Reading Henry Scougal - thoughts on true religion

"forced and artificial religion is commonly heavy and languid, like the motion of a weight forced upward: it is cold and spiritless, like the uneasy compliance of a wife married against her will, who carries it dutifully toward the husband whom she doth not love, out of some sense of virtue or honor. Hence also this religion is scant and niggardly, especially in those duties which do greates violence to men's carnal inclinations, and those slavish spirits will be sure to do no more than is absolutely required ...they will ever be putting such glosses on it, as may leave themselves the greatest liberty: whereas the spirit of true reliegion is frank and liberal, far from such peevish and narrow reckoning; and he who hath given hiself entirely unto God, will never think he doth too much for him."

- from The Life of God in the Soul of Man by Rev. Henry Scougal (A book I bought from the book shop at Covenant Fellowship Church, where we visited two Sundays ago.)

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These thoughts exactly complimented the Scripture I read this morning, from Paul's letter to Philemon:

"I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord...Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say." - Philemon 1:14, 21 ESV

I want to be a person like that. It comes from having the love of God in me.