust in them will be deceived. This is the very essence of the gospel. Christ came on purpose for us to have union with Himself. What is the result of this union? 'That we should bring forth fruit unto God.' Jesus Christ recognizes the fact that we are still in the body; still in the world; and that we are open to the attacks of Satan. He has foreseen and has provided for the temptations which come to us through our natural appetites and instincts and desires, as they came to Him.

(Catherine in 1880)

[b]True Prayer - Catherine Booth[/b]

Prayer is agony of soul, a wrestling of the spirit. You know how men and women deal with one another when they are in desperate earnestness for something to be done. That is prayer, whether it be to man or to God; and when you get your heart influenced and melted and wrought up and burdened by the Holy Ghost for souls, you will have power, and you will never pray but somebody will be convinced, some poor soul's dark eyes will be opened and spiritual life will commence.

(Catherine in St. James's Hall, London 1881)

[b]Selfish Prayers - Catherine Booth[/b]

I believe in my soul that this is the great reason why thousands of Christians pray and never get answers. They are selfish in their prayers. Mothers tell me that they have prayed for their children for years, and not had one of them converted. Why? Because they prayed merely selfish prayers, because they were their children, or because they wanted them to be religious, so that they would not bring disgrace upon the family, or it would be so nice to have them religious. They don't want them to cut off the vanities and fooleries of this world and them wholly to Christ. That would be too much. They want just enough religion to make them a comfort to themselves. Would you answer such prayers if you were God?

(Catherine 1881)