I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved, Ps. cxix, 47.

THIS everlasting and compunctious study of duty, — duty to everybody, everywhere, every day,— it keeps you questioning all the while, rasping in a torment of debates and, compunctions, till you almost groan aloud for weariness. It is as if your life itself were slavery. And then you say, with a sigh, “Oh, if I had nothing to do but just to be with Christ personally, and have my duty solely as with Him, how sweet and blessed and secret and free would it be.” Well, you may have it so; exactly this you may do and nothing more! Sad mistake that you should ever have thought otherwise! what a loss of privilege has it been! Come back then to Christ, retire into the secret place of His love, and have your whole duty personally as with Him. Only then you will make this very welcome discovery, that, as you are personally given up to Christ’s person, you are going where He goes, helping what He does, keeping ever dear, bright company with Him, in all His motions of good and sympathy, refusing even to let Him suffer without suffering with Him. And so you will do a great many more duties than you even think of now; only they will all be sweet and easy and free, even as your love is.
Horace Bushnell.