You'll never believe who said this!

I love studing history! Just today, I came across these comments from a historical figure who lived in the 18th century. I'd love to see some guesses as to who penned these thoughts. I'll post the answer in a day or two.

I firmly believe it requires but a little philosophy to make a man happy in whatsoever state he is. This consists in a full resignation to the will of Providence, and a resigned soul finds pleasure in a path strewed with briers and thorns.

Need another clue? Here's one more quote:

"In this situation I was constantly exposed to danger and death. How unhappy such a situation for a man tormented with fear, which is vain if no danger comes, and if it does, only augments the pain! It was my happiness to be destitute of this afflicting passion, with which I had the greatest reason to be affected. The prowling wolves diverted my nocturnal hours with perpetual howlings, and the various species of animals in this vast forest, in the daytime, were continually in my view."

Happy guessing!

P.S. How do I get back to the left margin? Everytime I do a block quote, it's indented more than the last time. Help!

At Least They Get Some Interaction

I was getting my teeth cleaned by a new hygienist, and, typical of dental workers, she was asking me questions about myself that I could barely answer, being that her hands were in my mouth. Anyway, she asked how many children I had (4), and if I was a stay-at-home mom (yes), and then, if I homeschooled (yes). "Is there an organization for homeschoolers?" she continued. I told her about the myriad of options, both at the state and national level, as well as the local groups sponsored by many churches. "That's good," she said. "At least they get some interaction." I had to let it go. After all, I was at a great disadvantage, only being able to utter a few syllables at a time. But what in the world did she mean? Well, I guess I know what she meant, but how is it that people think that the larger the group of children, the better the interaction? When you're at a party, or a restaurant, or the neighborhood pool, how many people can you relate to at once? With how many people can you have a good conversation at one time? 25? And remember your childhood? Which field trips were the most fun and interesting -- the ones where you were herded about in a large group, or the ones where you got to explore on your own, or get personalized attention? Anyway, I just need to vent a little. Five years ago, I would have needed to vent a lot more. Now, I'm more amused than anything, and feel a little sorry for this 50-something-year-old married woman with no children of her own who means well.

How thick is a Rhino's skin?

I had just finished reading aloud a chapter from The Princess and the Goblin when my son S asked, "Mom, do rhinoceroses have thick skin?" What a mental leap! "Yes," I answered, wondering where this was going, not to mention where it came from. "If you shot two flaming poisonous arrows into it, would it die?" was his next query. Hmmm. Any rhino experts out there?

Edwards on Calvinism

I've been reading a biography of Jonathan Edwards, and was very interested to find out his change of belief regarding the doctrines of predestination and election as he grew spiritually. Quoting from Ian Murray's biography, which is quoting Edwards' Personal Narrative:

"From my childhood up, my mind had been full of objections against the doctrine
of God's sovereignty in choosing whom he would to eternal life, and
rejecting whom he pleased; leaving them eternally to perish, and be
everlastingly tormented in hell. It used to appear like a horrible doctrine
to me,"

and later, after coming to a new conviction on the subject:

"But I have often, since that first conviction, had quite another kind of sense of God's sovereignty than I had then. I have often since had not only a conviction, but a delightful conviction...Absolute sovereignty is what I love to ascribe to God. But my first conviction was not so."

So what produced this change? It is what Ian Murray describes as the "Valley of Humiliation" in Edwards' life. Quoting again from Murray:

"He learned by experience, as others had done before him, that while those who have little awareness of the real nature of sin may assert man's ability to repent and believe, . . . those who know the true condition of human nature (italics mine) can find comfort only in the knowledge that God saves by his sovereign good pleasure adn for the praise of the glory of his grace. . . Men must be saved by sovereign mercy or not at all."