The more familiar acquaintance we have with God the more do we partake of him. He that passes by the fire may have some gleams of heat, but he that stands by it has his colour changed. It is not possible that a man should have any long conference with God and be no whit affected. If we are strangers to God it is no wonder that our faces become earthy.

Summary

This quote suggests that the more we know and experience God, the more we are transformed by His presence. The comparison to passing by a fire implies that even a brief encounter with God can have some impact, just as passing by a fire can give off a glimpse of heat. However, it is through prolonged and intimate communion with God that we truly undergo a significant change. The quote also implies that if we remain strangers to God, we will lack the transformative effect that comes from knowing Him, resulting in being stagnant and disconnected from the divine.

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