In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations, they first harmonized their families. Wishing to harmonize their families, they first cultivated themselves. Wishing to cultivate themselves, they first rectified their minds. Those who wished to rectify their minds first made their intentions sincere.
We all want to fix things. Just as we all believe that so much in life can be rectified. Mend fences, build bridges, reach out, engage in mutual healing.
The regenerate man's desires are rectified; they are set on God himself, and the things above. . . Before, he saw no beauty in Christ, for which he was to be desired; but now he is all he desires, he is altogether lovely. . . regenerating grace sets the affections so firmly on God, that the man is disposed, at God's command, to quit his hold of every thing else, in order to keep his hold of Christ. . . If the stream of our affections were never thus turned, we are, doubtless, going down the stream into the pit.
If language is not rectified, words do not correspond to meaning, and if words do not correspond to meaning, our deeds cannot be accomplished.
Evil acts of the past are never rectified by evil acts of the present.
