Joy being of God was a living thing, a fountain not a cistern, one of those divine things that are possessed only as they overflow and flow away, and not easily come by because it must break into human life through the hard crust of sin and contingency. Joy came now here, now there, was held and escaped.

Meaning: The saying turns a sickroom into a chapel, suggesting illness can become an occasion for devotion. It connects a vulnerable setting with religious attention.

Meaning: Generosity is imagined as receiving an unexpected return through divine care. The door-and-window image expresses trust that giving need not mean simple loss, without guaranteeing repayment or material reward.

Meaning: A place dedicated to good can still face an opposing influence. The paired church and chapel give that tension a religious image.

Meaning: Being physically close to a place of worship does not ensure spiritual sincerity. The saying challenges reliance on outward religious association when conduct does not reflect the values being professed.