'Do you ask what piety is? It is leaving time for
consideration. You may perhaps tell me that herein I differ from him who
defines piety as the worship of God; I do not really differ from him.
If you well consider the point you will find that I have expressed his
meaning in my own words, only partly, however, I admit. What is so
essential to the worship of God as the practice to which He exhorts in
the psalm, Be still and see that I am God? This certainly is the chief
object of consideration. Is anything, in all respects, so influential as
consideration? Does it not by a kindly anticipation create the
divisions of the active life itself, in a manner rehearsing and
arranging beforehand what has to be done? There must be consideration
lest haply affairs which foreseen and premeditated might turn out well,
may, if precipitated, be fraught with peril.'
