--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The pious heart therefore perceives a…" description: "\"“The pious heart therefore perceives a division in itself, being partly affected with delight through a knowledge of the divine goodness, partly distre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8b/william-cunningham-81132_christianity_the-pious-heart-therefore-perceives-a-di_2433026.jpg" --- # The pious heart therefore perceives a division in itself… ![“The pious heart therefore perceives a division in itself, being partly affected with delight through a knowledge of the divine goodness, partly distressed with sorrow through a sense of its own calamity; partly relying on the promise of the gospel, partly trembling at the evidence of its own…” quote by William Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8b/william-cunningham-81132_christianity_the-pious-heart-therefore-perceives-a-di_2433026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8b/william-cunningham-81132_christianity_the-pious-heart-therefore-perceives-a-di_2433026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8b/william-cunningham-81132_christianity_the-pious-heart-therefore-perceives-a-di_2433026.jpg) > ““The pious heart therefore perceives a division in itself, being partly affected with delight through a knowledge of the divine goodness, partly distressed with sorrow through a sense of its own calamity; partly relying on the promise of the gospel, partly trembling at the evidence of its own iniquity; partly exulting in the knowledge of life, partly alarmed by the fear of death. This variation happens through the imperfection of faith; since we are never so happy during the present life as to be cured of all diffidence, and entirely filled and possessed by faith. Hence those conflicts, in which the diffidence which adheres to the relics of the flesh rises up in opposition to the faith formed in the heart. But if in the mind of the believer assurance be mixed with doubts, do we not always come to this point, that faith consists not in a certain and clear, but only in an obscure and perplexed knowledge of the divine will respecting us? Not at all. For if we are distracted by various thoughts, we are not therefore entirely divested of faith; neither, though harassed by the agitations of diffidence, are we therefore immerged in its abyss; nor if we be shaken, are we therefore overthrown. For the invariable issue of this contest is, that faith at length surmounts those difficulties from which, while it is encompassed with them, it appears to be in danger.”” William Cunningham ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faith is portrayed as a conflicted inner experience, mixing delight, sorrow, doubt, and assurance, yet ultimately persisting despite inner turmoil. **In simple terms:** Faith mixes joy and doubt but endures. Key Takeaway Embrace doubts as part of faith’s growth. Themes faith spirituality inner conflict resilience Mood reflective hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal meditation - sermons - counseling sessions - spiritual retreats Key Concepts theology human psychology existential doubt Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile moments of doubt with your belief? - What practices help you maintain faith amid inner conflict? A Different Perspective Faith may be weakened by persistent anxiety and external pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fear of death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-death/) [Present life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-life/) ## Related quotes > [O pious of the heart, I am lost in a love, so great---O pain the hidden secrets will become open debate---Shipwrecked we just float,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hafez/o-pious-of-the-heart-i-am-lost-in-a-love-so-great-o-pain-the-hidden/) [Hafez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hafez/) > [I dont cry for love because I know love is always as clear or as beautiful as my heart perceives it to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ganda-wickliffe/i-dont-cry-for-love-because-i-know-love-is-always-as-clear-or-as/) [Ganda Wickliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ganda-wickliffe/) > [Eyes see only light, ears hear only sound, but a listening heart perceives meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/eyes-see-only-light-ears-hear-only-sound-but-a-listening-heart/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [It is the heart which perceives God and not the reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/it-is-the-heart-which-perceives-god-and-not-the-reason/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“Our emotions often stand in direct opposition to our faith in the Lord and what He is achieving for us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-stanley/our-emotions-often-stand-in-direct-opposition-to-our-faith-in-the/) [Charles F. 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Hence those conflicts, in which the diffidence which adheres to the relics of the flesh rises up in opposition to the faith formed in the heart. But if in the mind of the believer assurance be mixed with doubts, do we not always come to this point, that faith consists not in a certain and clear, but only in an obscure and perplexed knowledge of the divine will respecting us? Not at all. For if we are distracted by various thoughts, we are not therefore entirely divested of faith; neither, though harassed by the agitations of diffidence, are we therefore immerged in its abyss; nor if we be shaken, are we therefore overthrown. 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