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  SHAPING OF CHARACTER BY TRUTH
  by Phillips Brooks
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Summary: The shaping of character by truth is the great purpose of life,
beginning early and continuing through all stages of life.

Topics: "Character Development", "Spiritual Growth"
Scripture References: Psalm 51:6, Proverbs 12:22, Proverbs 23:23, John 8:32, John 14:6, John 16:13, Ephesians 4:15, Colossians 3:9, James 1:22, 1 John 3:18

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DESCRIPTION
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Phillips Brooks preaches about the importance of seeking truth in the
inward parts to shape our character throughout life. This process begins
from the earliest moments of conscious existence and continues to evolve
as we grow. In the early stages of life, truth enters through obedient
trust, while later it comes through individual conviction. Brooks
emphasizes the need to honor both channels of truth in order to maintain
the symmetry and unity of life, cautioning against disregarding either
half or clinging to traditional ideas without personal conviction.

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CONTENT
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"Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts"

(Ps. 51:6).

The great purpose of life--the shaping of character by truth--is to be
sought in all the life. There are no wasted hours. It must begin in the
life's morning and run on till the nightfall comes. With the first
opening of conscious existence--nay, who can say how long before
existence becomes conscious--this process, the shaping of character by
truth, begins. In each period of the changing life it may change its
methods and yet be the same process still. In the early life the channel
through which truth enters for its work is obedient trust. Later it is
individual conviction; but he mangles the life, and loses its symmetry
and unity, who breaks off either half or dishonours either channel; who
either thinks there can be no religion till the mind can understand its
grounds, or tries to keep the mature mind under the power of traditional
ideas of which it has received no personal conviction.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/phillips-brooks/shaping-of-character-by-truth/
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