Things that are Good ~ William Penn

“But agriculture, says he, is especially in my eye. Let my children be husbandmen and housewives. This occupation is industrious, healthy, honest, and of good example. Like Abraham and the holy ancients, who pleased God, and obtained a good report, this leads to consider the works of God, and nature of things that are good, and diverts the mind from being taken up with the vain arts and inventions of a luxurious world.”

~ William Penn

More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Penn

Artwork from Walt Curlee
 http://www.waltcurleeart.com/WRC-RuralAmericanaSeriesMountainLandscapeOilPaintings.html

For What is Thine ~ William Penn

"We give them back to you Dear Lord,
who gavest them to us.
Yet as thou didst not lose them in giving,
so we have not lost them by their return.
For what is thine is ours always if we are thine."

~

PS I found this in a book of children's prayers credited as a 'Quaker Prayer'. It is obviously drawn from William Penn (see below)

"We give back to you, O God, those whom you gave to us. You did not lose them when you gave them to us, and we do not lose them by their return to you. Your dear son has taught us that life is eternal, and love cannot die. So death is only an horizon, and an horizon is only the limit of our sight. Open our eyes to see more clearly, and draw us closer to you that we may know that we are nearer to our loved ones, who are with you. You have told us that you are preparing a place for us; prepare us also for that place, that where you are we may also be always, O dear Lord of life and death."

~ William Penn

More at  The Lion Book of 1000 Prayers for Children
Artwork from Deborah Champion http://www.deborahchampion.co.uk/2011_05_01_archive.html

Your Day's Business ~ William Penn

"In the rush and noise of life, as you have intervals, step home within yourselves and be still. Wait upon God, and feel His good presence; this will carry you evenly through your day's business." 

 ~ William Penn

More at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Penn

Artwork from Deborah Klein www.deborahklein.net/

Twins in Soul ~ William Penn

"Friends are true twins in soul; they sympathize in every thing, and have the love and aversion. One is not happy without the other, nor can either of them be miserable alone. As if they could change bodies, they take their turns in pain as well as in pleasure; relieving one another in their most adverse conditions.What one enjoys, the other cannot want. Like the primitive Christians, they have all things in common, and no property but in one another."

 ~ William Penn

More at  http://www.ushistory.org/penn/bio.htm

Artwork by Donald Uhlin 

Light and Life ~ William Penn

"It is not opinion, or speculation, or notions of what is true, or assent to or the subscription of articles or propositions, though never so soundly worded, that ... makes a man a true believer or a true Christian. But it is a conformity of mind and practice to the will of God, in all holiness of conversation, according to the dictates of this Divine principle of Light and Life in the soul which denotes a person truly a child of God."

~  William Penn, 1692

More at  http://xroads.virginia.edu/~cap/penn/pnintro.html

We Shall All be Lovely ~ William Penn

"Love is indeed Heaven upon Earth; since Heaven above would not be Heaven without it: For where there is not Love; there is Fear: But perfect Love casts out Fear. And yet we naturally fear most to offend what we most Love. What we Love, we'll Hear; what we Love, we'll Trust; and what we Love, we'll serve, ay, and suffer for too. If you love me (says our Blessed Redeemer) keep my Commandments. Why? Why then he'll Love us; then we shall be his Friends; then he'll send us the Comforter; then whatsover we ask, we shall receive; and then where he is we shall be also, and that for ever. Behold the Fruits of Love; the Power, Vertue, Benefit and Beauty of Love! Love is above all; and when it prevails in us all, we shall all be Lovely, and in Love with God and one with another."

~ William Penn

More at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Penn

Lighting another Man's Candle ~William Penn

 "If a civil word or two will render a man happy, he must be a wretch indeed who will not give them to him. Such a disposition is like lighting another man's candle by one's own, which loses none of its brilliancy by what the other gains."

More at    http://www.quaker.org/wmpenn.html

One Religion ~ William Penn

"The humble, meek, merciful, just, pious and devout souls are everywhere of one religion; and when death has taken off the masks, they will know one another, though the divers liveries they wear here make them strangers."
William Penn 1693

True silence ~ William Penn 1699

"True silence ... is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment."

William Penn, 1699

More at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Penn