Text of the meditation
Love, meekness, gentleness, self-accusation, forgiveness, patience, compassion, reproof: these are the works of the Spirit. The flesh flatters; the Spirit reproves. The flesh blindly gratifies; the Spirit wisely disciplines. The flesh loves secrecy; the Spirit is open and clear.
The flesh remembers the injury of a friend; the Spirit forgives the bitterest enemy. The flesh is noisy and rude; the Spirit is silent and gracious. The flesh is subject to moods; the Spirit is always calm. The flesh incites to impatience and anger; the Spirit controls with patience and serenity.
The flesh is thoughtless; the Spirit is thoughtful. Hatred, pride, harshness, accusing others, revenge, anger, cruelty and flattery: these are the works of the flesh.
James Allen (1864–1912), Book of Meditations for Every Day in the Year (1913) – public-domain text, gently modernised.
The original 1913 text is in the public domain.
