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THE

Treasures of Time
FOR

OLD AND YOUNG

FORMING

AN ENCYCLOPEDIA
OF THE WISEST WORDS OF THE WISEST MEN OF ALL AGES AND COUNTRIES,
ON HOME AND BUSINESS TRAINING, SELF-HELP, CHARACTER,
DUTY, THE SECRET OF SUCCESS, ETC. PRESENTING IN SUGGESTIVE FORM THEIR

IDEALS OF

LIFE.

A\
O. E.

FULLER,

M. A.,
Author of "The Year or Christ."

For mine own

I

shall be g-lad to learn of noble

part.

men.

Shakespeare.

CHICAGO:
CO-OPERATIVE PUBLISHING HOUSE,
1882.

Entered according to Act of Congress,

O.
In the

otiice of

in the year 1882,

by

E FULLER,

the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

PREFACE.
'jTHE
not

its

by man."

as

This

We

I.

Duty,

we keep

Mr. Carlyle,

says

Situation,"

"

that

has

was never yet occupied

implies at least two more
Ideal,

its

fact

succeed in any position just in proportion

and

before us

seek to realize the

Ideal

of Excellence which that position requires.

The man or woman without an Ideal

II.

is

nothing but a weary, hopeless plodder.

Appreciating, therefore, the importance of proper conceptions of Life in

its

manifold aspects, the

Author and Editor of this volume has aimed ta

construct a series of wholesome Ideals, or Patternsof Life

helpful

which, he trusts, will prove suggestive and*

to

all

who

are

preparing to take their

place in the great arena of action, as also to those

already in the midst of the battle

some
same yesterday,

to illustrate, in
11

the

And

since

sort, the

to-day,

passages from

always striving

greatness of Truth,.

and forever."
Life's

Drama

are

most eminent degree, along the trialpaths of the great Thinkers and Actors of the
found, in the

world,

his

chief reliance

for

material,

after

that

afforded by the Divine Master, has been the out-

come or record of

their lives

" Lives spent in serving

Through labor

for

Humanity."

God

Life

is to

May

call,

Aud

who

As
The

My

Duty s
f

labor where'er

with strength

to

voice

spurn the baser choice

so triumphs, angels zvrite his

name

one deserving more than mortal fame.

conflict is at

sold!

and

to

hand!

Take up thy

whatever

shield,

battle-field

Thou rangest, nerve thyself to courage there,

And, flinging scorn upon that word Despair,

Remember aye

this verse

The Helper yonder helps

of

lofty cheer:

the helper her**

CONTENTS.

f*vi %h*i.
Page

Key-Notes

What

For

Page

10

Perseverance

11

47

Pursuit of the Ideal

18

Economy
Labor and Greatness

Duty

24

Failures and Successes 63

Work
Work and Worship

27

Prayer

69

30

Faith

74

to Live

Life-Work

....

Concentration

.Prudence

32

Hope

42

Charity

45

The Day

ynvi

57

77

80
of Judgment

85

jSstattir.

Key- Notes

90

Uprightness

God

91

Courtesy

The Second Man

51

116

119

94

Courage

125

Immanuel

100

Decision

130

Simplicity

103

Character

133

137

Ill

Common Sense
A Ballad for
New- Year Day

114

Eternity

148

Virtue

105

Goodness

108

Conscience

Truth and Obedience

Time.

(v)

140

IDEALS OF LIFE.

VI

J?nrf

(Spirit.

Page

Key-Notes

152

Sponge, or Fountain

.....

153

Home

160

Childhood

......

165

Plighted Love

Education

Teachers
Books

Page

What

Encouragement, or

Carried to College

178

Woman's Work

182

Health

....

185

Recreation

Jnti

....

Key-Notes

The Two Helpers

Purity

Food for the Soul

....
....

Gilead

.....

Affliction

Immortality

211

220

225

^ottrifc*

288

Forsaken

291

268

276

DS

278

282

258

Spiritual Thirst

260

Liff's

Completion

300

262

Death

....

306

316

of the
337

342
.

Repentance

Sympathy

333

Unbelief

206

250

Satisfied

Under the Stars

201

245

....
....

Forgiveness

326

Sphinx

197

238

317

The Riddle

193

The Seven Woi

233

Personality Forever

190

Reformation

Jtntt

Key-Notes

189

232

The Angel of Prayer 255

Tribulation

Wedded Love
Children

Opportunities

Temptation

171

Ambition

Employment

....

296

Wity.
The Flowers
Wages of Sin
Heaven
Hell
The Divine Law
Resignation

348
352
358

362
.

....

365

368

Life

371

In One

376

CONTEXTS.

3?ari

....

Vi-l

jMttfc
Page

Page

384

Cheerfulness

The Beautiful Plant

385

Competition

Brotherhood

390

Cold- Water Pourers

398

Detraction

Fame

400

Temperance

Pastors

404

Honesty

406

Devotion, or the

Key-Notes

....

Eloquence

Zeal.

......

Nature

408

414

....

420
425

....
....

431

435
441

Secret of Success

445

ynvi *tt*!tt$
Key-Notes

Truth
But One Physician

Confusion

Conversion

464

Imagination

468

The Great Stone Face 494

....

469

Patience

470

Reward

Greatness

....

....

482

....
....
.

...

486

489

496

499

474

fnti
Key-Notes

479

460

Appreciation.

Originality

Music

453
.

Etches

Evil-Eyed

452

504

JHsW.
The Soldier

of Christ 533

Learning

505

Rest

535

Money

510

Thanks

539

Contentment.

513

Prayers

544

517

Praises

560

521

Proverbs

563

Freedom

525

Index of Authors

Action

528

Index of Subjects

Transformations

Fate

575

593

"

IDEALS OF LIFE.

viii

u$lmit0n$*

Page
1.

Morning

2.

"

3.

The Spendthrift

4.

"Thou

5.

"The beauty

of a wayside flower"

6.

"The Hours

swept on in their rapid flight"

7.

"God's music round the common hearth"

8.

"Dear Recreation claims her hour"

9.

Frontis-piece-.

When I

52

art the true

"Behold

30

have idle been"

angel not

this

any

10.

"Is there

11.

"By and by

12.

"And

13.

Nooning

and undefiled"

ease

from

one in

my

105

to

....

be

"

191

had?"

231/.

260
333

another sleep"

348

with their vernal beauty rife"

386

man

14-

15.

"What

16.

"Let crimson Battle tread on

17.

"The major

18.

"He

19.

"The thread

20.

"There remaineth

river of beneficence to

44&

though the venerable oak be broken"

is the

1J/.1

225

disguise

pain

"

The

103

notes

^55

460

and minor"

rainbow of
of

many a bosom"

life

479

the heart"

will soon be

therefore

.,,....

517

....

552

wound"

rest to the people of

God" 567

Iff

Jiwt,

S*p-S* c ILo, I

to

come

do Thy

to

Men must know that

God and the angels to
It

is

will,

Hebrews,

God.

human life it remaineth

Lord Bacon.

in this theatre of

be lookers-on.

man

an uncontroverted truth that no

who understood

his

I have never

own

talents,

known an

healthy or happy without

nor a good one

individual, least of

a profession,

which does not depend on the

will

i.

of the

all

and

only

ever made an ill figure

who mistook them.

Dean

Swift.

an individual of genius,

some regular employment,

moment, and which can be

carried on so far mechanically, that an average

spirits

x. 9.

quantum only of

health,

intellectual exertion are requisite to its faithful discharge.

Coleridge.
Time and

patience change the mulberry leaf to satin.

Oriental
Do

what thou dost as

And

if

Proverb.

the earth were heaven,

that thy last day were the

judgment day.

Charles
(10)

Kingsley.

Treasures of Time.
k

JJjhI

^HROUGH

^ To work

Which

in

When
The
out

in

Jthtt "Irm,

and strength of

purity
to

some high mark,

the heavens
all

below

firmament

common
is

Like the

has hung
are

like

stars, too,

they

around which they revolve,

centre,

their glory.

And

that

the life-giving Ideal suggested by the pro-

phetic announcement,

Wisdom
Humanity,

of

and from which they derive

centre

still

dark.

is

the stars in multitude.

have a

shining

is

Ideals of Life, which

the

will

"

Lo,

come

to

do Thy

will,

God," rounded by these other words of the Divine

Man,

"

My

meat

is

to

do the

me and to finish His work."

Work is the essence of

will

all

of

Him

that sent

wholesome

Ideals,

heaven-appointed work, of the heart, of the brain,

of the hands
Something
Something

to

be done,

to

be won

(ii)

IDEALS OF LIFE.

12

and under the Eye which

diligent

and a terror

Work,

is

always a glory to the

to the idle.

glorified as duty,

tain of happiness,

and the
"

excellent in the earth.

a man," says Mr. Carlyle,

nestly works.

is

the perennial foun-

source

There
"

of

is

that

is

always hope

in

all

that actually

In idleness alone

and earn-

there perpetual

is

despair."

Work

is

the law of our being

the

living prin-

men and nations onward. The

number of men have to work with their

ciple that carries

greater

hands, as a matter of necessity,

but

must work

all

would enjoy

it

life

one way or another,

in

as

order to

in

it

ought

live

they

if

be enjoyed.

to

Labor may be a burden and a chastisement, but

Without it nothing
is also an honor and a glory.
be accomplished.

can

All that

comes through work, and

Were

great

is

civilization

labor abolished, the race of

is its

man

in

product.

Adam were

at

once stricken by moral death.

It is

idleness that

is

the curse of

Idleness eats the heart out of

men

man

not labor.

as of nations,

and

consumes them as rust does iron. When Alexander conquered the Persians, and had an opportunity
of observing their manners, he remarked that they
did not

more

seem conscious

servile than a

than a

life

When

of

life

that there could be anything

of pleasure, or

more

princely

toil.

the

Emperor Severus

lay on his death-

bed at York, whither he had been borne on a

from the foot of the Grampians,

his final

litter

watchword

WHAT
co his soldiers

TO LIVE FOE.

was, " Laboremtis" (we must wor

and nothing but constant

and

13

toil

maintained the power

extended the authority of the

Roman

generals.

In describing the earlier social condition of Italy,

when

the ordinary occupations of rural

life

were

considered compatible with the highest civic dignity,

Pliny speaks of the triumphant generals and their

men

returning contentedly to the plough.

days the lands were

tilled

In those

by the hands even of

generals, the soil exulting beneath

a ploughshare

and guided by a husbandman

graced with triumphs " Ipsorum tunc manibus im-

crowned with

laurels,

peratorum colebantur agri

ut fas est credere gau-

dente terra vomere laureate et triumphale aratore."

It

was only

ployed

came

And

in

to

became extensively em-

after slaves

all

departments of industry that labor

be regarded as dishonorable and

servile.

so soon as indolence and luxury

became the
characteristics of the ruling classes of Rome, the
downfall of the empire, sooner or later, was inevitSamuel Smiles.
able.
Happiness, prosperity and safety

in any attained
upon
work,
depend
which,
of some sort or
position
other, may be pursued by even* member of the race.
" "We are not born," says Goethe, " to solve the
problem of the universe, but to find out what we
have to do, and to confine ourselves within the
limits of our power of comprehension.''
And we

make the discovery.

every man, who has eyes to

need not go
reveals to

to hear, his

far to

proper work.

honor and glory

is

to

do

it

And

Providence
see and ears

then the mark of

faithfully.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

14

have always remembered something

many

nothing

made a

he was commonly

who from

Standing one day on

vast estate.

the deck of one of his

called,

numerous

ships,

he observed

a carpenter busy at some matter of repairs.

Thompson,"

said he, "

why do you

replied
I

not do

Johnny

it

so

in-

" Billy Gray,"

way you are doing it ?
"
the man,
why do you speak so to me ?
remember you when you were nothing but

a poor drummer-boy? "

"

Ah," rejoined Mr. Gray,

Thompson, but

"ah, Johnny
I

"

"

stead of the

Don't

heard

years ago of die late Mr. Gray, of Boston,

"Billy Gray," as

have thought of

this

didn't

I drum well?"

a thousand times, for there

is

it.
To do well what we have to
sums up the whole practical end of living. The
honest purpose and endeavor to do so puts every-

a great deal in

do,,

this

one on an equal footing of worthiness.

secret of acceptable goodness,

of happiness.

life

One
ness

is

the

and the secret also

all that is worth

All true 'happiness,

the name, lies in a

our

It

harmony between

and the duties

of

our place

the spirit of

in life.

of the pleasantest sights of serene happi-

ever saw was an old woman, whose

narrowed down and

restricted

activity of sitting in

an arm-chair by the

by

life

was

infirmity to the sole

fireside of a

humble dwelling and knitting and mending the

stockings of the children and

could play and work.

Thankful

grandchildren that
for the

arm-chair

and the clean-swept hearth, she passed her contented and cheerful days in doing well what she
could do.

To me

that old

arm-chair was trans-

WHAT TO LIVE

filled

15

more

figured to a throne of glory

than an imperial throne

FOR.

by a

be envied

to

selfish,

monarch, and a divine radiance invested

pant and

and the glare

industry that outshone the glitter

golden sceptres and jewelled swords of

To do our duty

in

well

whatever

state.

whether

be,

it

of

to^

saw wood, or grind knives,

work it be to do it well, to do-

streets, to

whatever lowliest
it

occu-

its

her homely implements and humble

all

sweep the

ambitious

a sense of duty, unites us to the Highest

One

by a bond that nothing can break, gains us a position

in the

nothing

infinite spiritual

can

received

cast

universe, from which

We

down.

us

may

No

only a very small fraction of one.

we

faithful,

far as

shall live to just as

our worthiness

had a million

talents

poorest cobbler who,

to

God and man,

is

in

C.

ent,

out of love

ruler of the

earth, just as acceptable

stands before the

that
flies

on flaming wings

Sovereign to the armies

that have their stations

our duty

has pleased

live for

we
The

among

the stars.

Henry.

S.

To do
it

all.

his calling, is

righteous

the

kingdom on the

Heaven

spirit,

does the work of

Throne of the universe, or

of

good a purpose, so

a dutiful

to carry the orders of his

if

concerned, as though

the highest archangel

as

matter,

and improved them

just as acceptable as

greatest

not have

nor two, nor even one, but

ten talents,

which

God

in that station

to call us,

is full

is

of

life

into

which

the infinite thing

to*

of blessed realities in the pres-

and prophetic of an ever-brightening

future,

IDEALS OF

16
11

LIFE.

Forgetting those things which are behind," how-

ever pleasant they have been, the diligent doer of

duty has but one aim, and that

is

to

press for-

ward.

Every young man, as he stands on the threshold

of

preparing to step forward into the vague,

life,

uncertain future,

may

take to his heart the trumpet-

words of Saint Simon:

like

"L'age

d'or, qu'une

aveugle tradition a place jusqiiici dans la passe,

.est

devant nous"

(The

golden age, which a blind

tradition has hitherto placed in the past,

What

us).

is

before

has been possible to our fellows

is

possible to us, and something, perhaps, which never

was by them achieved. Hope is ours, and love,

and truth, and honor high aspiration and earnest
;

prayer

the consciousness of a battle well fought

and a victory well won. The race may be a long

one, and the way rugged and thorny, but mayhap
there are flowers in many a bosky nook, and we
shall feel,

though we may not discern, the presence

of the angels like a soundless wind on a

We

sea.

know

have only to take heart and work.

the conditions of success

tience,

summer

diligence and

and a firm purpose and a

We
pa-

lofty aim, self-reli-

ance, courage, self-denial, self-elevation.

These are

if we submit to the necessary disshould we not ? Is not this life

why
And
cipline.
the vestibule of eternity, and shall we neglect or

within our reach

despise

we

not

itual

it

as a thing worthless and wearisome

know

nature

it

to

be the training place of our

Do we

not

know

Do
spir-

that the faculties

WHAT TO LIVE
grow

cultivated here will

hereafter

into a glorious fruition

how

it

crushes back the evil impulse

it

moral elevation which

wonder

expend

it

When we

yields, of the

it

we are lost in
fools who idly turn

involves,

it

at the infatuation of the

to

it

How

braces up the soul,

bethink ourselves of the pleasure

from

17

Ah, the nobleness of labor

develops the thought,

how

FOR.

their lives in luxurious indulgence.

But when we speak of labor we mean something

more than the occupation of the business day, something more than the toil that properly belongs to

we mean

our respective callings;

that general pro-

cess of culture

by which mind, soul and body

are benefited

we mean

tion

and

finish

all

alike

that assiduous prepara-

which carefully occupies the hours

amusement or

not devoted to

plex humanity has

many

our assiduous vigilance

Our com-

repose.

sides, all of

which demand

we regard

this vigilance

duty. W.

part and parcel of our daily

as

H. D.

Adams.

Two men

honor, and no third.

worn craftsman
laboriously

that

conquers

Venerable

man's.

to

First, the toil-

implement

with earth-made
the

me

is

earth and

makes her

the hard hand, crooked,

coarse, wherein notwithstanding lies a cunning virtue,

indefeasibly royal, as

planet

if

the

Toil

art in thy duty,

be out of

it

sceptre

on,

who may

toil
;

of this

on

thou

thou toilest

for the altogether indispensable, for daily bread.

A
.him

second

who

is

man

honor, and

still

more highly

seen toiling for the spiritually indispen-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

IS

sable, not daily bread, but the

he,

too,

harmony
his

all

duty

his

in

bread of

life.

Is

not

endeavoring towards inward

revealing this by act or by word, through

outward endeavors, be they high or low.

Highest of

all,

endeavors are

when his outward and his inward

one when we can name him artist
;

not earthly craftsman only, but inspired thinker,

who

with heaven-made implement conquers heaven for

us

Carlyle.

JPttrsitH

Who

is

ofj

%fod*

i\t

she that looketh forth as the morning,

Fair as the moon,

Clear as the sun,

And

terrible as

Song

,J)NE who
<2x^

And

an army with banners

holds

my

heart forever,

bless her night

Night and day where'er

She

is

ever on

my

of Solomon,

and day:

wander,

way.

Tender maiden, watchful maiden,

Friend to

And
All

me

she

is

alway,

with countenance angelic

my

baser thoughts doth fray.

tv. io

PURSUIT OF THE IDEAL.

Now

me and

she chides

she guides me,

go astray:
Then she scorns me and she warns me,
If to rest my head I lay.
If

by chance

Purer than the virgin dew-drops,

And more
Clothed she

And

beautiful than they,

is

in

lily-meekness

a youth forever May.

Who would not rejoice to woo her,

Who is clad in such array?
Who would not rejoice to win her,
Who may never know decay?
Fairer maiden, rarer maiden,

Poet never

may

portray

Purer maiden, truer maiden,

Never dwelt

in

mortal clay.

And such charms she always

And so modest to display
Oh my airy, fairy maiden
Over me hath perfect sway

weareth,

Should King Oberon, the Fairy,

Haply from

And

He
Such

his

kingdom

be questioned

if

stray,

he love her,

could never answer nay

his

And

eager heart to woo her,

her to his realm convey,

19,

20

Where

DEALS OF JJFK.

her beauty would enthrone her

Queen

of every elf and fay.

Oh, her smile to

Than

And

me

is

better

the sparkle of Tokay,

the sweetness of her silence

Than
But. ah

harems of Cathay.

all

me

she e'er so coy

is

And I always hate delay

my heart grows dark within

Oft

Void of hope's

For when

celestial ray.

would

Blushingly she

me,

fain

flits

embrace

her,

away,

Darting, glancing like a sunbeam,

As

if

mocking

my

dismay

Leaving me, and then returning,

Like the sunlight

And my

soul

is

spray

in the

half distracted

With such Tantalus-survey.

Why

will

not the cruel maiden

Once my beauty- thirst allay?

Doth she stoop at last to vengeance,
Dooming me a castaway ?
Airy maiden,

Do

fairy

not keep

Linger yet a

me

little,

Maiden, yet a

maiden,
thus at bay

maiden

little

stay.

PURSUIT OF THE IDEAL.

Ah, she

Though
Doth

sue and

inveigh

will

not deiom to listen

then,

ask her

listen,

she,

Ah, she

If

not deign to

will

if

my

21

love repay

she love me,

Blushing, she will nothing say,

Nothing answer

convince me,

to

Nothing, neither nay or yea.

But retreating,

softly fleeting,

Like a rainbow, heavenly gay,

She doth

And

And

call

call

me,

cannot but obey.

and eager -hearted

as bold

As

me, she doth

who

a school -boy,

Bright -hued butterflies

O'er the fragrant,

at play

in

chasing

new -mown

hay,

Vexed, successless, yet determined

On

the capture of his prey,

Which

allures

him and eludes him,

Follow

softly as

pursue

my

From
Till

the

maiden

morning

twilight grey,

the mists of evening gather,

And no
All

airy

may

he

my

conquest doth defray

yearnings and

For she every

my

heart- beats,

art doth slay.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

22

Yet with new and

To

allure her

light endeavor,

essay,

Purposing no base inaction

And no
Till

sluggard's welaway,

touch the happy

Crowned on

And I
And

think

feel

pay

earthly,

here

if

never

maiden, as

pray,

yon sphere eternal

shall in

Prosper

Where

and

she seemeth to betray

Win my
I

heart grows better,

airy chase

Where
I

my

count not what

For the

For

altar,

with the fadeless bay.

her love for aye

in

the splendor of the virgin

Satisfies the heart straightway,

And
Of

all

work

is

but the rhythm

a blessed holiday,

But the worship and the freedom

Of

And

a blessed holy -day;

the

rhyme

that never changes,

Fringes the Celestial Lay.

Too

late did

love Thee,

Fairness, so ancient

I love Thee
Too
and yet so new
For
behold, Thou wert within, and I without, and there
I, unlovely,
rushed heedlessly
did I seek Thee

late did

PURSUIT OF THE IDEAL.

among

the things of beauty

wert with me, but

me

kept

things

23

Thou

Thou madest.

Those

was not with Thee.

from Thee, which, unless

they

Thou calledst, and

were not.
criedest aloud, and forcedst open my deafness.
Thou didst gleam and shine, and chase away my
blindness.
Thou didst exhale odors, and I drew
were

my

in

Thee,

in

breath,

and do pant

Thee.

after

tasted,

and do hunger and thirst. Thou

and I burn for Thy peace. St. Augustine.

didst teach me,

The

its

Duty,

was never yet occupied by man.

Yes

Situation that has not

is

thy Ideal

believe, live,

work
be

now

standest, here or

out therefrom

it

Fool

free.

the impediment, too,

Ideal,

here,

in

hampered, despicable Actual,

this poor, miserable,

wherein thou even

its

is

and working,

the Ideal

in thyself:

nowhere

is in thyself,

thy Condition

is

but the stuff thou art to shape that same Ideal out

what matters whether such

of:

or

so the

that,

etic

Form

thou give

O, thou that pinest

stuff
it

be of

this sort

be heroic, be po-

in the

imprisonment of

the Actual, and criest bitterly to the gods

kingdom wherein to rule and create, know

a truth
thee, "

the thing thou

seekest

is

for

this of

already with

here or nowhere," couldst thou only see

Carlyle.

We

cannot understand the Actual of a character

or system without
Ideal.

in

some degree entering

into

its

Miss Greenwell.

All visible greatness grows in looking at an invisible that is greater.

James Martineau.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

24

lilt

yl?HE

Undone

petty Done, the

vast

**^

So once a Poet sung,

By both the Present and the Past
Upraided, goaded, stung.

And it were well if all had

To see the Infinite,

eyes

Humbled, exalted, and grown wise

In all-enfolding light.

And

it

were well

'had pain

if all

Which passes human

In view of

Not yet

there

all

is

speech,
to gain,

within their reach.

But eyes and pain with valiant

Abashed by no "Too late,"

To choose Eternal Duty's part

Where no accusers wait.
Duty

wondrous thought,

heart,

that workest neither

by any threat, but

naked
law in the soul, and
merely by holding up thy

by fond

insinuation, flattery, nor

so extorting

for

always obedience

always reverence,

thyself
;

before

whom

dumb, however secretly they

Duty

is

far

more than

love.

all

rebel.
It is

if

not

appetites are

Kant.
the upholding

law through which the weakest become strong, with-

DUTY.
out which

all

strength

25.

No

unstable as water.

is

however harmoniously framed and

character,

glori-

ously gifted, can be complete without this abiding

principle

moral

edifice

goodness,

cement which binds the whole

the

is

it

without which

together,

intellect, truth,

all

happiness, love

power,

itself,

can

have no permanence but all the fabric of existence

crumbles away from under us, and leaves us at last
;

the midst of a ruin,

sitting" in

own

is

based upon a sense of justice

inspired by love, which

goodness.

Duty

pervading the

and

in acts,

is

and

exhibits itself in conduct

it

which are mainly determined by man's

Everybody ought

have a flag

something

one

is

to

to live

something

by and die

not only not ashamed

an honor and a glory to avow.

carry his flag aloft
tain

and defend

it,

and

sa-

by, convictions

of,

but counts

it

Everybody should

unfurled^ ready to main-

to suffer

The man who has no

be.

-justice

not a sentiment, but a principle

is

life:

Smiles.

that

the most perfect form of

conscience and freewill.

cred,

our

at

Mrs. Jameson.

desolation.

Duty

astonished

and
flag,

to die for

it if

need

or does not carry

it

unfurled where duty, honor and manliness bid him

do
fit

so, is

a thoroughly base and

neither to live nor to die.

anything heroic

in him,

mean man.
So far from

the worth of a

life ?

What

man who

Just nothing at

nothing but to

is

he lacks the essential ingre-

dients of tolerable respectability of character.

is

He

havino-

all,

eat, drink,

does not prefer duty to

or at best he is good for

make money

perhaps, and

WEALS OF

26

LIFE.

Thousands of men and

soldiers, sailors,
medical men, fathers,
mothers, nurses do their duty every day in peril
then moulchr to dust.

women

of their

They are not canonized

lives.

they would be thought meanly of

How

if

for

they did

it,

but

it

not.'

from

universally the cowardice that shrinks

dangerous duty

C.

Henry.
Remember your honor, which raises you above
fortune and above kings by that alone, and not" by
is

despised.

S.

the splendor of

which

glory acquired

titles, is

that glory

be your happiness and pride

will

it

mit unspotted to your posterity.

to trans-

Vittoria

Co-

lonna.

My

brother, the brave

Give

away.
pect to

sell

price, for

it,

has to give his Life

thou

thy Life in an adequate

dost not ex-

manner

to thyself, the

why,

God's entire Crea-

the price which would content thee

that,

thou wilt be candid, nothing short of that

all

and

for

it

thou wouldst have

unreasonable mortal
infinite mortal,

who,

in

seemest so unreasonable
Life,

Give

nothing
it

or,

all.

that

and

It is

Thou

art

if

thy

an

rather, thou art a poor,

thy narrow clay-prison here,

!

Thou

wilt

never

sell

thy

or any part of thy Life, in a satisfactory man-

ner.

for

just

whole Universe of Space, the

whole Eternity of Time, and what they hold

is

What

The

example, would content thee?

price of thy Life to thee,

tion

man

advise thee

it,

like a royal heart; let the price

be

thou hast then, in a certain sense, got All

Carlyle.

become more and more

alive to the happiness

WORK.
which consists
there

is

27

in the fulfillment

of Duty,

no other so deep and so

real.

believe

There

is

only one great object in the world which deserves

our

efforts,

and that

is,

good of mankind.

the

De

TOCQUEVILLE.
"

The word Duty,"

George Wilson, a

said

dis-

tinguished professor in the University of Edinburgh,

when almost worn out in faithful work, " The word

Duty seems to me the biggest word in the world,
and

is

uppermost

in ail

my

serious doings."

mm k
m\ LITTLE
<2x

^ How

in

birds of grace,

my work

ye sing

Ye make my heart your

And all your gladness

When

How
The

my

place,

bring.

heart,

and doubts of

leave the

work

And

in

nesting

swiftly pass the days

fears

And

My

ye are

all

room

life

to praise.

find like play,

day long

depart

rejoice

IDEALS OF LIFE,

28

But

if I

hear

With

linger on

fervor

my

way,

warning voice

this

work and

pray,

And let not coldness come

Or birds of grace will fly away
To seek a warmer home.

We
doings

enjoy ourselves only

;

and our best doing

our work,

in

is

in

our

our best enjoyment.

Jacobi.
I

have

perennial

fire-proof,

employments.

enjoyments, called

Richter.

Wouldst thou discover Nature's true path to

happiness ? Listen to her first command
Labor
fly
him
who
swiftly
has
daily
to
occuThe hours
pation a lifetime creeps slowly away with the idle.
:

Leopold.

grow up in labor;
only through labor does a human being become
and joys of

All the virtues

truly a man.

life

Work and

love,

these

body and soul of human being happy

with whom they are one.
Auerbach.
the

The very

is

are

he

exercise of industry immediately in

and hath an innate satisfaction

which tempereth all annoyance, and even ingratiateth the pains going with it.
Barrow.
It sweeteneth our enjoyments, and seasoneth
itself is

delightful,

Barrow.
Is the world a great harmonious organ, where
all parts are played, and where all play parts
and
?
Dr. Donne.
must thou alone sit and hear it
our attainments with a delightful

relish.

WORK.

There

so

To be
far

spirituality at

genuinely useful,

To be

spiritual.

humanly useful, is to be
O. B. Frothingham.

Work

in

all

without use.

and culminates in
in any way, is to be

continues,

begins,

Spirituality

use.

no

is

29

nobly,

comprehensively,

spiritual in a

grand way.

every hour, paid or unpaid.

See only

that thou work, and thou canst not escape the reward.

Whether thy work be

fine or coarse, planting

or writing epics, so only

thine

own

approbation,

it

it

be honest work, done to

shall

earn a reward to the

senses as well as to the thoughts.

thing well done

A man

is

to

corn

have done

it.

The reward

of a

Emerson.

should inure himself to voluntary labor,

and should not give up to indulgence and pleasure

as they beget no good constitution of body, nor
knowledge of the mind. Socrates.
Employment, which Galen calls " nature's physician,"

lence

is

is

human happiness

so essential to

justly considered the

that indo-

mother of misery.

Robert Burton.

The

wise prove, and the foolish confess, by their

conduct, that a

worth leading.

life

of

employment

Paley.

is

the only

life

IDEALS OF

Hjork tmb
|7[?0 labor

is

^ As some

And

LIFE.

llfarsljrjt.

to pray,

dear saint has said

with this truth for

Have

many

a day

been comforted.

The Lord has made me bold

When
And

have labored most,

with His gifts so manifold

Has given

When

have

Holy Ghost.

the

idle

been

Until the sun went down,

Mine eyes so dim have never seen

His bright, prophetic crown.

Lord for work

Which maketh time so fleet,
praise the

In which accusers never lurk,

Whose end

is

very sweet.

There is a perennial nobleness, and even sacredWork. Were he never so benighted, forgetful of his high calling, there is always hope in a
man that actually and earnestly works in Idleness
alone is there perpetual despair. Work, never so
Mammonish, mean, is in communication with Nature the real desire to get Work done will itself
ness, in

"

When

have idle been

Until the sun went down,

Mine
His

eyes so dim have never seen

bright, prophetic crown."

WORK AND
more and more

lead one

WORSHIP.

31

to truth, to Nature's ap-

pointments and regulations, which are truth.

The latest Gospel in this world is, Know thy

work and do it. 'Know thyself:' long enough has
that poor 'self of thine tormented thee; thou wilt

never get to

'

know

it,

'

believe

knowing

business, this of

Think

it

thyself; thou art

not thy

an un-

knowable individual know what thou canst work

That will be
at and work at it, like a Hercules
:

thy better plan.

It

in

has been written, 'an endless significance

Work

'

man

himself by working.

perfects

Foul jungles are cleared away,

instead,

and

fair seed-fields rise

and withal the man himbe a jungle and foul, unwhole-

stately cities

self first ceases to

lies

some desert

thereby.
Consider how, even in the
meanest sorts of Labor, the whole soul of a man is

composed

harmony the

into a kind of real

he sets himself to work

Doubt, Desire, Sorrow,

Remorse, Indignation, Despair

hell-dogs,

lie

but he bends himself

with free valor against his task, and

of Labor in him,
all
is

poison

made
is

is

is it

not as purifying

fire,

burnt up, and of sour smoke

is

bright, blessed flame

All true
ligion

these are

all

murmuring far off into their

now a man. The blessed glow

these shrink

The man

caves.

these, like

itself, all

beleaguering the soul of the poor day-

worker as of every man

stilled, all

instant

wherein

itself

there

Carlyle.

Work is Religion and whatsoever ReWork may go and dwell among the
:

not

Brahmins,

Antinomians,

Spinning

Dervishes,

or

IDEALS OF LIFE.

32

where it will with me it shall have no harbor.

Admirable was that of the old Monks, Laborare
;

'

est

Orare' (Work
All true

it

Work

Worship).

is
is

sacred

in all true

but true hand labor, there

Carlyle.

is

something of divine-

summit

in

and up from that

to

Labor, wide as the Earth, has

ness.

Sweat of the brow

Heaven.

Work, were

its

sweat of the brain, sweat of the heart, which

cludes
all

all

Kepler

Sciences,

Martyrdoms,

calculations,

spoken Epics,

all

up

to that

men have

'

which

all

this is

not 'worship,' then,

worship

for this is

up,

my

there,

alone

life

say,

Who

of

toil ?
;

God's Eternity

surviving

celestial

of bloody sweat,'

O, brother,

the

more

pity for

art thou that corn-

see thy
;

Look
fellow- workmen

Complain
surviving

not.

there,

Carlyle.

Jftfe-^o^L

"^

they

Band of the Immortals,

the Empire of Mankind.

sacred

Bodyguard of

f^ES,

if

the noblest thing yet discov-

wearied brother
in

Agony

meditations,

acted Heroisms,

all

called divine

ered under God's sky.

plainest of thy

Newton

in-

have found the work at

Which Providence alone

last

forecast;

LIFE- WOHK.

And nevermore
Save when

for

labor

me is
at my

33
rest,

best.

Dear younger brother, wouldst thou know

The way the Master loves to show
His will and wish? The search is vain,
Unless

There

it

is

be through

and

pain.

no easy lesson here

Where wisdom
Most

toil

lingers

many a

year.

never know,

their vocation

Since wisdom comes so slow, so slow

Discerning not the

They walk

the

will

way

of God,

the fathers trod,

And He who marks

the sparrow's

Observes His lowly children

fall,

all.

But thou of hunger hast the smart

Pent up within a conscious heart.
God's providence

speaking there,

is

Telling what thou shouldst do and dare.

Be bold

to

heed the

silent voice

And crucify each meaner choice

Or else forever lose the place
Assigned thee

in the

realm of Grace.

God speaks not many times to those

To whom His will He would disclose.
Have

No

they, alas,

no ears

more, no more

He

to hear,

draweth near.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

34

He

needs thee not against thy

will,

Thy little place His hand can fill.

From stones can He, of old I AM,
Raise children unto Abraham.

So thou, thy work to know and do,

Must unto Providence be true,
And heed the signals and the signs,
Although the

light but dimly shines.

What though

the signs are not so plain

As to shut out
The doubt and

all

doubt and pain

While thou remain'st

What if the
And in thy
Ah, they

in

less

idleness.

signals be but faint,

heart there

is

complaint?

will all the fainter

During thine

When

grow

pain will not

be

inactivity.

once the signal voice

is

heard,

And the unfathomed heart is stirred

To action, we have found the way
Where life is greater than to-day,
(However vast

And

treasures be)

boldly claims eternity.

Henceforth

By

its

we no more reckon worth

the arithmetic of earth.

The great
Often

is

small, the small

in after estimate,

is

great,

LIFE-WORK.

35

And nobler aims and visions rise

What time we see with other eyes.
"Hast thou despised the

Know

little

things

thou the smallest duty brings

prophecy of coming time,

For thee ignoble or sublime.

The

of

gifts

God

Little or great,

What

the

thou dost not use,

thou dost abuse.

comes at last
From thee be taken what thou hast

Thy

if

forfeit

sacred trusts each day increase

Evening

shall

bring a psalm of peace,

And

in

The

lantern of the

a broader circle shine

The blessed

Word

things of

Divine.

God no more

Shall be as shadow, as before,

and sublime,
To grow more fair by use and time.
But

real,

Stand

precious,

still,

the darkness on thy track

Pushes no more

its

Halt not, the light

And

thine

is

column back.
gleams wide and

an unsetting-

far,

star.

There always will be clouds. Thy mark

May sometimes vanish in the dark.

What
It is

then

thy

trial

Wilt thou at

oh

beware

this
!

despair

IDEALS OF

36

LIFE.

Renew thy faltering zeal and trust

The Lord, O creature of the dust.
Young faith will perish in the night,
If

thou dost only walk by sight.

Without the sun, the air, the earth,

The seed comes not unto its birth
Its hidden power of life will die,
Or dormant in its prison lie.

Without the word and deed, the thought

Is to no blessed uses brought,
But quickly withers from the soul,
Evanishing beyond control.
Act

purpose of thy heart,

to the

And

Providence, with wondrous

Shall fashion

it

Transmuting

all

to

art,

beauty there,

thy

work and

prayer,

it shall come to be thy life,

Grown strong in every manly strife,
And, when the time is ripe, approve
Thee for the Master's work of love.

Till

If
life

you desire

by holes

circular,

and
wood

in

some

to represent the various parts in

a table of different shapes,

some

triangular,

shapes,

square,

some

some oblong

these parts by bits

the persons acting

of similar

we

shall

of

generally find

that the triangular person has got into the square

hole,

the

oblong

into

the

triangular,

while

the

LIFE-WORK.

37

square person has squeezed himself into the round

Sydney Smith.

hole.

The

errors committed in the choice of a voca-

sometimes amusing, or would be so if we

could forget how serious might have been their
tion are

The parents of Claude Lorraine,

who divides with our own Turner the supremacy
in landscape - painting, would have made him a
consequences.

pastry-cook!
for

insight,
his

into

kind of

His brother was a

keener of

little

he took him from the pastry-cook's

own
work

shop, a wood-carver's

there was at least

the development of

was intended by

his

his

artistic

father

and

in

this

more room for

Turner

faculty.

for

but inglorious trade of a barber.

ever, a design of a coat-of-arms

the

respectable

One day, howw hich the boy

T

had scratched on a silver salver attracted the attention of a customer whom his father was shaving, and he was so struck by its promise that
he strongly recommended the
with his

fere
art

latter not to inter-

evident bias.

son's

The

lover

of

almost shudders at the thought of what the

world would have

cook,

had Claude continued a

Turner shaved the bristling

lost

and

pastry

chins

of his father's patrons.

No
made

W.

H. D. Adams.
doubt parents and guardians have often
mistakes
but far more numerous have
;

been the mistakes of young men whom an imprudent ambition or a greed of gain has led into
paths they were incompetent to
fully.

As

a rule,

it

is

tread

success-

always best to accept and

IDEALS OF LIFE.

38

upon the advice of our elders. The avocamay be uncongenial, and after a while it may
appear plainly unsuitable.
It will then be open
act

tion

to

us to seize the

another career,

have

can be done without injury.

if this

Intarrces there will

always be, similar to those

we

already set before the reader, of a strong

and masterful

talent asserting itself in the face of

every discouragement,
its

opportunity of choosing

first

and seeking

natural and legitimate

member

and finding

But

outlet.

with humility that such talent

let
is

us re-

given to

and with gratitude that Heaven estimates our life-work not by its brilliancy but by
If we do our duty, it matters not
its honesty.
whether we be the leaders in the fore front of
the battle, or only the rank and file.
In fixing

very

few,

upon a

pursuit,

let

us,

therefore,

be guided by

nobler thoughts than those of ambition, emulation

or envy.

Let us bethink

saying that the greatest

ourselves

man

is

of the old

he who chooses

most unconquerable resolution who

withstands the sorest temptations within and without who patiently bears the weightiest burdens
right with the

who

is

calmest in the storm, and most fearless

menace; whose faith

God, is most unfaltering.

under frown and

in virtue, in

be great sculptors,

in truth,

We

can-

not

all

men

of letters or successful merchants or wealthy

manufacturers.

not

lie

painters,

The dishonor and

in the choice of

musicians,

the failure

do

a lowly trade, or even in

the unfortunate selection of the

wrong vocation;

LIFE- WORK.

our not doing the work before us

they

lie

in

with

all

our might.

shoemaker but it
to make bad shoes.
Blessed

is

work," and,

It

is

"

39

no disgrace

is

W.

H. D. Adams.

temptations and persuasions to

a man's true work

should

who found
who resists

he," says Carlyle, "

should be added,

it

be a

to

a shame for a shoemaker

is

abandon

as sacred as his

all

For
and

his

life.

it.

life

never be relinquished but with

his

The following parable is a good illustration

There were, once upon a time, two men who
:

were
in

were
the

Beauty,

The

but whose characters and pursuits

friends,

life

The one was a

lover of

as he

of Use.

other a lover,

had given up

latter

purposes

different.

"

his

life

said,

to

"practical

he had built houses for the poor, he

had arranged the sanitary measures of a city, he

had visited the prisons and hospitals, and had
And his chartoiled to save disease and crime.
acter and

strength were suited to this work, so

that he did

The

it

well.

other had spent his

life

in

examining the

he had studied its laws in nature and

and he devoted himself in retirement to expressing what he had discovered in the most
his enthusiasm pushed
beautiful manner possible
would
men
think
that
be interested in his
him to
work, and his aim was to awaken in the world
the love of Beauty by giving a high and noble
Beautiful

art,

pleasure.

the

first

He
thine,

did not care to teach morality as

but to

make

beautiful things fa-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

40

and by bringing these beautiful things

before men, to refine imaginations not as yet remiliar

fined,

they could see the more ideal beauty.

till

This being his work, and his character and phy-

temper being suited

and he did nothing else.
sical

was he seen

poor, nor

to

it,

He

he did

did not visit the

His money

hospitals.

in

well,

it

was spent on

beautiful things such as he

for his work,

not on sanitary improvements and

wanted

model cottages.
With this life and with this expenditure his
friend became angry.
will
What
he said,
you make poems while famine is making death ?
The poor are perishing God's children are being done to death
disease and crime are devouring the nation, and you sit still in your
poetic and artistic leisure, producing only words.
Throw away all this useless work, attack evil,
!'

'

'

expose oppression, cleanse the

foul

dwelling, see

and realize what poverty and pain mean. To

what purpose is this waste ? Those things which
you call beautiful might be sold for much money
and given to the poor.' So he spake in his dark
anger and the spirit of his friend was moved,
;

and he
world.
ical

went
It

forth

to

the

rude work

sickened and dismayed him

power went from him

ing the Beautiful

his

of the
poet-

his faculty for reveal-

passed away

his delicacy

and

sympathy caused him to break down in contact

crime and disease. He tried hard, but it
was a failure his life was ruined and no good
with

LIFE-WORK.

He

was done.
and trying

may be

It

God

but

man
man

" in

written

one hand

them

and

to do,

be happy

in

work.

his

but

it

and

find that, as

is

caused by

on the

idle people,

doing what was appointed for

in

fail

less evident that

the breaking of thy heart,"

" in

misery

infinite

no

sweat of thy brow,"

thou shalt eat bread

who both

me

to
to

the

was never written

certainty, that

world without

to live in this

seems

it

he intends every
is

much

proved, with

intends no

working

It

work,

friends

his

he ceased to be able to do

it,

Stopford A. Brooke.

own.

his

not do

could

do

to

41

set in motion certain

springs of

mischief in matters in which they should have had

no concern, so
misery

on

caused

is

the other hand, no small

by over-worked and unhappy

people, in the dark views which

take up themselves,

work

Were

itself.

and force
not

it

so,

they necessarily

upon

others,

unhappy is in itself a violation of

and a sign of some kind of folly or

their being

vine law,
in their

way

of

may be happy

Now

life.

in

order

work, these

in their

of

believe the fact of

di-

sin

that people

three

things

must be fit for it they must

not do too much of it; and they must have a

are

needed

they

sense of success in
as needs

ledge, that so

or

faithfully

say about
4

it

not

some testimony

confirmation, but a

and

sure

a doubtful sense such

of other
sense, or

people for
rather

know-

much work has been done

done, whatever the world may
it.

So

that

in

its

order that a

well,

think

man

IDEALS OF LIFE.

42

may be

happy,

it

is

necessary that he should not

only be capable of his work, but a good judge of

his

work.

Ruskin.

Sottamlrslmm
f )pO eyes that see what is divine,
^>
-heaven-appointed work is mine

Naught else have I the power to do,

And keep the sense of being true.

For when

The

still

And

sometimes turn

small voice

resolutely call

Peace

My

will

sure to chide

me back

not leave her chosen track.

lowly work

Which has

Some

is

aside,

other

need not name,

for thee, perhaps,

work

no claim

belongs to thee,

In which thou canst be true

That work alone pursue

and

free.

pursue

Until the earth shall fade from view

And

thy devotion will insure

The

daily triumphs that endure.

Wise

concentration

of purpose

on

a single

CONCENTRATION.
object

made Faraday a great

apprentice

When

chemist.

a book -binder's

in

43

knowl-

his scanty leisure to the acquisition of the

edge
after

for

which

soul

his

the

In

thirsted.

work he learned the beginnings of

losophy

from

books

the

him

given

an

he devoted

shop,

hours

his phi-

bind.

to

There were two that helped him materially, the

" Encyclopaedia Britannica," from which he gained
his first notions of electricity, and Mrs. Marcet's
"

Conversations

Chemistry," which afforded an

in

introduction to that science of wonders.

he obtained his master's permission

series of scientific lectures at a

In time

to attend

Mr. Tatum's, and

afterwards, through the kindness of a gentleman

who had

noticed and admired his remarkable in-

he was

dustry and intelligence,

last four

public lectures

"The eager student

at

the

Humphry Davy.

sat in the gallery, just over

and took copious notes of the Profes-

the clock,
sor's

Sir

of

present

explanation

of

radiant

matter,

chlorine,

simple inflammables and metals, while he watched

the experiments that were performed.

he wrote the lectures

ume

that

portions,

is

still

then

finally

Sir

Humphry Davy,
intense

first,

experiments

and
his

out in a quarto vol-

fairly

preserved

the

an index."

Afterwards

the theoretical

with

Sending these
with

attachment to

letter

scientific

drawings,
notes

to

explaining

research,

he

was offered the post of. assistant in the laboratory

of the Royal Institution of London.
Gladly he
accepted

it,

with

its

weekly wage of twenty-five

IDEALS OF LIFE.

44

and the advantage

room in the
house. Thenceforward his career was assured
but it must be remembered that the renown
which gilded it was won by Faraday's unwavshillings

of

Adams.

ering pursuit of a single end.

concentration

object which

the

of

energy and

upon

talent

most important

for

us to

absolute disregard of

every

is

it

no

secure,

implies

other.

Because a traveller presses forward reso-

lutely

the desired haven, and refuses to wan-

to

der from the direct road,

by no means follows

it

no eyes for the blossoms that

shine by the wayside, no ears for the music of
the brook that ripples through the bracken.
An
that he shall have

indifference

nobles

life

success,

to
is

that

of

is,

highest

the

and

Because Faraday made chemistry

kind.

pursuit,

up

physical

Because John Stuart Mill gave himto political economy and metahe

inquiry,

did

Just as the general

not deny

himself

who

the

Adams.

scatters his soldiers

about the country ensures defeat, so does he

whose attention
innumerable
in

his great

chiefly

sweet pleasures of botany and music.

all

purest

he did not neglect every other branch

of science.
self

everything that brightens or en-

very apt to militate against success

force

short,

forever diffused through such

channels that

on any one

point.

it

never

can

The human

gather
mind, in

resembles a burning-glass, whose rays are

intense
glass

is

only as they are

burns only when

its

concentrated.
light

is

As

the

conveyed to

PRUDENCE.

45

the focal point, so the former illumines the world

of science, literature, or business, only

directed to

other

solitary

illustration,

object.

what

is

Or,

when

it

is

take an-

to

more powerless

than

the scattered clouds of steam as they rise in the

sky

They

that

fall

trated

impotent as

are as

nightly

upon

and condensed

in

the

into the

sea,

and

earth

dewdrops

but

concen-

a steam-boiler, they are

able to cut through solid

tains

the

to

rock,

to

move moun-

bring the Antipodes

Anonymous.

to our doors.

3?ritb*m&
[E prudent, yet be not afraid

No

ghost by fear was ever

Nor any mountain made a

laid,

plain.

With bold and prudent

step advance
Without one thought of luck or chance,

Success

will

follow in thy train.

Prudence but impart her skill,

The legions of the mighty Will
Can storm the gates of Paradise
Who has them fighting on his side
Will from the field in triumph ride,
Though all the world against him
If

rise.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

46

Prudence
son,

discretion,

combination of wisdom, rea-

the

is

and common sense

the offspring

good
and the

of a clear head, a correct judgment, and a

heart.

future

regards the past, the present,

It

time and eternity

known duty

investigates

impartiality,

condemns

acts

of

from

shrinks

coolness

and

reasons

correctly,

decision

and

The prudent man meets

reluctantly.

dispensations

the

with

never

Providence

calmly

views

is
mankind in the clear sunshine of charity
guided by the golden rule in his dealings cherand soars, in peerishes universal philanthropy
less majesty, above the trifling vanities and corrupting vices of the world, and lives in constant
readiness to enter the mansions of bliss beyond
;

of tears.

this

vale

sult

of shining talents,

learning.

It

It

is

not the consequent re-

brilliant

genius or great

has been truly said by Dr. Young,

and demonstrated by thousands, With the talents

of an angel, a man may be a fool. A profound
scholar

may

astonish the world with his scientific

researches and discoveries

a flood of light

immortal mind
revelation

tude

pour upon

the

man

mankind

and enrapture

with the beauties

point erring

direct

illuminate

the

of expounded

to the path of recti-

anxious mind to the Saviour's

and render himself powerless in the cause

truth by imprudent and inconsistent practices.

love
of

"

One

How empty learning, and how vain is art

Save when it guides the life, and mends the heart."
grain of prudence

is

of

more value than

PERSEVERANCE.
a

cranium crowded with unbridled genius, or a

flowing stream of vain wit.

of

47

human

Without

life.

It

is

the real ballast

dangers gather quick

it,

and fast around the frail bark of man, and hurry

him on to destruction. The shores of time are
wrecks,

with

lined

Imprudence.
Is

estate,

he

who

driven

before

the

gales

as

his

temporal

man

prudent

designs

lays

out any prospect

maining part of

or

to,

to

only for a day,

provision

for,

with-

the

Tillotson.

life ?

y$vummn.
jTRHINE enemy of greatness sings,
*^ Yet pours contempt on little things.

brand him with

his

shame,

And purge the chambers of thy

And bid him with his lie depart,
And all who bear his name.
Be right, be firm be strong of
Which in defeat continues still
;

Where

heart,

will,

daily duties are

Admiring angels soon

Thee with

And

of

L. C. Judson.

will bless

the sweetness of success,

hide thine evil star.

re-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

48

performances of human

All the

we

art,

at

which

look with praise or wonder, are instances of

the resistless force of perseverance

that

quarry

the

countries

distant

becomes a pyramid,
are

united with

man was

to

portion

yet those petty

by

is

it

and

canals.

this

that
If

compare the effect of a single stroke

of the pick-axe, or of one impression of a spade,
with the general design and last result, he would
be overwhelmed by the sense of their dispro;

incessantly

surmount the greatest diffiand mountains are levelled, and oceans

time

continued, in
culties,

operations,

bounded, by the slender force of human beings.

It

those

is,

therefore of the utmost importance that

who have any

intention of deviating from

and acquiring a reputation superior to names hourly swept away by

time among the refuse of fame, should add to
their reason and their spirit, the power of perthe beaten

roads of

life,

purpose

sisting in their

acquire the art of sap-

and the habit of

vanquishing obstinate resistance by obstinate atDr. Johnson.
tacks.
People may tell you of your being unfit for
some peculiar occupation in life but heed them
Whatever employ you follow with persenot.
ping what they cannot batter

verance and assiduity

it

will

be your support

fort in age.

profession,

great

will

In

very

abilities

in

be found

fit

for

you

youth and your com-

learning the useful part of any

moderate

abilities

will

suffice

are generally injurious to the pos-

PERSEVERANCE.

the allusion

most

iron

but

Goldsmith.

policy
hot,

is

ever the most apt to stray from

swift are

That

to a race

improves by observing that the

still

course.

the

been compared

Life has

sessors.

49-

can

that

only

strike

while

the

be overcome by that perseve-

will

make

rance which, like Cromwell's, can

the iron

and he that can only rule the

must yield to him who can both raise

hot by striking;

storm

and

rule

Colton.

it.

working

Perseverance,

in

the

right direction,

time, and when steadily

humble, will rarely
most
even by the

grows with

Trusting

reward.

comparatively

When

use.

little

help

the

in

practiced,
fail

others

of

one

Angelo's principal patrons died he

of

its

is

of

of Michael
said,

" I

be-

gin to understand that the promises of the world

are for the most part vain phantoms, and that to
confide

one's

in

and become something of

and safest counsel.

self,

worth and value,

,,

the best

is

Smiles.

Acting
the

wrote

English

one of the great ornaments of

stage

does

not,

Dogberry's

like

come by nature " with

all the high qualities which go to the formation
of a great exponent of the book of life (for so
and

reading

the stage

4i

may

What wound

grees

justly

impossible,

totally

"

man, say

says
I,

"

writing,

did

our

be

to

called),

leap

ever

at

heal

immortal

it

impossible,

is

once

to

fame.

but by slow de-

author

and what

ever became an actor without a long

IDEALS OF LIFE.

50

and sedulous apprenticeship

know

many
jump

that

men

think to step from behind a counter or

from the high stool of an office to the boards,

and take the town by storm

"

Othello,"

idiots

"

is

as

Richard

easy as lying."

They remind me

"

in

O,

and

flutter

or

born

the

of the halfpenny candles

stuck in the windows on illumination nights

flicker

"

they

and go out

their brief minute,

unheeded.

Kean.
While yet a youth, says a successful business
man, in giving his early experience, I entered a
one day,

store

"

wanted.
swer,

all

when

No

and asked

in

"

being

too

reflected that

a clerk was

if

a rough tone,

busy
if

to

not

was the an-

bother

with

me

they did not want a clerk

they might want a laborer, but

was dressed too

my lodgings, put on a
fine for that.
I went to
rough garb, and the next day went into the same
store and demanded if they did not want a porwhen
ter, and again " No, sir," was the response
I

I
I

exclaimed, in despair almost,

will

ject.
ful in

"A

laborer?

Sir,

work at any wages. Wages is not my obI must have employ, and I want to be usebusiness."

These

last

remarks attracted

their attention

was hired as a laborer in the

and
basement and sub -cellar at a very low pay,
scarcely enough to keep body and soul together.
In the basement and sub-cellar I soon attracted the attention of the counting-house and
in the end

chief clerk.

saved enough for

my

employers,

ECONOMY.

51

pay my wages
I
ten times over, and they soon found it out.
did not let anybody about commit petty larin

little

things usually wasted,

to

without remonstrance and threats

cenies

posure, and

exposure

real

of ex-

remonstrance would

if

I did not ask for any two hours' leave.

was
wanted
If I
at three in the morning I never
growled, and told everybody to go home, "and I

not do.

will

see everything right."

break packages

for the

them
meant

In

myself.
to be

rose,

morning

short,

indispensable

and

rose,

until

boats, or carried

became

soon
to

my

and family

a great

in

as

became head of the

or any

city.

himself

Anonymous.

Jkotmtmj*

^^

OW

quietly

yon maple

branches to the

Its

Because

it

uses

all

lifts

skies,

the gifts

Which Providence

supplies

Economy of every gift

Which God on us bestows
Produces grace and strength and

And

all

employers, and

money enough for any luxury

a mercantile man may desire for

house, with
position

loaded off at day-

that from

them grows.

thrift


IDEALS OF LIFE.

52

makes each day a stepping-stone

To mark the sure increase,
The silent climbing which alone
It

Imparts the sense of peace.

It

gives a task to every power,

Proportioned to

its

range

And Recreation has her

And Friendship sweet
It

hour,

exchange.

does not suffer any waste

Of substance, time or health,

Nor ever plunge in headlong haste

To

gain ensnaring wealth

But gathers wholesome property

For uses manifold,

Becoming that high alchemy
Whose wonders are untold.

Economy
and of ease

is

the parent of integrity, of liberty,

and the beauteous sister of temperance, of cheerfulness, and health; and profuseness
that gradually inis a cruel and crafty demon
volves her followers in dependence and debts
;

that
their
It

living

is,

fetters

souls.
is,

in

irons

that enter

into

Dr. Johnson.

indeed,
all

them with

important that the standard of

classes

should be high

should include the comforts of

life,

the

neatness and order in our dwellings,

that

is,

it

means of
and such

ECONOMY,

53

supplies of our wants as are fitted to secure vig-

But how many waste

orous health.

earn-

their

on indulgences which may be spared, and

thus have no resource for a dark day, and are
always trembling on the brink of pauperism
ings

Needless expenses keep many too poor for

And

improvement.

among

habits

sive

and

sacrifice

say, that

expen-

laborers

of them-

culture

How many among them

to appetite
How many

their families.

to the love of show, to the

it

outstripping

and

others,

which grow out of

country so
laborer

me

more prosperous

the

improvement

sacrifice

let

with the mental

often interfere

selves

here

self-

this

insatiable

danger of contracting

and diseased

and

tastes;

as

of

expense

of

passion

and luxurious

thriving

is in

habits

to

desire

In a

ours,

artificial

to gratify these

the

wants

he gives

himself wholly to accumulation, and sells his mind

for

gain.

Our

unparalleled prosperity

been an unmixed good.

has

diseased

It

not

has inflamed cupidity,

imagination

the

has

with

dreams

of

boundless success, and plunged a vast multitude

.

into excessive toils, feverish competitions,

hausting cares.

laborer having secured a neat

home and a wholesome

more

for

the

and ex-

senses

table,

should ask nothing-

but shoulcj consecrate his

and what may be spared of his earnings

the culture of himself and his family, to the

leisure,

to

pleasant and
sympathy and the offices
the enjoyment of the beau-

best books, to the best teaching, to

profitable intercourse, to

of humanity, and to

IDEALS OF LIFE.

54

if

nature and

in

tiful

prosperous,

Unhappily, the laborer,

art.

anxious to ape the rich man,

is

instead of trying

to rise

above him, as he often

The young

may, by noble acquisitions.

apprentice and

the

ticular,

the

in

par-

female domestic,

catch a taste for fashion, and on this altar sacrifice

too

often

uprightness,

their

ways the

spirit

selves

to

ignorance,

show.

Is

this

of improvement,

and almost aldooming them-

not to vice,

if

without remedy

evil

a vain

for
Is

human

nature always to be sacrificed to outward decoration

the outward always to triumph over the

Is

inward man?

Is

nobleness of sentiment never to

spring up

among

us

particular

begin

in

May

the

not a reform in this

laboring

class,

since

it

seems so desperate among the more prosperous?

Cannot the laborer, whose condition calls him so
loudly to simplicity of taste and habits, take his
stand against that love of dress which dissipates

and corrupts so many minds among the opulent?

Cannot the laboring class refuse to measure men
by outward success, and pour utter scorn on all
pretensions founded on outward show or condiSure

tion?

am

that,

were they

to

study plain-

ness of dress and simplicity of living, for the pur-

pose of their own true elevation, they would surpass

and

in

in

intellect,

in

taste,

in

honorable

qualities,

present enjoyment, that great proportion

of the prosperous

who

gences or

enslaved

self-denial,

how might

to

are

softened into indul-

empty show.
the

By such

burden of labor be

ECONOMY.

55

and time and strength redeemed

improvement. Channing.

for

lightened,

Parsimony
theory from

it

a part

be

not economy.

is

and

an essential part

were

separate in

is

may

or

according

not

to

circum-

great expense,

may be

true economy.

in

there

If

parsimony

consists,

Parsimony
no powers

of

is

no

vir-

no sagacity,

providence,

combination,

Mere

a distributive

not in saving, but in selection.

requires

judgment.

however, another and a

is,

Economy

higher economy.

and

and

It

may

it

be considered as one of the attributes

to

of that virtue,

tue,

fact

economy,

of

Expense,

stances.

in

no

and

instinct,

comparison,

no

not an

in-

that

may produce this false

The other economy has

stinct of the noblest kind,

economy

perfection.

in

larger views.

demands a discriminating judg-

It

ment, and a firm, sagacious mind.

one

shuts

It

door to impudent importunity, only to open an-

and a

other,

wider,

none but meritorious

to

be rewarded,

this

unpresuming

to

service, or real

ing

all

state,

all

since

impoverished

service

it

the merit
the

by

it

ever

foundation
that

If

were

and

means of rewardever will receive, and en-

nation will not want, the

the

talent

nation has not wanted,

this

couraging

merit.

will

produce.

of society,

species

of

No

has been

profusion.

Burke.

As not less important than that economy of

money which is insisted upon so strongly by all
our moralists, we would recommend an economy'

IDEALS OF LIFE.

56

Many

of mental power.
in

of us waste our resources

the early stages of our

career, forgetful

that

is won by the staying power of the runNapoleon gained his victories by his judicious employment of his reserves.
The general
who risks all his forces in a single charge must
expect and will deserve defeat. It is not the first
blow that strikes home the nail, and what is to
be done if we leave ourselves no strength with
which to strike a second, and a third, or it may
be a hundredth?

the race
ners.

Read

aright,

and the hare

The

tion.

because

of

fable

moral

points

hare

the

the

was

beaten

the

possessed

latter

direc-

this

in

by

tortoise

the

the

tortoise

staying

At school and at college we frequently

faculty.

see the

prizes

carried

had

ignorant impatience

by the men whom an

off

criticised

as dull, slow,

and incapable plodders, while the dashing,

an

apparently sure

fellows,

liant

effort,

were

They had no

left

bril-

of victory without

hopelessly behind in the race.

reserve to

fall

back upon, while the

former had a latent accumulation of strength on

which they drew at need, enabling them to meet

every demand.
It is

no such reserve as that of

ing

unless

pline.

to

we can hold
which we are speak-

hardly necessary to say that

We

we submit

to

the severest self-disci-

must be content

husband our powers,

to cultivate habits of

to wait

and watch,

to accumulate materials,

rigorous thought and exact

LABOR AND GREATNESS.

57

judgment, to conquer hasty impulses, and enforce

a

strict

restraint

upon our passions.

The

vigor

and certainty with which a great painter wields

his brush and manipulates his colors, until the
thought

his

in

brain

becomes

visible to all

men

on the enchanted canvas, have been acquired by

long and assiduous practice, by the discipline and

self-command of patient years.

And

this

disci-

and self-command have given him so thorough a knowledge of his resources that he undertakes nothing which he cannot execute.
Adams.
pline

Jmlror

mh dmlttm*

J5)NLY through toil and pain and tribulation

The blessed things of heaven and earth are

^^

won,

What time the man grows less in his probation,

And God is more with each successive sun.

And

shall the

dream of

life,

the quenchless yearn-

ing

For something which

is

yet beyond control,

The flame within the breast forever

Not leap to action and exalt the
5

burning,
soul

IDEALS OF LIFE.

53

Surmount

barriers to brave endeavor,

all

Make for itself a way where it would go,

And flash the crown of ecstacy forever,
Which only laborers with God may know ?
In action there

The hope

joy which

is

no

is

fiction,

of something as in faith begun,

God's sweet and everlasting benediction,

The

flush of victory

and labor done

Labor puts on the livery of greatness

While genius, idle, withers from the

And

triumph takes no note of lateness,

in its

For time

exists not in eternal light.

Generally speaking, the

men

has been a

bor.

of

life

life

of

life

all

truly great

of intense and incessant

They have commonly passed

in

sight,

the gross darkness

the

first

la-

half

of indigent humil-

overlooked, mistaken, contemned, by weaker

reading while
men, thinking while others

ity,

slept,

others rioted, feeling something within them that

them they should not always be kept down

among the dregs of the world and then when
their time was come, and some little accident has
given them their first occasion, they have burst
into the light and glory of public life, rich with
the spoils of time, and mighty in all the labors
told

and struggles of the mind.

tude cry out,

"A

Then do

the

multi-

miracle of genius;" yes, he

is

LABOR AND GREATNESS.

a miracle of genius, because he
labor

because,

a miracle of

is

of trusting to

instead

own

sources of his

59

the

re-

single mind, he has ransacked

a thousand minds; because he makes use of the

wisdom of

and takes as his

point of departure the very last line and boundbecause it
ary to which science has advanced
accumulated

ages,

ever

has

been

the

every intellectual

of his

object

gift

to

life

assist

of nature, however munifi-

and however splendid, with every resource

could suggest, and every attention diligence could bestow. Sydney Smith.
cent,

that art

There needs
give

to

enterprise

and

all

enable a
of

difficulty

life.

the force that enthusiasm can

man

to

succeed

Without

it,

in

the

any great
obstruction

he has to encounter on every side

might compel him to succumb but with courage

and perseverance, inspired by enthusiasm, a man
feels strong enough to face any danger, or to
grapple with any difficulty. What an enthusiasm
;

was

that of

istence

of a

Columbus, who, believing

new

world,

in the ex-

braved the dangers of

unknown seas and, when those about him despaired and rose up against him, threatening to
;

him into the sea, still stood firm

hope and courage until the great new
length rose upon the horizon!
The brave man will not be bafHed,
and tries again until he succeeds. The
cast

not

fall

at the first stroke, but only

strokes and after great labor.

We

upon

his

world at
but

tries

tree does

by repeated

may

see the

60

IDEALS OF

LIFE.

which a

man

invisible success at

forget

the

which

it

has arrived, but

and suffering and

toil

through

peril

When

has been achieved.

a friend of

Marshal Lefevre was complimenting him on

good

possessions and
"

things

Come

into the court

at

Marshal said

fortune, the

You envy me, do you ?

these

Well, you

bargain

better

his

shall

than

have
had.

you with a gun

twenty times at thirty paces, and if I don't kill
you, all shall be your own.
What you wont ?
Very well recollect, then, that I have been shot
at
more than a thousand times, and much
:

I'll'

fire at

nearer,

you now

The

before
find

arrived

me

at

the

state

which

apprenticeship of difficulty

the greatest of

in

"

men had

to

serve.

is

one which

It is

usually

the best stimulus and discipline of character.

often

evokes

power of

action

that,

but

for

It
it,

would have remained dormant.

As comets are
sometimes revealed by eclipses, so heroes are
brought to light by sudden calamity. It seems
as

the

if,

in

flint,

certain cases, genius, like iron struck

by

needed the sharp and sudden blow of

There
and ripen amidst
trials, which would only wither and decay in an
atmosphere of ease and comfort.
Thus it is good for men to be roused into
action and stiffened into self-reliance by difficulty, rather than to slumber away their lives in
useless apathy and indolence.
If there were no
adversity

are

to bring

natures

which

out the divine spark.

blossom

LABOR AND GREATNESS.

there would be no need of efforts

difficulties,

no

were

there

and

there were no

if

would be no education

Thus

tion.

not

if

little

and

suffering-,

merit in
there

patience and resigna-

in

suffering

are

but often the best source of strength,

and

discipline,

but

adversity and

difficulty,

evil,

all

trial

would be no

temptations, there

self-control,

training in
virtue;

61

virtue.

For the same reason, it is often of advantage

man to be under the necessity of having to
" He who
struggle with poverty and conquer it.
"
were it only with
has battled," says Carlyle,
hard
toil,
will
found
stronger and
and
be
poverty
for a

more expert than he who could stay

the battle, concealed

among

or even rest unwatchfully

have

Scholars

pared

with

cannot

" I

Richter,

"

him

to

Varus
says

much more

poetry,

"

so

food.

intellectual

upon the mind.

Poverty,"

to

Horace

said

come not

thou

that

tells us,

drove

and poetry introduced him to

" Obstacles,"
and Maecenas.

Michelet, "are great incentives.

Virgil,

An odd volume

chance at a

stuff.'

Virgil

whole years upon a

off.

of

say

Poverty,

life."

and

abiding by the

heavily

choose

Be welcome

too late in

the provision wagons,

privation

but

home from

found poverty tolerable com-

the

Riches weigh

'

at

stall

lived for

and found myself well

purchased by

of Racine,

on the quay, created the poet

of Toulon."

The Spaniards
rejoiced

in

the

are

even said

poverty of

to

have meanly

Cervantes,

but

for

"

IDEALS OF LIFE.

62

which they supposed the production of his great

works might have been prevented. When the
Archbishop of Toledo visited the French Ambassador at Madrid, the gentlemen in the suite of
the latter expressed their high
writings of the author of

"Don

admiration of the
Quixote," and

in-

timated their desire of becoming acquainted with

one who had given them so much pleasure.

answer

they

arms

borne

received

Cervantes had

was, that
of

service

in the

The

his

and
exclaimed one
country,

was now old" and poor. " What "

of the Frenchmen, " is not Senor Cervantes in
good circumstances ? Why is he not maintained,
!

out

then,

forbid "
!

of

was the

be ever relieved,
write

world
It

since

rich
is

it

treasury

public

the

"

"

Heaven

reply, "that his necessities should

if

it

his

is

is

make him

those which

poverty that

makes

the

not prosperity so

wealth so

much

perseverance

of

as

much

poverty,

strong

as adversity, not

that

and

stimulates the

healthy

natures,

energy and develops their character.

rouses their

Burke said of himself: "I was not rocked and

Nitor
swaddled and dandled into a legislator.
'

in adversum*

Some men
their

way

is

the motto

for

man

like

me."

only require a great difficulty set in

to

exhibit the force of their

character

and that difficulty, once conquered,

and genius
becomes one of the greatest incentives to their
;

further progress.

Smiles.

FAILURES AXD SUCCESSES.

%fam

mtb uras*$$*

yhat though the triumph of thy fond

^^^
Lingers

Thy
Is

fore-

casting

earth

till

is

fading from thy sight

Him whose arms

part with

are

everlasting,

not forsaken in a hopeless night.

was

Paul

Fruitful

begotten

through

in the

time

death

shall

of Stephen

be that precious

blood

No morning yet has ever worn to even

And missed the glory of its crimson Flood.
There is a need of all the blood of martyrs,
Forevermore the eloquence of God
And there is need of him who never barters
His patience in that desert way the Master
;

trod.

What mean

the

hard words,

strange,

"

through

tribulation,"

O Man
And such
Have

of Sorrows, only
as in
oft

been

Thee

The

Thy

with

canst

tell,

humiliation,

Thee,

ay,

have known

well.

failures of the

Although

life's

Thou

their

world are God's successes,

coming be akin

to pain

IDEALS OF LIFE,

64

And

frowns of Providence are but caresses,

Prophetic of the rest sought long in vain.

It

through

success

through

men

is

men succeed

a mistake to suppose that

is

By

failure.

made up

dealing

with

failures,

in

much

they

others
sensible

in

remembered
the

men,

management, and greater

a means of avoiding them
diplomatist, and he will
learned his art
thwarted, and

through

best experience of

the

far

of their

incite

to

and

tact

failures in

of

affairs

in

succeed

oftener

better

self-

self-control, as

Ask

the future.

tell

Such

life.

you

that

being baffled,

the

he has

defeated,

circumvented, far more than from

having succeeded.

Precept,

study,

advice,

and

example could never have taught them so well

as failure has done.

It

has disciplined them ex-

and taught them what to do as well

not to do
which is often still more

perimentally,

as

what

important

in

diplomacy.

Many have

to

make up

their

minds to en-

counter failure again and again before they suc-

ceed

but

if

they have pluck, the failure

serve to rouse their

will

only

courage, and stimulate them

renewed efforts. Talma, the greatest of actors,

was himself hissed off the stage when he apLacordaire, one of the greatest
peared on it.
preachers of modern times, only acquired celebMontalembart said
rity after repeated failures.
of his first public appearance in the Church of St.
to

FAILURES AND SUCCESSES.

Roch

"

He

everyone
ent,

he

he

will

Though he may be a man

never be a

preacher.' "

he succeeded
y

Dame

to

out,

of

tal-

Again and again

and only two years

was

Lacordaire

debut

his

Notre

'

tried, until

after

on coming

failed completely, and,

said

C5

audiences such

preaching

in

few French

as

orators have addressed since the time of Bossuet

and Massillon.
When Mr. Cobden
at a public

meeting

appeared as a speaker,

first

in

Manchester, he completely

down, and the chairman appologized

broke

for

James Graham and Mr. Disraeli

failed and were derided at first, and only succeed by dint of great labor and application. At
one time Sir James Graham had almost given up
his

failure.

Sir

public speaking in despair.

Sir Francis Baring

extempore,
memory
is,

by

but

dint

lived

to

am

He

do

can't

afraid

said to his friend

have tried

from notes, and

and

"

it.

shall

it

in

every way

committing

never

succeed."

of perseverance, Graham,

to

all

know why

don't

like

become one of the most

it

Yet,

Disraeli,

effective

and

impressive of parliamentary speakers.

Failures in one direction have

sometimes had

the effect of forcing the far-seeing student to apply

as

himself in

candidate

Ugboro,
learning,

for

the

post

the

failure

of parish-clerk of

Devon, led to his applying himself to

and to his eventual elevation to the

in

bishopric of Worcester.
for

Thus Prideaux's

another.

bar,

pleaded

When
his

first

Boileau, educated
cause,

he broke

C6

IDEALS OF LIFE.

clown
the

amidst

shouts

and

pulpit,

too.

Fontenelle and Vol-

So Cowper, though
down when

both failed at the bar.

taire

and

diffidence

his

there

failed

and succeeded.

tried poetry,

pleading

his

first

He next tried
And then he

of laughter.

broke

shyness,

though he lived to reEngland. Montesquieu and

cause,

vive the poetic art in

Bentham both failed as lawyers, and forsook the

bar for more congenial pursuits the latter leaving behind him a treasury of legislative proceed-

ure for

time.

all

a surgeon

and

"Vicar

the

"

but he wrote the

as

failed

Goldsmith
of

failed in
"

Deserted Village

succeeded

but

speaker,

papers

in the

Even

"

"

Wakefield;" while Addison

Roger de Coverley," and

Sir

passing as

in

writing

many famous

his

Spectator."

the privation of

some important bodily

sense, such as sight or hearing, has not been suf-

pursuing

His

of

The

lives of

Milton,

life.

his

of the

penury and

exile.

men have

and apgreatest work

difficulty

his

Banished from

city

by the

his

house was given up

local faction to

which he

sick, old, blind,

greatest

been a continuous struggle with

parent defeat. Dante produced
in

in

life

most when he was poor,

slandered, and persecuted.

some

when

bore

still

duced during that period of

suffered

zealously

up and steered
greatest works were pro-

blindness, "

onward."

men from

corageous

struggle

the

by

struck
right

deter

to

ficient

his native

which he was opposed,

to plunder,

and he was

FAILURES AND SUCCESSES.

sentenced,

When

he

solution,

replied

me

me

"

steps

way

the fame

alive.

Dante,

placable,

died

in

not the

country.

way

will re-

you, or any other, can

if

but"

if

by no such

entered, then to Florence

His enemies remaining ima

after

his

banishment

of

twenty

They even pursued him

exile.

when

after death,

is

and ab-

that shall not derogate from

never return."

years,

This

my

or honor of Dante

way Florence can be

shall

No

back to

hasty

with
to

he would ask for pardon

if

that shall lead

open

burned

be

to

informed by a friend that he might return

to Florence,

turn

absence,

his

in

67

book,

publicly burned at Bologna,

De

"

Monarchia," was

by order of the Papal

Legate.

Camoens
banishment.

also wrote his great

Tired of solitude

poems mostly

at

in

Santarem, he

joined an expedition against the Moors, in which

He

he distinguished himself by his bravery.

an eye when boarding an enemy's ship

At Goa,

fight.

in

the

lost

in a sea-

East Indies, he witnessed

with indignation the cruelty practised by the Por-

on the

and expostulated with the

governor against it. He was in consequence banished from the settlement, and sent to China.
In
tugese

natives,

the course of his subsequent adventures

fortunes

only
"

Camoens

with

Lusiad."

everywhere

his

life

suffered

and

Persecution
to

escaping

manuscript

the

and

pursue him.

thrown into prison.

shipwreck,

and mis-

At

of

his

seemed
Macao he was

hardship

Escaping from

it,

he set

sail

C8

IDEALS OF LIFE.

where he arrived, after sixteen years'

absence, poor and friendless.
His " Lusiad," which
was shortly after published, brought him much
for Lisbon,

but

fame,

no money.

But

who begged
Camoens must have

slave Antonio,
streets,

he died

in

An

over his grave: "Here

excelled

all

for his

master

As

perished.

Indian
in the
it

was,

was placed
Luis de Camoens: he

inscription

lies

the poets of his time

and

miserable

This

record, disgraceful

been removed
taph, in

old

his

a public alms-house, worn out by dis-

and hardship.

ease

for

and

he

died

but

he lived poor
so,

truthful,

mdlxxix."
has since

and a lying and pompous

epi-

honor of the great national poet of Por-

tugal, substituted in its stead.

Even Michael Angelo was exposed, during

greater part of his

envious
did

vulgar

men

pathize

When

life,

vulgar priests, and sor-

nobles,

of every degree,

with

who

could neither sym-

nor comprehend his genius.

condemned some of his work

him

Paul IV.

"The Last Judgment," the

that " The Pope would do better
in

self with correcting the

which

the

to the persecutions of the

artist

to

observed

occupy him-

disorders and indecencies

the world than with any such

upon his art."
Tasso, also, was the victim of almost continual persecutions and calumny.
After lying in a
mad-house for seven years, he became a wanderer over Italy
and when on his death-bed he
disgrace

hypercriticisms

wrote

" I

will

not complain of the malignity of


PEA YEE.
fortune, because

69

do not choose

speak of the

to

men who have succeeded

in

drag-

But time brings about strange revenges.

The

ingratitude of

me

ing

persecutors
places

who

it is

and

persecuted

the

who
Even

the latter

are infamous.

would

secutors

probably

often

are great
the

long

change

the

name
ago

former

of the per-

have

been

but for their connection with the

forgotten,

tory

tomb of a mendicant."

the

to

of the

men whom

his-

they have persecuted.

Smiles.

JVatpr*

m29RAYER

Burnt

is

the better sacrifice than whole

offerings, to stay the lifted rod,

Up-flaming from the altar of a soul

Returning to the royalty of God.

Prayer

is

the manly cry for sympathy

To One who made the Father's will His own,

That something of His wondrous alchemy
May in our weak, disordered lives be shown.
Prayer

is

Which

the herald of outgoing love,

in the

wilderness prepares the way,

IDEALS OF

70

LIFE.

on the wings of the swift-flying dove

Till

Come back
Prayer

the tidings of the better day.

the mighty spirit of our work,

is

Which wins

and

of God,

smile

the

the

fills

heart
Until there

And

all

Prayer

no room

which dependence could have

unchangeableness.

without

Prayer doth not desire any change

is

offered

to

which

things

municate; but
as

the

God

He
He

that

He

in

would confer those

willed

them not without prayer,

The

ordered for our comfort, for

is

God, but

has immutably willed to com-

means of bestowing them.

the sun

depart.

life

an acknowledgment of our depend-

is

foundation

firm

for self to lurk,

the doubts and fears of

upon God

ence

no

is

light

the

of

dis-

covery of visible things, for the ripening of the

fruits

of the earth

but, withal,

it

is

required that

we use our

faculty of seeing, that

industry in

sowing and planting, and expose our

fruits to

ceive

we employ our

the view of the sun, that they

the

influence

of

it.

If

man

may

re-

shuts

his

and complains that the sun is changed into

darkness, it would be ridiculous; the sun is not
eyes,

changed, but

we

is

God

He

hath

hath promised in the

way

alter

ourselves

nor

changed in not giving us the blessings

promised, because

He

of a due address to Him, and opening

to

receive

His influence, and

to this

our souls

His immu-

PRA TEE.
tability

Char-

encouragement.

greatest

the

is

71

nock.

Perhaps nothing on the subject of prayer has

ever been uttered wiser than the following speech

speaker was

year:

in his 82c!

the beginning

In

of the contest with

when we were

sensible

prayers

room

this

in

The

Convention of 1787.

Constitutional

the

in

we had

of danger,
the

for

Britain,

daily

Divine protection.

were heard, and they were graOur

All of us who were engaged
ciously answered.
in the struggle must have observed frequent inprayers,

stances

kind Providence

that

happy opportunity of consulting

means of

And
His

affairs

or

of

?
I

have lived for

live the

truth,

this

peace on the
felicity.

And

of man.

if

an empire can

been assured,

rise
sir,

a long

God governs

notice,

is

it

the

the

in

a sparrow cannot

to

fall

probable that

without His aid

in

time

more convincing proofs

that

the ground without His

"

in

now forgotten this powerful

do we imagine we no longer need

assistance

see

this

we

and the longer

I

our

we owe

establishing our future national

have

Friend?

in

Providence

superintending

of a

To

favor.

sir,

We

have

Sacred Writings, that

Except the Lord build the house, they labor

vain that build

also

believe

shall

proceed

it."

firmly believe

that without His concurring

in

this

political

than the builders of Babel

by our

little,

this

in

and
aid

we

building no better

we

shall

partial, local interests

be divided

our prospects

IDEALS OF LIFE.

72

and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a by-word down to future

ages.
And what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of
will

be confounded

government by human wisdom, and

establishing

leave

it

to chance, war, or conquest.

beg leave

to

move

henceforth prayers, im-

that

ploring the assistance

therefore

of

Heaven and

bless-

its

ing on our deliberations, be held in this assembly

we proceed

every morning before

business

to

and that one or more of the clergy of this city

be requested to officiate in that service.
Dr.

Franklin.

We

are not to pray that

on as we would have

them,

things

all

but as most con-

and we are

ducing to the good of the world;

not in our prayers to obey our

dence

wills,

times

that

which

we ask would

should be granted be worse for

tend to our destruction

the particular

for

others

it

and then God by deny-

matter of

in

if

and perhaps

us,

our

prayers doth

grant the general matter of them.

Pray

but pru-

Montaigne.

Many

ing

may go

such

forms,

Hammond.
with

such

and earnestness, as you use

and you will find all little, ill-natured passions die away, your heart grow great
and generous, delighting in the common happiness of others, as you used only to delight in
your own. Law.

length, importunity,
for

yourself;

Prayer

is

the peace of our

spirit,

the stillness

PRAYER.

73.

of our thoughts, the evenness of recollection, the

and the

seat of meditation, the rest of our cares,

calm of our tempest

prayer

mind, of untroubled

quiet

daughter of

Jeremy

and the

charity,

the

is

thoughts

of a

issue
;

the

is

it

of meekness.

sister

Taylor.

Prayer opens the understanding to the brightness of Divine

and the

light,

warmth

to the

will

of heavenly love; nothing can so effectually purify

mind from

the

from

many

its

ignorances, or the

perverse affections.

its

It

will

as a healing

is

water which causes the roots of our good desires

to

send

one

prayer.

To

same thing
thought

refuse

will

man

say a
as

say

to

That

now, surely

we

tained any

to say the
is

them

feel

us even

His
our

And what w e

are

we have
we have

at-

If
if

re-

we have any self-command,

if

with

to

measure of goodness,

live

every

in

are by prayer.

temptation,

we

prayer.

is

submit

Him

shall restrain

aspirations

yond the common, we

cribe

is

For what

to

resolve to

it

wildest joy.

if

religious

he prays.

presence so that

or

is

holiness with

identify

to

appointment

His

thought, wish, and

sisted

the thirst of

allays

To connect every thought with the

of God
to look on everything as His

and

will

and

Francis de Sales.

St.

No

which washes away

shoots,

imperfections,

the soul's

passion

prayer?

fresh

forth

to prayer.

shall

F.

W.

and desires be-

not hesitate

Robertson.

to

as-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

74

\m%
The substance

of things

hoped

the evidence of things not seen.

for,

Hebrews

xi.

i.

<^WAITH is repose in Providence,

Whose ways we cannot tell,

Divine, resistless evidence

Of
Faith

things invisible.

is

God

consent that

In living unto

is

God

Him,

With strong assurance

girt and shod,

Although our eyes are dim.

Faith

is

the voice of hunoferinofs

That to Hie soul belong,

Unerring sense of living things
To breathe in prayer and song.
Faith

is

the light of daily

To make

toil

glow and shine,

God's animating wine and oil
Our hearts pronounce divine.
it

Faith addresses itself to man's whole being,

it

sounds every depth

calls
itself,
it

it

back the soul from

full

touches every spring

its

it

weary search within

of doubt and contradiction

it

presents

with an object, implicit, absolute, greater than

itself,

"

One

FAITH.

75

knoweth

that

things."

all

vides for every affection, every want and

prophet stretched himself above the

mouth

eye,

to mouth, heart to heart

a kindred miracle, to bring back

One

life

child,

and

the

eye

to

work

to

by

to the dead,

One,-the

whole native of
Miss Greenthe whole nature of God.

restoring the

Man

aspira-

Humanity as

Faith stretches itself over

tion.

pro-

It

to

to the

well.
Faith says

many

but

senses are silent;

deny:

things concerning which the

always above them, but never contrary

it is

Pascal.

to them.

Never yet did there

Divine
itality

nothing which the senses

Word

(by

was brought

expand the

whom
into

exist a

faith

in

the

light as well as irnmor-

the world) which did not

while

intellect,

full

it

purified the heart,

which did not multiply the aims and objects of the

understanding, while

it

fixed

the desires and passions.

"

but

faith

faith
ful

We live by faith,"

and

simplified those of

Coleridge.

says the philosophic apostle

without principles (on which to ground our

and our hope)

is

but a flattering phrase for wil-

positiveness or fanatical bodily sensations.

and with good

with

more

right, therefore,

zeal than

we

and

like the

tive gleams,

do we maintain (and

moon, with

all its

moon to
massy and decep-

yet lights us on our

is

as a

way (poor

trav-

and benighted pilgrims). With all

spots and changes and temporary eclipses with

ellers as
its

we

it

Well,

should defend body or estate)

a deep and inward conviction, which

us

are,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

76

bedimming vapors it yet

reflects the light that is to rise upon us, which even
now is rising, though intercepted from our immediate view by the mountains that enclose and frown

all

vain haloes and

its

over the whole of our mortal

Faith

is

Coleridge.

life.

Light transforming Chaos into Order

Conviction passing into Conduct.

"

Sartor Resartus

"

presents this

The author of
idea in his own

inimitable way, in the following passage

It

with man's Soul as

is

the beginning of creation

is

it

was with Nature

Light.

have vision the whole members are

vine moment,

when over

felt

such moment,

nouncing

even

it

the

bonds.

Di-

it

spoken

is

not miraculous and God-anfigures, to the

The mad primeval Discord

rudely-jumbled,

silent,

rock-foundations are built beneath

skyey

vault, with its everlasting

too,

Up, up

could

now

a bloom-

say to myself: Be no longer a

Were

it

but the

it,

in thee:

Whatsoever thy hand

with thy whole might.

Produce

pitifullest infinitesimal

produce

utmost thou hast

!

heaven-encompassed World.

fraction of a product,
'Tis the

deep,

and the

we have

Chaos, but a World, or even Worldkin.

Produce

Luminaries above

instead of a dark, wasteful Chaos,

I,

is

elements

conflicting

bind themselves into separate Firmaments

ing, fertile,

to the greatest that has

under simpler

as,

simplest and least.

hushed;

is

eye

the tempest-tost Soul, as

Ever

Till the

in

once over the wild-weltering Chaos,

Let there be Light

Work

in

God's name

out with

it,

then.

findeth to do,

while

it is

called

do

it

To-

HOPE.

day

for the

Faith,

Yea, a

will
II.

Night cometh, wherein no

man

can

Carlyle.

work.

works

77

if it

hath not works,

man may
shew me

shew thee

say,

Thou

is

dead, being alone.

hast

faith,

and

have

thy faith without thy works, and

my

faith

by

my

works.

St.

James

17-18.

PRESENCE

on the mountain

Which beckons up- the mighty

To

mighty power above

Which

And

An

slope

her perennial fountain.

us,

gives us strength with foes to copej

win new friends to love

us.

ever brave forerunner,

Far swifter than the antelope,

Nay, light cannot outrun her.

star the night adorning,

That doth the midnight portals ope

And bid the soul Good-morning.

IDEALS OF

78

LIFE.

immortal glory,

bright,

Whose
To verify

pilgrims past the sunset grope

her story.

Our actual enjoyments are so few and transient

that man would be a very miserable being were he
not endowed with

this passion,

good things

taste of those

"

into his possession.

thing that

may

is

nothing which

may

not be hoped

and nothing but what the gods are able

Hope

come

possibly

should hope for every-

good," says the old poet Linus, "be-

is

cause there

that

We

which gives him a

for,

to give us."

and keeps
the mind awake in her most remiss and indolent
It gives habitual serenity and good humor.
hours.
It is

quickens

a kind of

all

vital

the

still

heat

in

parts of

life,

makes pain

Hope

is

easy,

and labor

and

the soul, that cheers

gladdens her, when she does not attend to

Addison.

pleasant.

the principle of activity

without holding

out hope, to desire one to advance

Suppose, without a sou

It

it.

is

absurd and

my

hand, one
senseless.
were to say, " Exert yourself: for there is no hope,"
it would be to turn me into ridicule, and not to
in

advise me.

my

To

hold out to

when, ultimately, equal

and

me

the hopelessness of

condition never was a reason for exertion

rest, rest

Hope

is

evils attend

has clearly the preference.

necessary

in

for

upon exertion

every condition.

Burke.

The

mis-

eries of poverty, of sickness, or captivity, would,

without

this comfort,

be insupportable

appear that the happiest

nor does

it

lot of terrestrial existence

HOPE.

79

can set us above the want of

or that

life,

when

this

general blessing

the gifts of nature and of fortune

are accumulated upon

it,

would not

still

be wretched,

it

not elevated and delighted by the expecta-

tion of

some new possession, of some enjoyment yet

were

behind by which the wish

and the heart

Hope
what

it

is,

filled

up

to

shall

its

be at

indeed, very fallacious,

seldom gives

but

last satisfied,

utmost extent.

its

and promises

promises are more

valuable than the gifts of fortune, and

frustrates us without assuring us of

it

seldom

recompensing

Dr. Johnson.
generous
contempt upon
Hope throws a

the delay by a greater bounty.

usage, and looks like a

misfortune; as

handsome

who should

troublesome now, but

say,

shall

You

ill-

defiance of a

are

somewhat

conquer you.

Jeremy

Collier.

Used with due

ful tonic

hope

visions of future triumph which at first

animate exertion,

if

dwelt upon too intensely,

usurp the place of the stern reality

jects will

acts as a health-

intemperately indulged, as an enervating

The

opiate.

abstinence,

will

and noble ob-

be contemplated, not for their own inher-

ent worth, but on account of the day-dreams they

Thus hope, aided by imagination, makes

one man a hero, another a somnambulist, and a third
a lunatic while it renders them all enthusiasts.

engender.

Sir

J.

Stephen.

religious life is which most abounds in wellgrounded hope, and such an one as is fixed on objects that are capable of

making us

entirely happy.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

SO

This hope

a religious

in

certain than the

is

man

is

much more

hope of any temporal

blessing-, as

strengthened not only by reason, but by

has at the same time

its

sure and

faith.

it

It

eye perpetually fixed on

that state, which implies in the very notion of

it

the

and most complete happiness.

Religious hope has likewise this advantage above
any other kind of hope, that it is able to revive the
dying man, and to fill his mind not only with secret
comfort and refreshment, but sometimes with rap-

most

full

He

ture and transport.

triumphs

his

in

agonies,

whilst the soul springs forward with delight to the

great object which she has always had in view, and

leaves the body with an expectation of being re-

united to her in a glorious and joyful resurrection.

Addison.

itprmj*

And now
these

is

abideth

charity.

faith,

hope, charity, these three

Con. xin.

but the greatest oi

13.

<^?V3

^jIVINE

Elixer flows from

^^^

Heaven

To make our manhood pure and

To all who love this wine is given
Transmuting

life

to prayer

strong

and song.

CHARITY.

And

in the

The
The shining

81

sweet transfiguration

joy, the joy alone abides

Go

stairs of Tribulation

winding up where

God

resides.

O, Christ, divinest fairest Lover,

Since
I

must

Thou
tell

hast smitten

out what

me

with love,

discover,

This dear Elixer from above.

It is

the honey of Existence,

The sweetness of a virgin bride,

The nectar of divine subsistence,
The beauty that must needs abide.

And
It

when,

like rain or sunshine vernal,

comes with virtue

in its train,

The pure, sweet breath of the Eternal,

Which maketh all things live again,

blessed sense of liberation

Goes prancing

And

my

being through

the invisible creation

Majestically

all

comes

to view.

gaze upon the world around me,

Beholding that which

is

divine

All beauteous things which here surrounc me,

They speak
I

see in every

Whose

life,

to

me, and they are mine.

man

a brother,

like mine, is infinite,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

82

All interlocked with one another,

Companions struggling

to the light

look beyond the shining portals,

And
-feel

strength comes back for

Henceforth

me

know

all

my

Along

And

on earth

the glory of immortals

Transfigure

life

joys are antedated

pathway here below

am

that

with kindred worth.

is

to

God

related,

joy of joys to know.

And Charity has surely founded

Her peaceful dwelling in my breast,
And I shall never be confounded,
Partaking her eternal

The

earth

morning sun

rest.

does not Madden more when the

flashes his light

on her bosom, than

does the soul rejoice when the light of the heavenly

Sun

first

into

warm, bright day.

touches

have found

" I

cry

it,

and

it

passes out of darkness

Circumstances are nothing.

Him whom my

and nothing can

kill,

soul loveth "

is

the

nothing can even dash,

the joy which that consciousness quickens within.

Baldwin Brown.
The raptures of love are of little value, if they
end with the bosom in which they begin. Genuine
J.

love

is

active benevolence or charity.

Charity, taken in

its

largest extent,

is

nothing

CHARITY.
else but the sincere love of

Wake.

Charity

83

God and

more extensive than

is

our neighbor.

either of the

two

other graces, which centre ultimately in ourselves

for

we

believe

which

love,

and we hope

more

is

own sakes

our

for

but

disinterested principle, carries

us out of ourselves into desires, and endeavors of

Atter-

promoting the interests of other beings.

BURY.

Charity

is

perfection of
virtue

where

made
all
it

companion and

the constant

and well it is for that

most enters and longest stays
virtues

Sprat.

Charity

is

universal duty, which

is

it

man's power sometimes to practice

in

every

since every

degree of assistance given to another, upon proper

and there

motives,

is

an act of charity

any man

in

such a state of imbecility as that he

on some occasions, benefit

not,

that cannot relieve the

ant

his

may

He

is

scarcely

neighbor.

may

He

poor may instruct the ignor-

and he that cannot attend the

the vicious.
self

that can give

sick

little

may

reclaim

assistance him-

yet perform the duty of charity by influ-

encing the ardor of others, and recommending the

petitions

more

which he cannot grant to those who have

to bestow.

The widow

mite to the treasury, the poor

to the thirsty a
their reward.

that shall give her

man who

cup of cold water,

shall

bring

shall not lose

Dr. Johnson.
That charity alone endures which flows from a
sense of duty and a hope in God. This is the char-

84

IDEALS OF LIFE.

ity that

which
fled

treads in secret those paths of misery from

all

but the lowest of

this is that charity

human wretches have

which no labor can weary,

no ingratitude detach, no horror disgust

that pardons, that suffers

that

is

that

toils,

seen by no man,

and honored by no man, but, like the great laws of

nature, does the work of God in silence, and looks
to a future and better world for its reward.
Sydney Smith.
Every good act is charity. Giving water to the
removing stones and thorns from
thirsty is charity
the road is charity smiling in your brother's face is
charity.
A man's true wealth is the good he does
When he dies, mortals will ask what
in this world.
property he left behind him but angels will ask
him, What good deeds hast thou sent before thee ?
;

Mohammed.
A

poor man, with a single handful of flowers,

heaped the alms-bowl of Buddha, which the

could not

fill

with ten thousand bushels.

rich

From the

Chinese.

The

man who eats and bestows is better

pious man who fasts and hoards.
From

liberal

than the

the Persian.
Give,

if

thou canst, an alms

Love or

charity

by One Who left

follow His steps."
"

if

not, afford instead

Robert Herrick.
the life lived and taught
is life
us an example that we should

of that a sweet and gentle word.

THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

|$ Jktj uf

9wRE

w^

35

ftf^mtttl

ye with the preparation

Qf t h e Gospel

shod,

Fear ye not the tribulation

Of

He

will

Of a

And

God

the day of

come

in all the glory

smiling face,

rehearse the happy story

Of

the day of grace.

Are ye with no preparation

Of

the Gospel shod,

Then, alas

Of

He

the tribulation

will

come, but

Of a clouded

And

God!

the day of

recall the

stincts,

is

glory

face,

mournful story

Of His wasted
"There

in the

a Spirit

grace.
in

man,"

faithful to

even when astray as to their true object

wanders

often, yet feels

weariness

how

far

it

in-

its
;

it

through very sadness and

has got from home.

hence come those utterances (of which you

strange, prophetic voices, a groaning

and

tell

And
me),

travail-

pain of Humanity, which, even in the hearts of those

who

reject revelation, testify its waiting for

great Redemption.

If

man

some

refused the bread which

IDEALS OF LIFE.

86

came down from Heaven, never was it so hard for

him to live " by bread alone " as now. His very
wealth and increase has brought with it a sense of
because he has become rich, and increased
poverty,
in

goods, he knows, as he did not before, that he

is

wretched, and miserable, and blind, and naked.

The

energy of

and

his wrestling with the things of time

sense has awakened instincts of which, but for the

ardor of that struggle, he might have

He

conquers kingdoms, and weeps

known

little.

like the ancient

The world which he has vanquished

conqueror.

cannot satisfy him.

He

be greater

feels himself to

than the universe, yet feebler than the meanest

thing within

of

being.

its

tions

is

which can follow the appointed law

it

The splendor

He

from cold and shame.

what

is

of his material acquisi-

but a robe, too short and thin to wrap him

he?

To have

all,

can do great things, but

and

saying, "Is

to die

the epitaph of many a rich and wasted

Greenwell.
life.
Miss
Methinks neither the voice of the archangel, nor
the trump of God, nor the dissolution of the elethis

all?"

is

ments, nor the face of the Judge

itself,

from which

the heavens will flee away, will be so dismaying and

terrible to these

bers of Christ
in the

men

as the sight of the poor

whom, having spurned and

days of their humiliation, they

will

mem-

rejected

then be-

hold with amazement united to their Lord, covered

with His glory, and seated on His throne.

How will

they be astonished to see them surrounded with so

much majesty

How

will

they cast

down

their eyes

THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

presence

in their

which

How

will

87

they curse that gold

then eat their flesh as with

will

fire,

and

that

avarice, that indolence, that voluptuousness which

them

will entitle

much misery

to so

learn that the imitation of Christ

you

then be convinced

will

in the

have wiped the tears of the

to

inherited the prayers of the

palace

afflicted,

widow and

the fatherfa-

Robert Hall.

vor of princes.
can

and

be found a richer patrimony than the

less, shall

How

then

better to be en-

deared to the cottage than admired

when

will

the only wisdom:

is

is

it

You

we

think of appearing at that tribunal

without being able to give a ready answer to the

questions which

poor and the

He

shall

afflicted,

then put to us about the

the hungry and the naked,

the sick and the imprisoned

Atterbury.

and threatenings of
judgment against us; and

All the precepts, promises,

the gospel will rise

up

in

the articles of our faith will be so

many

articles of

and the great weight of our charge will

that we did not obey the gospel, which we

accusation:

be

this,

professed to believe
Christian

As

faith,

the

that

Supreme Being

of our perfections, so

them.

our

This

is

most

confession of the

He

is

is

Tillotson.

the only proper judge

the only

fit

rewarder of

a consideration that comes

interest, as the

tion.

we made

but lived like heathens.

other adapts

itself to

home

to

our ambi-

And what could the most aspiring or the

man desire more, were he to form the
of a being to whom he would recommend

selfish

notion

himself, than such a

knowledge as can discover the

IDEALS OF LIFE.

88
least

appearance of perfection

goodness as

will

in

him, and such

proportion a reward to

it ?

Let the ambitious man, therefore, turn

desire of fame this way; and, that he
to himself

a fame worthy of

consider, that

if

he employs

advantage, the time

will

kind,

who

all

his

may propose

his ambition, let

him

his abilities to the best

come when

Governor of the world, the

Supreme
Great Judge of manthe

sees every degree of perfection in others,

and possesses

all

possible

perfection

worth before

in

Himself,

men and

shall proclaim

his

and pronounce

to him, in the presence of the

angels,

whole

and most significant of applauses,

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter

creation, that best

thou into thy Master's joy.

Addison.

iffart

Sw0il

8y-&*-

Whatsoever

born of God overcometh the world.

me innocent
Denmark.

keep

tilda, of

is

handful of good

The

voice of

understand

it

God

or not.

life

make

is

others great.

v. 4.

Queen Caroline Ma-

George

Herbert.

himself speaks in the hearts of men, whether they

South.
that which

you believe

lives long that lives well

to

be right.

Pythagoras.
Emerson.

beautiful behavior is better than a beautiful form.

He
lost.

John.

I.

better than a bushel of learning.

Whatever people think of you, do

and time mis-spent

is

not

lived,

but

Thomas Fuller.

A man

must not so much prepare himself

nitv in himself

for eternity as plant eter-

Richter.

(CO)

IpTERNAL Providence:
v ^ Throughout His Infinite
*s8

The Whither and

The Virtue
Life,

In

the

Abode
Whence.

of the world:

Life above,

below the

sod,

mystery impearled.

Eternity and

Time

Rolled up together at His nod

Within the soul sublime.

The Strength that is so still,

The Glory on the heavenly road
Which doth all creatures fill.

One always

sacrificed:

Forever Love with Justice shod,

Forevermore the Christ.

While earthly objects are exhausted by

arity,

man

the thought of
continually

God becomes

brighter,

richer,

to the

vaster

(91)

famili-

devout
derives

IDEALS OF LIFE.

92

fresh

from

lustre

and

that he observes of nature

all

and

Providence,

attracts

to

itself

all

the

The devout man, espethe universe.

moments of strong religious sensibility,

glories of
cially

in

He

ness of man.
eration

who

he has found the true happi-

distinctly that

feels

and

love,

has found a Being for his ven-

whose character
have passed

after ages shall

is

inexhaustible,

will still

be un-

comprehended in the extent of His perfections,

and will still communicate to the pure mind
stronger proofs of His excellence and more inChanning.
timate signs of His approval.
His eye is upon every hour of my existence.
His

intimately

spirit

is

thought of

my

to every

on

with

every

His inspiration gives birth

heart.

purpose within me.

direction

present

every

His hand impresses

footstep

of

my

goings.

drawn by an energy
which God deals out to me. Dr. Chalmers.
God is a perpetual refuge and security to His
Every breath

people.

inhale

is

His providence

generation

is

it

is

not only one age that tastes

His bounty and compassion.

slept,

nor hath

church to be

not confined to one

He

His eye never yet

suffered the

swallowed up,

of

little

though

ship of His
it

hath been

He hath always been a

tossed upon the waves
haven to preserve us, a house to secure us; He
hath always had compassion to pity us, and
He hath had a face to
power to protect us
;

shine,

when

the

world hath had an angry coun-

tenance to frown.

He

brought Enoch home

by-

GOD.

93

an extraordinary translation from a brutish world;

and when He was resolved to reckon with men
for their brutish lives,

nix of the

world, in

as a spark

in

to rekindle a

tions

He

is

He

lodged Noah, the phoe-

an ark, and kept him alive

many

the midst of

church

waters,

world

in the

in

all

whereby
genera-

a dwelling-place to secure His people

Charnock.
It is a singular piece of wisdom to apprehend
truly, and without passion, the works of God, and
so well to distinguish His justice from His mercy
here or entertain them above.

as not to miscall those noble attributes

an honest piece of

likewise

and

argue the proceedings of

is

yet

it

unto

merciful

is

so to dispute

God

as

to

dis-

For

even His judgments into mercies.

tinguish

God

logic,

because better to the

all,

and to say He
punisheth none in this world, though it be a
paradox, is no absurdity.
Sir Thomas Browne.
Unto them that love Him, God causeth all
worst

than the

best

deserve

things to

work

by the heavenly

for the best.

So

that with

Him,

light of steadfast faith, they

see

life even in death

with Him, even in heaviness
and sorrow, they fail not of joy and comfort
with Him, even in poverty, affliction, and trouble,
;

they

neither

perish

nor are forsaken.

Bishop

COVERDALE.

in

May I be one
my weakness,

of the
that

weakest,

be put forth with greater

in

my

provided only

immortal and better vigor

effect;

provided only,

darkness, the light of the Divine counte-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

94

nance
then

does

but

most mighty,

most piercing

be

The

first

sight.

man is of the
XV. 47.

is

God
All

is

Man

earth, earthy

ftmt*

the second

man

is

the Lord from

all

worlds before,

Eternal Love

forevermore,

created things above.

Incarnation

known

Earth's divinest

at last

dream

fulfils:

Man forever passed,

God achieves there what He

Into

Builds again at wondrous

wills

cost,

Cost which Earth cannot compute,

And

restores the

Through
Fashions

in

for

the

at

Cor.

SOD God
^^ Fulness of

weakest and

once blind and of the

Milton.

shall

%h Enmh
heaven.

shine

brightly

once be the

at

shall

more

the

Image

lost

the death-concealing fruit;

our earthy shrine

All His beauty,

all

His grace,

THE SECOND MAN.

Which

eternally will shine

In this lowly,

And

95

uplifts for

W hat
T

narrow place

evermore

was prostrate

in

the

dust,

Breathing to the very core

Sweet

O my

divinity

Soul, in

of Trust.

wonder bow
in awe retreat!

Heart of mine,

God

abideth with thee now,

Strength divine and weakness meet.

Truth and Immortality

Are the gifts He bringeth thee

Take them with humility,
Keep them beautiful and free

Wondrous germs

of wondrous

life

In this earthly house of thine,

Mighty seed of mighty

Till the victory

Hast thou pain and

Though
With His

thy face
sign

strife

divine.

travail
is

now

to the

van

upon thy brow,

Prophesy the Second

Man

Who, in thee the hope of glory,

Crowned with sorrow, strong and
Chants the One Heroic Story,
Epic of both sides the grave.

brave;

IDEALS OF

Hast though

LIFE.

tribulation yet

Fear, which thou canst not recount,

Lest to Love thou be

day of thine account

In the

God is
And
Thou

debt

in

greater than thy heart,

thy measure

Llim

in

is

forever

not His
art,

His goodness

Infinite

is.

Hast thou eyes too dim to see

In this tragedy below
All that must forever be,
All that will to-morrow go ?
In

the

Walk

marvellous To-day
in

thine

Eternal Light

Heaven and Earth shall pass away,

Thou remainest in thy right,
Heir of

And
In thy

God and

Liberty,

possessor even
life

Making

here,

Eternity
Christ forever

clear

Who, for thy deliverance

From the power of Death and
Bids thee trust

Hailing

Him and

Him Immanuel

Liberator of the race

And

Ideal of the soul,

advance,

Hell,

THE SECOND MAN.

Building into

Image of

One and Whole

Lord and God

Man

grace

living-

the

All created

<J7

worlds before,

all

above,

things

Divine forevermore,

Fulness of Eternal Love.

And

thus Christianity

of songs

singing

the

M.

poetry," says

heavy

to

Jouffroy,

presence of the question

of

theme

human Soul

of

destiny.

its

life

"True

hearts.

has but one

"

of the yearning of the

that

poetry

the

is

the

in

And

,,

such a theme pervades the Epic of Redemption

to

such yearnings

yearnings alone can

and applied;
consolation

addresses

it

it

such yearnings

for

is

is

the

the

poem

drama, through
catastrophe,
is

the

to

work of

all
its

is

light,

its

final

this

from death to

the

action,

ture writers

exhaust the most

to

all

illustrate

its

to

the

self-sacrifice

its

bearings
for

of a

And

Hero

that

descending

from

this

So various

and

Scrip-

imagery

results.

His

they

liken

end,

self-denying benefactor

beggaring himself to enrich the destitute

prince

Jesus

of

the

copious

this

life.

vicissitudes, its

consumation.

Redeemer

coming into the world

the

supplies

it

The whole
a drama of Redemp-

poem

this

such

Father.

of Paradise regained.

maker of

by

be understood, embraced,

of the Heavenly

scheme of the Gospel

tion from darkness to
It

itself

his father's

of a

splendor

to

IDEALS OF LIFE.

98

do service for the meanest of

over

all

world

is

ding-

the

men

and

light

to the indispensable

bread

the

manna which

fell

which flowed

from

rock.

His

to

death

shepherd who

of a faithful
the

the serpent in

the

poisoned sinners
price by which

age

to

of mighty foes

heaven
stricken

the self-sacrifice

to

rescues

up

of

wilderness for the healing

of

life

the

to

his

lifting

ransom or redemption
slaves are bought out of bondto

the

lamb which warded

to the triumph of
to

the

at.

the Paschal

Angel of death

from

flock

own

of his

price

likened

is

to

His

streams

life

the sea
disease.

is

to the

of

in

office

sower sowing seed

casting his net into

compared

tcacJiings are

His

life.

going where there

physician

the

in

the sun in heaven, shed-

likened to

a fisherman

to

His presence

death.

they compare to

world,

and

humiliation

to

even

subjects,

his

the

work

of a

off

the

a conqueror
surety cancel-

demands of an antiquated covenant, and

a mediator ratifying a new and better one
the atoning sacrifice which lifted up the penalty

ling the

of
to

;:

from the transgressors of the Mosaic law

the substituted victim which, clearing off

against us,

makes us
likened

functions are

doing away with

all

feel at

to

all

and

one with God.

that of

differences

to-

charges

His

peace-maker,

between God and

men, and therewith between the several divisions

of God's family

God's words
truth

the

of the prophets,

who maintained God's

who made intercession for

of the kings,

priests,

who proclaimed

THE SECOND MAN.

God's people

came back
result

who penetrated

the high priest,

presence-chamber

God's

total

thence

99

with

of His interposition

a disorganized

And

and scattered

the

compared

is

who

that of an intervening friend

and

propitiations

benedictions.

with

to

to

brings together

family,

and reunites

them with perfect amity with their father's rule.

For this was " the good pleasure which God purposed in Himself, to gather back into one body
under one head the whole family in heaven and
Griffeth.

earth."

Now

for

my

life,

it

a miracle of thirty years,

is

relate, were not a history, but a piece of

would sound to common ears like a
and
poetry,

which to

fable

for the world,

hospital

count

and a place not

The world

that

it

not an inn, but an

but to

to live,

regard

is

myself;

crocosom of mine own frame that

on

for the other,

turn

use

it

round sometimes

it

on

that look

and

tion

my

fortune,

above Atlas

but like

for

my

is

it

cast

my

do err

in

his shoulders.

my

the mi-

and

recreation.

Men

my

condi-

altitude

for

The Earth

is

part

am

a point

not only in respect to the heavens above us,

heavenly and

in.

mine eye

globe,

outside, perusing only

'

die

within

but
us

of

that

that

mass of flesh that circumscribes me, limits not

mind that surface that tells the heavens it

my

celestial

hath an end, cannot persuade

I

take

sixty

my

my

circle

to

above

me

that

three

have any

hundred and

though the number of the arc do measure

body,

it

comprehendeth not

my mind

whilst L

IDEALS OF LIFE.

100

how

study to find
world,

find

am

microcosm, or a

myself more than the great.

surely a piece of divinity in us,

Nature

tells

God, as

well

not thus

much,

lesson,

and

Sir Thomas

that

Scripture

as

is

me

am

I
:

homage
the

yet to begin the alphabet

Browne.

Since

The way
Thy

have trod

of love

and

duty,

miracle

Immanuel

Has blossomed

into beauty.

Before,

And

conned

it

o'er

found no revelation

To me it seemed
As if men dreamed,

Who

to the

image

of

he that understands

*fr Y God,

is

hath not his introduction or first

itstittttttn

^^-

There

something that was

before the elements, and owes no

sun.

little

called

it

consolation.

of man.

immanuel.

101

But now
I

know

God, art

Thou,

that

us dwelling,

in

Interpreter

And
\11

Comforter,

power of man

My

life

not a

Is

excelling.

strife

In darkness any longer;

For Thou therein

Dost frown on sin,

Then

smile to

Thy

stronger.

strength

Becomes

make me

at length

very fortress

in

me,

From which no
To overthrowHath any power

to

foe

win me.

Through Thee
Eternity
Is

ever growing clearer,

And day by day

Upon my way
1

know

that

Heaven

is

And some of you say sometimes, often I dare

I
am tired, I am sick and weary of it all
would to God I were at rest " Why ? When

say, "

nearer.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

102

has

heart-sickness

this

overtaken

you

When
When

seemed so poor and worthless ?

has your soul thus preyed upon itself, filled your
face with restless sadness, and sapped your health
in its very springs?
Was it in the seasons when
faith was strong, when the vision of the unseen
realities was keen, when the light of God was on
your tabernacle of life? Was it when your soul
was armed and paraded for duty in God's service, and your noblest powers were drawn forth
and strained in the work for Christ and manhas

life

kind

Nay

and eager
I

see

your form then,

see your eye,

hear your voice,

it

it

is

it

erect

flashes with ardor

rings with exultation;

catch

and musical, and

they throb with the energy of victorious life. No;
no faintness then, no heart-sickness, no life-weariness then
but abounding strength, abounding
the

they are

heart-beats,

full

joy,

abounding

which makes
that

makes

expressed

in

life

J.

There

is

but one thing

worth having, worth

living,

simply of priceless worth

it

one brief phrase by the

dying Wesley
us."

hope.

"

The

best of

Baldwin Brown.

all

is,

lips

God

it

and

was

of the
is

with

.NHL*:-

^dSliiK
-HTf^^^^vOT

Thou

art the true

and undefiled."

SIMPLICITY.

loo

jlimplml^

*MOME

hither, little

child,

&" And bring thy heart to me

Thou art the true and undefiled,
So

of melody.

full

The presence of a child

Has taught me more of Heaven,
And more my heart has reconciled,
Than Greece' immortal Seven.
For when I sometimes think
That vain are prayer and song,
Before a

And own
And,

that

my

lo,

child

little

am

sink
wrono-.
o

heart grows bright,

That was before so dark,

Till in the
I

tender morning light

find the

vanished mark.

Purity and simplicity

are the two wings with

which man soars above the earth and

porary nature.
ity

in

purity

the

Simplicity

affection

unites

with

hadst simplicity

is

in

tem-

the intention, pur-

simplicity

and

all

enjoys

turns

Him.

to
If

God
thou

and purity thou wouidst be able

IDEALS OF LIFE.

1G4

comprehend all things without error, and behold them without danger.
The pure heart
safely pervades
not only heaven but hell.
to

Thomas
The

words

that his

shall

he who does not lose

is

does not think beforehand

be sincere, nor that

be resolute

shall

tion

man

He

child -heart.

his

in

Kempis.

truly great

his ac-

he simply always abides

Mencius.

the right.

wisdom
for every one is wise so far as he is led by the
Lord. The wiser the angels are, the more innocent they are; and the more innocent they are,
the more they seem to themselves like little chilInnocence,

its

highest degree,

is

SWEDENBORG.

dren.

Even

the child

may

world

this

in

row so

fair

who

with

transiently

is

us

in

paint on the darkness of our sor-

a vision of loving wonder, of rever-

ent trust, and of patience, that a Divine Presence

abides

with us forever, as the mild and constant

light of

hope and

Simplicity
life

James Martineau.

character

becomes

its

spring

of

autumn but a neatsnowdrop or lily

;

it

the peculiar fascination of beauty,

is

lends enchantment, and gives a charm

even to a plain person, being

amiability
in

of the

purity, like that of the

of the valley,

which

the

is

costliness

ness and

to

faith.

style, in

simplicity.

the mind.

to

is

all

things, the

to the

...

body what

In character,

supreme excellence

is

Longfellow.

Simplicity

is

that

grace which frees the

soul-

"

The beauty

of a wayside flower.

VIRTUE.

from

unnecessary

all

105

reflections

upon

itself.

Fenelon.

Are not

Love, simplicity, and

little

their faith

L.

faith

How

children.

Imitate

heavenly kingdom

nature

the

distinctly visible in

of

of the

signs

the

little

are

of a

little

the characteristics

and touching is
children, and trust.
N

simple

Frothixgham.

f^THE spirit of
^^ The beauty
And

little

child,

of a wayside flower,

growing wild
and subduing power

to the passions
silent

The secret of the Second Man,

The order of a perfect world
Our narrow words may never span
All that in Virtue lies impearled

But human

lives

may compass

it,

And somewhat of its marvels show,.

With the bright beams celestial lit
As once the Son of Man below
;:

And pour

the sunshine of His love

In calm effulgence all around,

Till

they to mute

Divinity in

man

Amazement prove
is

child?

found.

106

IDEALS OF LIFE.

Virtue

says

a writer of the

last century, in

passage that was a great favorite with the poet

Virtue

Rogers,

of intrinsic

is

value

and good

and of indispensable obligation not the

will, but necessary and immutable; not

desert,

creature of

temporary, but of equal

local or

tiquity with the

Divine mind; not a

Truth

sation, but everlasting

power, but the guide of

of honor

foundation
all

extent and an-

all

mode

of sen-

not dependent on

power.

Virtue

and esteem, the source of

beauty, order, and happiness in nature.

what confers value on

of

qualities

ought

the

is

all

reasonable

It is

other endowments and

being,

to

which they

be absolutely subservient, and without

to

more eminent they are, the more hideand the greater curses they beThe use of it is not confined to any stage

which, the

ous deformities

come.

of our existence, or to any particular situation

we

can be in, but reaches through all the periods

and circumstances of our being. Many of the
endowments and talents we now possess, and of
which we are too apt to be proud, will cease
the present state but this will be
our ornament and dignity in every future state
Beauty and wit
to which we may be removed.

entirely with

will

die,

arts

of

main

learning
life

will

vanish away, and

be soon forgot; but Virtue

forever.

rational creation,

This

and

unites
fits

us

to

the

all

the

will

re-

whole

us for conversing with

any order of superior natures, and for a place

It procures us the
in any part of God's works.

VIRTUE.

approbation of

and good beings, and

and friends. But what

wise

all

renders them our

107

allies

of unspeakably greater consequence

is

makes God our

minds

it

and unites our

friend, assimilates

and engages His almighty power

to His,

Superior beings of

our defense.

in

that

is,

bound by it no
same authority

in

It

has the

has

in this.

than ourselves.

less
all

worlds that

ranks are

all

it

advanced in excellence

The further any being is

and perfection the greater is his attachment to
and the more he is under its influence. To
it,
say no more, it is the law of the whole universe;
it

stands

original

in

first
is

the estimation of the Deity

His nature; and

its

the very object

is

it

makes Him lovely.

Such is the importance of Virtue.

that

consequence,

There

call

soul

us to

it

that

we

practise

it!

at

is

all

reasonable mind, which does

One

this.

virtuous disposition

of

preferable to the greatest natural accom-

is

plishments and
all

is

no argument or motive which

is

to influence a

fitted

not

therefore,

Of what

and of more value than

If you are wise,
and contemn everything that

abilities,

the treasures of the world.

then,

study virtue,

can come
nothing
wish.

in

competition with

else

deserves one

Remember,

lose

Secure
this,

that

anxious thought or

that this alone

wealth and happiness.

cure everything

Remember,

it.

and

is

this,
all

honor, glory,

and you
is

lost.

se-

Dr.

Price.

There

is

but one pursuit in

life

which

it

is

in

IDEALS OF LIFE.

103

power of

the

and of

all

makes

perseveres

every

an

difficulty

ment, and every contest a victory

the

to

attain.

subject to no disappointments, since he that

is

It

follow,

to

all

pursuit

virtue

is

Sincerely

to

and

this

aspire

is

after

and zealously to labor after

receive them.
Those that seek

to gain her,

her wages

her early

of virtue.

advance-

to

is

find her before

will

it

is

late

her re-

ward also is with her, and she will come quickly.

For the breast of a good man is a little heavens
commencing on earth, where the Deity sits enthroned

with

gated passion

His word."

unrivalled
" like

influence,

the wind

every subju-

and storm

fulfilling

Colton.

0oWss*
OODNESS

needs no lure:

All compensations are in her

enshrined,

Whatever things are right and fair and

Wealth of the heart and mind.

pure,

Failure and success,

The Day and Night of every life below,

Are but the servants of her blessedness,
That come and spend and go.

GOODNESS.
Life

life

Of

109

her reward,

is

every day's employ,

brim-full, in

sunshine, inspiration, every

And

word

syllable of joy.

Heaven

to thee

is

known,

Goodness in the robes of common earth

Becomes a presence thou canst call thine own,
To warm thy heart and hearth.

If

Goodness

call

the habit, and goodness of naThis, of

ture the inclination.

nities of

mind,

of the Deity,

is

all

virtues

and

dig-

the greatest, being the character

and without

chievous, wretched thing,

it

no

man

is

a busy, misa kind

better than

Goodness answers to the theological

virtue charity, and admits no excess but error.
The desire of power in excess caused the angels
to fall
the desire of knowledge in excess caused
man to fall but in charity there is no excess,
neither can angel or man come in danger by it.
of vermin.

Lord Bacon.

holy hermit had passed a long

of the Thebaid, remote from

mankind.

He

all

life in

a cave

intercourse with

and prayed, and performed

penances
and his whole thought
fasted

many severe
was how he should make
;

himself of account with

God, so that he might be sure of a seat

in

Para-

dise.

Having
ten

years,

way for threescore and

he became much puffed up with ideas
lived in

this

IDEALS OF

110

own

of his

show him some

might

He

sanctity.

besought

Lord

the

to

saint greater than himself, that

him

imitate

LIFE.

perhaps,

thinking,

that

he
the

Lord would reply that there was no saint greater

and holier than he was.
That same night an angel appeared to him
and said: " If thou wouldst excel all others in
virtue and sanctity, strive to imitate a certain minstrel who goes singing and begging from door to
door."

The

hermit,

and went

staff

And when
estly,

great

in

forth

in

astonishment, took his

search of the

minstrel.

he found him, he questioned him earn-

saying, " Tell me,

pray thee, brother, what

prayers and penance and good works thou

performed, by which thou

God

ceptable to

manner.

replied

me.
for

" I

hast

thyself ac-

greatly surprised to be accosted

He hung down

beseech

alas

to pray.

sinner

that

and

his head,

thee, holy father, not to

have performed no good works

praying,

worthy

made

?"

The man was

in that

hast

am,

mock

and as

am

not

only go from door to door, to

amuse people with my viol and my flute."

The hermit insisted, and said " But peradven;

midst of

ture even

in

hast done

some good works."

The man
good

that

The
"

How

the

replied

"

this

Nay,

thy evil

know

of

life

thou

nothing

have done."

wondering more and more, said:

Hast thou.
hast thou become a beggar ?
hermit,

CONSCIENCE.

spent thy substance in

Ill

riotous living, like

most

others of thy calling ?"

The man answered

a

poor

tracted,

"

woman running

Nay, not

and

hither

because her husband

and

But

so.

ial

pursued

beautiful,

after her.

tected her from them.

met

thither dis-

children

had

The wo-

been sold into slavery, to pay a debt,

man was very

and certain sons of Beltook her home and progave her

all I

possessed

redeem her family then I conducted her safely

to the city, where she was reunited to her husband and children. But what of that, my father ?
Is there any man who would not have done the
same ?"
to

The
" Alas,',

hermit,

hearing these words, shed tears.

said he, "

my

long

life

God: and thou

art

in all

have not done so much good

;

yet they

call

only a poor

me

man

minstrel."

of
St.

Jerome.

loMtkitf*
|^T?HE

^* Of

Spirit that so calmly strives with

man,

old was conscience to Elijah's breast

Through which a tremor of contrition ran,
And vanished but with self and sin confessed.

IDEALS OF

112

The

still

When
And

LIFE.

was vocal in a look,

had denied his Lord;
went flowing like a mountain brook,

small voice

three times Peter

tears

Made burning through

The silent whisper which
Amid the trappings of

false,

ungrateful word.

bosom stirred
Judgment Hall,

his

the

In vain, in vain the troubled Pilate heard,

And who
many

Full

shall paint the

a time

For every one

many
To show

Full

all
is

darkness of

his fall?

hear the Voice Divine,

born a child of God:

a time does light from

Heaven

shine

the pilgrim the Celestial road.

Ah, what of them who

will

not see or heed,

All self- directed in the course they run?

God summons

account for every deed

to

In light above the brightness of the sun.

man's

proaches
the

first

of his

care should be to avoid the

own

heart;

censure of the world.

with the former,

it

ought

to

his next,
If

to

re-

escape

the last interferes

be entirely neglected;

but otherwise there cannot be a greater satisfaction

to

an

honest mind than to see those appro-

bations which

it

gives

itself,

seconded by the ap-

man

more sure of his

conduct when the verdict which he passes upon
his own behavior is thus warranted and confirmed
by the opinion of all that know him. Addison.

plause of the public.

is

CONSCIENCE.

tender conscience, of

tenderly handled:

and

frame

constitution

making the conscience

He
that

not,

worth

look to

that.

injured,

your health
it

and

if

moral
at

only

in

refuge

callous.

Burke.

in

be

to

injure

recurring

seeking

keeping.

And,

you

whole

the

nothing

that loses his conscience has

is

value

you do

is

and

remorse,

times to

if

ought

things,

conscience, but

only the

not

for

all

113

Therefore, be

left

you

sure

next place, look

the

you have

it,

praise God,

next to a good conscience

to

and

for health

is

that we mortals are capable

cannot buy therefore
money
of; a blessing
Izaak Walton.
value it, and be thankful for it.
The testimony of a good conscience will make
the comforts of Heaven descend upon man's
weary head like a refreshing dew or shower

the second blessing

that

upon a

parched

earnests

joy

it

land.

and secret

will

It

will

give

lively

of approaching

anticipations

bid his soul go out

him

of the body un-

and lift up his head with confidence

before saints and angels. The comfort which it
conveys is greater than the capacities of mortality can appreciate, mighty and unspeakable, and
dauntedly,

not to be understood

What

till

is

felt.

South.

comfort does overflow the devout soul

from a consciousness of
integrity.

it

Tillotson.

its

own innocence and

IDEALS OF LIFE.

114

m\\
If any

man

will

God, or whether

Bsbbtitk

aufc

do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether

speak of myself. St. John. VII. 17.

gTRUTH

be of

and Obedience

^ Are wonder-working

Whose

it

powers,

foot-prints are their evidence

Through all
The trainers

To an

this

world of ours

in the

race

eternal goal

Revealers of undying grace,

The beauty

of the soul.

Truth and Obedience

Can wash out many a

Tame

taint,

the wild hands of Violence,

Turn sinner

And

into saint

bring the

Age

God's singers see

of Gold

afar,

Until the blessed things foretold

Become
Truth

is

truth.

men would
its

guidance

and the

the light of the Infinite Mind,

image of God
but

the things that are.

in his creatures.

The dreams,
substitute for
effort

is

Nothing endures

fictions,
it,

vain,

soon

and

which

theories,
die.

Without

hope

baseless.

Accordingly, the love of truth, a deep thirst for

a deliberate purpose to seek

it

and hold

it

it,.

fast,

TRUTH AND OBEDIENCE.

X1&

may be considered as the very foundation of human culture and dignity. Precious as thought is,
the

and
is

of

love

without

truth

precipitates

men

they

that

and

to live

be imbued

in

so

inculcate

die for

an

little

of truth, a

There

impartial,

readiness

Let the laboring

it.

a measure with

this spirit;

endowed with

of thought, for the very end

him learn

itself,

education and the pulpit

in

learn to regard himself as

let

for

wastes

and misery.

into guilt

earnest, reverential love

toil,

precious

and

wanders

no greater defect

than

more

still

is

it-thought

to

man

him
power

let

the

of acquiring truth;

to regard truth as

more precious than

his daily bread;

and the spring of true and per-

petual elevation

is

touched within him.

of his race.

man he becomes one

Nor do I despair of this

the laborer.

Unhappily

begun

to

be a

been done as yet

to

little,

inspire

with the love of truth for

and

life

soul.

has

of the elect
elevation of

almost nothing, has

either

own

its

He

rich or

poor

sake, or for the

and dignity it gives to the

The prosperous have as little of this prininspiration,

ciple as the laboring mass.

think,

instead,

the spirit of the luxurious, fashionable

hostile to

it

than the hardships of the

that

more
poor.
Un-

life, is

may be awakand wherever awakened, it

will form philosophers, successful and noble thinkers.
These remarks seem to me particularly important, as showing how intimate a union subsists between the moral and intellectual nature,.
der a wise culture, this principle

ened

in

all

classes,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

116

and how both must work together from the beginning.

All human culture rests on a moral foundation, on an impartial, disinterested spirit,
on a
willingness to

out

this

make

With-

sacrifices to the truth.

moral power, mere force of thought avails

Channing.

nothing towards our elevation.

Hpri5^!it$*

Uprightness
^^

the talisman of

is

life,

and every virtue rife,

To render one invincible
bears it with him through the sun

With

charity

Who

and

storm,

At every moment has his ranks in form

To stand against the gates of hell.
In ancient times, a

man

the East received

in

from venerated hands a ring of inestimable value.

In it was set a precious opal, from which different colors glanced as the light varied

was a
who wore it, and believed in
by God and man. Naturally,
of this ring never removed
virtue

within

this

ring,
its

and there

which made him

efficacy,

beloved

therefore, the
it

from

his

owner
finger,

UPRIGHTNESS.

and was desirous to transmit

When

he

117

to

it

his

posterity.

death approaching, he gave

felt

it

to

and ordained that when this son

should bequeath it to whichever of

his favorite son,

he also

died,

sons he loved

his

of

priority

birth

possession of

it

the

regard to

without

best,

came into
thereof, become

and that whoever

should,

by virtue

lord of the house.

way

In this
son,

at

till

last

the ring
it

descended from son to

was owned by a

who

father

They were

had three sons equally dear to him.

in the

weakness

of his affection for them, he sometimes

promised

obedient and good,

so

all

the ring to one

and sometimes

death approached, he was

it

that,

to another.

So,

when

much embarrassed

for

pained him to disappoint two of his sons for

the

of the

benefit

third

In

one.

this

dilemma,

he sent for a jeweller and ordered him to

make

the model

ring,

two rings

and

after

to spare

much

alike

of the

original

no pains or cost to make them so

that

from the other.

one could not be distinguished

The

jeweller

obeyed

his orders

so well that the father himself could not

rings apart.

On

rings, blessed

he was gone,

him and

each one

of

died.

the

claimed to be the sole lord of the house, by

tue

of his

ring.

Hence contention

they appealed to the judge

tending
ring,

claims.

and

the

each of his sons he separately

bestowed one of the

When

tell

to

sons
vir-

arose,

and

their

con-

settle

Each one of them showed his

swore that

he

received

it

from his

IDEALS OF LIFE.

118

How

hand.

father's

was the true

distinguished from the others

"

Unless

The judge

is

it

of these rings

said

the real one.

is

You

say the real

power which made

lieved

Now

in
tell

brothers

But, hold

do
is

ring had an inward

who wore

and who beits efficacy, beloved of God and man.

me, which one of you do the two other

love

all

best

the

You

it,

are

silent.

Is

because each one of you loves himself alone

Then, you are

of your rings
ring

is

summon your father himself as

impossible for me to decide which

perceive one means of proving which of them

genuine.

be

could

a witness,

to

rinof

is

the true

Perhaps the real

one.

gone, and your father, to hide the

may have ordered

three for one.

of a decision, you will take

my

None

deceived and deceivers.

all

it

But

advice,

loss,

if,

instead

counsel

each one of you to believe his own ring to be

Your father loved you all
the genuine one.

Perhaps he did not want to justify either

one of you in claiming superiority over the other
but desired that each of you should feel
two
honored by a token of his free affection. Therefore, let each one of you try who best can maniring.
Let
fest the inward virtue of the real
each one assist the power of his ring by gentleness, benevolence, lorbearance, and resignation to
If the virtues of your rings are
the will of God.
manifested in this way by yourselves, by your
children, and your children's children, a Greater
alike.

am

Judge than

uineness."

Lessing.

will

decide the question of gen-

COURTESY.

119

o^[7HE savor of our household

***

The

Which earneth

silent

talk

thanks

glory of our daily walk

Among

the busy ranks.

Life's cleanly, lubricating oil

In which a help

To make the
Go lightly,

is

found

wheels of

common

toil

swiftly round.

Politeness in a thousand forms

One cannot

stop to name,

Correcting while

it

cheers and warms,

Like Paul imparting blame.

Benevolence and grace of heart

That gives no needless

And

pours a balm on every smart

appear again.

Till smiles

pain,

man's manner, to a certain extent, indicates

his character.

inner nature.

It

is

the external exponent of his

indicates his

his

feelings,

and

his temper, as well as the society to

which he

has

been accustomed.

manner,

which

It

is

There

taste,

is

a conventional

of comparatively

little

import-

IDEALS OF LIhE.

120

ance

but the natural manner, the outcome of nat-

ural

gifts,

improved by careful

a great deal.

fies

Grace
which

is

manner

of

by sentiment,

inspired

is

source of no slight

Viewed

cultivated mind.
is

self-culture, signi-

in

enjoyment to a

this

sentiment

light,

much importance as talents and

it is even
more influential in

of almost as

acquirements, while

giving the direction to a man's

Sympathy

acter.

the golden key that unlocks

is

the hearts of others.

It

not only teaches

ness and courage, but gives

wisdom,

and char-

tastes

and may

almost

insight

be

polite-

and unfolds

regarded as

the

crowning grace of humanity.

rules of politeness

Artificial

What

use.
is

consists

It

posture-making, and
at best, etiquette

though

it

is

is

in

signs,

the

little
""

Etiquette

is

the

Even

easily seen through.

but a substitute for good man-

consist,

courteousness and kindness.

as

"

a great measure of

often but their

Good manners
described

of

of very

essence of impoliteness and un-

often of the

ners,

name

passes by the

truthfulness.

are

art

of

for

mere counterfeit.
the most part, in

Politeness has been

showing,

regard we have

internal

by

external

for

others.

But one may be perfectly polite to another without necessarily having a special regard for him.

Good manners
tiful
tiful

behavior.

form

is

are neither
It

more nor

less than

has been well said that

better than a

beautiful behavior

is

beautiful

"

beau-

a beau-

face,

and a

better than a beautiful form

COURTESY.
it

tures

or pic-

statues

the finest of the fine arts."

is

it

The

than

a higher pleasure

gives

121'

comes of

politeness

truest

must be the outcome

no lasting impression

sincerity.

of the heart, or

amount

no

for

it

The

can dispense with truthfulness.

will

of polish

natural char-

acter must be allowed to appear, freed of

and

gularities

water

resemble

and without

"

taste "

sin-

its

Though

politeness, in its

(as St. Francis

de Sales says)

asperities.

best form, should

It

make

best

when

yet

most simple,

clearest,

genius

man

in

will al-

ways cover many defects of manner, and much

Withwill be excused to the strong and original.
out genuineness and individuality, human life
would lose much of
well as

courtesy

the disposition to
others,

and

them.

It

is

is

kind.

kind

where, he says,

this

among

all

that

may annoy

kind and readily

Curiously
of

quality

enough,
character

the natives of Uganda, oiu

Lake Nyanza,
"

exhibits

in the

heart of Africa,.

Ingratitude, or neglecting to thank"

a person for a benefit conferred,

is

punishable."

politeness especially exhibits itself in re-

gard for the personality of others.

respect the individuality of another,
to

as

in-

as

actions.

Speke found

recognized even

be respected

gard for

variety,

itsetf

from

grateful as well

the shores of

True

and

to the happiness

It

contribute

in refraining

acknowledges
Captain

interest

manliness and robustness of character.

its

True

its

his

himself.

He

will

A man
if

will

he wishes

have due

re-

views and opinions, even though they

IDEALS OF LIFE.

122

from

differ

his

The well-mannered man pays

own.

a compliment to another, and sometimes even secures his

He

frains

respect,

simply

is

from judging harshly

others

of

by patiently listening to him.

and forbearant, and re-

tolerant

almost

will

and harsh judgments

invariably

provoke harsh

judgment of ourselves.

The

man

impulsive

impolite,

sometimes rather loose

than his joke.

friend

his

however,

will,

He may

surely be pronounced a very foolish per-

who

secures, another's hatred at the price of

son

a moment's gratification.
the engineer

nei

was a saying of Bru-

It

himself one

tured of men -that

"

and

spite

ill-nature are

the most expensive luxuries of

man

of the kindest-na-

among

Smiles.

life."

has no more right to say an

thing than to act one

no more right

uncivil

to say a

rude thing to another than to knock him down.

Dr. Johnson.
Incivility is the

extreme of pride

people take

make

this

is

more

in

will

"

rude thing for

say
it,

is

built

than the pleasure

speaking their minds."

pleasure of saying

on

when an opposite

some

A man
the

of

mere

behavior,

as innocent, might have preserved his friend,

full

or

silly

it

Zimmermann.

the contempt of mankind.

Nothing

made

Men

his fortune.

are like wine

Sir Richard Steele.

;

not good before the lees

of clownishness be settled.
I

know men

am

Felltham.

sure they are tyrants at

home, bully their servants, pester

their wives,

and

COUBTESY.
beat their childern

who

123

seem

to take a delight in

harrassing, badgering, objurgating the waiter

ting pit-falls in the reckoning that he

may

set-

stumble,

and giving him confused orders that he may trip

himself up. These are the men who call in the

demand

landlord and

the waiter's instant dismissal

because their mutton-chops has a curly

are the pleasant fellows

Times

the

because

who

these

threaten to write to

pepper

cayenne

the

tail;

won't

come out of the caster. These are the jocund

fellows who quarrel with the cabmen and menace
them with ruin and the tread-mill. Household
Words.
Manners are the shadows of virtues the mo;

mentary display of those

come then what we

may

which our

qualities

low-creatures love and respect.

strive

to

If

we

appear, manners

often be rendered useful guides

Manners

corrupt or
refine

us,

us but here and there, and

what

are

purify, exalt

vex

or debase,

or

barbarize

we

breathe

give their whole form and color to our

cording to their quality,

or

they

morals,

aid

soon found the advantage of

manners

the

conversations

They

in.

this
I

Ac-

lives.

supply them, or they totally destroy them.

my

now

soothe

by a constant, steady, uniform, insensible

operation, like that the air

laws.

great measure, the laws depend.

Manners

then,

per-

duties.

Upon them, in a
The law touches
and

to the

Sydney Smith.
are of more importance than

formance of our

fel-

strive to be-

they

Burke.

change

engaged

in
in

IDEALS OF LIFE.

2-1

went on more pleasantly.

The modest way in.
I
proposed my opinions procured them a
readier reception and less contradiction.
had
I

which

when I was found to be

more easily prevailed with

mortification

less

wrong-,

and

the

in

others

up their mistakes and join with me when

I
happened to be in the right. And this mode,
which I at first put on with some violence to
natural inclination, became at length easy, and so
to give

habitual

to

me

perhaps

that

for

the

last

fifty

one has ever heard a dogmatical ex-

years no

Dr. Franklin.

pression escape me.

The manner of saying or of doing anything

goes a great way in the value of the thing itself.
was well said of him that called a good office
that was done harshly and with an ill-will, a stony
piece of bread: it is necessary for him that is
It

hungry
in

to receive

True politeness
It

simply consists

but

it,

the going down.

in

it

perfect

is

man

ease and freedom.

others just

treating

love to be treated yourself.

All the

almost chokes a

Seneca.

you

as

Lord Chesterfield.

possible charities of

life

ought

to

be

cultivated, and where we can be neither brethren

nor friends, let us be kind neighbors and pleas-

ant acquaintances.

Burke.

Compliments of congratulation are always

kindly taken, and cost one nothing but pen,
and paper.

ink,
It

is

bidding

all

Lord Chesterfield.

very well to say,

Good-morrow,

or

"

There

is

Good-night,

no use
to

in

those

COURAGE.

who know

wish

those

letter, to

it

of sending one's love, in a

who do

sounds very well

this

do

for

practice.

politeness,

is

125

not doubt

it,"

theory, but

etc.

not

Scarce any friendship, or

any

in

it

so strong as to be able to subsist

without any external supports of this kind

is

All

will

and

it

even better to have too much form than too

Whately.
Air and manner are more expressive

little.

words.

We
heart

stantial

are
to

to

carry

it

from the hand to the

improve a ceremonial nicety into a suband the modes of civility into the

duty,

realities of religion.

South.

c)vTHE resolution of the heart

*** At which bewildering
fears
Is

than

Richardson.

courage which

Who

befits the

depart,

man

seeks a place within the van.

Equipment of a quiet mind

With eyes before and eyes behind,

Which

daily duties always

is courage of a manly

will.

fill,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

12G

The temper of old

From whose great
Of prophecy, amid

Is

courage of

of talent

fought battle gained

Every day sends

and who,
begin, would
in

obscurity

men who

because their

prevented them from making a

if

lengths

in

world for

lost in the

is

courage.

little

remained

timidity has

to

the hard

graves a number of obscure

have only

to

mould

celestial

God's minority sustained.

want of a

effort

stir

name,

his

earthly boldness bold

crreat deal

their

the flame,

heard at mention of

And

to

heart the bugle

Is

Beyond all
Which sees

the

Latimer,

the

they could have been induced

in all probability

career

do anything

first

in

have gone great

The

of fame.

this

world

fact

is,

worth doing,

that

we

and thinking of
the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble

must

not stand back

shivering

through as well as we can.

perpetually calculating

chances
a

man

will

It

risks

and

not do to be
adjusting

nice

when

did very well before the Flood,

it

could consult his friends upon an intended

publication

for

then live to

a hundred and

see

man

his

success

fifty

years,

afterwards

and

but at

and doubts, and consults

his brother and his particular friends, till one fine
day he finds that he is sixty years of age that
present a

waits,

he has lost

so

much time

in

consulting his

first

COURAGE.

and particular

cousins

more time
It

and

strong

Sydney Smith.

men who
The weak

courageous

and guide and rule the world.

lead

and timid leave no trace behind them

of a single upright

life

to

and

while the

and energetic man

His example

a track of light.

appealed

no

he has

that

friends,

to follow their advice.

the

is

127

like

is

remembered and

is

and

his thoughts, his spirit,

his

courage continue to be the inspiration of succeeding generations.

It

will

that

is-

produces the miracles of enthusiasm

in

what

is

it

power

of

mainspring

the

called force of character,

is

ing

central

Everywhere

ages.

all

the

element of which

energy

is

and the

great action.

all

cause the determined

man

righteous

In

stands upon his

age as upon a granite block;

and,

go

will

Men
inspires

often

conquer

difficulties

Their

the confidence

at sea,

and a storm began

of the

ship

manned by
sar

"

gious,

because

they

Caesar

to rage, the

cap-

which carried him became un"

fear.

What

great captain

The courage
and

themselves

When

of others.

tain

the

heart

confidence in

was

cried

in

forth to

they can.

feel

cour-

David,

like

meet Goliath, strong

though- a host be encamped against him.

he

of

sustain-

carries

"

art thou

thy vessel

afraid

"

carries Cae-

of the brave

man

along

with

others

of?

is
it.

conta-

His

stronger nature awes weaker natures into silence,

or

inspires

The

them with

persistent

man

his
will

own

will

and purpose.

not be baffled or re-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

128

pulsed by opposition.

coming
offered

the

staff,

"

He

cynic.

the

and threatened
"

to

cynic

raised

strike

him

Diogenes

his

if

he

"

you

not find a stick hard enough to conquer

my

did not depart.

will

the

persisting,

still

went and
was refused.

Antisthenes,

of

disciple

himself to

Diogenes,
knotty

Diogenes, desirous of be-

perseverance."

Strike

Antisthenes,

said

overcome,

had not

another word to say, but forthwith accepted him

as his pupil.

Energy of temperament, with a moderate degree of wisdom,

carry

will

man

farther

than

amount of intellect without it.

Energy
makes the man of practical ability. It gives
him vis, force, momentum. It is the active motive
power of character and, if combined with sagacity and self-possession, will enable a man to emany

ploy his powers to the best advantage in

affairs of

life.

all

the

Smiles.

Dear daughter wrote a great artist strive

to be of good courage, to be gentle - hearted
Trouthese are the true qualities for a woman.
There is but one
bles everybody must expect.
;

way

of looking at fate

blessings

or

whatever
behave

afflictions

to

that be,

whether

with

dignity

under both. We must not lose heart, or it will

be the worse both for ourselves and for those
whom we love. To struggle, and again and again

renew the

conflict

this is life's inheritance.

Ary

SCHEFFER.

As

to

moral courage,

have rarely met with

COURAGE.
the two

d clock

129

morning courage.

in the

prepared courage, that which

mean, un-

necessary on an

is

unexpected occasion, and which,

in spite

most

full

unforeseen

judgment and
amidst
ings,

as a

never

plainly

said

in

whether

"a

he,

he

if

which,

and mental

suffer-

he had confidence, to

The

it

might

he

recover

not

truth,

that, in his opin-

without

" I will

Then," said Johnson,

miracle.

more phy-

take no

my opiates for I have prayed that

may render my soul up to God unclouded."
not even

sic,
I

could

doctor, having

and being an-

lead,

swered that he could, declared

"

Give me,"

he could bear the whole

w hich way soever

ion,

"

could recover.

answer."

direct

asked him

first

I.

asked Dr. Brocklesby,

tell him

forsook him,

whom

freedom of

fortitude

native

that

his bodily distress

all

man

Napoleon

decision.

with

Johnson,

leaves

events,

of the

Bos WELL.
"

Be of good comfort,"

imer to

companion

his

said the brave old Lat-

such a

candle

through

grace, shall never

all

we

II.,

day

shall this

England

as,

Sir John Elliot

after the

was

ing to the place of execution, he stood up

cart,

en seeing

from a window

and
love,

said,

"

To

in

the

heaven,

and leave you

in

rid-

the

down upon him

Tower, and waved his hat

wife

his

light

by God's

When,

be put out."

restoration of Charles

"be of good

at the stake;

comfort, Master Ridley, for

looking

my

in the

love

storm

to

heaven,

"
i

my

IDEALS OF

130

LIFE.

iterotmt*

DECISION
C5z

is

the soul of luck,

Which, flashing through

The genius and

power

the

makes

it,

it

pluck,

do

to

That which the lightning brings to view.

Decision walks on solid ground,

factor in the world

It

treads wherever Truth commands,

And

become

firm

around

the shrinking sands.

Decision lingers not with

On

which

is

writ the

fate,

word

"

Too

late/'

But through the gate of Penitence

Pursues the way of Providence.

Without Decision life is lost,

A ship upon the ocean tost,
Without a rudder or a hand

To

euide

A man
belong

to

it

to the

wished

for land.

without decision can never be said to

himself;

since,

if

he dared to assert

puny force of some cause, about

as powerful you would have supposed as a spider, may make a seizure of the unhappy boaster
the very next moment, and contemptuously exthat he did, the

hibit

the

futility

of the

determinations by which

DECISION.

131

he was to have proved the independence of his

understanding and will. He belongs to whatever

make

can

of him

captive

another vindicates

him while he

is

right

its

trying

chips floating near

and one thing

to

by arresting
twigs and

him,

go on

to

as

the edge of a river are inter-

cepted by every weed, and whirled

Having concluded on a

eddy.

pledge himself to accomplish

will let

may-

hundred

the

if

it,

little

he

within the

His character precluding

him.

of his

foresight

every

in

design,

may come

which

diversities of feeling

work

after

conduct, he

may

all

and wonder

sit

what form and direction his views and actions

are destined to take to-morrow as a farmer has
;

acknowledge that next day's proceedings

often to

are often at the disposal of

John

of

all

wretched.

wretched characters, the

make up

never

torment

proach and laughter

suffer

winds and clouds.

Foster.

And
can

its

in

no

his

to

of

mind"

is

himself,

he

others,

the
is

most

the

re-

who

frequently

his

hesitation,

degree from

small

man "who

There can scarcely be any

censure passed upon a man than that

delay and fickleness.

more

fatal

implied in the Patriarch's apostrophe to his son

"

Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel."

very

The

promise of well-doing must be denied to

the waverer.

History has recorded the

evils in-

on two nations by the instability of James

of England and VI. of Scotland and many of

flicted
I.

us have read with

appreciation

the

anecdote

of

IDEALS OF

132

the

when ordered

chaplain, who,

read as his

king,

-"James

wave

6th "He

the

sea

driven

significance,

wavereth

with

the

arch the exclamation,

already

"

"

Saul

o'

my

body, he

on the schemes of

life

suing them, are the

causes of

all

pur-

When
and

another,

interest

and perhaps reason contrary

likely to pass his time

many

he has so

offer

in

our disquiet and unhappiness.

clination a third,
is

at

and most universal

greater

ambition pulls one way,

man

is

which

themselves to our choice, and inconstancy

and

wind

Adams.

Irresolution

all,

like a

is

provoking from the self-conscious mon-

tossed,"

me

that

his

preach before the

to

with emphatic

text,

and

i.

of

passed upon him by

aptly

so

criticism

LIFE.

but

ill

in-

to

when

When

different parties to please.

mind hovers among such a variety of alurements, one had better settle on a way of life that
the

is

not the very best

grow

we might have

chosen, than

old without determining our choice,

and go

out of the world, as the greater part of mankind

do,

we have

before

There

is

rest in

how

resolved

to

live

in

but one method of setting ourselves at

this

particular,

and

that

by adhering

is

steadfastly to

one great end as the chief and

mate aim of

all

resolved

to

without any

live

our pursuits.

up

regard

like considerations,

with
life

our

it.

principal

with steadiness

to

to

the

If

we

dictates

ulti-

are firmly
of

reason,

wealth, reputation, or the

any more than

as they

fall

in

we may go through
and pleasure but if we act

design,

CHARACTER.

by

several broken views,

a value

has

that
shall

and

live

set

and

upon

not only

will

and

popular,

wealthy,

but

virtuous,

13&

everything

by the world, we

it

misery and repentance.

die in

be

Addison.
I

would recommend

to

every one that admir-

able precept which Pythagoras

to

his

and

disciples,

is

which

have given

said to

philosopher

that

must have drawn from the observation which I

have enlarged upon Optimum vitae genus eligito,
nam consuetudo faciei jucundissimum\ " Pitch upon
;

most excellent,
and custom will render it the most delightful."
Men whose circumstances will permit them to
that course

of

which

life

the

is

choose their own way of

life

they do

which

tells

not pursue

them

reason

is

more

any present

to

we

ply with inclination.

by

inclination, since,

reason, though

HE

judgment

their

The

voice

of

will at

the

length

rule

above

come over

to

can never force reason to com-

Addison.

fortress of the

Built

if

be regarded than the bent of

mentioned, inclination

>^]7

that

most laudable.

the

is

inexcusable

are

man,

on a base divine*

WEALS OF

134

LIFE.

Through which no tremor ever ran

To break

its

perfect line.

The wondrous citadel,

Which reaches unto Heaven,
Wherein courageous angels dwell,

To whom

its

keys are given.

The noblest thing which God

Has honored with His mark,
And made a beacon on the road,
Far -shining through the dark.

The property which

Who

build

all

upon the

truth

Are girded with the jasper

Around eternal youth.

Character

is

one of the greatest motive pow-

ers in the world.

exemplifies
it

exhibits

Men
life

human
man at

in

nature
his

to

noblest embodiments,
in

its

highest forms, for

believe

homage
in

world

presence

in

is
it

of high

of purpose

of mankind.

such men,

them, and to imitate them.

in.

it

best.

of sterling honesty

in the

ing

its

of industry, of integrity,

the spontaneous
ral

In

of genuine excellence, in every station of

men

ciple,

wall

to

prin-

command
It

is

natu-

have confidence
All

that

is

good

upheld by them, and without their

the world would not be worth

liv-

CHARACTER.

135

Although genius always commands admiration,

The former is
character most secures respect.

more

product of brain-power, the latter of

the

heart -power; and in the long run

that rules in

Men

life.

in the relation of its intellect, as

of

conscience

its

graph
I

Amen

get that eagerness

appreciation of the

Smiles.

honesty, and

of truth,

these

may be wanting

very learned.

para-

of this

time, don't

depth

for-

of thought,

experience of the world,

lofty,

love

same

mind,

of

manner, tact and

of

delicacy

of character

respect for learned men.

But, at the

men

author

the

a friend,

to

say,

wrote
on

insist,

the heart

is

and while the former are ad-

mired, the latter are followed.

You

it

of genius stand to society

in

energy

amiability

action,

in

that

man who may

all

yet be

Perthes.

have read books enough, and observed and

conversed with enough of eminent and splendidlycultured

you,
lips

minds, too,

have

my

in

heard higher

of poor, uneducated

time

but,

from the

sentiments

men and women, when

exerting the spirit of severe yet gentle

under

and

difficulties

afflictions,

and neighbors, than

out of the

Bible.

and respect our

we have taught
as moonshine,
the heart.

Sir

We

shall

real calling

ourselves to

heroism

or speaking their

simple thoughts as to circumstances

friends

assure

in

the lot of

ever yet met with-

never learn to

and

destiny, unless

consider everything

compared with the education

Walter

feel

Scott.

of

IDEALS OF LIFE.

136

Character

will

an estate

the noblest of

is

in the

find their

and

fairly
life

virtue,

and

It

men and they who invest

may not become rich in this

they

in

It is

of

will

property.

is

possessions.

reward

general goodin

it

world's goods

esteem and reputation

in

honorably won.

And

it

right that

is

that

good qualities should tell

and goodness should rank

that the really best

men

in life,

if

the

industry,

highest

should be foremost.

Simple honesty of purpose

long way

though

in

man goes a

founded on a just estimate

of himself and a steady obedience to the rule he

knows and

feels

straight, gives

to

be

right.

It

holds a

man

him strength and sustenance, and

main spring of vigorous action. " No

man," once said Sir Benjamin Rudyard, " is bound
no, nor to be wise
to be rich or great
but every
forms a

man

bound to be honest." Smiles.

A good character, when established, should not
be rested in as an end, but only employed as a
means of doing still farther good. Atterbury.
There is no man at once either excellently
good or extremely evil, but grows either as he
holds himself up in virtue or lets himself slide to
is

Sir Philip Sidney.

viciousness.

As

man

indeed, he

is

incontrollably,

thinks or desires in his heart, such,

;

for

then most

he acts himself.

truly,

because most

South.

Health and sickness, enjoyment and suffering,

riches and poverty, knowledge and ignorance,
power and subjection, liberty and bondage, civil-

COMMON
ization

SENSE.

and barbarity, have

all

137

their

and

offices

duties; all serve for the formation of character.

Paley.
It is in
is

men

as in

soils,

where sometimes there

a vein of gold which the owner knows not

Swift.

Soratram

fT?HE
**^

While

&$
common

lightning of the

Which

mind,

pierces to the heart of things,

logic lingers far behind,

Possessed of no

celestial

wings

The native faculty of man,

Which separates the false and
As only eyes of wisdom can,

And
To

is

it

common

the best

philosophy, to
as

true,

sees the thing to say or do.

act with

moment,

do

sense,

wisdom
one's

according to the

know; and the best

duties,

take

the goodness which has given us so

it,

whatever

Horace Walpole.

tion.
30

it

is,

world

the

comes, submit respectfully to one's

ness with

of.

lot,

much

and despise

bless

happiaffecta-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

138

The longer we

more we are con-

the

live,

vinced of the justice of the old

ounce of mother wit
that

and good nature,

cal

of

station,

greatest

skill

and

sarian

worth a poitnd of clergy ;

manners, common sense,

is

gentle

discretion,

are,

men

in

of high ecclesiasti-

more importance than

far

distinguishing

in

an

that

saying-,

supralapsarian

between

doctrines.

the

sublap-

Sydney

Smith.

Common

the

enterprises,

the

sense should

practical

cargo

and

genius

of

ballast

itself

and

well as

as

Good sense
we might say, it

scientific.
;

nay,

of which

out

poetical

works

genius

all

is
is

its

the
the
suc-

Calvert.

cesses.

When

asked how he

tragedy, he

his

literary

bottom of

at the

lie

on the

felt

ill-success of

(Dr. Johnson) replied, " Like the

monument " meaning that he continued firm and

unmoved as that column. And, let it be remem;

an admonition

bered, as

of dramatic writers, that

town, submitted to
had, indeed,

erence for
he, "

who

wittier

that

its

upon

decision without a
all

public to

irritabile

writes

can

"

man," said

a book, thinks himself wiser or

instruct

whom

murmur.

occasions a great def-

the general opinion.

mankind he supposes
or amuse them; and the

than the rest of

he

genus

great man, instead

complaining of the bad taste of the

of peevishly

He

the

to
this

he appeals must, after

judges of his pretensions."

all,

be the

Boswell.

Gov. Hubbard, of Connecticut, once called at

COMMON
White

the

House

SENSE.

139

reference

in

to

newly-in-

had

a committee

vented gun, concerning which

been appointed to make a report. The

was sent for, and when it came in was found to
be of the most voluminous description. Mr. Lin-

report

glanced at

coln

new
ing

lease of
it

it,

to read

life

down upon

the

committee of

can't a

buy a horse

for

not

this

sense

me,

Throw-

"
!

he added

"

Why
ex-

occasionally
If I

send a man

expect him to

how many

his points

through

kind

this

should want a

" I

table,

common

hibit a grain of

to

and said

hairs there are

tell

me

in

his

Stories of Lincoln.

tail."

Fine sense and exalted sense are not half so

useful as

common

sense

good sense

wit for one of

men

there are forty

;

and he that

will

nothing about with him but gold

will

day

Addison.

at a loss for readier change.

What we
life

consists

enables

its

of

carry

be every

good sense in the conduct of

chiefly in that temper of mind which
call

possessor to view at

perfect coolness and accuracy,

cumstances of

may produce

his situation

all

all

times,

with

the various

cir-

so that each of them

due impression on him, without

any exaggeration arising from his own peculiar
habits.
tion,

But

to a

external

to excite his

pursues has

its

man

of an ill-regulated imagina-

circumstances only serve

own
in

thoughts, and

general far less

the

as limits

conduct he

reference to his

situation than to some imaginary

which he conceives himself to be placed
real

one

in

and

in

IDEALS OF LIFE.

140

consequence of which, while he appears

self to

and

him-

be acting with the most perfect wisdom

consistency,

others

to

all

may

he

frequently

appearances

the

of

exhibit

folly.

to

Dugald

Stewart.

(Dims.
A BALLAD FOR NEW- YEAR DAY.
71H did you not see him that over the snow

Came on

<5>iy%

with a pace so cautious and slow

That measured his step to a pendulum-tick,

Arriving in town when the darkness was thick?

saw him last night, with locks so gray,

A little way off, as the light died away.
I

And I knew him at once, so often

Had he silently, mournfully passed

He

before
at

my

door.

must be cold and weary, I said,

so far, with that measured tread.

Coming
I

will

urge him

Till his

to linger awhile with

withering

who

chill

knows ?
And when he is gone
story

and weariness

he
I

may

will

put

me
flee.

deign to rehearse,
it

in verse.

TIME.
I

141

turned to prepare for the coming guest,

With

curious, troublous thoughts oppressed.

The window I cheered

Which glimmered afar

My

with the taper's glow

o'er the spectral snow.

anxious care the hearth-stone knew,

And

the red flames leaped and beckoned anew.

But

chiefly myself, with singular care,

Did

for the

hoary presence prepare.

Yet with little success, as I paced the room,

Did I labor to banish a sense of gloom.

My

thoughts were going and coming like bees,

With

store from the year's wide-stretching leas,

Some laden with honey, some laden with

And into my heart they dropped it all

miserable heart, at once over-run

With

gall,

the honey

and

wretched heart

Where

And

is

gall thou canst not shun.

in

sadness

cried,

thy trust in the Crucified

in wrestling

prayer did

labor long

That the Mighty One would make

me

strong.

That prayer was more than a useless breath:

It

brought to

my

soul God's saving health.

The hours swept on

And came

in their rapid

flight,

the middle watch of the night;

IDEALS OF LIFE.

142

In part
I

unmanned,

beheld

my

in spite

guest

in the

wall of darkness

quickly

And
And

care,

taper's glare

thick,

pendulum- tick.

to a

opened wide the door,

And bade him

my

around him

As onward he came
Then

of

pass

linger awhile

my

threshold

away from

o'er,

the cold,

repeat some story or ballad old

His weary limbs to strengthen with

For

ever receding west.

his course to the

Through the vacant door

stood was it long?

And

That the

fill

And

glanced,

one entranced.

the room,

tick of the clock

And my heart it sank

And in whelming awe
For now

wonder

in

as

Silence so awful did

rest,

to

was a cannon's boom.

its

lowest retreat,

did muffle

its

beat.

beheld, as never before,

heard to forget,

ah,

nevermore

For with outstretched hand, with scythe and glass,

With naught of a pause did the traveller pass.

And
And

with upturned face he the silence broke,

My

thus, as

And

journey
I

he went, he measuredly spoke

is

stay not

long, but
~

my

limbs are strong;

rest, for story,

or song.

; !

TIME.
It

is

It is

only a dirge, that ever

sing

only of death, the tale that

Of death
Of death

that

is life,

that

is

And

these

As

go on

143

as

my

cometh

death, alas

to pass

alas

go on my way,
way forever and aye.

chant, as

it

bring:

and sweet,
hour intermingle and meet

Call not thyself wretched, though bitter

In thy cup at this

Some cloud with the sunshine must ever appear,

And darkness prevails till morning is near.
But who doth remember the gloom of the night,
When the sky is aglow with the beautiful light ?

Oh

alas

if

thou drinkest the bitter alone,

Nor heaven nor

Thy moan
Thy moan

and

earth

And
Shall

stifle

thy

moan

away
thy moan forever and aye
the echo died

His measured voice

But not

may

till

heard no more,

stand on eternity's shore,

the things of time be forgotten

all,

cease that traveller's words to

recall.

As onward he moved to a pendulum- tick,

The gloom and darkness around him thick,
I

fell

And

on
it

my

rose,

knees and breathed a prayer;

I ween, through the midnight air

IDEALS OF LIFE,

144

To a God who knoweth the wants and all

The evil and good of this earthly thrall

To One who suffered as on this day,

And began our sins to purge away

To Him who hath promised to heed

And a troubled heart to purify.

And
Till

feel that the

And now my

soul

the

As
Or

years

roll

Time

hands of the

that

it

anxious to cultivate
of us

be,

hour-glass

tivity,

how

did

how we

might
in the

for

life

everlasting.

is

your neighbor

to

run,

it

the

hands of

the

in

in

eternal

the

in

a preparation for the con-

foolish,

anxious to throw

if all

a curse

foolish,

preparation

hands of the

demnation

is

we make

what

exactly

is

the wise, a

Year.

a realm of Eternal Sun.

shall enter

Ah,

never repine

will

know, when the race of Time

New

whether sun doth shine

on,

clouds overcast,

much

less,

with cheer

filled

is

march of a bright and Happy

For

ever grow

gall will

cry,

see His face in righteousness.

For

our

away
it

it

is

To you

it

He

is

naught.

as you

(we hope)

is

as

are

to the greatest advantage.

but

know what

it

is,

what

it

should watch over every grain

solicitous

How

great would be our ac-

our labor, how profound our

TIME.

consciousness of duty

How we

of each

avail ourselves

keen would be our

145

should aspire to

How

passing moment!

regret

could

conscience

if

speak to us of days wasted and opportunities

neglected

commenting on the importance of thrift in

regard to time, it would be easy to lay down a
few practical and familiar rules for the benefit of
the young adventurer in life's chequered career.
In

As

for instance

One

Do

thing at a time.

once what ought to be done at once.

at

Never put off till to-morrow what ought to be

done to-day.
Never leave to another that which you can
do yourself.

More

haste,

Stay a

little

worse speed.

we may make an end

that

the

sooner.

But more
precept

is

to

and the

good and

be learned from example than

lives of great

great, will

lasting value to the student than

man who

cellence,

omized

or of

men

prove of higher and more

the most preci-

philosophy.

Show

has attained to eminence,

or ex-

ous fragments of proverbial

me

men

me a man who has econShow me a man who has ben-

and you show

his time.

efited the

world by his wisdom, or his country by

his patriotism, or his

thropy, and

you show

neighborhood by

me

the best of every minute.

man who

In

his philan-

has

business, the

made
men

IDEALS OF LIFE.

146

who have

attained

success

are

who

men

the

have known the importance of method, the men

who have

appreciated the potentiality of time.

Adams.
Thrift of time will repay you in after-life with

usury

dreams

of

while

dwindle,

beyond

profit

waste

the

alike

your most sanguine

of

and moral

intellectual

in

make you

will

it

stature,

beyond your darkest reckonings. Gladstone.

Time is the most indefinable yet paradoxical
things

of

past

the

is

we attempt

to define

measurer of

urable,
is

hensible, because

more so

still

has no

it

if

had.

it

source than the

than the

but

Like space,

undisclosed.

Niger

retreats

limit,
It

Nile,

is

and

like

the

swiftest

but

incompre-

is

and it would be
more obscure in

in

and advances

is

immeas-

things,

all
it

flash

Time

itself

is

and the grand discloser of

itself

its

things, but

all

not

even

the

and, like

it,

of lightning, at once exists and expires.

the

is

becomes the past

come, and the present

while

gone, the future

termination

its

like

the slowest,

torrent.

wings of lightning to pleasure, but

It

gives

of lead

feet

to pain, and lends expectation a curb, but enjoyment a spur. It robs Beauty of her charms, to
bestow them on the picture, and builds a monu-

ment

to

merit, but

denies

transient

and

deceitful

the tried

and

final

it

a house

flatterer of

friend of truth.

it

is

the

falsehood, but

Time

is

the

most subtle yet the most insatiable of depredators, and by appearing to take nothing, is per-

TIME.

mitted to take
it

147

nor can

all,

has stolen the world from

world.

by

things
ally,

constantly

It

flight

us,

and although

until

and us from the

yet

flies,

satisfied

it

overcomes
is

all

the present

be the future conquerer, of

will

it

be

it

death.

Time, the cradle of hope, but the grave of ambition,

tary

the stern corrector of fools, but the salu-

is

dread to the
other

and the
before

opportunity with

he that has made

hind

it

little

to fear

it

his

his friends.

from

is

his

enemy

discredit

it

have

the

too

long,

and repentance behis friend will have

enemies, but he

will

to

Wisdom walks

late.
it,

desire

they

little

to

that

hath

hope from

Colton.

Dost thou
for time

sagest

the

all

warns us with a

it

believe too

silliest

it,

they

all

Cassandra,

even

that

bringing

wise,

and

one,

like

but,

voice

made

of the

counsellor

love

the

life ?

stuff that

Then waste not

life is
made of.

time,

Dr.

Franklin.

Time

is

painted with a lock before, and bald

behind, signifying thereby that

by the forelock
is

no recalling

it.

for,

when

Swift.

it

we must
is

take time

once past, there

IDEALS OF LIFE.

148

The

things which are seen are temporal

not seen are eternal.

Cor.

IV.

but the things which are

18.

gTERNITY! Eternity!
How wonderful Thou

art,

Wide as the Sea of Deity,

And narrow as a heart
The pulses of Eternity
Are throbbing everywhere
Time holds Eternity in fee,

And

thus becomes so

fair.

Each moment is Eternity,

Mother of mighty years,

Whose chariot is Infinity,

Whose steeds are smiles and
Eternity

The

tears.

Eternity

Present, Future, Past,

Forever are but one to Thee,

Thou
All

life

art the First, the Last.

contains Eternity,

Where

sight through truth

abounds

Clothed, clothed with Christ's humility,

I

see His pleading wounds.

ETERNITY.

149

Illumined by Eternity,

How

new

very

they are,

Those wounds as of Humanity,

No more, no more afar

The mansion

every breath;

Is built in

And

into

Look
Eternity

How

it

of Eternity

despairingly

the great eyes of Death.

Eternity

Thou

prodigal

art,

Calm, uncreated Mystery,

The Whole

It is

we

every part!

in

not by our feet or change of place that

leave Thee, or return to Thee.

younger

son

chariots,

or ships, and

of

Thine look out

fly

Nor
for

did that

horses or

with visible wings, or

journey by the motion of his limbs, that he might

in

a far country waste

in riotous living all

gavest at his departure.

wert when Thou gavest

loving

but more loving unto

him wert Thou when he returned empty.

We

forget

that

Thou

no place encompasseth

Thou

Father Thou

art everywhere,

that

even to those that remove

Thou alone
far

whom

art near

from Thee.

Lord, help us to turn and seek Thee; for not as

we have forsaken our Creator hast Thou forsaken Thy creation.

Our good only lives with Thee when we
.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

150

away from Thee we are perverted.

turn

then,

turned

any decay,
lest there
fell

fell

not

for

that

standing

Thee.

left

Thy Eternity

St.

Augustine.

and retired imagination, I

am not alone, and therefore

Him and

contemplate

with
;

or

refor-

His attributes

confound

thereof

think

speaks

thousand years to
to speak

the one

with

my

under-

of eternity without

without

an

ecs-

Peter

St.

other

the

who can speak

for

solecism,

tacy

our mansion

for

His wisdom and eternity:

recreate,

it;

ever with me, especially those two mighty

is

ones,

solitary

get not to

who

with

when we

member

us,

over-

be no place whither to return, because

from

my

In

Let

not be

Thee good lives without

Thou art good nor need we fear

because

we

we may

Lord, return, that

modestly,

God

when he

are but as

saith,

one day

a philosopher, those continued

like

a
for
in-

stances of time which flow into a thousand years,

make

not to

Him one moment: what

come, to His eternity

is

Browne,

parts,

flux

or

is

to

present, His whole dura-

tion being but one permanent

cession,

to us

point, without suc-

division.

Sir

Thomas

jiirf

SIM

*?-S oie Let your

light so sbine

men, that they may see your good

before

works, and glorify your Father which

Every man has two educations,

is in

one

heaven.

Be what nature intended you

and you

will

for

Matthew

and you

will

Gibbon.
succeed;

be anything

be ten thousand times worse than nothing.

Sidney
The
places.

Smith.

mill-streams that turn the clappers of the world arise in solitary

Sir

I never

Arthur Helps.
was anything,

better, happier,

dearest,

till

knew you; and I have been a

since.
Lay by that truth
it when I
fail.

and more prosperous man ever

in lavender, sweetest,

and remind me of

Hood
The

v. 16.

which he receives from others,

?nd one, more important, which he gives himself.

else

St.

(to his wife).

paternal hearth, that rallying-place of the affections.

Washington

The body has

its

rights

have them.
They cannot be
The body ought to be the soul's
helpmate.
Hare Brothers.

and

trampled upon or slighted without

"best friend,

and

cordial, dutiful

Irving.

it

will

peril.

(152)

Jlkaiibii.

^0

man

bring the

***

to light,

And make
To form him by the rule
The Decalogue divine.
his

To sow

beauty shine:
of right,

mind

the fertile

While spring is in its prime,

That peaceful autumn days may

A
To

harvest-home

build the mighty fort

When
Whose
And

youth

In

glow,
report

challenge every foe.

the powers

are in the
this

soul,

world of ours,

armor bright and whole.

I^consider a

11

in its

is

faithful sentinels

To marshal all
Whose roots
To conquer in

marble

find

sublime.

human

in the quarry,

soul without education like

which shows none of

(

153

its

in-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

154

herent

beauties

until

skill

makes

fetches out the colors,

of the

polisher

and

the surface shine,

ornamental cloud, spot, and vein

every

discovers

the

body of it. Education, after

same manner, when it works upon a noble
mind, draws out to view every latent virtue and
that runs through the

the

perfection, which without such helps are never able

make

to

If

their appearance.

my

allusion

reader
so

will

soon

same instance

the
tion,

which

give

me

upon him,

leave to change the

I

shall

brought

has

his doctrine of substantial forms,

lies

to

when he

explain
tells

away

superfluous matter and removes the rubbish.

What
is

to the

in

the

The

the stone, the sculptor only finds

is

sculpture

is

human

us

and

hid in a block of marble,

that the art of the statuary only clears

figure

of

to illustrate the force of educa-

Aristotle

that a statue

make use

it.

to a block of marble, education

soul.

The

philosopher, the saint,

the hero, the wise, the good, or the great man, very
often

lie

hid and concealed in a plebian, which a

proper education might have disinterred, and have

brought to

The

light.

Addison.

more obviously
require labor and cultivation to prepare them for
our use and subsistence, than our faculties demand
fruits

instruction

of the earth do not

and regulation

in

order to qualify us

become upright and valuable members of society, useful to others, or happy in ourselves.
Barrow.
Education ma)' be compared to the grafting of
to

EDUCATION.
a

gardner knows that the younger

Every

tree.

wilding-stock

the

because, then, one

root will
all

effectual

the

is

and

puts forth will be of the right

the other hand,

you have

successfully done),
thirty grafts

operation,

put on just above the

a tree

to put

to

is

be

may be very

grafted at a considerable age (which

wards you

the

grafted,

the main stem of the tree,

it

When, on

be

to

is

scion

become

the branches

sort.

that

is

and the more

easier

155

on twenty or

on the several branches

and

after-,

have to be watching from time to

will

time for the wilding-shoots which the stock

putting forth, and pruning them

And

off.

will

be

even

so,

one whose character is to be reformed at mature

age will find it necessary not merely to implant a
right principle
distinct

once for

attention

but also to bestow a

all,

on the correction of

and the other bad

habit.

But

it

that,

this,

must not

be forgotten that education resembles the graft-

must

ing of a tree in this point also, that there

be some

affinity

between the stock and the

graft,

though a very important practical difference

exist

for example,

fine apple.

be

called,

retain

between a worthless crab and

relation

the

to

most important

in

by any kind of

artificial

nature, as

it

may

to

effect

it,

one,

though

You cannot,
make any thing

points.

all

Those who hold

and attempt

original

training,

of any one, and obliterate

character.

new

the

so,

superinduced by education,, must always

some

differing

Even

may

trace of the natural

that

this

resemble

is

possible,

Virgil,

who

IDEALS OF

156

(whether

ignorance

in

license")

"poetical

of

or,

LIFE.

by way
of grafting an oak

some

as

talks

think,

Whately.

on an elm.

Thelwall thought

very unfair to influence a

it

mind by inculcating any opinions before it

had come to years of "discretion to choose for
itself.
I showed him my garden, and told him it
was my botanical garden. " How so ? " said he
child's

" it

"

covered

is

that

only because

is

"

with weeds."

in

me

to

its

The weeds, you

have taken the liberty to grow, and

unfair

it

replied,

has not yet come to

it

age of discretion and choice.

see,

Oh,"

prejudice

the

thought

soil

towards

roses and strawberries." Coleridge.

In

have
"

we

one of the notes

quoted an
fatten a

obtain a

hope
us

who observes

writer,

sheep with grass, not

in

wool."

with
:

we

We

teach

mathematics, and

logic,

that

order to

crop of hay from his back, but

that he will feed us with

sciences

his

old

former publication

to a

in

the

mutton and clothe

may apply
man

young

not that he

to

the

algebra,

the

this

should take

equations and his parallelograms into West-

minster Hall, and bring his ten predicaments to

the

House

of

Commons, but

that he should bring

a mind to both these places so well stored with

the sound principles of truth and reason as not
to be deceived by the chicanery of the bar nor
the

sophistry

of science

of the

but that armor

The acquirements

senate.

may be termed
would

armor of the mind;

worse than useless,

the

be

EDUCATION.
that cost

we

all

and

had,

left

157

us

nothing to de-

Colton.

fend.

Interesting conversation with Mr. S. on educa-

Astonishment and grief at the

tion.

times like the present, of those parents

cially in

who

totally

dren's

espe-

folly,

forget, in the formation of their chil-

habits,

to

inspire

that

vigorous indepen-

dence which acknowledges the smallest possible

number

and so avoids or triumphs over

the negation of a thousand indulgences, by always having been taught and accustomed to do
of wants,

without them.
tes,

"

How many

said

things,"

Socra-

"

do not want
John Foster.
There have been periods when the country
" I

heard with dismay that

That

not the case

is

abroad

There

in

is

And

now.

soldier

in

Let the soldier be

less

impor-

the eyes of some, an insignificant

things.

trust

was abroad."

the present age he can do nothing.

whose labors have tended

of

state

The

another person abroad,

tant persoh

person,

"

more

to

produce

The schoolmaster
to him,

armed with

is

this

abroad

his primer,

do the soldier in full military array, for

upholding and extending the liberties of his country.
Lord Brougham.
than

say, therefore, that the education of the

peonot only a means, but the best means, of

obtaining that which all allow to be a chief end
of government; and, if this be so, it passes my
I

ple

is

faculties to understand how any man can gravely

contend that government has nothing to do with

the education of the people.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

158

My

confidence

ened when

common
and

recollect

with

political

with

all

and

spiritual

in

my judgment
that

hold that opinion

in

the greatest lawgivers, statesmen

all

philosophers of

most

the

strength-

is

nations and ages,

all

champions of

illustrious

freedom, and

civil

especially with those

men whose names were once

held in the highest

veneration by the

Dissenters of Eng-

land.

might

names of

Protestant

many

cite

of the most venerable

Old World; but

the

would rather

cite

the example of that country which the supporters

Voluntary System here are always recommending to us as a pattern. Go back to the

days when the little society which has expanded
into the opulent and enlightened commonwealth
of Massachusetts began to exist.
Our modern
of the

Dissenters

will scarcely,

contumeliously

Land and

of

think, venture to

speak

whose

spirit

those

Puritans

High Commission Court could not

subdue, of those Puritans who were willing to
leave home and kindred, and all the comforts and
his

refinements of civilized
to

hx

their

abode

in

to

life,

forests

cross

ocean

the

among

wild beasts

and wild men, rather than commit the sin of performing in the house of God one gesture which
they believed to

be

displeasing

those brave exiles think

it

Him.

to

inconsistent with

or religious freedom that the

State

one

colonists

was

civil

should take

charge of the education of the people

of the earliest laws enacted by

Did

the

No,

sir;

Puritan

that every township, as soon as the


EDUCATION.

Lord had increased

point one to teach

and

should set

to fifty houses,

it

should ap-

and

children to read

all

write,

hundred houses
up a grammar school. Nor have the

every

that

159

descendants

of

township of a

who made

those

law ever

this

ceased to hold that the public authorities were

bound

Nor
"

to provide the
this

is

doctrine

Educate the people

by

addressed

means of

public instruction.

confined

to

was the

"

Penn

the

to

New
first

England.

admonition

which

colony

he

"

was the legacy

Educate the people
which
he had saved.
nation
the
Washington
to
of
" Educate the people " was the unceasing exhortand I quote Jefferson witli
ation of Jefferson
founded.

"

peculiar pleasure, because of

that have ever lived,

cepted, Jefferson

everything like
ments.

was

to

Yet the
establish

tion in Virginia.

Adam

all

the eminent

Smith himself not ex-

was the one who most abhorred

meddling on the part of governchief business of his

Lord Macaulay.
splendid

cabinets

no magical power to make scholars.

in all

later years

a good system of State educa-

Costly apparatus and

is

men

As

circumstances, under God, the

have

man

master of

own fortune, so is he the maker of his -own

mind. The Creator has so constituted the human
intellect that it can only grow by its own action
it will certainly and necessarily grow.
Every man
his

must therefore educate

teacher are but helps
is

himself.

the

not educated until he

work

His books and

is

his.

man

has the ability to sum-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

1G0

mon,

an emergency,

in

orous exercise to

mental powers

his

proposed

effect its

man who has seen the most,

who can do this such an one

object.

It is

or read the

not the
most,

in vig-

is

in

danger

of being borne down, like a beast of burden,

an

Nor

is

it

tive vigor
riors

pre

mass

overloaded

bend

man who

can boast merely of na-

and

capacity.

The

eminence

because

thoughts.

the

who went

greatest of

war-

all

Troy had not the

nature had given him

to the siege of

because

and he

strength

men's

other

of

by

bow but
had taught him how to
the

carried

self- discipline

largest

Daniel Webster.

it.

f7]?HOU

canst not live in isolation,

^^ A hermit to the
And have no part in
For something,

world unknown,
procreation

surely, thou hast

sown.

Dost know a cowardly withdrawal

Becomes a

factor of the age,

most unsoldierly bestowal

On

those

who have

life's

war

to

wage

TEACHERS.

Without thy
Appointed

Seek thou

Thy

1G1

choice, thou art a teacher

in this earthly

for

lessons

school

wisdom and beseech her

may

abide her

rule.

For weal or woe, thy life forever

Goes flowing down the thirsty years,

portion of the mighty river

Which
It

new

in the world's

knows no pause or

appears.

life

interruption,

Thy drop of sweetness or of gall,

Day of Incorruption
When God becometh all in all

Until the

No human

being

come

can

into

sum

without increasing or diminishing the

human

world

this

total of

happiness, not only of the present, but of

every subsequent age of humanity.

No

detach himself from this connection.

There

sequestered

spot in the universe, no

one can
is

no

dark niche

along the disc of non-existence, to which he can

where he can
withdraw the influence of his existence upon the
moral destiny of the world everywhere his presence or absence will be felt, everywhere he will
have companions who will be the better or w orse
retreat from his relations to others,

for his influence.

fearful

arid

It

is

an old saying, and one of

fathomless import, that

ing characters for eternity.

Whose

our own or others

we

are form-

Forming characters
Both and in that

IDEALS OF LIFE.

162

momentous

fact lies the peril

Who

our existence.

my

Thousands of
eternity with

in

for

they

The

sun-

it

never

lived.

my

reveal

and

finger-marks
succes-

their

in

Elihu Burritt.
a missionary now and forever,

of thought

Every man is
good or for

signs

enter

characters differing from those

primary formations, and

strata

sive

thought

sufficient for the

is

of that world will

their

responsibility of

fellow-beings will yearly

have carried thither had

light

and

evil,

whether he intends or de-

He may

or not.

life.

be a

radiating his

blot,

dark influence outward to the very circumference

of society

or he

may be

over the length and breadth of the

benediction

world: but a blank he cannot be.

moral blanks

We

spreading

blessing,

no

there are

There are no

neutral

characters.

are either the sower that sows and corrupts,,

or the light that splendidly illuminates,

salt that silently operates

man

every

speaks.

oi

Rugby

says the biographer

seemed

to create a

of health and vigor within his pupils,

to

of Dr.

new spring
and

to give

an interest and elevation which remained

them long after they had left him and

life

with

dwelt so habitually
image,

that,

separation

in

their thoughts as

a living

when death had taken him away,

bond appeared
of

alive,

Dr. Chalmers.

His very presence

Arnold

and the

but heing dead or

to

the

be unbroken, and the sense of

almost lost

in

the

still

deeper

sense

and a union undestructable. Dean Stanley.

Washington wrote one who saw him only

life

TEACHERS.

once

sank

tomb before

into his

had attached

brity

163

my

to

name.

any
I

passed before

He was

him as the most unknown of beings.

glory

his

all

My name

depth

the

in

cele-

little

of

my

in

obscurity.

dwelt probably not a whole day in his

memory. Happy, however, was I that his looks

were cast upon me. I have felt warmed for it
all the rest of my life.
There is a virtue even in
Chateaubriand.

the looks of a great man.

That which
which

yea,

begets

evil

evil

born of valor and honor teaches

is

and honor.
It

born of

is

and

valor

Ruskin.

a pity that, commonly,

is

that

more care

among very wise men,

man for their horse,
They
their children.

that

is

had,

to find out

rather a cunning

than a cun-

man

say nay in

ning

for

For to the one they

will gladly give a stipend of two hundred crowns
by year, and loth to offer to the other two hund-

word, but they do so

red shillings.

God, that

their choice to scorn,

ity as

deed.

in

and rewardeth

and well-ordered horses,

;

and,

therefore,

more pleasure
children.

There

is

of youth, for

The

their liberal-

them to have tame

but wild and unfortunate

in their

no

office

there

should be
first

in

the

end,

they

horse than comfort

find

in their

Ascham.

ous as the mind,

office

heaven, laugheth

should, for he suffereth

it

children

sitteth in

minds

is

soul,

higher than that of a teacher

nothing on earth so precicharacter of the child.

regarded
in

the

with

greater

No

respect.

community should be en-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

1G4

couraged

to

assume

Parents should do

it.

impoverish themselves to induce such to

the

guardians

this

good,

and guides of their children. To

their show and luxury should be

all

Here they should be

sacrificed.

lavish, whilst

straiten themselves in everything else.

wear the cheapest

food,

they can

if

but

all

become

in

clothes,

live

they

They should

on the plainest

no other way secure to

their

They should have no

families the best instruction.

anxiety to accumulate property for their children,

provided

which

can

they

awaken

will

pure and

high

place

them

their faculties, inspire

them with

them

to bear a

principles,

and

manly, useful, and honorable

No

under influence

fit

part in

the

language can express the cruelty or

economy

that

world.
folly

of

which, to leave a fortune to a child,

starves his intellect, impoverishes his heart.

There

economy

Money

be

should

no

education.

in

should never be weighed against

child.

It

the

soul

of a

should be poured out like water for the

child's intellectual

and moral

life.

Parents should seek an educator for the young

of their families

and

who

efficient friend,

work.

If

their

will

become

to

them a hearty

counsellor, coadjutor, in their

circumstances

will

allow

it,

should so limit the school that the instructor

know

they

may

every child, may become the

and may converse frequently with
regard to each. He should be worthy

intimately

friend of each,

them

in

of their confidence, should find their doors always

open, should be

among

their

most welcome guests,

BOOKS.

165

and should study with them the

the peculiarities of each

pupil

discipline

may

which

require.

He

should give the parents warning of the least obliquity of

mind which he discovers

at school, should

receive in return their suggestions as to the inju-

diciousness

of his

own methods

in

regard to one

and should concert with them

means of arresting every evil at its first manifestation.
Such is the teacher we need, and his
or another child,

the

Channing.

value cannot be paid in gold.

imi&s*
cjTRO cheer

me

with their blessed looks,

*** Friend after friend appears,

Those dear companions

The
I

children of

all

in

my

books,

years.

think the thoughts which once they thought,

And

others gather fast

Until around me,

There

is

all

unsought,

a host so vast.

And

all are come as ministers

Of strength and life and joy;
With whom, the fair young comforters,
I

am

again a boy.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

166

And Heaven once more is very

Almost within my reach
And silence silence is so dear,

near,

Surpassing silver speech

have

friends

whose

me

they are

agreeable to

every

society

of

They have

country.

selves both in

the

all

extremely

is

and of

ages,

distinguished them-

cabinet and

in

the

and

field,

obtained high honors for their knowledge of the

sciences.

easy to gain access to them

It is

they are always at

to

my

ever

my

service,

and

ask them.

me the events of past ages, while

to me the secrets of nature.
Some

me how

teach

Some, by

my

to

live,

my

spirits,

restrain

my

away

my

to

die.

cares and

while

others give fortitude

me

the important lesson

mind, and teach

to

and others how

their vivacity, drive

exhilarate

how

when-

relate to

others reveal

to

it,

They are never troublesome, but

please.

immediately answer every question

Some

for

admit them

company, and dismiss them from

desires

and depend wholly

on myself. They open to me, in short, the various avenues of all the arts and sciences, and

upon

their information

gencies.

In

me

return

for

safely rely in
all

all

emer-

these services they

accommodate them with a convenient chamber in some corner of my humble

habitation, where they may repose in peace
for
delighted
by the tranthese friends are more
only ask

to

BOOKS.

167

quility of retirement than with

the tumults of so-

Petrarch.

ciety.

For books are not absolutely dead

things, but

do contain a potency of life in them, to be as

whose progeny they are nay,

active as that soul

they do preserve, as in a

and

vial,

know

them.

ously

productive,

as

that

intellect

extraction of that living

they are as

the purest efficacy

lively,

fabulous

those

bred

and as vigordragons'

sown up and down, may

And yet, on
chance to spring up armed men.
the other hand, unless wariness be used, as good
almost kill a man as kill a good book who kills
a man kills a reasonable creature, God's image
but he who destroys a good book kills reason
kills the image of God, as it were, in the
itself,
teeth

being

and,

Many

eye.

man

lives

but a good book

is

a burden to the earth

the precious life-blood of a

embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life. Milton.

Except a living man there is nothing more
wonderful than a book ! a message to us from
the dead,
from human souls whom we never
saw, who lived, perhaps, thousands of miles away;
and yet these, in those little sheets of paper,
speak to us, amuse us, terrify us, teach us, commaster-spirit,

fort
.

open

us,
.

say

their

hearts

we ought

look at them as

useful

they are good and true,

religion

or

politics,

to

to

us

as

brothers.

reverence books,

to

and mighty things.

If
whether they are about

farming,

trade,

or medicine,

IDEALS OF LIFE,

168

they are the message of Christ, the

things, the

Were
me

teacher of truth.
to

maker

Charles

of

all

Kingsley.

pray for a taste which should stand

stead under every variety of circumstances,

in

and be a source of happiness and cheerfulness

to me during life, and a shield against its ills,

however things might go amiss, and the world

frown upon me, it would be a taste for reading.
Give a man this taste, and the means of gratifying

and you can hardly

it,

a happy man;

of

fail

indeed,

unless,

making him

you put

into

hands a most perverse selection of Books.

him

place

in

contact with

every period of history,

the

with

best

his

You

society

in

the wisest, the ten-

and the purest characters who

have adorned humanity. You make him a denizen of all nations, a contemporary of all ages.
The world has been created for him. Sir John"
derest, the bravest,

Herschel.

Books are the food of youth, the delight of

old age the ornament of prosperity, the refuge
and comfort of adversity a delight at home, and
companions by night, in
no hindrance abroad
;

travelling, in the country.

To
run

to

divert,

thy

at

any time, a troublesome fancy,

Books.

them, and drive

Cicero.

the

They

presently

fix

thee

to

other out of thy thoughts.

They always receive thee with

Thomas Fuller.
ness.
Without books, God

is

the

same kind-

silent, justice

dormant,

natural science at a stand, philosophy lame, letters

BOOKS.

dumb, and

all

1G9

things involved in

Cimmerian dark-

Bartholin.

ness.

The book of Life is the tabernacle wherein the

The truth of
treasure of wisdom is to be found.
voice perishes with the sound; truth latent in the

mind

wisdom

hidden

is

and

treasure

invisible

but the truth which illuminates books desires to

manifest

books,

in

exists
safely,

how

Let

every disciplinable sense.

to

itself

us consider

great a commodity of doctrine

how

easily,

how

how
human ig-

secretly,

they expose the nakedness

of

These are
the masters that instruct us without rods and
ferules, without harsh words and anger, without
If you approach them, they
clothes or money.
norance without putting

are not asleep

if,

to

it

shame.

investigating,

them, they conceal nothing

grumble

if

you interrogate

you mistake them,,

if you are ignorant, they

Richard de Bury.
The great and good do not die, even in this

they never

cannot laugh at you.

Embalmed
The book

world.

abroad.

which one

tellect to

books,

in
is

their

spirits

a living voice.

still

listens.

remain under the influence

of

It is

walk
an

in-

Hence we ever

the

great

men

old:
"

The dead but sceptred sovrans, who

Our spirits from their urns."

The imperial
much alive now
still

lives

hidden
12

in

intellects

as they

and though
the

mists

of

the

still

rule

world are as

were ages ago.

his

Homer

personal history

of antiquity,

his

is

poems are

IDEALS OF LIFE.

170

to-day as

fresh

as

Plato

ten.

still

if

they had been

Shakspeare

writ-

teaches his transcendent philoso-

phy; Horace, Virgil, and Dante

they lived

newly

is

still

when

sing as

not dead

body

his

was buried in 1616, but his mind is as much

alive in England now, and his thoughts as farreaching

as in the time of the Tudors.

The humblest and poorest may

enter the so-

ciety of these great spirits without being thought

All

intrusive.

Would you

who can read have got

laugh

laugh with you.

Do

Cervantes

you grieve

or
?

the entree.

Rabelais

there

is

will

Thomas

a Kempis or Jeremy Taylor to grieve with and

Always it is to books, and the

spirits of great men embalmed in them, that we
turn for entertainment, for instruction, and solace
in joy and in sorrow, as in prosperity and in
console

you.

Smiles.

adversity.

A
of

my

taste
life.

for
I

books is the pleasure and glory

would not exchange' it for the

riches of the Indies.

Of

all

below, by

Gibbon.

the things which

far

the

most

man

make

momentous, wonderful,

and worthy are the things we

lyle,

can do or

call

books. Car-

ENCOURAGEMENT.

171

OR

WHAT
UR
"

It

CARRIED TO COLLEGE.

New

old

England

Little favor to kissing

you know,

were wont

to show.

smacked, they thought, too much of Satan,

Whose hook

And even

So

often has a pleasant bate on.

as token of purity's passion,

Sometimes,

think,

at least in the

And

My

it

was out of

it

was

true.

grandsire and grandma, of the olden school,

strict

observers of the proper

And from New Year on

kiss

Yet

fashion.

home my boyhood knew,

of other homes, no doubt,

Were

folks,

is

something

cannot say,

The thought

in

to the

rule.

end of December

do not remember.

the joy of the present,

of those days

is

at all unpleasant.

Grandma, with the cares of the household on her,

In the morning smoked in the chimney corner.

She hung the tea-kettle filled with water

While still asleep was her youngest daughter.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

172

Ah

tbgre were reasons, good and plenty,

Why

she should indulge that baby of twenty.

The

rest

And

that

were

courted and married and

all

was

birdie

little

flown,,,

alone.

left

Grandmother, when she had finished her smoking,

Bustled about

ArA

she

pork and made the

fried the

And pricked

never went poking

the potatoes,

While grandsire finished

And

uncle and

if

done

tea,

to see;

his chapter of snores,

were doing the chores.

When

breakfast was over, the Bible was read,

And a

prayer

still

remember

said.

The old folks in reverence bowed them down,

As those who are mindful of cross and crown..

My

uncle and aunt

Their right to

sit

And

to

The

I,

fear,

who were

unconverted,

or stand asserted.

example

true,

part of a heathen acted too.

But there was always

Morning and

for

me

a glory,

night, in that Bible

The heroes and

story.

saints of the olden time

In beautiful vision

moved

sublime.

wondered much at the valor they had,

And in wondering my soul was glad.
I

ENCOURAGEMENT.

My

wonderment,

can hardly

tell,

At the boldness Jacob showed

wondered

Had

first

not into tears he burst.

been constrained

That deed

at the well,

when meeting her

In kissing Rachel,
I

173

to

choose between

at the well and. that after -scene

When

David and Goliah met,

heart on the fight would have certainly

My
And
To

was much

yet there

set.

boy

for a bashful

gather up and remember with joy.

God

bless

my

grandsire's simple heart

Which made up
.And led

me on

in

faith

what

lacked

it

to the best of the

Which years

thereafter

Tending the

cattle stalled in the

in art,

knowledge

carried to college.

Going to school eight weeks

in

'

linter,'

the winter

Planting and hoeing potatoes and corn,

Milking the cows at night and morn

Spreading and raking the new

Stowing

it

in the

mown

Until

all

joys of Thanksgiving late in the

So passed
I

hay,

mow away

Gathering apples and thinking of

The

fall

the years in such like scenes

had grown well into

my

teens.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

174

And

many a dream

then, with

my

in

struck for myself and a nobler part

hardly

knew

heart,

some higher good,

what, yet

Earning and spending as

fast as

Earning and spending

teaching and going

To

school,

My

maiden aunt

Is

what time

approved

and

in its

to

bless

manhood was growing.

Providence

to thirty

had grown,

the nest had not yet flown.

And a childless aunt, my uncle's

Had come to gladden that quiet
God

could

blessed consequence

That baby of twenty

And from

in
I

them

The foremost

Our aunts sometimes

my

life.

were ever

both, for they

to second

wife,

life's

endeavor.

are almost mothers,

Toiling and planning and spending for others.

Aunt Hannah,

How

the maiden,

they labored to gird

Aunt Emily,

me

wife,

for the strife,

me on with words befitting,

Doing my sewing and doing my knitting,
Cheering

And pressing upon me many a

Whose meaning was more than

token
ever was spoken!

At length the time for parting came

They both in heaven will have true fame

ENCO UBA GEMENT.

175

me good - bye at the stile

They with me went through the woods a mile.
1 Hey did not bid

It

September time,
the Autumn fruits were in

was the

When

still

their prime.

Here and there a patch of crimson was seen

Where

the breath of the early frost had been.

The songs
Yet

of the birds were tender and sad,

could not say they were not glad.

Nature's soft and mellow undertone

To

a note like trust in the Father had grown.

And

that trust,

As on through

ween,

the

in

our hearts had sway,

woods we wended our way.

Meeting and parting fringe

twenty

life

below,

We

parted

My

aunts turned back, and on went

Striving

my

years ago.
I,

burning tears to dry.

Almost a thousand miles away

Was

the

Alma Mater

sought that day.

To a voice I turned me on my track,

And saw them both come running back.
" Is

And

something forgotten
they, without a

Caught me

in

?"

word

soon stammered

their arms, a great

And smothered me

in reply,

baby of twenty,

with kisses not too plenty.

IDEALS OF

176

Some joys
And many

LIFE.

had known before

that day,

since have thronged

my way

But in all my seeking through forty

In which rain-bow hopes have dried
I

have nothing found

in

Surpassing those kisses

Encouragement
tain

our own

in

unrecognized
has

fairly

few at

first,

who

those

So do

all

to flow, then

There
there

is
is

my

road,)

He

come

may

be,

the

stream

by

the tributaries,
"

God

So do His
It

is

helps

children,

the law of

no encouragement from
no

encouragement from

Happening one day

lic

it

And when

the powers of Nature.

ourselves.

by

promoted,

help themselves."

when

others,

carried to college.

but constantly increasing.

universe.

the

influences.

begun

all tears,

bubbles out of the foun-

first

lives

years,

of knowledge,

the paths
I

father's house,

to see a

gentleman

asked him what o'clock

looked at

that with so

his

it

watch and told me.

much

ride

(which was close by a pub-

good-nature,

then was

As he

begged him

did
to

show me the inside of his watch and, though he

was an entire stranger, he immediately opened the
I saw the springwatch, and put it in my hands.
;

box, with part of the chain round

him what
told

me

within

it.

and asked
turn round ?
He
it;

was that made it

was turned round by a steel spring
Having then never seen any other spring

it
it


ENCO UBAGE3IEJSIT.

my

than that of

177

father's gun-lock,

asked how a

spring, within a box, could turn the box so often

upon it? He answered that the spring was long and thin that
one end of it was fastened to the axis of the box,
and the other end to the inside of the box,
that the axis was fixed, and the box was loose
round, as to wind

the chain

all

upon

it.

him

told

"Well,

understand the matter.

"

did not yet

my

piece of whalebone

take a long, thin

thoroughly

lad," says he,

;

hold one

end of it fast between your finger and thumb,

and wind it round your finger; it will then endeavor to unwind itself; and if you fix the other
end of it to the inside of a small hoop, and
leave it to itself, it will turn the hoop round

and

wind

and

round,

up

the outside of the hoop."

man and
well.

told

him

then tried to

wheels, and

made

thread

tied

to

thanked the gentle-

understood the thing very

make

a watch, with

wooden

the spring of whalebone.

Fer-

guson.

says one who has written much

might probably have read the

That stranger
about eminent

men

above narrative as given to the world by Ferguson, after the talents which this little incident
probably

from

contributed to develope had raised him

his obscurity to

the philosophers of his age

this,

he must have

well-doing, which
gather, either

among
he did know

a distinguished place

felt

and

that

a benevolent

from the positive

if

encouragement

in

man may always

effects

of acts of


IDEALS OF LIFE.

178

kindness upon others, or their influence upon his

own

heart.

Civility,

charity, generosity,

times meet an ill-return

may some-

but one person must be

benefited by the exercise

the kind heart has

its

own abundant reward, whatever be the gratitude

of others. The case of Ferguson shows that the
on stony ground. It
may appear somewhat absurd to dwell upon the
benefit of a slight civility, which cost at most a
seed does not always

fall

few minutes of attention

have

but

it

command

should

feel

of

the slightest encouragement

who

those

Too

really import-

who

how much

value

and assistance to

are toiling up the steep of emulation.

often " the scoff of pride "

the "bar of poverty;"

a one

is

are easy in the world

the advantages of wealth and knowledge

all

at their
is

who

those

ant, that

is

super-added to

and thus it is, that many

and the most generous

of the best talents,

feelings,
"

Has sunk

into the grave unpitied

and unknown,''

because the wealthy and powerful have never understood the value of a helping hand to him who
Craik.
is struggling with fortune.

TO MBITION

^^

The

chief

is

the soul of progress,

momentum

of the world

AMBITION.

Which

were sluggish,
in which no life

torpid, jogless,

else

shell

And

179

though sometimes

Like some

curled.

is

be unruly,

it

high -mettled, fiery steed,

Pursuing mighty schemes unduly,

With

self-

consuming, hellish greed;

Yet who, because of these abuses,

Whose smoke and blackness cry, Beware?

Would

blot

out with

it

all

its

uses

Through which the world grows

bright and

fair?

Give us ambition free from

But

Then

if,

dear Lord, that

soul,

against his treachery.

considered abstractedly from

its

pas-

and sedentary nature, slow

and languishing in its executions.

of a remiss

sions,

is

in its

resolves,

The

not be,

give us eyes to see the devil,

And guard

The

evil

may

use, therefore, of the passions

is

to stir

it

up

awaken the understanding, to enforce the will, and to make the

whole man more vigorous and attentive in the

and

to put

it

upon

action, to

prosecution of his designs.

the passions

in

general,

ambition, which pushes

as

are

so
the

As
it

this is the
is

soul

end of

particularly
to

of

such actions

apt to procure honor and reputation to

the actor.

But

if

we

carry our reflections higher,.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

ISO

we may

discover farther ends

of Providence in

implanting this passion in mankind.

was necessary for the world that arts should

be invented and improved, books written and
transmitted to posterity, nations conquered and
civilized.
Now, since the proper and genuine
motives to these, and the like great actions,
would only influence virtuous minds, there would
be but small improvements in the world were
there not some common principle of action working equally with all men
and such a principle
It

is

ambition, or a desire of fame, by which great

endowments are not

to

less

the

public,

over-reached,
to

as

it

natural

their

laudable

course

observe

that

suffered to lie idle and useand many vicious men are

were, and engaged, contrary

inclinations,

of action.

men

of

the

in

For we may further

greatest abilities are

and

most

fired

trary,

mean and narrow minds are

ated by

own

it

with

ambition

whether

it

glorious and

that,

on the con-

the least actu-

be that a man's sense of

makes him despair of coming

his
at fame, or that he has not enough range of
thought to look out for any good which does
not more immediately relate to his interest or
incapacities

conscience

or that Providence, in the very frame

of his soul, would not subject him to such a passion as

ment

would be useless

to the

world and a

tor-

to himself.

Were

not this desire of fame very strong, the

difficulty of

obtaining

it,

and the danger of losing

AMBITION.

when

it

would be

obtained,

man from

up

selves

the

Addison.

one of the great

is

ments used by Providence

if

to imitation entirely,

other,

and so on

men gave themand each followed

an eternal

in

instru-

bringing our nature

in

yet

perfection,

its

deter a

to

sufficient

so vain a pursuit.

Although imitation
towards

181

circle,

it

is

easy to see that there never could be any im-

provement amongst them. Men must remain as

brutes do, the same at the end that they are at

and

day,

this

ed

man

in

that

To

of the world.

this,

God

has implant-

a sense of ambition, and a satisfaction

from the

arising

they were in the beginning

prevent

contemplation

of

his

excelling

his fellows in

something deemed valuable amongst

them.

this

It

is

ways we see

the

passion

that

drives

men

to all

in

use of signalizing themselves,,

to

make whatever

and

that

man

the idea of this distinction so very pleasant.

It

tends

has been so strong as to

men

excites

make very

in

miserable

were supreme in
where we cannot
distinguish ourselves by something excellent, we
begin to take a complacency in some singulartake

comfort

misery; and certain

infirmities, follies,

Burke.
Who

that
it

is

they

that,

or defects of one kind or other.

shoots at the mid-day sun, though he be

sure he shall never hit the mark, yet as sure he

is

he

shall shoot higher than

a. bush.

he who aims but at

Sir Philip Sidney.

Indeed, no

man knows, when he

cuts off the

IDEALS OF LIFE.

182

incitements

to a virtuous

ambition and the just

rewards of public service, what

may do

he

Burke.
It

his

country through

mischief

infinite
all

generations.

ought not to be the leading object of any

become an eminent metaphysician, mathematician, or poet, but to render himself happy

one

to

as an individual, and an agreeable, a respectable,

and a useful member of

society.

Dugald Stew-

art.

jpprlttttHbsu

^7j?HE time to grapple with thy

That wild rebellious passion,
And teach him in his overthrow
To bide thy will and fashion.

The time
Which

And

foe,

to catch the blessed light

flashes out before thee,

issue from the grievous night

Into the noon-tide glory.

The time to
And make

On

seize

of

it

on circumstance,
a car

which to reach the bright advance

Where grander

treasures are.

OPPOR T UNITIES.

183

The time to do the little things

Which bring to thee and thine
The sweet, perennial glimmerings
Of happiness divine.

The time

chanty

to practice

To which all times belong,

And find a daily rarity
To feed thy prayer and song.

We

sometimes read about "starting points

about

life,"

"

being on the alert to

"

Here

do not think that, like the

We

pear.

ourselves

avail

your chance," people say

is

do not believe
nor

ing-points,

particular times our

in

into,

some extent,
comes once in

It

that to every

tunity

his

it

to glide

by

certain that,

we

duty,

shall

if

will

is

true,

man

and that

his
if

there-

oppor-

he per-

never return; because

we once

neglect any obvious

But do not

a position to

in
let

the reader

sit

the wayside and wait for his " opportun-

as for

denly

it

life,

never again be

retrieve the laches.

down by
ity,"

may be

when carefully
means nothing more than seizing

fore, to

is

this

Seizing our opportunities,"

examined

it

duty

in

a special and conspicuous man-

an occasion of doing our duty.

mits

reap-

will

except

sense, that at

"

it

it,

chance, nor in start-

put before us
ner.

them.

of

you miss

if

swallow,
in

opportunities,

in

in

and the necessity of

opportunities,"

some miraculous boon

to

descend sud-

and unexpectedly from the blue heavens

IDEALS OF

184

Energy makes

above him.

energy

because

LIFE.

opportunities,

prompt

always

is

own

its

to detect

and

ready to execute the work that has to be done.

An

engine-driver

charge of a crowded train saw

in

some distance
of timber which menaced

lying across the rails at

him a piece

with wounds and

crept along

the

of the

side

supreme

forward, by a
the

way

He

risked his

Quick as

death.

the

just as

swung

front of

his

freight

the log out of

wheels were upon

iron

but he did his duty.

life,

he

thought

and leaning

engine,

effort

in

it.

After-

wards he was rewarded with promotion and handhe had found his opportunity, his
some gifts
;

point,

starting

doing

his

his

says Goethe,

things,"

only because you

there are

cause

we

which we

it.

at

it
was in
There are

them

never

for them.

not look

"

you do not notice

which

"

but

found

do not look

duties
will

Yes

chance.

duty that he

and so

;"

recognize beIt

is

related

Governor of the Bank of Enghe made his appearance on the battle-

of a Mr. Godfrey,
land, that

of Waterloo.

field

monstrated
incurring.

The Duke
him

with

am

when a

doing

my

ball struck

was no glory
failure.

the

danger

The gentleman answered

himself ran an equal

but

on

of Wellington

in

He was

risk.

duty.

"

He

outside

the

was

Duke

Yes," said the Duke,,

had scarcely spoken

the rash intruder dead.

his death:

he

that the

re-

it

There

was a melancholy
sphere of his duty.

The opportunity at Waterloo was not for him,

but for the Duke and the men who conquered

EMPLOYMENT.
with
"

"Though a

him.

may

which

in

And

cided."

when our duty

according as
cess or

duty

we

is

Only
"

Let

us,

let

it,

will

some
or

fifty,

moment
us,

and

be our suc-

us not be led astray

any

opportunity,"
like the

Duke

imaginary

of Wellington,

fire,

be sure that

Adams.

us thither.

he pleases.

fair

turn to be as great as

Jeremy Collier.

Opportunity has hair

if

always a

is

enter the thick of the

calls

last

presented to

clearly

Every one has a

bald:

Napoleon,

practically de-

is

may

life

seize or neglect

fancied

chance."

before

we

failure.

by any
"

issue

its

though

so,

or seventy years, there

sixty,

said

battle,"

a whole day, there are generally

last

minutes

ten

lg&

you

seize her

hold her, but,

if

in

front,

behind she

is

by the forelock you may

suffered

to

escape,

not

Jupiter

From the Latin.

respect to time, in some

himself can catch her again.

Opportunity
sense, as time

is,

in

is

in

respect to eternity:

it

is

the

small moment, the exact point, the critical minute,

on which every good work so much depends.

Sprat.

Jlmj^ttmtl

|THE
***
13

Father hitherto

And

His Eternal Son

IDEALS OF LIFE.

136

Work, work, and still have work

With each successive sun.

Work

to

do

the law of love

is

Which rules the world below,

Which rules the brighter world above,
Through which like God we grow.

And

so

work

As working

Who
Is

Who

in the

awe,

in

with the Lord,

mightiness of law

everywhere abroad.
heart rebels

in his

Has never ears to hear

The morning and the evening bells
In Heaven and Earth so clear.

gow

don't believe

said

the lord rector of Glas-

University to the students of that institution

don't believe that an

unemployed man, how-

ever amiable and otherwise respectable, ever was,

or ever can be,

really

happy.

As work

is

our

show me what you can do, and I will show

have spoken of love of
I
you what you are.
one's work as the best preventive of merely low
and vicious tastes. I will go further, and say that
life,

it

is

and

the best preservative against petty anxieties,

the

self-love.

annoyances that arise out of indulged

Men have thought before now that

they could take refuge from trouble and vexation

by sheltering themselves, as

it

were, in a world

EMPLOYMENT,

187

The experiment has often been

and always with one result. You can not
own.

of their
tried,

escape from anxiety and labor

of humanity.

ing trouble find that

may

indolent

than

contrive

he

that

the

work

the

but

work,

be much and hard

The man who has only

to him.

less

do,

to

to

instinct

shall

little

have

shall

world's

Nature, proportioning
contrives that the

the destiny

is

it

Those who shirk from factrouble comes to them. The

share of the

his

himself to please

and probably sooner than

and
later, that he has got a very hard master
the excessive weakness which shrinks from responsibility has its own punishment too, for where
sooner or

finds,

later,

great interests are excluded

little

matters become

and the same wear and tear of mind that

might have been at least usefully and healthfully
expended on the real business of life is often
wasted in petty and imaginary vexations, such as

great,

breed and multiply

in

the unoccupied

brain.

Lord Stanley.
I

much impress upon your mind

cannot too

wrote

the author of

-that

labor

posed

on us

is

Waverly

to his son Charles

God

the condition which

every station of

has imthere

is

nothing worth having that can be had without

it,

in

life

from the bread which the peasant wins with the

sweat of
rich
for

his

man must
knowledge,

brow

to

the

sports by which

get rid of his ennui.

it

can no more be planted

human mind without

in

the

As
the

labor than a field of wheat

IDEALS OF LIFE.

183

can be produced without the previous use of the

There

plough.

indeed,

is,

great difference,,

this

may

that chance or circumstances

so cause

another shall reap what the farmer sows

man

and

liberal

but no

own

and the
extended acquisitions of knowledge

which he makes are

therefore,

my

all

and knowledge

ductile,

studies

own

for his

Labor,,

use.

dear boy, and improve the time.

In youth our steps are

light,

and our minds are

easily

is

up

laid

summers

neglect our spring, our

and contemptible, our harvest

less

that

can be deprived, whether by accident or mis-

fortune, of the fruits of his

we

it

but

be use-

will

be

will

if

chaff,

and the winter of our old age unrespected and

Sir

desolate.

myself

daughter

Walter

wrote

when

half-holiday,

Scott.

a mother to

the children are

sometimes

which happens more or

The

wives.
interest

and
is

best relief

and

is

gone out for a

and as dull

must not
less

all

the devil's snare for small

he

to-

young
with

constantly

then,

something or other

grandfather says, and

to

yield

work, engaged in

Work,

diligence.

diligently, at

married;

feel as stupid

as an owl by daylight; but one

rtus,

her

for idleness

and great, as your

says

true.

Caroline

Perthes.

Exert

your

talents

and don't think of

and

retiring

distinguish

from the world

the world will be sorry that you retire.

fellow

whom

yourself,

until

hate

&

pride, or cowardice, or laziness, drives,

into a corner,

and who does nothing when he

is.

SPONGE, OR FOUNTAIN?

189

and growl. Let him come out as

and bark. Dr. Johnson.

there but
do,

sit

;T?0 be forever drinking in,

*** And never giving out a willing drop

Or, having stores so bountiful within,

In giving out to never stop

Of

all

that

have tried the

selfish .experiment, let

He

one come forth and say he has succeeded.

made gold

that has

He

has

that has toiled in the fields

he been repayed
theatre

of

Can any answer

meat

The

stranger

enjoyment
the

in

whom you gave

prisoner

sick

whom you

Johnson.

he
?

has
every

content?

Not

one.

you gave

drink

The

The naked whom

whom you

ministered unto ?"

when he must answer,

of these things,

is

whom

are the hungry

sheltered

The

him

conscience shall ask him, and ask

thirsty

satisfied

of ambition

affirmative

The

clothed

it

that has ransacked

whom you

you

feel

He

sensual

And when his

it will, "Where

he

his idol

" I

visited

how

will

have done none

thought only of myself!"

Dr,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

190

There are those who

do

live to

the

all

good

can to the bodies and to the souls of their

they

spread comfort and goodness and

fellow-men, to

happiness around them,

or,

a wider sphere,

in

to

promote the social, intellectual, moral and spiritual

advancement of the human race. These are the
elect, the true and noble heroes among men, who
have entered into the inmost

Man

have eaten His

have imbibed from

spirit

Son of

of the

and drank His blood

and become penetrated

flesh

Him

with that sublime enthusiasm of humanity, of which

the

Son of Man

is

the only perfect historical ex-

Blessed are such; and great

ample.
cess in

wherever they work or

life,

is

their suc-

die.

C.

Henry.

urns*

DWELLING

where the Lord bestows

His presence as the life and light;

And

gives to poverty delight

Which wealth without Him never knows.

little

world, a world within,

Where

that confusion

Which was

When

first

is

unknown,

of old at Babel

shown

the earth was cursed with

sin,

S.

HOME.

"

191

Paradise Regained " on earth,

Where father, mother, husband, wife,

And love's dear pledges are one life,
God's music round the common hearth.

whence forever pour

Fair streams to gladden life beyond
fountain

Whose healing waters correspond

To heaven's perennial endless store.

Who

aims at such a home as

Although

Attained but

in his

prayer and song,

Enjoys the highest earthly

If
ful

this,

perfection linger long,

bliss.

ever household affections and love are grace-

things, they are graceful in the poor.

that bind the wealthy

and the proud

at

but those which

The ties
home may

be forged

on

poor man

to his humble hearth are of the true

earth,

metal and bear the stamp of heaven.

high

descent

may

link

the

The man

of

love the halls and lands of his

inheritance as a part of himself, as trophies of his

and power;
the tenement he
birth

the poor
holds,

man's attachment to

which strangers have held

and may to-morrow occupy again, has a

His
soil.
household gods are of flesh and blood, with no
before,

worthier root, struck deep into a pure

alloy of silver, gold, or precious stones

property but in the affections of his

he has no

own

and when they endear bare floors and

heart

walls, de-

IDEALS OF

192

LIFE.

and scanty meals, that man has his

love of home from God, and his rude hut becomes
a solemn place. Dickens.
How many opportunities have we of giving despite of toil

who

those

to

ligt

which would be

who

those
fore,

in

live

our domestic

in

we

lost before

are distant from us

circle,

could difuse
!

Our

it

to

love, there-

our desire of giving happiness, our pleasure

having given

it,

are stronger within

the

limits

of this sphere of daily and hourly intercourse than

beyond
the

Of

it

those

who

most

individuals

are beyond this sphere*

familiar

to

us

are

those

whose happiness we must always know better how

to promote than the happiness of strangers, with
whose particular habits and inclinations we are
Dr. Brown.
little if at all acquainted.
Are you not surprised to find how independent of money peace of conscience is, and how

much happiness can be condensed

home? A cottage will not hold

in the

the

humblest

bulky

fur-

niture

and sumptuous accomodations of a mansion

but

God be

if

might stock a palace.

as

happiness

there, a cottage will hold as

much

Dr. James

Hamilton.
Resolve
solution.

and

She

tell

will

your wife of your good

aid

it

all

she can.

Her

re-

step

be lighter and her hand will be busier all day,

expecting the comfortable evening at home when

will

you

return.

attended

to.

thing in

its

Household

place

place,

affairs will

for

will,

have been well

and everysome good genius,

everything,

like

CHILDHOOD.

made even

have

humble

193

home

the

taste.

The

of neatness, arrangement, and

will

be ready at the

The

fireside.

of that order which says, by

may come and

will

singing

and

cut again.

be waiting for supplies.

and the

exercise, will

children,

and

of

the

The cups and

The kettle

saucers

be

happy with fresh

air

in their

when

glad

antici-

at

home,

afterwards.

Sir

father

is

Arthur Helps.

|Hb|oA

LITTLE

child,

not more than

In every feature all alive,

I

did around

my

father fling

The power and glory

of a king.

And

and true

loyalty as sweet

As any monarch ever knew,

Bore

My
As

me

first

one

will

reading

pleasant

table

loaf will be

appearance, you

its

be smiling

pation of that evening meal

scene

exceeding great reward,

ideal of the Lord.

disenchanting years went by

With questionings of how and why,

five,

IDEALS OF

194

LIFE.

And

bore away so painfully

The

beautiful

Doubtless, as

The
It

reality,

the outward eye,

in

vision faded

did

it

die

died as dies the golden

When

in the

school of Christ

The lower must be

so

it

morn

noonday whiteness born

into

For always

And
And

sacrificed

went on climbing

reached

the

fount

still

whence

came

rill,

The sweetness

Man

of the perfect

on the old primeval plan,

With sweetness of the perfect God
Whose presence can by man be trod.
Built

ii.

child,

little

As pure

as

not

when

more than

seven,

just out of heaven,

Didst thou not see on earth a glory

Thou
It

hast not found in song or story?

was the

light

from heaven's

portal,

Too fair for tongue or pen of mortal,

The memory of which is beauty

On

all

But

is

Now
If

the rugged ways of duty.

it

gone, that revelation,

but a far-off consolation?

thou art one of God's true

Be sure

it

hearted,

has not yet departed.

the

CHILDHOOD.

Though thou

195

many

passed through

hast

wildwood,

That wondrous glory of thy childhood

Now shines within thee, pure and vernal,
Because thy birthright

And though

eternal.

is

many

thy years be

a seven,

Yet art thou very near to heaven,

Whose

light

everywhere a glory

is

Unbuilded into song or

child

small

drawn

Adam

of

practice

in

oil,

Nature's

is

picture

newly

it

becomes a blurred note-book.

purely happy, because he knows no

He

with misery.

by

ing them.

He

kisses

smart of the rod

Nature and

him on with a

wormwood.

tice the

first

melancholy.

and loves
past,

is

at

evils to

He

bit

evil,

be acquainted
the mischief of

come by foreseeall, and when the

smiles

parents alike

his

to

sin

not

arrives

being wise, nor endures

tears,

fresh

yet a white paper, un-

is

nor hath made means

of

yet the

happy whose

observations of the world, where-

with at length

entice

letter,

is

world can only write his

His soul

scribbled with

is

and he

which time and much handling dims

and defaces.

He

a small

in
;

the

in

He

character.

man

is

copy

best

story.

on

his

dandle

beater.

him,

and

of sugar to a draught

plays yet like a

young pren-

day,

and

come

to his task

All

the language he

speaks yet

is

not

and they serve him well

enough

to

of
is.

ex-


IDEALS OF LIFE.

196

press

tongue,

as

he were

if

an organ, and he
he

but

can

sports,

hardest

company with

We

game

is

labor

laugh

our

at

his

earnest

when

it

foolish

and

and hobby-horses, but the

rattles,

blems

and

mockings

of

father

has

writ

him

as

men's

wherein he reads those days of

his

emHis

business.

own

his

his

is

use so deceitful

to

loth

best

is

prattle.

but his

drums,

His

necessity.

his

little

story,

life

which

his

he cannot remember, and sighs to see what inno-

He

cence he has outlived.

is

the Christian's ex-

ample, and the old man's relapse

his

tates

pureness,

and the other

Could he put

simplicity.

the one

off

his

imi-

into

his

body with

his

falls

he had got eternity without a burden

little coat,

and but exchanged one heaven

for

another.

Bishop Earle.
minds,

All

even the
childhood

days of their

dullest,
;

but

remember
cannot

all

the

bring

back the indescribable brightness of that blessed

They who would know what they once
season.
were, must not merely recollect,
imagine, the

were

in

waterfalls,

the

heaven's

floating only a

sky.

To

and valleys

if

but they must

any such there

which their childhood played

rents, the

rocks,

hills

little

the

lakes, the

imperial

dome,

the tor-

heather,

the

the

raven

lower than the eagle

in the

imagine what he then heard and saw,

he must imagine his own nature. He must collect from many vanished hours the power of his

untamed heart

and he must, perhaps, transfuse


PLIGHTED LOVE.

\m

something of his maturer mind into those

dreams of his former being, thus linking the past
also

with the present by a continuous chain,

though often

invisible, is

So

never broken.

it

is,

the calmer affections that have grown

too, with

within the shelter of a

remember, we
fireside,

which,

imagine, our

We

do not merely
the

house,

father's

then most

features,

his

all

roof.

living,

dead and buried, the very manner of

now

his smile,

We

must combine, with

all the passionate and plastic power of imagination, the spirit of a thousand happy hours into
one moment and we must invest with all that
we ever felt to be venerable, such an image as
every tone of his voice.

alone can

fill

our

which

imagination,

filial

first

our holiest and happiest

them

hearts.

It

thus

is

that

aided the growth of

affections,

can preserve:

to us unimpaired,
11

For she can bring us back the dead

Even

in the loveliest looks they wore."

Washington

YEAR

track of gold,

Since

our vows

first

Irving.

hath rolled

eP: On a

we

all

plighted

IDEALS OF LIFE.

198

Yet it seems but a day

Hath glided away,

So bright

is

we

the love

This love

lighted.

we name,

This virgin flame,

will

it

from clear to clearer

Till the

On

Jasper wall

our vision

fall

As we hasten from near

Again thy yes,
With its power

Good

me

faries to

And

to bless,

deliver

With a blessing

Love

is

them return

bid

To bestow on

to nearer

yearn

their mistress the giver.

fire that,

kindling

its first

embers

in

nook of a private bosom, caught from

a wandering spark out of another private heart,
glows and enlarges until it warms and beams
upon multitudes of men and women, upon the
universal heart of all, and so lights up the whole
world and nature with its generous flame.
Emerson.
Love one human being purely and warmly,
and you will love all. The heart in this heaven,
like the wandering sun, sees nothing, from the
dewdrop to the ocean, but a mirror which it
warms and fills. Richter.
the narrow

PLIGHTED LOVE.

Love doth seldom

199

be confined

suffer itself to

by other matches than those of

own making.

its

Boyle.
Love is not altogether a delirium, yet it has
many points in common therewith. I call it rather
in the

the discerning of the infinite

ideal

made

Love, like

movement

fire,

so

finite,

of the

Carlyle.

real.

cannot subsist without continual

soon as

it

ceases

to

hope

and

Rochefoucauld.
who in drawing the picture of a friend having a blemish in one eye, would
ceases to exist.

fear, it

Love

is

like a painter,

picture only the other side of the face.

South.

Love is better than spectacles to make everything seem great.

Sir Philip Sidney.
Love that has nothing but beauty to keep it
in good health is short-lived, and apt to have ague
Erasmus.

fits.

For the whole endeavor of both

ing the time of courtship,

Is

parties, dur-

to hinder themselves

from being known, and to disguise their natural

temper, and real desires, in hypocritical imitation,
studied

From

compliance,

sees the

and

continued

time that their love

the

is

affectation.

avowed, neither

other but in a mask, and the cheat

is

managed often on both sides with so much art,

and discovered afterwards with so much abruptness, that

each

transformation
night,

and

that,

has reason to suspect that

has

happened

on

the

some

wedding-

by a strange imposture, one has

been courted and another married.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

200

desire you, therefore, Mr. Rambler, to ques-

tion

who

all

come

hereafter

shall

you with

to

matrimonial complaints, concerning their behavior

and inform them that

wonder nor repine, when a
contract begun with fraud has ended in disaptime

in the

of courtship,

they are neither to

Dr. Johnson.

pointment.

When
whom she

woman

shall

is

deliberating with

other pretensions, certainly he

in

standing

is

to

herself

many near each

choose of

be preferred.

Life

other

of best under-

hangs heavily

in

who has no

im-

agination to be fired at the several occasions

and

the repeated conversation of one

come before him, or who cannot

strike out of his own reflections new paths of
pleasing discourse.
Sir Richard Steele.
advantages,
The
as I was going to say, of
objects

which

sense, beauty,

the

chief

and

are

riches,

what are certainly

motives to a prudent young

fortune for changing her condition

to

woman

but as she

have her eye upon each of these, she

herself whether

the

man who

is

is

to ask

most of

the

in

the

lump

that

has

excellent talents,

these

recommendations

most

desirable.

He

has

of

not the

is

with a moderate estate, and an agreeable person,,

is

preferable to

only that

good

him who

is

do not mean that

tain,

is

wit,

rich,

if it

may purchase

faculties

but riches cannot purchase

I

only

were

riches

and a capacity

to enter-

what should be highly valued, except

founded on good

nature

worthy endowments.

and humanity.

it

is

There

WEDDED LOVE.

201

many ingenious men whose abilities do little

make themselves and those about them

are

else but

uneasy.

Richard Steele.

Sir.

Tom
talk

she asked him

said,

her after marriage

to

rate before

Jbti&

hint the joys above,

is

not one our hearts

So dear as mated
It

may know

love.

walks the garden of the Lord,

gives

It

To

itself

away

give and think not of reward

Is

glory day by day.

The sweetness of
Is

And

cradled in

its

eternal June

flowers

"The
Is

hark! a stirring martial rune

Goes sounding through

14

he talked at

if

the blessed things below

all

To
There

trifle

its

bowers

which thou must conquer here

dark and broad and long;
field

his

how he would

Addison.

H[*iW
,F

some

of

hinting at his dislike

mistress had

this

IDEALS OF LIFE.

202

And

thou must gird thee with the cheer

Which keeps

the mighty strong.

"Thou wast not meant for languid

Nor dowered for base repose

rest,

In action only art thou blest

Until the battle's close

"
!

And though sometimes the shadows

And day is dark as night,
It

bows and drinks the cup of

But gives not up the fight.

For One is
The mine

ever

thine,

Whose presence keeps

melody

gall,

union where

in the
is

fall,

it

brave and

fair,

divine.

Better than the best of friends

a good wife.

is

Perhaps we should rather say that a good wife

the best of

We

hold

essential

all

friends.

to a

young man's

success,

that

of a merchant or trader, priest, engineer, or

is

lawyer,

marry

artist

against

early

originated

or

and

well

in

man

his calling

of letters, that he

marry

marriages
sordid

whether

it

The

early.

seems

to

motives.

It

should

prejudice

us to
is

be

have

intimately

connected with that selfishness, that love of out-

ward show, and

that

have corrupted our

luxurious
social

indulgence which

system.

It

seems

be assumed that marriage must be deferred

the

man

has "sown his wild oats,"

in

to

until

other words,

WEDDED LOVE.
has sullied his soul
of

circle

the

world's

203

by contact with the whole

pleasures, and the woman

can be placed at the head of an expensive house-

Now we

hold.

are convinced, from

vation, that an early marriage

surest

guarantee

that

is

it

We

happiness.

of

long obser-

a young man's

is

sure

are

his best security against temptation,

and

the most admirable incentive to honest and inde-

pendent exertion that can be presented to him.

To

good woman is in
marry her and work

love a

tion

to

a source of the
riage

sometimes

marriages
in

so do

an unworthy

itself

her

for

truest

happiness.

turns

out

all

a fine educain

is

and so

ill,

itself

Early mar-

do

late

marriages which are made

or

spirit

mean purposes,

for

which are not marriages of heart and soul and

mind, but

" alliances "

contracted for worldly rea-

sons or no reasons at

man,

seeking a

in

wife,

all.

It is

requisite that

should take at least as

much thought as in seeking a friend should

endeavor to know something of her temper, char;

acter,

and disposition

should ascertain whether

it

and whether
be one which he can respect and admire. If

it

be unwise to choose a friend who

her nature

our own

will

harmonize with

standard,

his,

falls

much more unwise

below

is

it

to

choose a wife who cannot be our companion on

terms

of

the

fullest

equality,

who cannot

share

our thoughts, our aspirations, and our hopes.

Supposing a young man

maiden

to

whom

to

have met with a

he can unreservedly

trust his

IDEALS OF LIFE.

204

happiness,

future

we

say

makes her his wife the better

Let them spend in sweet and

sooner

the

that

he

for both of them.

joyful union

their

and industry, and those

them with pleasant memories to be recalled in the autumn days of life,
when the battle has been fought, and, let us hope,
It is a good thing for a husthe victory won.
early years

of exertion

early years

will

furnish

band and wife

what

man who

than that a

gross

in

have the same past to look

Again,

back upon.

hood

to

can

be

more

unfair

has expended his ripe man-

self-indulgence

should

offer

his

and battered nature to a young

girl, with all the bloom of spring still upon her
mind and heart? For it is to be observed that
those who condemn early marriages condemn
them only for the man and not for the woman.
wasted, decayed,

They do not say

that

man

of forty should

marry a woman of the same age.

he

to

free

is

offer

himself,

with

No, indeed
all

his

world-

weary, exhausted heart and his "handsome settlements," to maidenhood

its

innocence

In

in all its

freshness and

all

such a case there can seldom

be any thorough sympathy, any heart-to-heart

understanding,

only

is

between husband and

Not

wife.

the difference of years between them, but

a past which they have not shared together

periences

ex-

on the husband's side wholly unknown

young hopes and aspirations on the

wife's side at which the husband cannot even
Let him who would enter on the race of
guess.
to

the wife

WEDDED LOVE.

reasonable anticipations of success not

with

life

neglect

205

secure

to

at

good

friend but a

starting

wife

may

he

not only a good

haply dispense

with the former, but for his soul's sake he

not do without the

to

But

latter.

can-

he must

marriage as a boon from God,

look upon

first

then,

Him

be gained from

alone by earnest prayer,

by intense repentance, and complete confession of

youthful

"

sins.

Man,"

Charles Kingsley,

says

"is a spirit animal, and, in

communion with God's

has a right to believe that his affections

Spirit,

are under that Spirit's guidance, and that

he finds

woman
be,

he

himself such an affection to any single

in

true married lovers describe theirs

as

bound (duty

is

when

to

and

parents

allowing) to give himself up to

to

country

his love in child-

and self-abandonment, and, at the

time, with solemn awe and self-humiliation
at being thus re-admitted into the very garden of
the Lord
like simplicity

same

"

The Eden where the spirit and the flesh

Are one again, and new-born souls walk

And name
Naked and

Business
to

the

tress.

language

all

free,

things new,

not ashamed."

Adams.

does but lay waste the approaches

heart,

Sir

in mystic

while

marriage garrisons the

for-

Henry Taylor.

Matrimony
something

of

hath

something

civility,

in

something

it

of

of

nature,

divinity.

Bishop Hall.

Marriage

is

an institution calculated for a con-

:
;

IDEALS OF LIFE.

206

much

scene of as

stant

capable

of.

delight

as

our

being

is

Sir Richard Steele.

Husbands must give

wives love, main-

to their

tenance, duty, and the sweetness of conversation

and wives must pay

with

the

interest

to

of

them

all

they have or can,

obedience

and

reverence

and they must be complicated in affections and

that there be no distinction between

interest,

them of mine and

thine.

Jeremy Taylor.

Qj*)g9fg)-

IJuIhim

Jtfy

OME

And

And

come

hither,

my

children five,

gather around the cheerful hearth

think of the Child forever alive,

The

Prince of

all

Come hither, come

And tell me the
It is

hither,

children in
hither,

my

tale of

your sunny hearts

something, no doubt,

For

into a

poem

Heaven and Earth.

it

daughters

four,
:

have heard before,

daily starts.

Come hither, come hither, my little son,

And join in the story that must be told.
His eye has a twinkle which
Will

it

cease,

tells

of fun

wonder, what time he grows old

CHILDREN.

my

Now, Mamie,

207

what do you say

eldest,

wait not the speech those eyes so well show.

Don't blush

And

'tis

love that

no
is

sin to the
silent

sweet maiden May,

strongest,

is

we know.

Emma, I ween, has a tongue that can prove

How many a thing can be told in a minute.
" Yes, papa, and now when it speaks of my love
Well,

Believe that for once

The

witch Jessie

little

it

has something

now

in it."

takes her part

In the oft told story of fireside bliss

And

while

am folding her close to my heart,

my moustache finds the place for

She through
a

Wee
I

kiss.

Rachel, the last of

my

girls,

comes

next.

Her name makes her dearer than all the

Sunday I'll make her my text,

think of a

And

Now

the sermon,

"

An

know,

will

be

my

is

the love of an only son.

wiggles about and at last speaks out:

Papa,

only a dog and a gun."

it's

only son?

And have

An

only son?

forgotten so soon the grace

Which many a loving tribute won,

The glow of another dear little face

He

best.

Jamie has something to say, no doubt,

For great

He

does not answer

my

call to-night,

Just as the other children do

rest,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

208

But

still

As

he replies with a gleam of

of one

who remains

light,

forever true.

Before his brother and sisters he,

The dear

little

He knoweth

gone

Archie, has

to rest

before us the things to be

The Father appointeth what

is

best.

His naaie was given the Daughter of Zion,

Forever and forever to keep

Now

over his bed at night Orion

Doth watch

his

sweet untroubled sleep.

Come nearer, come nearer, my children five,

And pray unto Heaven to keep you from harm
Rr member with me the dead is alive
,^i

the cradle of

me

Tell

God he

not of the

safe

is

precisely

trim,

homes where there are no

the good Germans have it,
hang straight on the wall

and warm.

children
"

"

arranged

where," as

the

fly-traps

tell

me

"

always

not of the

never-disturbed nights and days, of the tranquil,

unanxious hearts, where children are not!

not for these things.

God

care

sends children for an-

other purpose than merely to keep up the race:

enlarge our hearts,

to

and

full

to

make

of kindly sympathies

and

give our souls higher aims, and to

faculties to

us

unselfish,

affections
call

out

all

extended enterprises and exertion

to

our
;

to

bring round our fireside bright faces and happy

smiles,

and

loving, tender hearts.

My

soul blesses

CHILDREN.

20p

Great Father every day, that he has glad-

the

dened

with

earth

the

children.

little

Mary

Ho WITT.

eyes! those clear wells of undefiled

child's

what on earth can be more beautiful

Full of hope, love, and curiosity, they meet your

thought

own.

how earnest in joy, how sparksympathy, how tender! The man who

In prayer,

ling;

in

never

companionship of a

the

tried

child

little

has carelessly passed by one of the great pleasures of

as one passes a rare flower without

life,

plucking

it

or knowing

not understand you,

it

true,

is

thought
believe
tion to

it

it

of

grief

not love

will

no
will

your

religion,

in return:

it

will take,

measure or soundings of your

not judge how much you should

whether your grief

your loss

is

natural in propor-

whether you are worthy or

which you seek

soul will incline to yours,

were, on the feeling which

but

and ingraft

whole

its

itself,

your feeling

is

fit

as

it

for the

Hon. Mrs. Norton.

hour.
In

To

to

some

of

to attract the love

first

speak

can-

of your

holy things
the

one you fear

you think

child

of a friend, of your love for

the
for

loss

value.

its

order to form the minds of children, the

thing to

be done

is

conquer their

to

inform the understanding

and must, with

as they are

children,

able

to

is

will.

a work of time,

proceed by slow degrees,

bear

it

but the

subjecting

must be done at once, and the sooner the better

for, by neglecting timely correction, they will con-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

210

stubbornness and

tract

ever

hardly

which

obstinacy

conquered, and not

without using

such severity as would be as painful to

the esteem of the world

In

die child.
for

whom

kind and indulgent,

who permit their

which they know must
when

the

of a

will

brought to revere and stand

a great

rents, then

be overlooked, and
wilful

transgression

ought

insist

be

to

less or

nature and circumstances of the

I

Some

by.

this is

is

its

pain-

should

but

forgiven

more, as the

may

offence

upon conquering the

dren betimes, because

it

and

others mildly reproved

without such chastisement,

quire.

awe of

in

pa-

be broken,

childish follies

may be passed

advertencies

no

many

they pass

subdued, and

is

as

get habits

to

afterwards

child

me

cruel,

call

children

rents,

are

re-

of

chil-

the only strong

and

will

rational foundation of a religious education, with-

out which both precept and example will be

in-

effectual.

But when

a child

capable of being governed by the rea-

is

son and piety of

thoroughly done, then

this is

parents

its

till

its

own under-

standing comes to maturity, and the principles of

religion

have

taken

root

Wesley.
In books designed

in

the

mind.

for children there

extremes that should be avoided.

The

reference

in

with

to

matters

religious

too

trifling

from a well-intentioned
ness

of

the

principles

Mrs.

are two
one,

that

connection

and undignified, arising

zeal,

maxim whose

causing a forgetfulnotorious

truth

has


WOaMAN'S WORK.

made

And

contempt."
still

more

other

the

the expense
line

of

We

should

Everything

is

The

concerned.

obscure

are

individual

and

from a de-

will

conduct.

keep

clear of

exclude the as-

not

sacred with whatever are

of things

to

(for these little things are

great to children), but what

parties

contrary,

useful application in

its

breeds

reverence for religion, at

ourselves trifling matters

trifling.

the

is

may be drawn which

both extremes.
sociation

familiarity

prevailing, extreme, arising

preserve a due

sire to

But a

Too much

"

proverbial,

it

211

is

great

viewed by them as
or

private

small

to

the

concerns of any

very insignificant to the

world at large, but they are of great importance

and

affairs must be small

Most High but irreverent
familiarity is engendered in the mind of any one,
then, and then only, when things sacred are as-

to himself,
in

the

sight

sociated
things.

with

all

worldly

of the

such as are,

to

him,

insignificant

Whatelv.

*==-

mtti% lljcrk
g|7HE tender devotion of woman
All fair of a heart that is human,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

212

Becomes from

The

its

beautiful birth

thing of the earth.

loftiest

It

purifies earth

It

burns with an ardor that fashions

And moulds
The hopes
It

glows

fire

lighted passions,

to a higher resolve

that so lowly revolve.

in the wife

and the mother,

no disaster can smother,

Remaining a symbol forever

Of Love's

everlasting endeavor.

is

blessed

he that has found

Where, where

the

is

The tender devotion

plummet

mother,

is

human

she
all

is

loadstone to

which Bacon likens

But example

is

far

struction in action.

often

is

of

is

home

and loadstar

constant

is

more than
It

the

In

"globe

to

to

imitation,

precepts."

precept.

It

is

in-

teaching without words,

exemplifying more than

In the face of

are but of
not the

tongue can teach.

bad example, the best of precepts

little

avail.

is

The example

Indeed,

precept

worse than

useless,

precepts.

with practice
it

hearts,

all

Imitation of her

eyes."

it,

George Herbert,

said

worth a hundred school -masters.

"

sound

woman

of

All pure of a heart that

One good

it

to

is

followed,

at

variance

inasmuch as

only serves to teach the most cowardly of vices

hypocrisy.

Even

children

are judges

of

con-

WOMAXS

213-

and the lessons of the parent who says

sistency,

one

WORK.

and

thing-

does

quickly

are

opposite,

the

was not

seen through. The teaching of the

worth much who preached the virtue of honesty
friar

with a stolen goose

By

character becomes

the

of acts,

imitation

sleeve.

his

in

slowly and imperceptibly, but at length decidedly

The

formed.

selves trivial
daily

may seem

acts

several

them-

but so are the continuous acts of

Like snow-flakes, they

life.

in

unperceived;.

fall

each flake added to the pile produces no sensible

change, and yet the accumulation of snow-flakes.

makes

So do repeated acts, one

length become consolidated

the avalanche.

following another, at

determine the action of the human being

in habit,

good or

for

and,

for evil,

form

a word,

in

the-

character.
It

is

the

influences

father,
child,

because the mother, far more than the

that

greater

her

importance

understand

why

exercises
little

entire

subjects

example
the

in

this

woman's domain

the

and conduct of the

action

good

home.

should be

her

control.

she rules

It is

much

easy to

The home

so.

She

model constantly before

they unconsciously observe and

is

where she

of

the

letters

cut

is

the exam-

their eyes,

whom

imitate.

influence

example, and ideas early implanted

to

so

Her power over the

there is absolute.
They

ple and

compares them

of

kingdom,

look up to her for everything.

Cowley, speaking

is

in

in

the

of

early

the

mind,

bark of a

IDEALS OF LIFE.

214

young tree, which grow and widen with age.

The impressions then made, howsoever slight
The ideas
they may seem, are never effaced.
then
in
the mind are like seeds
implanted
dropped into the ground, which lie there and
germinate for a time, afterwards springing up in
Thus the mother
acts and thoughts and habits.
They unconsciously
lives again in her children.
mould themselves after her manner, her speech,
Her habits
her conduct, and her method of life.
become theirs
and her character is visibly re;

peated

them.

in

This

maternal love

of our

race.

versal.

It

man

Its

the

is

influence

providence

visible

constant and uni-

is

begins with the education of the hu-

being at the outstart of

life,

and

pro-

is

longed by virtue of the powerful influence which

every

good mother exercises over her

through
to

life.

When

take part

they

turn

still

in

its

children

launched into the world, each

labors,

to their

anxieties,

mother

and

trials,

for consolation,

not for counsel, in their time of trouble and

if

diffi-

The pure and good thoughts she has implanted in their minds when children continue to
grow up into good acts long after she is dead
and when there is nothing but a memory of her
culty.

her children rise up and

left,

It

not saying too

is

call

much

her blessed.

to aver

that

the

happiness or misery, the enlightenment or ignorance,

the

depends

in

civilization

or barbarism of the -world,

a very high degree upon the exercise

WOMAN'S WORK.

215

of woman's power within her special kingdom of

home.

Indeed,

"

that

Emerson

a sufficient measure

of civilization

women."

good

of

influence

and

says, broadly

truly,

the

is

may be

Posterity

said to be before us in the person of the child in

the mother's lap.

What

that child will eventually

mainly depends upon the training and

become,

example which he has received from

most

his first

and

influential educator.

Woman, above
humanly. Man is
heart of humanity
ing; he
solace.

all

other

educators, educates

the

brain,

but

he

its

strength, she

its

Even

its

of

the

is

its

grace, ornament,

understanding

the

woman

judgment, she

the

feel-

and
best

woman seems to work mainly through her affecAnd thus, though man may direct the intions.
woman cultivates the feelings, which
tellect,
the character.
While he fills
memory, she occupies the heart. She makes
us love what he can only make us believe, and

mainly determine
the

it

is

chiefly

through her that we are enabled to

arrive at virtue.

The
the

respective

influences

of

the

father

and

mother on the training and development of

character are remarkably illustrated in the

life

of

While Augustine's father, a poor

freeman of Thagaste, proud of his son's abilities,
endeavored to furnish his mind with the highest
learning of the schools, and was extolled by the
St.

Augustine.

neighbors
object

for

the

"beyond the

sacrifice
ability

he
of

made with
his means"

that

his

IDEALS OF

216

Monica, on the

mother,

her son's mind

lead

entreated

wicked

his

were

because of

tribulation,

never ceased

life,

prayers

her

until

to^

the direction of the high-

much anguish and

amidst

sought

hand,

other

and with pious care counselled him,

him,
advised him to chastity, and

good,

est

in

LU-jS.

pray for him

to

and

heard

answered.

Thus her love at last triumphed, and the patience

and the goodness of the mother were rewarded,
not only by the conversion of her gifted son, but
also of her husband.
Later in life, and after her
husband's death, Monica, drawn by her affection,
her son

followed

Milan,

to

to

watch over him

and there she died, when he was in his thirtyBut it was in the earlier period of
third year.
his

life

her example and instruction made

that

the deepest impression

mined

his future

acts

and deter-

similar instances of early im-

made upon a

good

into

his mind,

character.

There are many

pressions

upon

late in

child's
life,

mind, springing up

an intervening

after

period of selfishness and vice.

Parents

that they can to develop an upright

all

tuous character
in vain.

and

It

in their

seems

And

lost.

like

children,

bread cast

yet sometimes

may do
and

and apparently
upon the waters
it

happens that

long after the parents have gone to their

it

may be twenty

precept,

the

good example

and daughters
and bears

years

in

fruit.

or

vir-

more

the

rest

good

set before their sons

childhood, at length springs

up

WOMAN'S WORK.

One

217

of the most remarkable of such instances

Reverend John Newton, of Olney,.

It was long subthe friend of Cowper, the poet.
sequent to the death of both his parents, and

was

that of the

after leading a vicious life as

a youth and as a

seaman, that he became suddenly awakened to a

was that the

lessons which his mother had given him when a
Her
child sprang up vividly in his memory.
voice came to him as it were from the dead, and
led him gently back to virtue and goodness.
Another instance is that of John Randolph...
" I
statesman, who once said
the American
should have been an athiest if it had not been for
one recollection and that was the memory of the
time when my departed mother used to take my
little hand in hers, and cause me on my knees to^
"
say, 'Our Father which art in heaven
But such instances must on the whole, be resense of his depravity

and then

it

!'

garded as exceptional.
in

early

"

"the

first

your

life,"

the character

generally

it

permanent

its

reached.

in

so

life,

assuming

As

remains,

form

as

is

biased

gradually

manhood

is

Live as long as you may," said Southey,

twenty years are

and they are by

When

consequence.

the

longest half of

most pregnant

far the

the

worn-out slanderer

and voluptuary, Dr. Wolcot, lay on his death-bed,

one of his friends asked if he could do anything
to gratify him.

me

back

my

"

youth."

he

would repent
15

Yes," said the dying man,

Give him but

would reform.

that,

But

it

"

give

and he

was

all

IDEALS OF LIFE.

218

too

late

His

Gretry,

the

become bound and

had

of

"

right:

good mothers,

tend

far

perpetual

described

he was

more than

fathers,

renovation

of

mankind,
of the

the nutriment of man's moral be-

is

ing, as the physical

atmosphere

By good temper,

frame.

good

And

creating as they do the moral atmosphere

home, which

dwellers with a

of his corporeal

is

sauvity,

woman

directed by intelligence,

pervading

and

kindness,

surrounds the

in-

atmosphere of cheer-

contentment, and peace, suitable for

fulness,

so

an edu-

as

Nature's chef d'aeuvre."

the

to

thought

woman

he

that

mother as
for

composer,

musical

character,

en-

habit.

importance of

highly of the
cator

life

by the chains of

thralled

the

growth of the purest as of the manliest natures.

The poorest

by a virand
cleanly
woman,
may
tuous,
thus be the abode of comfort, virtue and happimay be the scene of every ennobling
it
ness
it may
be endeared to a
relation in family life
thrifty,

dwelling, presided over

cheerful,

man by many

delightful associations

furnishing a

sanctuary for the heart, a refuge from the storms

of

a sweet retiring-place after labor, a con-

life,

solation in misfortune, a pride in prosperity,

joy at

all

times.

The good home

is

thus

the

not only in youth but in age.

old

best

and the
ton,

and a

learn

best of schools,

There young and

cheerfulness, patience, self-control

spirit of service

and of duty.

Izaak Wal-

speaking of George Herbert's mother, says

WOMAN'S WORK.

219

she governed her family with judicious care, not

and

rigidly nor sourly, " but with such a sweetness

compliance with the recreations and pleasures of

them

youth, as did incline

time

company, which was to her

her

in

spend much of

to

their

great

content."

The home

woman

which a

"

structor.

" is

Burke,

but

best

the

practical

of
in-

ill-licked cubs."

"

To

love

we belong to in society," said

germ of all public affections."

platoon

little

always

is

of courtesy,

school

true

Without woman," says a Provencal pro-

men were

verb, "

the

the

is

the

The wisest and the best have not been ashamed

to own it to be their greatest joy and happiness
to

"

sit

behind the heads of children

there

loves his

work and duty

home

and the man who

Smiles.

have never addressed myself

civilized

friendly

language

friendship to a

wandering over the plains

otherwise.

In

hospitable

Denmark,

frozen

in the

woman, whether
or savage, without receiving a decent and
answer. With men it has often been

of decency and

Lapland, rude

through

the wandering Tartar,

woman

.uniformly so

honest

and churlish

principled Russia, and the

sick,

of purity and duty

not the less fondly love and

will

serve his country.

I

life

in the in-

not the least effectual preparative for a

is

of public

life

home.

violable circle of

"

if

of

in-

Sweden,

Finland,

wide-spread region

unof

hungry, dry, cold, wet or

has ever been friendly to me, and

;

and

to

add

to this virtue, so

worthy

IDEALS OF LIFE.

220

of the

benevolence, these actions

of

appellation

have been performed

manner,

that

draught,

and,

if
if

in

was

hungry,

so free and so kindly a

drank the sweet

dry,

ate

the

coarse

morsel,

John Ledyard.
great occasions it is almost always

with a double relish.

On

who has given

devotion

bad

woman

and
with men good and

the strongest proofs of virtue

the reason

is,

that

qualities are in general the result of calcula-

tion,

whilst in

women

they are impulses springing

Montholon.

from the heart.

In matters of affection there

is

always an im-

man and man.

passable gulf between

They can

never quite grasp each other's hands, and therefore

man never

derives

any intimate

help,

any

heart-sustenance from his brother man, but from

woman

his

mother, his

sister,

or his wife.

Haw-

thorne.

QM^&'SzZ^-

23 !(|.
"Mens

sana in sano corpore "

STEALTH
dp.

^^

like

sound mind

armed men

is

sound body).

forward

that

press,

Equipped with

Good

is

(A

all

conditions of success

generalship; obedience; reserves;

HEALTH.
Valor; endurance;

And

in

Health

is

never swerves,

faith that

mighty

that persistence of a

Which

221

will

defeat has power to conquer

twofold, of

Unwholesome when

still.

body and of mina

one confined.

to either

What though the mind

May glow and sparkle

set in a feeble

frame

a short-lived flame?

in

Unite the two, the mind and body strong,

All possibilities to

Guard

them belong.

well thy health

Of life, for grand and

The trusty armor of a

the instrument

is

it

noble uses meant

valiant

man

Strong to achieve what only heroes can

The courage

that

and

change

through

chancer

endures,

And

every

Health

gift of

is

Providence secures.

a precious thing, and the only one

in truth meriting that a

man

should lay out, not

only his time, sweat, labor, and goods, but

his
it

life

ing,

and

itself,

life
is

to obtain

it,

Pleasure, wisdom, learn-

injurious to us.

and virtue without

to the

it

wither away and vanish

most quaint and solid discourses that

philosophy would imprint

in

we need no more but oppose

being
in this

also

forasmuch as without

us

to the contrary,

the image of Plato

struck with an epilepsy or apoplexy

presupposition to defy him to

faculties of his soul to his assistance.

call

and

the rich

All

means

IDEALS OF

222

LIFE.

conduce to health can neither be too painful

that

Montaigne.

nor too dear to me.

Health and vigor, and a happy constitution of

the corporeal frame, are of absolute necessity to

enjoyments of the comforts, and to the per-

the

formance of the

of

duties,

and

life,

requisite in

yet a greater measure to the accomplishment of

anything
these,

we

if

sometimes not

quences,

are

whom

even

yet

very

beneficial

to

they are most liberally bestowed,

Johnson.

Health
of

distinguished

can judge by their apparent conse-

those on

Dr.

or

illustrious

is

the soul that animates

which fade, and are

life,

without

it.

est tables,

man

makes

delicate wines,

is

all

enjoyments

tasteless, if not dead,

starves at the best and great-

faces

noblest and most

the

at

poor and wretched

midst

in the

of the greatest treasures and fortunes, with com-

mon

diseases

loses

all

vigor,

strength

grows

and beauty

all

decrepit,

youth

charms

music

grows harsh, and conversation disagreeable

aces are prisons, or of equal confinement

pal-

riches

honor and attendance are cumberthemselves are a burden

crowns
but
and
some,
if diseases are painful and violent, they equal all
are

useless,

conditions of

make no

life,

difference

prince and a beggar; and a

the colic

fit

between a

of the

stone

or

puts a king on the rack, and makes him

as miserable

as

it

can the

and most criminal of

Temple.

meanest,

his subjects.

the

worst,,

Sir William

HEALTH.
Cheerfulness

promoter of

heart, give

delicate

fibres

first

best

place, the

Repinings, and secret mur-

health.

murs of

the

in

is,

223

imperceptible strokes to those

of which the vital parts are com-

posed, and wear out the machine insensibly; not

to mention those violent ferments which they stir

up

in

the

blood,

and those

motions which they raise

scarce remember, in

met with many

the animal

in

my own

old men,

irregular disturbed
spirits.

observation, to have

such

or with

who

(to

use our English phrase) wear well, that had not

at least a certain indolence in their humor,

if

not

a more than ordinary gaiety and cheerfulness of

heart.

The

truth

of

it

ence, that

we seldom meet

of health

which

cheerfulness,

where there

is

but
is

and cheerful-

health

is

ness mutually beget each other;

with this

differ-

degree

with a great

not attended with a certain

very

see

often

cheerfulness

no great degree of health.

Cheerfulness bears the same friendly regard

to the

mind as

to the body.

It

xious care and discontent, soothes

the

passions,

calm.
In

and keeps the soul

banishes

all

an-

and composes
in

a perpetual

Addison.

our natural body every part has a neces-

sary sympathy with every other, and

all

together

form, by their harmonious conspiration, a healthy

whole.

Sir William Hamilton.

Health, strength, and longevity, depend

immutable laws.

upon

There is no arbitrary interference of higher powers with them. Primarily our

IDEALS OF LIFE.

224

parents, secondarily

ourselves, are responsible for

The providence

them.

sponsible, because the

above the power of

one quarter part

God

of

no more

of disease

virulence

human

of the

die before

God

of

than

these things,

stealing horses.

is

value

say the

responsible

pockets

picking

for

for

or

man

down a list of
Health should be among the first

a young

duties,

its

more

no

is
it

to

write

This

items in the catalogue.

of

com-

seventieth part of the term of exist-

providence

his

rises

race die before

ence allotted to them by the Psalmist;

Were

re-

or because

therapeutics,

all

completing the age of one year,

pleting one

is

for health

is

is

no exaggeration

indispensable to almost

every form of human enjoyment;

it

is

the grand

and should a man love

of usefulness
with
all
his heart and soul and
his
God,
Lord
the
mind and strength, he would have ten times more
heart and soul and mind and strength, to love
Him with, in the vigor of health, than under the
auxiliary

palsy of disease.
quality

of the

depends upon

Not only

labor which
his health.

the amount, but the

man

can perform,

The work savors

of the

workman. If the poet sickens, his verse sickens;

if black, venous blood flows to an author's brain,
beclouds his pages; and the devotions of a
it
consumptive man scent of his disease as Lord
Not only
smell of gin.
obscenities
Byron's
" lying lips," but a dyspeptic stomach, is an abomination to the Lord.

At

least

in this

life,

so de-

RECREATION.

225

mind upon material organization, the\

functions and manifestations of the soul upon the
that the matecondition of the body it inhabits,
pendent

is

rialist

when

hardly states the matter too strongly

he affirms that thought and passion, wit, imagination and love are only emanations from exquisorganized matter,

itely

of

effluence

flowers, or

just as

perfume

is

Horace Mann.

duct of an ^Eolian harp.

*03*

t^

]|*trttfrrm

jy^EAR Recreation claims her hour

^^ To keep the lamp of life a -trim,
Our drooping faculties in flower,
The spirit's eye from growing
She
Or,

it

join the

may

Among
In

dim.

thee to the glassy lake,

calls

To

merry skaters

there,

be, thy place to take

the singers free from care

spring,

to

stroll

through woodland

bowers

When

the

music the ethereal pro-

birds are at their even-sono-;

IDEALS OF LIFE.

226

Or pluck the beauty of the flowers,

To which all seasons may belong.

Do not deny her wise request,

Ye toilers through the busy
Ye valiant seekers of the best,
Turn not

And

like

and

And when

mind

range

left to

is

playful joyousness.

her season of delight

Has passed

We

pleasing, gentle change,

a schoolboy's glad recess,

In which the

In free

like

music through the

and

find ourselves refreshed

And

weariness away.

in

She brings a

day

once again the world

is

air,

bright,

fair.

There are people in the world who would, if

they had the power, hang the heavens about with
crape throw a shroud over the beautiful and life;

giving

bosom

of the planet

from the sky

the silver

veil

moon from

the

pick the bright stars

sun with

her place

clouds

in the

pluck

firmament;

and the flowers

and doom the
with which they are bedecked
gloom
and cheerlessworld to an atmosphere of
shut up our gardens and

fields,

ness.

there

There
is

still

is

no reason or morality

in this,

and

man

with

less religion.

benevolent Creator has endowed

an eminent capacity

for

enjoyment has

set

him

"

RECREATION.

227

and lovely world, surrounded him with

things good and beautiful, and given him the disin

fair

position

to sympathize,

love,

to

duce, to enjoy

to

help, to pro-

become an honorable
bringing God's work to per-

and thus

to

and a happy being,

fection, and enjoying the divine creation
midst of which he

Make

in

the

lives.

man happy, and his actions will be

doom him to dismal thoughts and
happy too
miserable circumstances, and you will make him
a
;

gloomy, discontented, morose, and probably

Hence,

ous.

and crime are almost

who have never

coarseness

found among

invariably

been accustomed to be
have been shut

those

cheerful

against the

whose hearts

purifying influences

of a happy communion with nature,

tion

an en-

or

and cheerful intercourse with man.

lightened

Man

vici-

has a strong natural appetite for relaxa-

and amusement, and, like all other natural

has been implanted for a wise purit

appetites,

pose.
in

It

cannot be repressed, but

one form or another.

Any

will

break out

well-directed

tempt to promote an innocent amusement

a dozen sermons against vicious ones.
not provide the opportunity

some
ous

pleasures,

ones

said, "

set

for

men

will

themselves.

for

If

we do

enjoying whole-

Sydney Smith

up something better in its place.

Temperance reformers have not

how much

at-

worth

certainly find out vici-

In order to attack vice with effect,

considered

is

truly

we must

sufficiently

the drinking habits of the

IDEALS OF

22S

country

are

LIFE.

consequences

the

of gross

tastes,

and of the too limited opportunities which

in

country for

this

ments

an innocent and improving tendency.

of

The workman's
main

tastes

uncultivated

thoughts

have been allowed

wants

present

the gratification of his

pleasure

highest

exist

access to amuse-

obtaining

and when he

to re-

engross

appetites
relaxes,

it

of nations

were

they are

"As drunken
mon proverb.
from drink

Music
cultivation

one

at

as

Principally

drunkenest

been

The

effect.

of the art has a most favorable

pleasure

new

they

most humanizing

in

attraction.

It

every family.
It

to

weaned
by education and music.

have

ence upon public morals.

of

the

is

now among the soberest.

German boor," was a com-

How

has

time

his

The

indulge immoderately in beer or whiskey.

Germans

his

is

makes

furnishes
It

gives

influ-

a source

home

more

social intercourse

Father Matthew followed up

his

tem-

perance movement by a singing movement.

He

cheerful.

promoted the establishment of musical clubs all

over Ireland; for he felt that, as he had taken
the people's whiskey from them, he must give

them some wholesome stimulus in its stead. He

Singing -classes were estabgave them music.
lished,

to

refine

the taste,

soften

the

manners,

and humanize the mass of the Irish people. But

we fear that the example set by Father Matthew
already been forgotten.

lias
"

What

a fulness of enjoyment,"

says

Chan-

RECREATION.

229

"has our Creator placed within our reach,

surrounding us with an atmosphere which

ning,

by

may be shaped
goodness

into

sweet sounds

And

want

almost lost upon us through

is

this provision

of culture of the organ by which

is

yet this

be enjoyed."
How much would the general cultivation of

to

the gift of music improve us as a people

dren ought to learn

Germany.

The

heard

every

in

glees would

it

voice

they do

schools, as

in

of music

English

old

Men and

no longer be forgotten.

women might

in

would then be

Our

household.

Chil-

sing in the intervals of their work,

Germans do in going to and coming from

wars. The work would not be worse done,

as the
their

was done amidst music and cheerfulThe breath of society would be sweetened,
ness.
and pleasure would be linked with labor. Smiles.
Recreation is intended to the mind as whetting is to the scythe, to sharpen the edge of it,
which otherwise would grow dull and blunt. He,
because

it

therefore, that

ever

spends

whole

his

whetting, never

is

may

grow, and his steed starve

that

always

and

never

mowing, never whetting;

purpose.

As good no

so reasonably and

may

cut,

contrarily,

it

Bishop Hall.

he

ever

to little

edge.

Then

the

scythe

when

moderately

is

much

scythe as no

and so cut that

sharpening.

his grass

recreates

laboring

only doth the work go forward

is

as,

recrea-

in

mowing;

tion

toils

time

whetted

may have

that

it

the help of

IDEALS OF LIFE.

230
It

must

be remembered that nothing

always

can come into the account of recreation

not done with delight.

There

is

that

is

Locke.

no position

more weari-

the world

in

some than that of a man inwardly indifferent to

the amusement in which he is trying to take part.
You can watch for game with an invincible patience, for

the
I

ten minutes

first

lay

on the

my gun down and

week a
hunt.

you have the natural

woods

of the

skirts

begin to botanize.

friendly neighbor

me

invited

The boar was supposed

be

to

to

did during the whole

saddle awaiting the

a boar-

in the

morning was
exit

point of the

of the

to

sit

pleasure?

interest

man

enough

true
in

is

late.

all

in

my

beast, cantering

hunter would

expectation, but

on a railway-platform

train that

mid-

wood's circumference to

another, as the cry of the dogs guided me.

it

Last

impenetrable plantation, and

dle of a great

from one

but after

instinct,

who

Hamerton.

is

Was

have found
I

felt

like

waiting for a

<UI

g C|l -gIo*e.

My
work.

meat
St.

is

to

John

do the

iv.

What

will of

Him

that sent

me and

finish

to

His

34.

should a

man

desire to leave

flawless work, a noble

life,

Some music harmonized from strife,

Some finished thing, 'ere the slack hands

at eve

Drop, should be his to leave.

F.
No man
inferior.

can end with being superior

who

T. Palgrave.

with being

will not begin

Sidney Smith.

Live
And

life

teach true

of truest breath,
life

to fight with mortal wrongs.

Tennyson.
Sacrifice

And

and self-devotion hallow earth and

the meanest

life

is

the skies

fill

sacred whence the highest

may

Lord
He who
prays

has

works,

and

feels

he works

he

who

prays and knows he

got the secret of transforming life-failure into life-victory.

F.
Let

all

arise.

Houghton.

the

rest

W. Robertson.

remain a mystery, so long as the mystery of the

Cross gives us faith for a

the rest.

Charles Kingsley.

(232)

l>Ip Hutu ]|$!jp$?$ +

WHISPER
Little or

What

then

The great

Do

they

Trusting

And

much unto

in soul,

out a

God

in
I

that

our actions bend-

all

a selfish end.

Charity's reward

is

live

while

came

said.

by what strong impulse

life

until

of

they reach the skies

pondered much a just reply

echo could not wholly die

It

seems

mighty singer's words resounded

their

The Helper yonder helps the helper

Goethe, thou hast proclaimed in

The

led.

sacrifice,

this

my

in

ear:

here,

one

line

and depth, and breadth of love divine

Better than books or sermons
Charity
Weareth no other robe of mystery
height,

The source

And

alike of all great thoughts

and

deeds,.

on which the soul expanding feeds.

Treading our lower selves to dust, we grow

To

that

larger sympathies,

and then we know,

Castled at length in higher atmosphere,

The Helper yonder

!6

helps the helper here..

(233>

IDEALS OF LIFE.

234

Oh, hast thou never thought, who hoardest gold,

There

Perhaps

What

a wealth thy coffers cannot hold?

is
;

never known

but, Dives, thou hast

blessed riches might have been thine own,

That Being who bestoweth care on

Who

noticeth the sparrows

Examples not to thee a

But active sympathy for

all,

when they

fall,

greed

selfish

others' need,

Ringing throughout that Writ which we revere,

The Helper yonder helps the helper here.
People do show thee deference: the dower

Of cunning

hath obtained thee power;

traffic

Columns of marble do thy roof sustain

Thy rooms are filled with elegance a

train

Of

guests around thy banquet-table ring

Their goblets,

And

it

titling

may be

that

thee their festive king,

on thy soul some blight

Has fallen, shutting from thy inner sight

The mystery in which these words appear:
The Helper yonder helps the helper here.
Although thou lackest

Can nothing choke

Behold

Her

Who

angel

not
light

bears

tongue and pen,

thee with a grand

grown

this

heart

faith in

one

amen?

in disguise

through weight of

through storm,

and from

sacrifice

a scanty

store,

portion unto them that need

Receiving pay

And going

it

more,

in blessings of the poor,

richer,

happier from their door;

"

Behold

Her

this

heart

angel

grown

not one in disguise

light

through weight of

Who bears through storm, and

A portion unto them that need

sacrifice

from a scanty
it

more."

store,

TEE TWO HELPERS.

And

tell

me,

thou canst,

if

The Helper yonder

Heaven

Who

is

not clear

is

it

235

helps the helper here

thy birth-place, Charity, and he

entertains thee, greatest of the

three

Celestial Sisters, has an angel guest

Who

cheers her lonely kindred in his breast,

As we some sorrowing

friend in

Whisp'ring sweet words

banishment,

hope and comfort

with

blent.

rare reward

And

have*

guessed

it,

then,

The way thou teachest unto erring men

Thy holy message from the heavenly sphere,
The Helper yonder helps the helper here ?
*

The

souls that climb the lofty eminence

And, breathing there an

Bend down

inspiration, thence

to aid the lowly multitude,

Holding before

their eyes the

promised good,

Untiring workers for humanity,

Exemplars of a Christ - like charily,

The Wilberforces and the Howards, men

Who,

with the levers of the tongue and pen,

Exalt the world

mark

The Helper yonder

how

they persevere

helps such helpers here

Those modest workers, heroes of the mind,

Who

build the lofty ramparts of mankind,

Firmer than granite, and

in silence

wrought

Of the uncrumbling masonry of thought

From whence the recompense which they
For

still

more arduous tasks

to give

deserve

them nerve?

IDEALS OF LIFE.

236

For such reward they look in vain to man,

freely give them all he can.

Although he
This

their creed, full strong to

is

The Helper yonder

And

Whom

Charity

may

meek

laborers,

justly claim as her's,

stewards of the mind and soul,

faithful

Who
Of

helps the helper here.

thus the faith of those

The

conquer fear:

hold their course until they reach the goal

mortal

toil,

as steady as a star

Circling through yonder heavens.

Such there

are,.

Have been and yet will be, of nobler worth

Than finds a recognition here on earth,
The brave, believing still, though want be near,
The Helper yonder helps the helper here.
Life

is

May

to labor where'er duty's voice

call,

with

strength

to

spurn

the

baser

choice

And who

so triumphs, angels write his

As one deserving more

The conflict is at hand!

My

soul

Thou
And,

and

to

name

than mortal fame.

Take up

thy shield,

whatever battle-field

rangest, nerve thyself to courage there,

upon

flinging scorn

Remember aye

this

The Helper yonder

cannot name

that

word Despair,

verse of lofty cheer

helps the helper here.

gentleman (John Howard)

without remarking that his labors and waitings
I

this

have done much to open the eyes and hearts of

THE TWO HELPERS.

He

mankind.

has visited

237

Europe,

all

not

to sur-

vey the sumptuousness of palaces or the stateliness of temples, not to make accurate measure-

ments of the remains of ancient grandeur, nor to

form a scale of the curiosity of modern

medals or

to collect

manuscripts,

collate

art,

but

not
to

dive into the depths of dungeons, to plunge into

the infection of hospitals, to survey the mansions

gauge and
dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt,
to remember the forgotten, to attend to the neglected, to visit the forsaken, and to compare and
sorrow

of

collate the

His plan

is

and

pain,

to

distresses of
original,

and

all
it

take

men
is

as

the

in

all

countries.

of genius as

full

was a voyage of discovery

Already the
a circumnavigation of charity.
benefit of his labor is felt more or less in every
country; I hope he will anticipate his final reward
by seeing all its effects fully realized in his own.
He will receive, not by retail, but in gross, the
reward of those who visit the prisoner and he has
so forestalled and monopolized this branch of charity, that there will be, I trust, little room to merit
by such acts of benevolence hereafter. Burke.
True humanity consists not in a squeamish ear
it

is

of humanity.

It

it

consists not in starting or shrinking at tales

misery,

but in a disposition

of heart to relieve

True humanity appertains rather

it.

than to the nerves, and prompts

and
it

of

men

to the

mind

to use real

active endeavors to execute the actions which

suggests.

C.

J.

Fox.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

238

You might have

of

in the zenith

traversed the

Roman empire

power, from the Euphrates to

its

the Atlantic, without meeting with a single charitable

asylum

Monuments

for the sick.

of pride,

of ambition, of vindictive wrath, were to be found

in

abundance; but not one legible record of com-

miseration for the poor.

religion

ment
"

is

whose

basis

devotion,

is

to

was reserved for the

humility, and whose eleIt

proclaim

with

authority,

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain

mercy."

Robert Hall.

Jsntfy.

Unspotted from the world

James

I.

27.

birds that are not free

Pine for their native

So longs my

soul,

God, for Thee,

To make

her pure and

For only

to the

Thou

dost

Thy

air,

fair.

pure
vision give

Impurity cannot endure

Within Thy sight to

live.

PURITY.

239

Keep Thou my soul, O God,

:"
" Thy vineyard of red wine

No

longer by defilers trod,

keep her wholly Thine.

So shall the sight of Thee

Be sweetness day by day,

And in Thy free-born Purity

Her bondage pass away.
There
the

is

a principle

which

human mind, which

in

had different
and proceeds from God.
inward, confined to no forms of
pure

it

It

and

places

different

names;

hath

ages

pure, placed id

is

however,

is,

is

deep and

religion,

nor ex-

when the heart stands in perwhomsoever this takes root and

grows, they become brethren. John Woolman,
The stained lives. Where is the man or
woman who does not know what it means ?
cluded from any,

In

fect sincerity.

There
stain

most outward sort of stain the

upon the reputation. It is what men see
is

the

know

as they pass us, and

us by

has struggled and been worsted.

come
that

to

men

middle

life,

look at

it

as they pass?

of strength

have
then

always

we

it

for

purest

been,

one who
has

and kept so pure a name

refreshment and courage

When we remember

the

for

What man

reputations

what

what a source
in the

world

and

help,

stimulus

get some idea of what the world loses

in the fact that

almost every reputation becomes

IDEALS OF

240

LIFE.

so blurred and spotted that

be used as a
is old enough

Then

force.

duct, the

cloud

And

it

there are the

then,

fair

far

surface

worst

man

any positive character or

of
of

upon our conwhich cross and

stains

impure and untrue acts

the

wholly unfit to

is

a pattern before the

light or

to give

it

all
all,

our best
there

is

activity.

the

stain

upon the heart, of which nobody but the man

himself knows anything, but which to him gives
all their

unhappiness to the other

based motives, the low

sions

of

the

inner

which we accumulate.
in the

stains, the de-

wicked pasThese are the stains

desires, the

life.

We

morning strong and

set out for the battle

clean.

By and by we

moment in the lull of the struggle to

upon ourselves, and how tired and
down
look
how covered with dust and blood we are. How
long back our first purity seems how long the
day seems sometimes how long since we began
You know what stains are on your
to live.
Each of us knows, every man and woman,
lives.
They burn to
as we are here this morning.
your eyes even if no neighbor sees them. They
burn in the still air of the Sabbath even if w e
catch a

do not see them in the week.

think for the world that your

You would
children

not

should

same stains that have fastened

You dream for them of a " life unspotted from the w orld," and the very anxiety of
that dream proves how you know that your own
life is spotted and stained.

grow up
upon you.

to

the

PURITY.

And

that

dream

At any rate
give it up by and

will

and excusing the

He

how much

there

is

us.

tion of political

life

there

is

is

You

seems

and not

to

You

talk with a great

many

it.

fall.

is

more than

to

make my
about

talk

society.

think

made

that

noble.

the spots

is

And

bread."

and

"That
will

work

have

when you
mere creature of

mere dream," the answer

social

can

life

upon the robe

that will

to

just so

the

Whoever goes

go with robes

can

should like to see you

earnestness to

" It

can

about

morality,

half pity.

try to apply that standard to the

will

men

Oh,

pure.''

very well for you," they say, "but that

not do upon the street.

"to

"

your professional seclusion,

in

with something that

is all

do

is,

No man
No man

business

some point of doubtful conventional

they look at you

tone

have infected

Washington, and be wholly

years

in

We
Hear

his stains.

and the answer

live

in

about the corrup-

talk

that

trial

all

way

the

as inevitable.

it

nothing strange about

go through that

about

thing

of this low, despairing

characters,

safest

to expecting

no man can keep himself

must accumulate

on every side of

you

that

come upon them

The worst

practically believe that

unspotted.

almost

is

is

and get

by,

which we come to think of

the

danger

the

power of the world

staining

this

children

stains that will

they grow older.

as

the

for

hopeless.

241

be

is,

elevated and

must expect
and so, if he is wise,
show spots as little as
there

possible, robes as near the world's color as he

is

IDEALS OF LIFE.

242

able

procure."

to

through

most

political

God

pray to

life

unstained

"

No

robes

And
of the

lustre

many a pure man

of

easy for

one can go there and

or

But the

midst.

its

is

it

the

life,

children.

little

walks through

so thick that

fall

carry,

have when they

up with the

lighted

is

his

as clean, and

just

they

or teach their

woman who
spots

hands

tender, as

as

any-

at

lives

temptations of business

the

all

high standards,

hearts just

white,

pure and poor as

and works
And there are merchants who do

through

social

Men do go

not true.

is

as

mechanic

retired

bench.

same

It
life

men

to say,

escape them.

It

is

hopeless to try and keep yourself unspotted from

the world;"

"We

and then

comes

that

(for

instantly),

are not to blame for the world's spots upon

us."

was the worst, but there is one

worse thing still. When a man comes not merely
I

said

this

to tolerate, but

to

of the

boast,

his

as

if

unscrupulousness

disbelief,

that the

when he wears his

they were jewels
when he flaunts

world has flung upon him

spots

stains

and

and

his

cynicism,

heard -heartedness,

his

in

and

your

as the signs and badges of his superiority;

to

be innocent

seems

to

be

reputable to

unsuspicious and

that

we

stains

when

sensitive

and weak; when

ridiculous

show

by exhibiting the

upon our

and

are

that

men
the

his
face,

it

is

of the world

world has

left

and our heart,

then we understand how flagrant is the danger
reputation, our conduct,

PURITY.
then

we

unspotted from

selves
stains

how hard

see

do become

243

must be

it

the

to

The

world.

world's

and

of pride

matters

keep ourchoice.

We
compare ourselves
decide what claims shall be most honorable. We
give conventional ranks and values to the signs
It is more respectable to
of our own disgrace.

We

with

one

another.

have learnt heartlessness from the world than to

have learnt dishonesty more honorable to have
;

become miserly than

As

have become

to

licentious.

Jews used to establish a rank and precedence between the commandments which God
had given them, so we decide which of the laws
the

of the world, our master,

which others

And

now,

in

We

religion.-

is

it

good

to

unsparing words he

St.

is

good

to keep,

all

this,

we come

to

tells

first

Christians.

In

"

Pure religion

and undefiled before God, and the Father,

and

to

his

us what Christianity has

to say to all this state of things.

tion,

our

James, as true to-day as

those

to visit the fatherless

and

to break.

view of

hear

when he wrote

it

and widows

in

is

their

this,

afflic-

keep himself unspotted from the

how intolerant Religion is. She

starts with what men have declared to be impossible.
She refuses to bring down her standards.
She insists that men must come up to her.
No
man is thoroughly religious, she declares, unless

world."

he does

he

goes

sunbeam

See

this,

which

through

it

seems so hard

this

world

to do, unless

as

the

Religion

re-

untainted,

goes through the mist.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

244

fuses to be degraded

into a

purposes

the

filling

of

mere means

man's

for

proclaims absolute standards, and

ful-

She

selfishness.

not lower

will

them.
She will not say to any man, weak and
compromising with the world, " Well, your case is
a hard one, and for you I waive a part of my

For you

demands.

religion shall

mean not

to

do

These other sins, in consideration of your feebleness and temptations, I

give you leave to do."
Before every man, in the
this sin

or that

sin.

very thickest of the world's contagions, she stands

and

Be

says, with her

separate.

Come

out.

yourself unspotted from

the

unwavering

Keep

voice, "

world."

There

something sublime in this unsparingness.

It almost proves that our religion is divine,
when it undertakes for a man so divine a task.
It could not sustain itself in its great claim to be
from God, unless it took this high and Godlike
is

ground, that whoever named the

must depart from

all

iniquity.

name

My

our religion is not true unless it have

Unless the statesman taking
in it.
gress.,

man
go

the

or

merchant taking

woman

in all

carrying

their ordinary

it

it

of Christ

dear friends,
this
it

to

power
Con-

into business, the

with them where they

occupations and amuse-

it the power of purity and

must bring our faith to this test.

ments, do indeed find

strength.

We

Unless our Christianity does

this for us,

it

James talked
that the Lord Jesus came to reveal and
the

true religion

stow.

that

Phillips Brooks.

St.

is

not

of,

and

to

be-

FOOD FOB THE SOUL.

Xntxh
It

is

Man

written,

TABLE

9ft

^^
Its

in

by bread alone.

St.

Matthew

spread for thee, dear soul

Is

grow

less,

has no scanty dole.

There

is

an angel at the board

To welcome
The

every guest,

shining servant of the

To

offer

Come

near,

Till

come

Heaven

first

Lord

thee the best.

near,

If that may ever be,

And day by day grow
is

orbed

and take thy

beautiful
in thee.

red blushes of the morn,

So gentle and so calm,

Which

everlasting

life

adorn,

Like some prophetic psalm,

many a
The Master hath in

Shall hint full

To

iv.

the wilderness

dainty things will not

It

The

jScui

for lip

shall not live

245

satisfy

blessed thing
store,

thy hungering

Both now and evermore.

And do
Are

not doubt the joys of time

like the joys above,

full,

4..

IDEALS OF

246

Though

LIFE.

more

service there be

Since love

sublime,

always love.

is

For Heaven has

its

commencement

here,

Within the wilderness,

Where
And

And

love begins to cast out fear

banish loneliness

Christ's dear

Brotherhood of Grace,

Eternal and unseen,

Is

God's shekinah to the

No

race,

to intervene.

veil

That hunger, which has so ruled men always,

which has made them violate duty, commit great
crimes, sacrifice their strongest natural affections
that

need of bread, which, working

developed
tion,

man

man

which always

man

all

the

progress of

has

civiliza-

and, working violently and spasmodically, has

turned

trol

into

steadily,

men's
life

that

had taken hold of

of Jesus.

It

was a

this

new

real temptation.

was genuinely an hungered.

the lower

need of bread,

primary to the forces that con-

lies

lives,

brute

into

hu-

He

This compulsion of

nature has, for the

first

time perhaps

Him, met the compulsion of the higher nature

under which He has wholly lived. Now will He
His whole work, our whole hope, hangs
yield ?
upon His decision. There was, there must have
But as we
been, a real chance of His yielding.
in

look at Him,

we

see that

He

will

not yield.

The

FOOD FOB THE SOUL.

new temptation
before

Him

more precious
lower

The

me

of the

that

than,

victory

is

senses.

higher

the

of the

life

God outweighs

serving

of

joy

eternal

old

is

won.

It

worth any

He
Let me

grows

of the

life

the
clear

spirit

" I

is

the

sacrifice of,

says,

flesh.
"

247

choose."

be hungry, but

let

not disobey God."

But we see

also,

He

thoroughly

in

reply of Jesus,

this

had entered

into

and

how

identified

Himself with the humanity which he had assumed.

He

His temptation as a man.

takes

His answer as a man.

It

gives

not the speech

is

one bringing a superior nature, clothed

rior

He
in

of

supe-

and so capable of an exceptional

where ordinary manhood must give

strength,

resistance

I,
as God, must have divine
and so can do without your human
" Man
shall not live by bread
is,
It
food."
Simply as men, we all, the poorest and
alone."
the greatest of us altogether, need the life of
obedience, and any sacrifice of the flesh is cheap
Here was the second value
that wins it for us.

way.

It

is

not,

"

sustenance,

of the temptation of Christ.

divine Mediator

It

was not only the

preparing Himself for his task,

and proving the temper of the arms with which

He was to fight the battle; it was the highest,
the perfect man, becoming conscious of himself,
and declaring,

in

behalf of

human necessities.
need more than bread.

versal

am

not

satisfied,

with

"

all
I,

humanity, the unias man,"

He

says,

I must not
be satisfied,
mere food for the body:

IDEALS OF LIFE.

248
I

Humanity was tested there..

supreme specimen of it be satisfied

must have

Can

this

in

it

bread

with
these

truth."

If

these

cravings,

demands

nate

cannot,

food
to

is

be

if

man, then no man ought

for

feeds

that

No

perfectly clear to Jesus.

Him.

Man

"

body.

the

not live by bread alone."

to

If

long as he has only the mere

so

satisfied

for

things,

man, the best of men, says that

this

nourishment

these importu-

spiritual

God, are mere chimeras.

enough

not

for

dreams,

these

all

discontents,

men

of

truth, for duty, for

it

then

can,

it

doubt

it all

shall

seemed

was almost a truism

It

Humanity lay perfectly open to His

Reading Himself, He read man

consciousness.
as

man never had been

He

said,

That

feed.

Life

which

only

not

is

alone.

merely
which

It

forces

spiritual

man

upon
the

a spiritual
can

shall

water.

It

earth

rich

not

There-

by bread

live

needs

must

condition

supply.

cannot

saying that a tree

like

is

which bread alone can

man means

for

of course,

fore,

life

by man before.

read

elements

other

That

give.

live

is

its

nature.

And one
Christ

of

thing

the

more about

higher

consciousness.

roborates

He

men.
cannot

God

them

is

out

also

his

his

in

noticeable that

of

fullest,

discovers

in

own human

He

also cor-

Himself that

except
the

He

experience of

past

the

not merely sees in

live at

He

It

man.

of

necessities

does not simply discern them

assertion by

this

in

man

obedience to

past

that

men

FOOD FOE THE SOUL.

have found

this

tice,

His

Man

shall not

249"

out and recognized

reply

is

live

quotation:

For,

it.

"It

is

written,

He

by bread alone."

no-

quotes

from the speech which Moses had made to the

people of

they had

Israel, after

and when they were just about

ert,

Promised

He

Land.

wilderness.

So

true.

to enter the

Moses

says,

there in his desert what

it

crossed the des-

found

have found here

in

out

my

He wrote it down, and here I find

He appeals to experience. He

own present conciousness by the

assurance that other men have known the same
As He had said
that it has always been true.
strengthens His

before, It
in

my

all

men;

is

not something which belongs to

exceptional divine nature, but

so

he says now,

It

is

The
always known it,
true.

best and most

body, and that he

that

man was

did

not

had not merely bread

it

has always-

human men have

soul

really live

as well

as-

unless

he
and

for the body, but truth

duty, God's word, for the soul.

17

belongs to

not true only in

these special, temporary conditions

been

it

me

Phillips Brooks.

IDEALS OF LIIE.

250

ittttjtWIotn

^TEMPTATION

For

Besets our

everywhere

below

life

the devil spreads his snare,

still

And when we do

not know.

Our selfishness is great:

The bait is fair to see
And if we in its presence

Who

wait

gains the victory?

There is a still small voice

That speaks to every heart

On hearing, make an
And from the bait
Or

else

instant choice,

depart.

thy sword unsheath,

That blade divine and strong.

And smite and tread the lure beneath,

Where
Whoever
with
arise.

such things belong.

all

to temptation debases himself

yields

debasement
This, indeed,

from
is

which

he

can

the calamity of calamities,

the bitterest dreg in the cup of bitterness.

unrighteous act
force

The

upon the
false

man

tells

Every

with a thousand fold more

actor
is

never

more

than

upon

the

sufferer.

false to himself than to

TEMPTATION.

any one
self

the

is

own

perfidy

of

circle

and
to

the

but

he

knowledge

of

man

within the

lies

always hot-

is

and that center

heart.

of guilty

fire

fire

him-

scorn

world's

The

undying.

center,

own

live

but

forget,

radiations;

its

at the

ligate's

The

loser.

is

others, but

despoil

may torment whatever

passions

test

chief

sometimes

might
his

He may

else.

251

the

is

wronged

be

can

prof-

but the unresisted, unchecked impulse

do wrong

is

the

and the second death.

first

The moment any one of the glorious faculties

with which God has endowed us is abused or
misused,
its

that

and

delicacy

us that

by

our

faculty

and

system,

physical

the very stamina

all

violence

before

suffered

birth,

of our constitution,

impairs

and sends

us into the world, so far shorn of the

and

of

Physiology teaches

energy.

its

privation

all

forever, a portion

loses,

energies,

blunted in the fineness of the perceptions,

we should otherwise possess. So every injury

we inflict upon our moral nature, in this life,
must

dull,

forever and

ever, our

keen capacities

of enjoyment, though in the midst of

infinite bliss,

and weaken our power of ascension where virtuous spirits are ever ascending.
It must send us
forward into the next stage of existence maimed

and

crippled, so that

our

flight

would
bliss,

than

will

have
it

it

be

however high we may

than

less

lofty

and

however

been,

always

be

it

soar,

otherwise

exquisite

our

less

exquisitely blissful

was capable of being.

Every instance of

will

IDEALS OF LIFE.

252

violated conscience, like every broken string in

compass of

harp, will limit the

harmonies

its

man

oh

bear,

dignity

of

when

its

Tremble,

forever.

thou

music, and

mar

and

for-

then,

wouldst forget the

thy nature and the immortal glories

of thy destiny, for

if

thou

dost

cast

down

thine

eyes to look with complacency upon the tempter,

lend

or

ear

thine

doom

thou

dost

ever

through

dost

wound

to

thyself to

dim

ever and

for

being

of

very

the

seductions,

his

move

spheres

inferior

and

to

listen

thou

organ,

with

which alone thou canst behold the splendors of

Horace Mann.

eternity.

Temptations
not

to

all

in

Wilderness

the

be tried with such

Have we

Not so

easily

Adam, lodged in us by birth, be

dispossessed.
Our Life is compassed round with
Necessity
yet is the meaning of Life itself no
can the

old

other than Freedom, than Voluntary Force: thus

have we warfare

hard- fought battle.

Work
ten,

thou in

in

hearts

the

in

For the God-given mandate,

Well-doing, lies mysteriously writ-

Promethean, Prophetic Characters,

and leaves no

rest,

be deciphered and obeyed

our conduct, a

And

visible,

in

night or day,
till

it

burn

our

till

it

forth, in

acted Gospel of Freedom.

as the clay-given mandate,

filled,

itself

beginning, especially, a

Eat thou and

be

same time persuasively proclaimsthrough every nerve, must not there be a

at the

confusion,

contest,

before the

can become the upper?

better

Influence,

TEMPTATION,

To

253

seems more natural than that

the Son of Man, when such God-given mandate
first prophetically stirs him, and the Clay must
ine nothing

now be vanquished
the

him, defiantly

and

Tempter do grimmest
setting him at naught,

Name

fly.

rocks

Desert

of

whether

are not

Unhappy

all

in

till

he yield

with

or with-

the natural Desert

if

Unhappy

called.

all

we

-subduing

ers, in dull
!

are but Half- men, in

sun

true

in

Atheistic

years

Wilderness

Century

given,

if

Battle,

or

splendor

sight

our

but

or smould-

under earthly va-

World in an
Forty Days are long
the wide

and fasting
nevertheless, to
comes an end. Yes, to me also was

not

Victory,

and the resolve

faculty

enchanted

the

is

of suffering

-these also

life

darkness,

pain, in

Our

we

if

handwriting has never blazed

divine

quivers dubiously amid meaner lights

pors

with

battle

that

forth,

be car-

and sands, or in the populous moral

selfishness and baseness,
to such

Temptation are we

wmorn

we choose

as

it

out visible Devil,

of

should

unto grim Solitudes, and there

ried of the Spirit

fronting

or vanquish,

is

left.

forests,

and of sound,

it

to preserve therein

To me

also,

while

entangled

in

demon-peopled, doleful of

was

wanderings, to work out

of

consciousness of

yet the

given, after

my way

weariest

into the higher

Mountain which has no

summit, or whose summit is in Heaven only
sunlit

slopes

that

Carlyle.

Temptation

is

a fearful word.

It

indicates the

IDEALS OF LIFE.

254

beginning of a
It

possible

series

the ringing of an alarm

is

may

sounds

choly

of infinite

bell,

reverberate

through eternity.

Like the sudden, sharp cry of Fire

it

should

rouse us

evils.

whose melan-

in the night,

instantaneous activity, and

to

brace every muscle to

its

highest tension.

Hor-

ace Mann.
Set a pleasure tempting, and the hand of the

Almighty
tell

prepared to take vengeance, and

visibly

whether

it

be possible

for

people wantonly

law Locke.

to offend against the

Every man living shall assuredly meet with

an hour of temptation, a certain critical hour,
which shall more especially try what mettle his
heart

is

He
fights

made
that

of.

South.

with

against

Christian

his

and

repels

the

armor

manfully

temptations

and

assaults of his spiritual enemies, he that keeps his

conscience void of offense, shall enjoy peace here

and

Ray.

forever.

In

time

of temptation

be

not busy to

dis-

and throw
yourself upon God, and contend not with Him,
pute,

but

in

but rely upon

prayer.

the

conclusion,

Jeremy Taylor.

upon a clear, unblotted, acquitted conscience, and feed upon the ineffable comforts of
South.
the memorial of a conquered temptation.
Every Christian is endued with a power
whereby he is enabled to resist and conquer
Reflect

temptation.

Tillotson.

THE AS GEL OF PRAYER.

tQOMETIMES

^ And

when

grows dark

future

the

255

frowns with the gloom of despair,

lose the one

beautiful

Which gleamed

mark

the

in

bright

sunny

And oh in the darkness I grope

And mourn for the lost and the

air.

fair,

dawning of hope,
meet with the Angel of Prayer:

Until,
I

the

in

That i\ngel of prayer who of old

Gave Jacob the courage to dare

The might of a foe that was bold,

And

And
I

that which
find in

glows

It

his

lifted

And

burden of

was

in the

faster

the night,

where

beautiful light,

climb to

Our strong

it

there.

crying and tears in

has never reached

unrewarded

lost in

the firmament,

care.

toil

its

effort

which

earthly end, our long

and

of love and knowledge, are not

They are

powers in
the soul, which in an undefective world will become strength of thought and ease of attainment.

lost in us.

As

the forces

in reality latent

of the sunlight stored

up

in

the

IDEALS OF LIFE.

256

vegetation

of

of

lions

fireside

the

years

coal

break forth again mil-

afterwards

cheer

to

Christmas time with light and heat,

at

so the stored

up

manifest

as passionate joy under

itself

hidden

the

of

force

of

force

life

our endurance

will

new

con-

may even measure

Nay, we

of being.

ditions

happy

within us by the

depth

of our sorrow.

This

when

the

is

may

answer we

the increase

ourselves

give

or mental knowl-

of spiritual

edge has deepened in us, in a transient passage of melancholy, the pain of the contrast between the hopes of youth and the toil of manhood.

But

such a melancholy were

if

some

as

if,

we

do,

cherish

to

continue,

retrospect

and
what

remembering
we were, in continually wailing over dead ideals,
-then the answer is sharper and sterner. It is
given in the results which this unmanly melanour

find

only

men

terests
in

in

We

become useless, dreamy, slothwe become indifferent to the great in-

choly brings.
ful

pleasure

of the

Present because

We

the Past.

isolated in self;

we

are absorbed

cease to grow, because

and he who ceases

to

we

are

grow goes

back slowly into the realm of nothingness and

death.

We

are a dead weight on the

of the world.
race

and

the

Our

idleness

race

Then our melancholy,

tempt,

changes

its

is

rejects

an injury to the

and

face to face

nature

its

progress

despises

with

dainty

this

us.

con-

sweetness

THE ANGEL OF PRAYER.

257

and is succeeded by the coarse sourness

of an old aae of scorn.
departs,

That

who

indulges

retrospect,

reply of law

stern

the

is

melancholy

continued

the

in

whom added knowledge

to

man

the

to

of

has only

brought despair of the future.

unmanliness

It is

tombs.
life.

Christ

calls

us

follow

past.

St.

sition.

'

understood
I

was a

as

child,

child,

spake as a

thought as

neither

is

child,

a child

became a man, I put away

is no unmanly retrospect

There

things.'

are

there

Paul accepts and realizes the whole po-

When

but when

Me

says

and larger than the

other ideals in front, better

He

Let dead ideals bury themselves,

come away from them and

the

thought of

higher

to

among

thus

linger

to

childish
in

that,

there any depreciation of childhood.

It

then

had its own ways, they were good

it was
a joyful time, that too was good but to wish it
back again, except for a moment, were unworthy.

Manhood

brings nobler work, higher duties

be put away

for-

by one who did

not

the child-life and youth are

Nor was

ever.

feel the

said

this

weight of the

a glass

darkly
'

observe, the

'

Now, we
now we know in

pain

faith

'

does

not

He

comfort, but forward.

melancholy,

to

trouble which besets man-

For he goes on

hood.

being the

shall

see

face

see through
But,

part.'

send him

back

for

steps out of a barren

possessor

The

and a saving hope.

when we

and

to

face,

of

time

an

earnest

is

comma-

when we

shall

IDEALS OF LIFE.

258

know

as

we

known

are

indistinct

knowledge

which bringeth sorrow, partial knowledge which

itself is grief, shall

truth, in

vanish in clear light of perfect

completed knowledge, and clearness and

completion are faultless joy.

It is

ing element of Christianity that

the one inspir-

throws us

it

in

boundless hope upon the future and forbids us

to dwell

in

new and

poisonous shadows of the past.

the

better growth

before us, a fresher,

is

more enthusiastic life awaits us. We

wake up satisfied in the likeness of Christ,

a diviner, a
are to
the

ever-young Humanity.

those things which are

ward unto the

behind, let us press

mark of

calling in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, forgetting

the

prize

Stopford A. Brooke.

iriBttWtmu

^vfHO
'^^

escapeth tribulation

In this sad

and joyful world

Who, to bring humiliation,

Has no blows upon him hurled?
Providence

Who

is

like a father

corrects a

wayward

for-

of our high

child,

TRIBULATION,

25

Lest the clouds of judgment gather

Over one

now

Better

that

is

defiled.

the wise assurance

That the sorrow soon

Than

the grief of long endurance

And

And
Than

the brief chastisement

doom

fast,

with no revisement

the darkness never past.

two sad etymologies of

find

the light that follows

the

And

from

the bitter cry Alas

now

Better

will pass,

three-forked

tributes,

mates that such

thorn,

which

afflictions

pain and anguish to the

soul, as

into a tender part of the flesh

One

tribulation.

is

are

which
as

a thorn

inti-

full

of

thrust

unto the body,

may properly be termed tribulations.

The other, from tributes, the head

of a

flail,

knaggy and knotty (made commonly, as

take it, of a thick, black thorn), and then it
I
imports that afflictions, falling upon us as heavy
or

flagel,

as the

threshing the corn, are styled tribula-

flail

tions.
I

am

in

strait

from the sharp

which

is

or

which deduction to embrace,

from the heavy thorn. But

the worst, though

to derive the word,

may choose whence

cannot choose so as to de-

must through much

the kingdom of God."

cline the thing, "I

enter into

tribulation

IDEALS OF LIFE.

260

Therefore,

labor not to be like a

will

set to plough,

colt first

which more

tires

young
himself

out with his misspent mettle than with, the weight

of what

and will labor patiently to

imposed upon me. Thomas Fuller.

he draws

bear what

is

%llmk
1"S

there balm in Gilead?

Is

there any physician there?

Is there
Is

Can

any ease from

my

there aught to be found that

I

Is

is

fair ?

from myself escape,

Where demons upon me

And,

pain to be had?

if

stare?

outwit the stormy cape,

Elysium anywhere?

For my soul is aghast at sin,

Crying day and night, Beware

And praying for Joy to arise within

To hide the face of Despair.

gracious answer came back

To these questions I could not forbear,

The while I turned on my wayward track
And breathed the celestial air:

" Is there

balm in Gilead ?
any physician there ?
there any ease from my pain to be had
?

Is there

Is

Is there

ought to be found that

is fair ?

"

GILEAD.

261

down from above

breath that came

And gave me the heart to dare

To believe and confess that God is
And commit myself to His care.

love,

Fichte and Carlyle proclaim rightly that there

is

grandeur

who

is

in

incapable

to truth

is

it

with him

ill

anguish,

of spiritual

That very pain

despair.

even

lofty

a proof of devotion

is

as the keenness of the slighted lover's

the

distress tests

bow

noble sorrow

depth of

before a veiled

his

Better

affection.

care not whether

than

Isis

known at all
him who doubts sincerely, and

the Divine can be

But
nowise

be

for

from

fail

his faith in truth itself, there

ordained the breaking forth of a great glory

of deliverance and of dawn.

is

will,

may

to

road

be hated, and he can never

until

is

it

darkness

its

one

failed,

the eye

fairly

doubt

take the

But the brightness of

night.

The over-wearied dove

way, over an earth that

wide

waste

pinions flapped heavily,

most

his

proportioned to the length and

and darkened

streamy

it is,

aimless

of the

long winged
but

no more.

may be

the morning

was

True

of

sky

waters,

and now

the heart within

the last ray of hope

under
its

tired

had

al-

was fading from

but even then the olive twig emerged,

and from a rift

light fell on the

in

the

thick

cloud a

beam

of

and gradually
the earth again unveiled her face, and the triumphant embrace of the returning light kindled
fainting

breast,

IDEALS OF LIFE,

262

a glory which

we apply

parable

the

M\ THOU
^^ And

eclipsed

other dawns.

all

Need

Peter Bayne.

that long hast sought a benediction

}

mourned because

Dost know that

in

seemed to flee,
the Furnace of Affliction

The Lord hath chosen

it

thee

and look upon the Lord and Saviour

Thy grief to peace and joy will grow

Be

still,

What

time the current of His great behavior

Shall through thy being flow.

For so

He

Whose
Until they

teaches

life

And

all

thy

life,

no more acquainted

however

full

of sorrow,

follow in His train,

to-day and in the grand to-morrow

The majesty
Suffering
Joy, while

as those

cross they bear.

Thou mayest

And wear

earth are sainted,

duty everywhere,

is

seem

With any

men on

it

of Pain.

is
is

doubtless as

much more

divinely appointed as
influential as a dis-

AFFLICTION.
of character.

cipline

263

and

chastens

It

sweetens

and resignation, and

the nature, teaches patience

promotes the deepest as well as the most exalted

thought.
"

That

e'er

best of

men
sufferer;

meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit;

soft,

The

The

wore earth about him was a

true gentleman that ever breathed."

first

may be

Suffering

which the highest nature

means by

appointed

the

man

of

to

is

be

Assuming happiness

ciplined

and developed.

be

end of being, sorrow may be the

the

Hence

reached.

killed

making many

as poor, yet

and yet possessing

ing,

Even
is

pain

not

is

related to suffering,

piness.

For pain

ful.

Suffering

side,

and a

But

is

discipline

would

parables

de-

always

rich

rejoicing

as having noth-

On

painful.

one side

and on the other

it

to hap-

remedial as well as sorrow-

a misfortune, as viewed from one

suffering, the

for

nature

is

be

to

things."

all

all

to

indis-

"As chastened and

yet

sorrowful,

as

life,

is

it

noble

Paul's

St.

scriptive of the Christian

not

which

through

condition

pensable

dis-

sleep

as

viewed from the other.

best

of

part

deep

many men's
Indeed,

sleep.

it

might almost be said that pain and sorrow were

the indispensable
cess,

est

conditions

of

and the necessary means

development

said of poets

their

to

men

suc-

evoke the high-

genius.

Shelley

" Most wretched

They

of

some men's

are cradled into poetry

learn in suffering what they teach in

by wrong,
song."

has

IDEALS OF LIFE.

2(54

Does anyone suppose that Burns would have

sung as he did had he been rich, respectable, and
" or Byron, if he had been a pros" kept a gig
perous Lord Privy Seal or Postmaster - General ?
Sometimes a heart-break rouses an impassive
;

nature to
"

"

Reboul,

"What does he know," said a sage,

suffered ?"
When Dumas asked
What made you a poet ? " his answer

life.

who has

not

"

was,

"

wife,

and then of

Suffering

was the

It

his

child,

death,

that

first

drove him into

and even-

solitude for the indulgence of his grief,

tually led
It

was

him

to

seek and find

also to a domestic

the beautiful

writings

relief in

affliction that

of Mrs.

of his

Gaskell.

verse.

we owe
"It

was

as a recreation, in the highest sense of the word,"

says

recent

knowledge,
a

life

taken,

"

writer,

speaking

from

personal

as an escape from the great void of

from which a cherished presence had been

that

creations

began

she

that

series

of

exquisite

which has served to multiply the num-

ber of our acquaintances and to enlarge even the

circle of

our friendships."

Much of the best and most useful work done

by men and women has been done amidst affliction

sometimes

as

relief

from

it,

sometimes

from a sense of duty overpowering personal sor" If I had not been so great an invalid,"
row.
said Dr.

Darwin

to a friend,

"I should not have

done nearly so much work as I have been able

So Dr. Donne, speaking of his
to accomplish."
" The advantage you and my
illness, once said
:

AFFLICTION.

my

other friends have by

I

am

much

so

265

frequent fevers

oftener

the

Heaven and by the solitude and

ment they reduce me to, I am
;

oftener

my

at

prayers,

gates

the

at

of

close imprison-

so

much

the

and

my

which you

in

that

is,

other dear friends are not forgotten."

produced

Schiller

his greatest tragedies in the

midst of physical suffering almost amounting to

Handel was never greater than when,

torture.
warned by palsy of the approach of death, and
struggling with distress and suffering, he sat
down to compose the great works which havemade his name immortal in music. Mozart composed his great operas, and last of all his" Requiem," when oppressed by debt, and struggling with a fatal disease.
Beethoven producedhis greatest works amidst gloomy sorrow, whenoppressed by

short but

Schubert, after his

down

at

property

the
at

florins in

early
his

the

scripts,

death

of

consisting

he

clothes

money.

brilliant

Some

and

wore,

laid it

his

his

sixty

sole

manu-

three

of Lamb's finest writings-

himself wrote

and Hood's,

from a suffering;

sprang

apparent gayety often

As he

life,

age of thirty-two

were produced amidst deep sorrow

heart.

And poor

almost total deafness.

" There's not a string attuned to mirth,

But has

Again,

in science,

the suffering

of the mortal
18

its

chord

in

melancholy."

we have

the

Wollaston, even
disease

which

noble instance of
in

the

last

stages

afflicted him, devot-

IDEALS OF

266

numbered hours

ing his

LIFE.

ments he had made, so that

on record, by
and improveany knowledge he

had

benefit

various

the

dictation,

acquired

to putting

discoveries

calculated

to

fellow-

his

creatures might not be lost

"

guise.

sian sage

dis-

in

Fear not the darkness," said the Per"

it

the waters

of

conceals

by

only

learn to suffer and be

highest forms,

its

is

springs
often

we

by

Character, in
trial,

and

Even from

suffering."

bitter,

"

its

made

the deep-

sorrow the patient and thoughtful mind

est

of

teaching *can

strong.

disciplined

is

perfect through

perhaps the

Experience

life."

wholesome,

but

prove but blessings

often

Afflictions

will

gather richer wisdom than pleasure ever yielded.

Smiles.
Consider
affliction

sad accidents

that

a school

is

of virtue.

and a

state

of

reduces our

It

and our counsels to moderainterrupts the confiit corrects levity, and

tion
God, who in mercy
dence of sinning.
.
and wisdom governs the world, would never have
spirits to soberness,
;

suffered so

to

especially,

men,

many

sadnesses, and

the

most virtuous and the wisest

but that he

seminary

intends

of comfort,

for

crown,

they

should

the. nursery

exercise of wisdom, the

turing

have sent them,

trial

be

the

of virtue, the

of patience, the ven-

and the gate of

glory.

Jeremy Taylor.

The time
cool of the

of sickness or affliction

day to

Adam, a season

is

like the

of peculiar

AFFLICTION.

God

propriety for the voice of

may

improved

be

267

to

be heard

and

a very advantageous op-

into

portunity of begetting or increasing spiritual

life.

Hammond.
What
deepest

is

thought

learning

it

promotes

that

it

the

in

and

most and the

human race?

It

that,

of the affections.

perhaps,

it

It is

the reason

is

not

is

not the conduct of business

is

not even the impulse

fering

the

why

is

suf-

there

much suffering in the world. The angel who

went down to trouble the waters and to make
is

so

them

was not perhaps, entrusted with so

healing,

great a boon as

upon the

flicted

they suffered.

the

angel

who benevolently

consideration

of the

from which

disease

sufferers the

Sir Arthur

in-

Helps.
of afflictions

benefit

should teach us to bear them patiently when they

fall

to our

having

lot,

and

to be thankful to

planted such
the

strain

barriers

exuberance

of

Heaven

around

our

us, to

for
re-

and our

follies

crimes.

Let these sacred fences be removed

exempt

the ambitious from disappointment, and the guilty

from

remorse

disease,

let

luxury

go unattended with

and indiscretion lead

into

no embarrass-

ments or distresses; our vices would range without control, and the impetuosity of our passions
have no -bounds
every family would be filled
;

with

strife,

every nation with carnage, and a del-

uge of calamities would break in upon us which

would produce more misery in a year than is in-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

268
flicted

ages.

by the hand of Providence

Robert Hall.

in

lapse

of

l^mlkt.
Walk

in the Spirit,

and ye

shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians,

f7|7HE house
***

By

all

At length

And
Oh house

that

that

i6_

was so tarnished
unclean,

is

swept and garnished,

is

yet no guest

Thou

v.

that

art

canst not

seen.

is

terrestrial,

empty be

Hast thou no guest

celestial,

Alas, alas for thee

The house that was so tarnished

By all that is unclean,
At length is swept and garnished,
And many a guest is seen.

Oh

house, that

Though
Thy guests

art terrestrial,

foes are everywhere,

that are

celestial

Will keep thee pure and

The

poets

labors imposed

fable

that

this

on Hercules,

to

was

fair.

one

make

of

the

clean

the

REFORMATION.
x^ugean

stable, or

209

rather,

stall

for

were kept three thousand

said,

therein,

they

and

had

kine,

it

But

not been cleansed for thirty years together.

by

Hercules,
did

impossible.

This

my

soul,

impure
of

millions

stall

unfeigned repentance,

my

tain

into

and

Jerusalem.''

pains

to

It

thirty years

Thomas

Lord,

to-

and

lively faith,

opened

is

my

my

all

which

uncleanness,

Judah

for

by

impossible

is

out

with

defiled

is

blood of

my

Saviour that when

He

quickly done by the rivulet of the

Saviour.

it,

the stream of that foun-

let

"which

soul,

purge

been

hath

more than
might by a

for

Oh, that

gether.

into

pure emblem of

the

is

which

sins,

Alpheus

river

which before was conceived

ease

with

that

the

letting

Fuller.

read of

my

was in the wilderness, "then the devil leaveth

Him, and behold angels came and ministered

No

Him."

unto

twilight

tory

great

betwixt

night

condition betwixt

stantly,

when out

case of every

pany

for

itself.

change
hell

devil,

neuter a minute, but

my

soul,

angel.

in

which ever

have bad company.

There are two

is

the

make com-

will

presently side

will

Such

will

It

musing mind

of good or bad thoughts.

time.

little

and day. No purgaand heaven but in-

solitary soul.

in

not

stand

with legions

Grant, therefore, that

have

Thomas

some,

may never

Fuller.

ways of dealing with every

vice that troubles us, in either ourselves or others.

One

is

to

set

to

work

directly

to

destroy the

IDEALS OF LIFE.

270

vice
to

that

bring

overwhelmingly as

as

in

opposite virtue, and so

drown out

Now

the

Here comes
of

lust

Paul

pression

but, "

you

as

How

flesh.

Do

"

not,

can,"

the

is

the

and

stifle

way.

positive

doubt about

is

Paul.

St.

poor Galatian fighting with his

setting

can,"

no

other

possible

crowd and

to

that

be

his

the

says

you

vice

can

there

The

negative way.

the

is

he

shall

few

St.

things

as

him out on a course of

re-

Do

as

fleshly

many

just as

opening

spiritual things

him

before

life

we have

thoroughly

broad

the

And when

positive endeavor.

gate of a

of

it?

kill

comprehended the difference of those two methods, and seen how distinctly

Paul chose one instead of the other,

St.

we have

hold on one of the noblest char-

laid

acteristics of his

gained

he

treatment of humanity, one that

most

from

directly

Lord.

his

should despair of making any one see the

tinction

who

rience.

Everywhere

tive

each

did not

methods
other,

Here

is

know

it

of treatment

men
man who

his

dis-

own expe-

negative and the posi-

the

and

in

stand over against

choose
is

between

them.

beset by doubts,

per-

haps about the very fundamental truths of Christianity.

and at
is

not

He may
last

false.

attack

succeed

That

is

in

all

the objections in

proving that Christianity

negative.

Or he may

about him the assurance of

all

that

done and sweep away

all

his

has

turn,,

the complete conviction that

his

gather

religion

doubts with

Christianity

is

true.

REFORMA TION.

man

27

has a grudge against you, inveterate and

strong.

You may

attack his

grievance

special

and try to remove it; or you may try not to

show him that you meant him no harm, but
by laborious kindness that you mean him every

good, and so soften his obstinacy.

of errors and foolish practices.

full

ble

to

how

conclusively
sible,

those

attack

and

surely better,

true

spiritual

itself

shed those

at least
It

is

life

follies

or

to

and

cast

is

possi-

is

showing
it

is

pos-

wake up
which

church,

that

in

It

outright,

follies

foolish they are

is

it

church

them

the
shall

or

out,

rob them of their worst harmfulness.

how

strange

far

and

wide

this

neces-

choosing between the positive and negamethod of treatment run^.

In matters of
taste, for instance, there are two distinct ways
One is
of trying to perfect the tasteful man.
repression
of
what
is
in
bad
the
taste
by the
other is by the earnest fostering of what is
good,
the method of repression and the method
of stimulus.
And everybody knows that no great
effect of human genius was ever yet produced
except in the latter, larger way. A cold and
hard and limited correctness, a work "faultily
faultless," weak and petty and timid,
is all that
the other methods make.
For, whether in mansity of

tive

ners or in

art,

coarseness

is

whole work.
to

make

the

that

which appears at

very often

To

repress

whole

the
it

feeble

strength

for its

while

first

of

as
the

coarseness

is

we

it

make

IDEALS OF LIFE.

272

To keep

fine.

strength and

its

with fineness, this

strength

its

fill

method of

the positive

is

the

truest taste.

We

are witnessing constantly

of the same principle

or
are

community.

in

He who

methods

human
man who
hibition,

nature.

nently keep

an individual

no one

their use

their limits

is

just as

of intemperance and

strictly

a mere theorist of the

is

little

any

other hand, the

system of pro-

strictest

kept

men from

about the actual state

on the

But,

thinks that

most

in

thinks that nothing but the moral

and knows very

of

of reform,

prohibitory measures

for the prevention

crime can do the work

closet

matter

habits

All

That they have

can doubt.

application

That they have

negative.

clear.

the

to

up of bad

the breaking

the

in

force, could

perma-

any other

drink, or

vice,

human nature either. That nature

and
too live to be kept right by
is too active
mere negations. You cannot kill any one of its
You must give
appetites by merely starving it.
draw it off
it its true food, and so only can you
knows

little

of

from the poison that

the

absolute

cheap

it

amusements

philanthropists are

religion,

these
in

with

Here comes

trying

libraries, music,

people

the

for

tavern and the gambling

museums,

covets.

necessity of providing

to

draw

house.

and

whom

our

off

from the

Pictures, parks,

a healthier and happier

a brighter, sunnier

tone

to

all

our

are the positive powers which must

every form

in

rational

of prohibition

and

life,

come

restraint

REFORMATION.

273

before our poorer people can be brought to lead

a sensible and sober

our rich people

life.

live.

It

-Look
is

at the lives that

not any form of pro-

them from

hibition, legal or social, that keeps

and degrading

gusting

of

It is

the fulness of

warmth, glow, comfort and abund-

their lives, the

ance

vice.

dis-

homes,

their

minds, the positive and

the

of

occupation

their

not the negative, the

in-

and plenty which the poor man never

knows. Before you or I dare blame him or despise him, we must, in imagination, empty our

terest

lives like his,

should be

in

and ask what sort of people we

the squalor .of his garret, and the

comfortlessness and hopelessness of a lot like

We

his.

see the same principle, the superiority of

the positive to the negative, constantly illustrated

matters

in

of opinion.

How

is

it

that

people

change their opinions, give up what they have

steadfastly believed,

thing very
I

think

we

different,
all

perhaps

to
its

believe

some-

very opposite

have been surprised,

we have

if

by the very small number of

which men deliberately abandon positions

thought about
cases in

and come

it,

because those positions have been disproved and

them no longer tenable. And even when

such cases do occur, the effect is apt to be not
good, but bad. The man abandons his disproved
idea, but takes no other in its stead
until, in

seem

to

spite of their better

judgment, many good

have been brought to

the

feel that,

rather than

men
use

power of mere negation and turn the be-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

274

an error into a believer

liever in

would

hood, since

was better

it

in nothing,

on believing

friend -go

let their

to

believe

his

they

false-

something,

however stupidly, than to disbelieve everything,

however shrewdly.
But what then ?
How do
men change their opinions ? Have you not seen ?
Holding

how

still

into the

atmosphere of a clearer and a richer

That better

faith.

presses

with

They

learn to love

open

their

in

it

it,

own

its

fills

them,

convincingness.

long to receive

it,

try

to

hands and hearts just enough to take

and hold

along with the old

it

are

they

themselves that

doctrine

They
up.
They persuade
they have found a way of recon-

which they have no

think

surrounds them,

faith

them

on

they come some-

old belief,

their

idea

holding

giving

of

both.

and the new, which have been

thought irreconcilable. Perhaps they go on thinkBut perhaps some day
ing so all their lives.
something startles them, and they awake to find
old

the

ciling

that the old

become

gone, and that the

is

new
own

opinion

by its
positive
There has been no violence
the process, nor any melancholy gap of infidel-

has

their

opinion

convincing power.
in
ity

between.
It

seems

sublimely
for the

to

me

positive

that

in

mere sake of

but one step

there

Nature.
killing

in the vast

is

something so

She

never

kills

but every death

is

weaving of the web of

She has no process of destruction which, as

you turn it to the other side and look at it in
life.

REFORMA TION.
what you know
see

be

truer light, you

its

do not

She gets

be a process of construction.

to

by ever new plans of nutriwhat gives her such a courageous,

her wastes

rid of

This

tion.

is

and enthusiastic

hopeful,

her

love

to

27

They see by

tyrant.

and makes men

and not

a mother

as

look,

glory of natural science to reveal

It

much

so

the

more and more.

advantage to us

it

being

the

exempt from

overcome them, that

the having

as

faults,

feel,

is

it

Brooks.

not

is

as

small signs, and dimly

of her workings which

this positiveness

Phillips

her

fear

being with the

follies

is

an

of the

mind as with the weeds of a field, which if destroyed and consumed upon the place where they
grow, enrich and improve it more than if none
had ever sprung there.
Swift.

He
man

that

is

deeply engaged

laid fast in

a bog,

who by

in

vice

is

like a

a faint and lazy

to get out does but spend his strength

no purpose, and sinks himself the deeper into

struggle
to
it

the

effort

men

only

way

spring

to

by a resolute and vigorous

is

out, if possible, at once.

are sorely urged and pressed, they find

power in
had not.

themselves

Tillotson.

Reform,

Once

When

like

into

speak and work

how

all

they

thought

must begin

charity,

well at home,

irrepressible,

which

will

that

kindling

it

we
ever

at

they

home.

radiate outwards,

touch and handle,

new

light

by

in-

calculable contagion, spreading, in geometric ratio,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

276
far

and

wide,

good

doing

spreads, and not

evil.

wherever

only

it

Carlyle.

Though few men are

likely to

be called on

to

take part in the reformation of any public institutions,

yet there

no one of us but what ought

is

engage in the important work of ^^reformawell-known proverb,

tion, and according to the
" If each would sweep before his own door, we
to

have a clean street." Some may have

and some less, of dust and other nuissome of one kind, and
ances to sweep away
some of another. But those who have the least
and they should
to do have something to do
feel it an encouragement to do it, that they can
so easily remedy the beginnings of small evils
before they have accumulated into a great one.
should

more,

Begin

reforming,

reforming

forming forever.

and

cautiously,

Whately.

$tpm W^whs

>Ip

at once

therefore,

steadily

%m

'RE AT words of love

And

proceed

spoke,

successive ages runs

broadens with the suns.

in

re-

flp Brass*

each an impulse woke,

Which through

And

He

and go on

THE SEVEN WORDS FROM THE

CROSS.

277

Great words of love were heard,

Which many a bosom stirred,

And more and more each circling year
Have bowed the heart to hear.
Great words of love come down

Through ages of renown

The

blessed burden that they bear

Hath nothing here more

Such words of love

May

to

fair.

men

never be again.

Help me, as with

their spirit shod,

To do Thy

work,

God.

The seven dying words

Cross

are

of our Lord from the

arranged

usually

following

the

in

order

them; for they know not

Father, forgive

I.

what they

do.

St.

Luke

Woman, behold
St. John

II.

thy mother!

Verily

III.

be with

IV.

Me

My

thy

say unto

My

God,
St.

26,
thee,

St.

God,

Matthew

34.

son

xix.

in Paradise.

Me ?

saken

xxiii.

Behold

27.

To-day shall thou

Luke

xxiii.

43.

why

hast

Thou for-

xxvii.

46

St.

Mark

xv. 34.

V.
VI.
VII.
Spirit.

thirst.

St.

John

It is finished.

Father,

St.

Luke

into
xxiii.

St.

xix.

28.

John

xix.

30.

Thy hands I commend

46.

My

IDEALS OF LIFE.

278

hoped

It is

connection

that

with

the seven

to teach

which

subjects

been suggested by them, the

much

Great Words,

from these

him both how

reader
to live

will

in

have
derive

and how

to

die.

l^jromtm*
Father, forgive them;

for they

know

not what they do.

St.

M) SINFUL
(2>

To

the

Love Divine

Cross the grandest word

The world has ever

It

heard.

was the soul of Love

Outspanning Heaven above,

Divine
In

elixir

Jesus'

xxiii. 34.

heart of mine,

melt thee,

Spoke from

Luke

of the world,

heart impearled.

From Jesus' heart it flowed

To seek a new abode
In many a sinful heart, like mine,
Which it would make divine.
Dost know this word Forgive
Through which true life to live?

FORGIVENESS.
If

For

which

be too bright

who laid down His

remember all the instances

best Friend,

me were

Life for
in

my

If

will

unhallowed sight

thine

Alas

Heaven

then

not,

279

to

have

neglected

Him, and

to

plead

where should I
them against me in
hide my guilty head in the day of recompense ?
for blessings upon my
I
will pray, therefore,
friends, even though they cease to be so, and
judgment,

upon enemies, though they continue

such.

Cow-

PER.

Tell us, ye

men who

are

so jealous of right

and of power, who take sudden

sult,

and

suffer

the

fire at

every

in-

imagination of an-

slightest

other's contempt, or another's unfairness, to chase

from your bosom every feeling of complacency;

ye

men whom every

fancied affront puts in such

a turbulence of emotion, and

cied infringement stirs

in

whom

every fan-

up the quick and the

sentful appetite for justice,

how

will

re-

you stand the

rigorous application of that test by which the for-

given of

God

of forgiveness

are ascertained, even that the spirit

is

in

them, and by which

it

will

be

pronounced, whether you are, indeed the children

of the

Heaven
for

and perfect as your Father

perfect?
Dr. Chalmers.

Highest,
is

It is

in vain for

you

to ask of

you

God

to expect,

forgiveness

it

is

in

impudent

on your own

if you refuse
to exercise this forgivingtemper with respect to others. Bishop Hoadly.

behalf,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

280

He

that

cannot

bridge

over

which

man

every

breaks

the

must pass himself;

for

others

forgive

he

Lord Her-

has need to be forgiven.

bert.

Whoever
fort when he

is

brave has always

really

com-

this

oppressed, that he knows himself

is

be superior to those who injure him, by

to

giving

Pope.

it.

The brave only know how

human nature can

forgive

to

refined and generous

most

the

for-

is

it

of virtue

pitch

Cowards have done

Cowards have even
good and kind actions
but a coward
fought, nay, sometimes conquered
it is not in his nature
the power
never forgave
of doing it flows only from a strength and greatness of soul conscious of its own force and
security, and above all the little temptations of
arrive

at.

resisting

every

Nothing

more

is

attempt to interrupt

of

moving

reconciliation:

indemnified, and

thus
the

fruitless

its

Sterne.

happiness.

spectacle

price

we pay

for

are
the

to

than

the

weaknesses are

our
not

man

too

costly,

being

hour of forgiveness

and the archangel -who has never felt anger, has

reason to envy the man who subdues it. When
thou

forgivest,

the

man who

heart stands to thee in

worm

that

perforates

the

the

has

relation
shell

of

pierced

thy

of the

sea-

the

mussel,

which straightway closes the wound with a pearl.

RlCHTER.

The duty

of Christian

forgiveness

does

not

FORGIVENESS.

are you allowed, to look on in-

require you, nor

justice, or

281

any other

with indifference, as

fault,

were nothing wrong at all, merely because

you that have been wronged.
it

But even where we cannot but censure,

conduct of those

moral point of view, the

if

it

is

in

who

us, we should remember that such

may be very fitting for them to remay be very unfitting for us to give. To

have injured
treatment as
ceive

or to gratify,

cherish,

departure

who

"

from the

endured

against

haughty resentment,

pattern

such

to

to.

be

us by

is

self,

Him

this recollection of

sinners

justified

by any

And

offence that can be committed against us.

it

is

Him

of

contradiction

not

Himself,"

left

who, faultless Him-

designed to leave us an example of meek-

ness and long-suffering, that is the true principle

and motive of Christian forgiveness. We shall
best fortify our patience under injuries by remembering how much we ourselves have to be

and that

forgiven,
sinners,

Christ

therefore,

it

died

was
for

"

while

us."

we were

yet

Let the Christian,

accustom himself to say of anyone who

has greatly wronged him, That

hundred pence.

An

man

owes

me an

"To
return evil for good is devilish
to return good
for good is human
but to return good for evil
is Godlike."
Whately.
old Spanish writer says,
;

19

IDEALS OF LIFE.

282

%
Woman, behold
Behold

thy

mother

Then

son!

thy

St.

John

saith

He

to

the

disciple,

xix. 26, 27.

^REAT, great was Mary's dole,

A sword had pierced her soul
But

lo,

a word of tenderness

Illumined her distress.

Out of the heart of Christ

The word that has sufficed
Ten thousand times to soften

Was

My

loss,

spoken from the Cross.

sympathy
That crowns humanity
Flows ever from the Saviour's heart;
And though all hope depart

Of

soul! the

other help and cheer,

through the darkness here

Still

There shines a more than earthly

To

glorify the night.

Where
Christ

this

we meet together, but where

What shall be our bond of union,

shall

is ?

but by

the

Cross?

grace flows

patience.

Mother

light

Virgin

and

of

It

is

from

fidelity,

purity

in the wife

is

His

Cross that

of mutual love, and

there

in

of Cleopas

the

blessed

the married

SYMPATHY.
state

and penitence

Divine love

in

Mary Magdalene and

that in these may be

in

John,

St.

represented the fulness of the

Church

And

and one heart united.

aid

among women,

283

mutual

in

thee,

Blessed

word of prophecy hath

there found.
He has become "a sign to be
spoken against," as foretold, and the "sword is
in

thine

at

the

vine

the Divine

soul ;"

own

will,

and

agonies

deepest

in

be learned

to

is

Cross resignation to the Di-

the

foot of

but there

He

henceforth

we

our

is

elder

are as brethren,

Be-

says,

Brother

born,

even

too,

hold thy son!

Will of

the

God made to be our will. And there,

now is comfort for from whence He

as

from

were,

it

of one and the same mother, and His Father be-

By His Cross we are

There, where we are gathered

comes our Father.

made

one.

gether in His name,

and speaking
lively
ship,

the midst

of

Christian

world

speak

this

is

in

the

to-

of us,

O, what a

from the Cross.

to us

emblem
when all

He

is

all

united wor-

another

lan-

guage, and look on from afar with other eyes,

not

ashamed

still

small

of

quake, and the

Crucified,

to

hear His

speaking to us from His Altar

voice

of the Cross

Christ

When
fire

the tempest, and the earth-

have ceased

when

the rage,

and the tumult, and the fierce flame of persecution hath been lulled, with this last dying
voice

one

He

speaks to

another,

as

he that doeth the

us,

He
will

exhorting

us

to

love

and

that

be to

Him

hath loved us;

of

God

shall

284

IDEALS OF LIFE.

as

and

brother,

and

sister,

Isaac

mother.

Williams.

When I
my own

of

look into the frame and

mind, there

is

constitution

no part of

which

it

observe with greater satisfaction than that tenderness and concern which

happiness

circumstances

narrow and scanty that

are indeed so

but very

taste

My own

mankind.

of

bears for the good and

it

pleasure

little

could

should

receive

only from those enjoyments which are in

it

my own

possession; but by this great tincture of human-

which

ity,

with

find

am

tions, I

that can

vested
erty.

By
any

pens to

and success

this

for

service,

my

he only

which

merit
of
to.

and

Whenever we

and

There

kindness.

good

the

all

that hap-

and parpower that

virtue,

and
is

nothing

in par-

rejoice as the deliver-

ance of good and generous

gers, difficulties

me

fortune

much

so

his

does

share in

a man of
many gifts

in

if

own private propmeans every man that does him-

was never born

ticular

reflec-

a proportion of these blessings as

real

in

take of

thoughts and

strength, beauty

himself and in

in

come

my

be conferred upon a mortal,

relishes such

self

all

wealth,

the

all

in

happier than any single person can be r

spirits

distresses.

out of dan-

Addison.

formed by nature to any

active purpose, the passion which animates us to
it

is

are

attended with delight, or pleasure of some

kind, let the subject-matter be

as our Creator has designed

what
that

it

we

will;

and

should be

SYMPATHY.

285

bond of sympathy, He has

strengthened that bond by a proportionable demost
light; and these where our sympathy is
by

united

wanted,

the

the

in

we

passion be simply painful,

care

greatest

the

gone

indolence

in

others.

and places

who

as some,

not

as

this

If

shun with

should

persons

all

could excite such a passion

far

of

distresses

that

are so

any

endure

to

But the case is

greater part of man-

strong impression, actually do.

widely different

kind

sue

as

calamity

so that whether the misfortune

history,

in

it

This

no

the

is

be-

is

our eyes, or whether they are turned back

fore
to

with

no spectacle we so eagerly purthat of some uncommon and grievous

there

is

always

it

touches

with

delight.

not an unmixed delight, but blended with

small

The

uneasiness.

delight

we have

in

such things hinders us from shunning scenes of

misery; and the pain
ourselves

lieve

and
an

this

all

feel

antecedent to

is

works us

without our concurrence.

man

Every

rejoices

partner of his joy

and makes

it

make
the

it

first

torches

to

who

to

re-

suffer;

any reasoning, by
its

own purposes

Burke.
twice

when he

has a

my

sorrow

a friend shares

but a moiety

joy and makes

divide the

prompts us
those

relieving

in

that

instinct

we

but he swells

my

For so two channels

river, and lessen it into rivulets, and
fordable, and apt to be drunk up by
revels

do not

it

double.

of

the

divide

Sirian

star

but

two

but increase the flame

IDEALS OF LIFE.

236

my

and though

are

tears

friend's

rows

yet

compassion,

of

we

kindled his lamp

them

radiant,

burn

before

cheeks

in the fur-

when my

flame

unite the glories

golden

the

like

throne

the

sooner dried up

the

when they run on my

of

hath

and make

candlesticks

God,

because

that

they

numbers, by unions, and confederations

shine by

Jeremy

of light and joy.

Let us
exercise

Taylor.

By

sympathy.

cherish

may be improved

it

in

and

attention

every man.

It

prepares the mind for receiving the impressions

of virtue

politeness.

and without
Nothing is

own

his

moved
another.

can be no true

there

more

odious

than

with

concerns,
the

either

that

man up
and prevents

in

joys

sorrows of

which wraps a

insensibility

and

it

or the

Beattie.

himself

being

his

We

must not make too much of sympathy, as

mere feeling. We do in things spiritual as we do

The

with hot-house plants.

to look

at,

The hardy
to

grow,

copses.
sor.

feeble exotic, beautiful

but useless, has costly sums spent on

oak, a

nation's

observed,

scarcely

We

prize

But feeling

strength,

feeling,

and praise

passive quality, having in

no

temptation,

for

and

its

no

for

it

victory.

and

possesitself,.

moralman is no

nothing

having feeling than he

is

having a delicate ear for music, or a far-see-

ing optic nerve.

He

fence

the

in

permitted

only a sickly exotic in

is

more a good man

is

it.

could be

"

The Son
touched."

of

The

Man had
tear

feeling;

would start

SYMPATHY.
from

His eyes at the

beautiful to look

ing

"

Him

with

doing

led

to

this

and

tried

soul,

Feel-

use.

for

delicate

sorrow.

His

in

He
Him was

went about

"

to help in time of need."

He who would
be

too

at,

exotic

Sympathy with

good."

Grace

no

human

of

sight

But that sympathy was

287

this

sympathize must be content to

There

tempted.

is

hard

and

boisterous rudeness in our hearts by nature, which

requires
fering

carelessly

gayly,

feelingly, just

fering

not in

cruelty,

but un-

we do not know what sufwound men by our looks and our

abrupt expressions

we

pass by suf-

because

We

is.

We

be softened down.

to

without

intending

have not been taught the

it,

delicacy,

because

and the

and the gentleness, which can only be learnt

by the wounding of our own sensibilities. There
feeling in uprightness which has
is a haughty
tact,

never

been

which

an

is

of thought,
things

all

and

ficially,

verge of

the

There

humbling.
difficulties

on

which

that

fall,

inability

to

requires

enter

into

which marks the mind to

have
has

been
never

presented

super-

experienced

the

horror of feeling the ice of doubt crashing be-

neath the

feet.

Therefore,

if

you aspire

to

be a son of con-

would partake of the priestly

gift of sympathy
if you would pour something
beyond common-place consolation into a tempted
heart; if you would pass through the intercourse
solation

if

you

of daily

life

with

the

delicate

tact

which never

IDEALS OF
pain

inflicts

if

LIFE.

most acute of human

to that

ments, mental doubt, you

are

ever to give

of

price

must

effec-

you must be content pay the

education.
Like Him, you
the
being tempted. W. Robertson.

succor,

tual

ail-

to

costly

suffer

F.

J^pmkntk
To-day

shalt

(2

thou be with

UT

Me

in

Paradise.

of the depth of

Which He Himself

Compassion

What

St.

Luke

xxiii. 43.

woe
did know,

for the thief arose

love did

it

disclose?

was Almighty Love

Descended from above,
That sometimes reacheth down, down, down,
And lifteth to a crown
It

My

Saviour crucified!

No

penitence e'er cried

To Him, but some assuring

Did make the heart rejoice.
Down, down,

all

voice

earthly pride,

Before the Crucified

REPENTANCE.

289

To be with Him in Paradise,

Meek heart, arise arise
!

The

on

penitent

sight of a

knees

his

is

moves heaven and the compasRedeemer,

who when he beheld Saul in
sionate

spectacle which

Behold, he prayeth, will

that situation, exclaimed,

reluctant to strengthen

slow nor

not be

His might and console you by His

way

a new and living

opened

is

you by

When

Spirit.

into

the

holiest

by the blood of Jesus, not to avail ourselves of it, not to arise and go to our Father,
but to prefer remaining at a guilty distance, en-

of

all,

compassed with famine,

ing provisions

insupportable

ham,

His house,

of

will

not aware of what importance

form a

they

never rctu'n.
cate the

crisis
It

is

see Abra-

kingdom

of

are probably
to

improve

have not considered that

which,

is

You
it

everlast-

be a source of
shall

into the

ourselves shut out.

these sacred visitations

and

rich

we

anguish when

and Jacob enter

Isaac,

God, and

to the

if

often neglected,

will

impossible too often to incul-

momentous

truth, that

the

character

is

not formed by passive impressions, but by voluntary actions,

ter,

and that we

not by what

have done.

we have

Robert

felt,

be judged hereafbut by what

we

Hall.

death -bed repentance ought not indeed to

be neglected, because

can

shall

do.

it

Atterbury.

Some well-meaning

is

the last thing that

Christians

tremble

we
for

IDEALS OF LIFE.

290

because

salvation,

their

have

they

gone

never

through that valley of tears and of sorrow, which

taught to consider as an ordeal

they have been

must be passed through before they can arto satisfy such minds it
at regeneration

that
rive

may be observed
is

sufficient

if

greatest

the

by

fore,

selves:

that the slightest sorrow for sin

it

produce amendment, and that

insufficient

is

if

it

do

not.

There-

own fruits let them prove themsome soils will take the good seed

their
for

without being watered with tears or harrowed up

by

affliction

Colton.

we

Before repentance,

and

lightly of the

and

folly,

the

dislike

think well of ourselves

We

Redeemer.
restraints

love

sin

and

which the Divine

law imposes on the gratification of our appetites

and

We

inclinations.

devote

our

hearts,

and

with them our thoughts, and time, and substance,

to the lust of the flesh,

and the pride of

life,

We

Divine condemnation.
transgressions

God

we

we do

drive

We

do

Lord:

His

Word

His Gospel

is

not

all

feel
is

are not sorry for our

not confess them before

away

state.

and the lust of the eye,

without any dread of the

thoughts

of

disposed

to

a future

seek

the

a wearisome study to us:

repulsive to our taste

His service

and disgusting: and instead of desiring

is dull
His blessing above all things, the most common
toils and vainest amusements of the world seem
far better

in

our

eyes

religion can bestow.

than

all

the

enjoyments

FORSAKEN.

291

But when repentance seizes on the soul, the

heart is changed. That is, the sinner begins to
love what before he hated, and to hate what before he loved.

He

sees

his

own

character in a

he judges his conduct by a new stand-

new

light,

ard,

and he

feels

himself

condemned under the

He now

righteous judgment of his Maker.

ap-

proves and loves the law of God

he confesses
and abhors his own iniquity he is ready to give
up his sinful indulgencies, and foolish pleasures
;

he

anxious to have pardon and forgiveness at

is

the hands of the Almighty;

lieve in the

Redeemer with

up, with

offers

prayer,

'

God

earnest

be

he
his

is

simplicity,

merciful

prompt
the

me

to

in his

thoughts;

and he

feels

and

publican's

Death, and judgment, and eternity, are

quent

to be-

whole heart

sinner.'

now

that

all

fre-

his

hope must be placed on the obedience and

atonement of Christ, and all his joys drawn
from the fountain of the Gospel. Bishop Hopkins.

'G2s^jx?$D-

Hambm
My

God,

My

God, why hast Thou forsaken

St

|H darkness as of death

(2

Where none

delivereth

Me ?
Matthew

xxviii. 46.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

292

Oh
In

wine

press of the wrath of Goo:

that great darkness trod

Oh grief too great to paint

Oh troubled, burdened Saint
On whom the sins of all the
I

Are as a mountain hurled

world

His sight has grown so dim

God

Him

has forsaken

He God? My God!

Forsakes

hope

He

clings to

He

clings through all the

that

in

is

His

cry.

My.

All

God through all

The wormwood and the gall,

Lamb

Triumphant

of

strife

of blood,

God

was the unutterable desolation

of our Blessed Lord at that moment, we know
Whether the bitterness of the Cup which
not.
He had prayed might pass from Him, if such
should be His Father's will, was condensed into
What,

that

in truth

hour of loneliness unspeakable, we may not

dare to say
self

may

but each of us

thought of

be, in

the

may
little

in

like

understood,

Depression of mind and

to

our

spiritual

rejection of

bodily sufferings, they form

that resemblance

it

but

future years, in hours of pain

desertion are no proofs of the

Rather,

receive for him-

bright hopefulness of youth,

ready to return,

and weakness.

comfort,

God.

part of

Redeemer, which

will,

FORSAKEN.

more acceptable

His sake, render us

for

293

to our

Heavenly Father.

Who

hung upon
fear

thought
ness

soul

his

the

for

is

"

Him,

from

My

God,

consider

My

the

in

God, why

Sewell.
it

and

well,

ever there were cry like that of His.

The

afflict

Powers of Darkness

the

Him,

relieving

let

loose

to

influence of comfort restrained

unto His sorrow

never

was there sorrow

cannot be expressed as
should, and as other things may.
In silence

like
it

if

holier

lost in the conscious-

Miss

Thou forsaken me?"

Weigh well that cry

hast

me

every

Father could exclaim

greatness of His misery,

tell

or

even the Only-begotten

since

Eternal

the

and

dry,

moment

of suffering,

Son of

to

and

parched

is

who shall
God, even when the

Cross of agony

the

trust

to

heart

dread the bed of pain, when Jesus

shall

we may admire
reach

it.

it,

Bishop

Now, observe,

It

but

all

our words

not

will

Andrews.

this feeling of

forsakeness

no

is

Mourning after an aban evidence of love as strong as rea present One. Nay, further, a man

proof of being forsaken.

sent

God

joicing

in

is

may be more

decisively the servant of

God and

goodness while doubting His existence, and in the

anguish of his soul crying for light, than while
resting in a common creed, and coldly serving
Him. There has been one, at least, whose apparent forsakeness, and whose seeming doubt bears
" My God,
the stamp of the majesty of Faith.
my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me ? " .
.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

294

There are times when a dense cloud veils the

sunlight
you cannot see the sun, nor feel him.
;

and

that

effort

can

Behind

the

Sensitive temperaments feel depression,

and

unaccountably

make you

Then you

feel.

cloud the sun

is

No

irresistibly.

hope.

from thence he

will

come

the

day drags through, the darkest and longest night

ends at

Thus we bear

last.

otherwise intolerable
night.

and the

and many a sleepless

cold,

does not shine

It

the darkness

now, but

will.

it

So,

too, spiritually.

There are hours in which physical derangement darkens the windows of the soul days in
;

which
rance

and years

months

pressing

difficulties,

make

nerves

shattered

simply endu-

life

which

in

intellectual

solution, shut

for

out God.

Then faith must be replaced by hope. " What I

do thou knowest not now; bat thou shalt know
Clouds and darkness are round about

hereafter."

Him

but Righteousness and Truth are the habi-

God

"

His throne.

tation of

for

health of

yet

ill

my

My

in

Him, who

praise

countenance and

The mistake we make

comfort

ourselves:

my

is

in

the

God."

to look for a source

is

self-

hope thou

soul,

contemplation,

instead

upon God. In other words, we look

comfort precisely where comfort never can be.

of gazing
for

For,
tion

first,

it

is

from our own

utability

to-day

experience,

impossible
feelings,

we

partaking

to derive

consola-

because of their im-

are well, and

of these

our

spiritual

circumstances,

is

FORSAKEN.
bright

but to-morrow some outward circumstances

change,
chill,
if

295

the

and

sun does not shine, or the wind

we

and

are low, gloomy,

sad.

is

Then,

our hopes were unreasonably elevated, they

will

now be unreasonably depressed

becomes

perience

emblem of

like the sea, that

Next,

own
ter,

of

acts

low state no

yet in

own

his

though acts are the

for,

hue which

remember

we

we

Besides,

Well,

deavor

to

mourn

for

do
it

would be well for all men

cannot judge of sin,

It

estimate our

time

lose

better

for

overmuch,

all

the
to

shall

fit

the wilderness, had

their

own wounds,

the granulation
the

wound

slowly or
their

of the

was,

fast,

future.

I
have
must enBut if I

day refusing

to

have to mourn
will

be
the

be the sub-

and

the
to

children of Israel,

the

serpent, looked

down

watch the process of

and see how deep

whether it was healing

flesh,

cure would have been impossible

only chance was

Just so, when, giving

ening work of

of remorse.

instead of gazing on

on

sin.

remorse.

in

wasted to-day; and that again

ject of another

own

by the grace of God

comforted, to-morrow

In

of

that sinners

least of all can

sinned.

can judge justly

on them by the eye that

reflected

contemplates them.
to

man

test of charac-

They assume a darkness

acts.

is

instability.

impossible to get comfort from our

is

it

flux

and so our exand reflux, ebb and flow,

to

up

look
this

self- inspection,

off the

wounds.

hopeless and sick-

and turning from

IDEALS OF

296

ourselves

He

Christian

in

God, then

self-oblivion,

by our

not affected

is

less,

He

selfish,

are rest-

remains serene and calm; when

mean, or

unalterable

am,

dispirited,

the

our

mutability;

When we

changes do not alter Him.

low,

we gaze on

chance of consolation dawns.

the

first

LIFE.

He

is

we

still

same yesterday,

are
the

to-day,

and forever, in whom is no variableness, neither

shadow of turning. What God is in Himself,
not what we may chance to feel Him in this or

that

moment

soul,

hope thou

to

that
God." F.

be,
in

is

our

W.

hope.

"My

Robertson.

ipiw wjfot
I thirst.

St.

Jonh

xix. 28.

/T*vj

|T THIRST, the Saviour

^ Before He bowed and

That

Of

He

Eternal Soul.

thirsted

When

died.

went quivering through the whole

thirst

the

cried,

shall

sin

The day

for

that

When God

is

the

day

pass away,

endeth human
all

in

all.

thrall

SPIRITUAL THIRST.
This more than

word

earthly

Unnumbered

souls

hath stirred.

What

thirst

that

Is

the

is

the

it

divine

thirst

we

Oh, had

the

all

thirst

Then Duty, Truth, and

Like Father,

Our

mine?

filleth

which the Christ was

In

297

first,

were one,

Life

Son.

Spirit,

He hung

on the Cross, undoubtedly experienced, as anyone else might have

as

Saviour,

done, a real physical

in

some

sort,

satisfying

it,

in

thirst

isfied also

spiritual thirst

to everyone who

The former was

idence.

the substance
nal.

soldiers,
thirst

sat-

which be-

on doing the

intent

way

of His Prov-

the shadow,

the one temporal,

He

the

latter

the other eter-

draught was

was

refused

pain,

it

was

the

to

it

was

once

That which

potion,

wine

intention of which

and therefore when

sented to the Saviour

Him

refused.

medicated

the

mingled with myrrh,

deaden

offered

twice

was accepted, once

was
to

in

the

is

of God, manifested in the

will

it

Roman

genuine kindness by the

longs

but

by means of the vinegar offered

it

rejected.

was

was pre-

And

the

reason commonly assigned for that seems to be

the true one;

death

in

meet His
20

the

state

Son of Man would not meet

of

God awake.

stupefaction.

He

chose to

There are two ways

in

IDEALS OF LIFE.

-298

may be

which pain

struggled with,

and through the

flesh

Spirit

through

the one

is

the

the office

of the physician, the other that of the other that

The

of the Christian.
to

deaden

pain, either

object

the Christian's

We

tience.

there

these

insensibility or specifics;

is

to

in their

but

is

deaden pain by pa-

way they

yet, let

it

moral

nothing

do not give the courage to

flinching.

head and

Therefore,

physi-

are permissible

they

sting,

may

in

take

but they

plant the foot

upon

bear the pain without

to

the

of the

be observed that

away the venom of the serpent's

the serpent's

at once

is

by

dispute not the value

cian's remedies,

and valuable

physician's care

Redeemer refused

be-

was not through the flesh, but through

to
have
the Spirit, that He would conquer;
accepted the anodyne would have been to escape
from suffering, but not to conquer it. But the
vinegar or sour wine was accepted as a refreshing draught, for it would seem that He did not
cause

it

look upon the value of suffering as consisting in

this,

that

sible,

He

should

but rather

make

that

it

He

as exquisite as pos-

should

not suffer one

drop of the cup of agony which His Father had

down the side unNeither would He make to Himself one

tasted.
more
of suffering than His Father had
drop
put into His hand to trickle

given.

tell

There are books on the value of pain; they

us that of two kinds of food, the one pleas-

ant and the other nauseous,

we

are to choose the

SPIRITUAL THIRST.

299

subject be

nauseous one.

Let a lesson on

learnt from the

example of our Divine Master.

To

pain

suffer

that

our

is

poor

order

our Saviour's

is

that

pain,

accept poverty in
that

example

Master's

mere sake of

the

without

others

for

this

to

flinching,

but pain, for

not Christian

is

do good

principle

others,

for

but

to

become

sake and merit of being poor,

for the

selfishness after

Our Lord

to

is

but

all.

refused

the

anodyne that would

have made the cup untasted which His Father

had put

His hand to drink, but

into

He would

not taste one drop more than

His Father gave

Him. Yet He did not refuse the natural solace
which His Father's hand had placed before Him.

There are some who urge, most erroneously,

the doctrine of discipline and self-denial.
If of

two ways one

just because

is
it

disagreeable, they will choose

it,

because food

is

There

in

is

disagreeable

pleasant and needful, they will

of duty

right,

is

to

rather

than principle

mere

sake

sake,

is

of

neither

sacrifice
is

right;

self-denial,

good nor

ment

of the sacrifice
its

and

life

is

sake

interests

but self-denial for

torture

for

torture's

Remember,
the very mo-

in

the value of which did not

being made as intensely painful as

possible, but in

His not flinching from the pain,

when Love and Duty

ertson.

self for the

Christ-like.

Fie drank the cooling beverage

consist in

fast.

To deny

this a great mistake.

said,

Endure.

F.

W. Rob-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

300

Jtife'a Sompfoliott*
When
ished

ap-i

He

Jesus therefore

had received the vinegar,

He bowed His

head, and gave up the ghost.

St.

Finished,

what prophets

said, It is fin-

John

xix. 30..

tola

$tP Concerning Thee of old,

The beautiful in word and deed

Almighty God decreed

Finished,

King of

kings,

Unutterable things

Thy
Thy

show

loving kindness deigns to

servants here below

Finished, the Sacrifice

Which opens

And

How

to the

Paradise,

wanderer makes plain

to return again

Finished,

Christ, the strife

Of Thy victorious life,

Which is forever Truth's one way
Unto Eternal Day!

Our Master

said,

" It

is

others, partly for Himself.

His
tism

life,

to

human

we read

that

soul, this life

had

partly

for

In the earliest part of

He

be baptized with

finished,"

said,

" to

its

" I

have a bap-

Him, as

to

every

side of darkness

and

LIFE'S COMPLETION.

gloom, but

all

had drunk

was now accomplished

that

has to drink the wine no more

till

new

It

in

He
He

drop of Anguish,

earthly

his last

301

His Father's kingdom.

He

drink

was

it

finished

was over and with, as it were, a burst of

subdued joy, He says, "It is finished."
There is another aspect in which we may
regard these words, as spoken for others. The

all

way

in

which

our Redeemer

contemplated

this

was altogether a peculiar one. He looked

upon it, not as a place of rest or pleasure, but
simply, solely, as a place of duty.
He was here
to do His Fathers will, not His own; and therefore, now that life was closed, He looked upon
life

meaning

the

Gospel

this
I

a duty that was

chiefly as

it

the seventh

of this in

We

fulfilled.

chapter of

have glorified Thee on

" I

have

earth,

have finished the work which Thou gavest

The duty

do."

to

is

Let us each apply

is

coming

come.

to

The

us

this

all

work

done, the

to ourselves.

indeed,

dark night

it

is,

is

finished.

That hour

perhaps,

down on

settles

me

now
each

day.
" It

of

We

is

let

We

finished."

something
go,

that

with

will

ever taking leave

are

not

a pang,

come back

portion

after

again.

portion

However dreary we may have

be here, yet when that hour comes

of our existence.
felt

life

to

the winding up

of

all

rush of darkness on our

things,
spirits,

awful and sudden wrench from

the

last

grand

the hour of that

all

we have ever

IDEALS OF LIFE.

302

known

and

stars,

What

ask

will

Will

or will

"Father,

be,

it

have finished the work

me

which Thou gavest

finished,

mere life of science, a

and selfish gratification;

of uninterrupted sin

life

fearfully,

is

it

this

be the butterfly ex-

it

the

of pleasure,

istence

ask you.

When

finished?

be

it

men,

humbly and

myself,

be

will

what

Brother

light,

and

day,

moon

or loved, the long farewell to sun,

do." F. W. Robert-

to

son.

The
of our

Jesus

life.

and

Cross,
is

Incarnation

once

at

the

eternal

that

it

may be

lost

in

perpetual glori-

the

is

of the shortness of

fication

a breaking to

is

it

that

That Cross

on His

evident that that finishing

is

it

temporal,

pieces of the

" It is finished,"

cries,

beginning

but

the perpetual interpretation

is

In

life.

light we,

its

own
some brother's life, and say, " It is
finished," and know that the finishing is really
a beginning. The temporary is melting away
too, can stand by the departing form of our

or

life,

of

like

a cloud in the sky, that the great total sky

may

all

be seen.

has lived

man
world

is

may

decaying,

be

dent of earth

may be
that

the

so hard

clear.

is

It

exquisite
to

tian in his

away
over,
is

The
the

that

the

in

in

the

that

apparent.

passing

is

The form

picture

which
real

fashion

despite,

is

of

of
the

spiritual

light

of the

of Shelley,

be heathen and would

own

life

episode,

the

still

man

the

who

the
this
acci-

reality

Cross
tried

be Chris-

really realized,

LIFE'S COMPLETION.
"The

303

one remains, the many change and pass;

Heaven's light forever shines; earth's shadows

dome

Life, like a

of

many

fly;

colored glass,

Stains the white radiance of eternity,

Until death tramples

And

so,

could be
eternity

what

clearer

does

to fragments."

it

there

is

Only

short and give out of

emnity and blessing.

self to

eternity

But how

time.

of

by

except

nity

eternal

in

the less to
I

That

the

soul

is

him

who
its

know

true sol-

myself to

bind

eternity

my

find

eter-

Him who

Obedient love

is

Lov-

what binds the soul of

of the greater everywhere.

myself to the Eternal Christ, and

give

seem

the shortness

myself tp
?

realizes

only by binding my-

can
I

What

really

life

shortness

is

shall

giving

obedient love

ing obedience

to

its

It

that

done?

human

short

the

be

to

own.

In

His

in

His

am

service

bound to Him, and the shortness of that life,

whose limitations in any way shut me out from
Him, becomes an inspiration, not a burden to
men. Oh, my dear friends, you who with Christian faith have seen a Christian die, tell me was
not this short

life

then revealed to you

in all

its

Did you not see completely that no life

was too long which Christ had filled with the
gift and knowledge of Himself; no life was too
beauty?

short which departed from the

and be with Him

in

Heaven

only to go

earth

forever

Phillips

Brooks.
If

thy

length of days be thy portion,

expectation.

Reckon

not

make

upon

it

long

not
life

IDEALS OF LIFE.

Z()4

think every day the

He

thy account.

so

that

many

pectations lives

and

last,

survives

often

and

lives,

always beyond

live

ex-

his

scarce com-

will

Time past is
a shadow; make time to come pres-

plain of the shortness of his days.

gone

like

Approximate thy
apprehensions of them

be
think
there
and
the grave,

And

come.

since there

will still live on, join

in

neighbor unto

like a

by present

times

latter

ent.

but

is

little

time to

something of us that

is

both lives together and

He who

one but for the other.

thus ordereth

never be

the purposes of this

life

the next; and

some manner already

in

is

will

live

from

far

in

it>

by a happy conformity and close apprehension of

Sir Thomas Browne.
it.

They who

than lived.

Earl

The mere
and

drink,

ness and the

habit,

trade,

and

fraction

make

it

ity to

the

all

consciousness

be.

faith,

mechanism of

life.

To

eat,

to dark-

in the mill of

an implement of
but a

this

is

slumber which

Knowledge,

alone can give

existence-

poor

humanity

of

sanctities will

goodness,

the

into

In

life.

not

exposed

round

to pace

worth while to

freshen

is

be

to

thought

mirth that vibrates

that

and the

love, beauty,

who have

have rather breathed

of years

not

the

of

awakened

light,

is

and yet

life,

such

are

die,

who

sleep,

turn

this

to

of Clarendon,

lapse

and

weary of

most

are

are most unwilling

lived to no purpose,

truth,
vital-

The laugh

of

through the heart; the tears

dry wastes

within

the music

;;

LIFE'S COMPLETION.
that brings childhood back

305

the prayer that calls

makes us med-

the future near; the doubt which

death which startles us with mystery

the

itate

the

hardship

which forces

us

anxiety which ends in trust;

to

are

Every man

to himself

is

He

the

true nour-

the

James Martineau.

ishment of our natural being.

Great Year.

struggle

what Plato

the

calls

has his sowing time, his grow-

ing time, his weeding, his irrigating, and his

The

vest.

mind

his

years,

There

is

and the ideas he puts

principles

youth

in

apparently

lie

there,

But, after

be, for

nothing

dies.

all,

springs forth into

as

if

by a miracle.

he only reaps as he had sown.

J.

St. John.

the soul

He

of

life

following

is

to

God

be
will

like

be

God

unto
like

unto

and

Him

being the beginning, the middle, and end of

things.

Socrates.

we may

Life's evening,

take

rest assured, will

character from the day which has preceded

and
of

may
But

man

knows not why,

The end

its

into

many

a process going on unseen, and by the

strength, he

all

it

unprolific.

touch of circumstances the

A.

har-

if

we would

religious

early

and

close our career in the

hope,

we must prepare

continuous

Shuttleworth.

religious

habit.

for

it

comfort
it

by

Bishop

IDEALS OF LIFE.

306

m%
Father, into

commend My

Thy hands

LORY

to Christ

Who

Spirit.

St.

Luke

xxiii. 46,

give,

me how to live.
With grateful heart to Him I cry,
Who taught me how to die.
taught

Through Thee, dear Lord of

All girded for the
I

know

Life,

strife,

that over every sin

triumph

may

win.

Through Thee, dear Lord of Death,

Who

with

Thy

latest breath

Thy spirit didst to God commend,

That one unfailing Friend,
I

know,

May
And

well

to

ble.

Do

to

soul,

Thy
look
not

Divine.
like

Heaven through
shall meet below.

enter

draw the

the

that

gain the victory,

Whom
" Into

know

hands," that

is

that last foe

sufficient.

It is

as

at these things as simply as possi-

confuse
distinction

He

ours,

mind with attempting

between the human and

the

speaks here as
entered into

if

His human

the dark unknown,

DEATH.

307

not seeing what was to be in the Hereafter

Faith, or,

this is

an

idea

dren

we

He

words

not

even revelation has told

We

and

this,

know

an

we

He were

We

are

know

like

chil-

almost nothing

12s

inspired

not yet what

if

feel.

we

and

there arises

so,

shrink, as

did

world beyond,

of the

concerning
"

were not

it

from which

speaking
nothing

if

Apostle

shall

says,

Then

be."

and dares to say, " My Father, I know

nothing, but, be where I may, still I am with
Thee." " Into Thy hands I commend my spirit."
Therefore, and only therefore, do we dare to die.
rises Faith

W.

F.

Robertson.

Take away but

the

pomps

of death, the

dis-

guises and

solemn bugbears, and the actings by

candlelight, and proper and fantastic ceremonies,

the

and the

minstrels

noise-makers, the

women

and the weepers, the swoonings and the shriekings, the nurses and the physicians,
the dark

room and the ministers, the kindred and the

watches, and then to die is easy, ready, and
quitted from

the

troublesome circumstances.

its

same harmless thing

that

a poor

It is

shepherd

suffered yesterday, or a maid-servant io-day

at the

night

same time
a thousand

in

which you

creatures

men and many

die

die, Jn that

with

/<<aP

and
very

some

and tho wisdom of

wise
the first will not quit him, and the folly of the
latter does not make him unabie to ale.Jeremy
fools

Taylor.

From what

have observed, and what

have

IDEALS OF

308

LIFE.

heard those persons say whose professions lead

them
fear

to the dying,

of death

exists

it

feebled

induced to infer that the

not common, and that where

is

it

proceeds rather from a diseased and en-

mind than from any

Certain

ture.

am

it

is

that

proach of dissolution

is

principle in our na-

among

the poor the ap-

usually

regarded with a

and natural composure which it is consolatory to contemplate, and which is as far removed
from the dead palsy of unbelief as it is from the
quiet

Theirs

delirious raptures of fanaticism.

unhesitating

down

faith,

and

the burden of a

certain

Of
painful

hope

"

they are

weary

life,

is

a true,

willing

to lay

" in the

Southey.

of a blessed immortality.

the great

number

to

whom

it

sure and

has been

my

professional duty to have administered in

the last hour of their

lives,

have sometimes

felt

surprised that so few have appeared reluctant to

go to " the undiscovered country from whose

Many, we may
bourn no traveller returns."
easily suppose,

have manifested

this willingness to

die from an impatience of suffering, or from that

passive indifference which

is

sometimes the result

of debility

and bodily exhaustion.

seen those

who have

templation

of the

trine

But

future,

from

faith

which our religion teaches.

and

be

like theirs.

Sir

that

my

doc-

Such men were

never quitted such a

chamber without a hope

con-

in the

not only calm and supported but cheerful,

hour of death

have

arrived at a fearless

last

Henry Halford.

in

the

sick-

end might


DEATH.

Death comes equally

all

309

to us

chimney are no epitaph of

how high or how large that was
in

men

flocks

when

sons' graves
it

sheltered while

it

hurt

it

it

whom

thou

says

it

the

not

what

nothing,

dust of a

of a

upon,

look

not,

me

of great per-

thou wouldst not, as

couldst

me

stood, nor

As soon

distinguishes nothing.

wretch

tell

tells

it

The dust

fell.

speechless, too

is

whom

it

to

that,

what

and makes us
of an oak

all,

The ashes

equal when he comes.

prince
trouble

will

wind

blows it thither; and

blown
the dust of the
when a whirlwind
church-yard into the church, and the man sweeps
eyes

thine

the

if

hath

out the dust of the church into

who

will

and

undertake

to

sift

those

"

is

the

patrician, this

to pronounce,

This

noble flower, and this

plebeian bran

an

It is

the church-yard,

"

the

is

again,

yeoman,

this

to

is

the

is

the

Donne.

impressive

task

to

follow the steps

and with fire, and capsule, and

balance in hand, as he tracks the march of the
conqueror, Death, through the domain of vital

of the

chemist,

structure.

The

moralist

warns us that

ante-chamber of death
of

life,

the

foot

is

range of steps, which

to

arrive at

the

that as,

planted

altar

man

on

life

on the

scales

that,

but the
first

lowest

the

painfully

of corporeal

chemist comes to proclaim

is

death.

day
of a

only

The

from infancy

to

old age, the quantity of earthy matter continually

increases.

Earth

asserts

her

supremacy

more

IDEALS OF LIFE.

310

and more, and calls us more loudly to the dust.

In the end a Higher Will interposes, the bond of
union
flight

upward

claims
to

unloosed,

is

its

dust.

Giver of

the

to

own, and a
It

immortal

the

soul

wings

Earth

Being.

all

its

heap of ashes returns

is
now dust; our

little

was a man.

It

ashes are scattered abroad to the winds over the

surface of
tive.

It

But

the*, earth.

rises

assist

in

not inac-

is

walk the earth again

to

perhaps

globe with fresh forms of

to aid in peopling the

beauty, to

dust

this

performance of the

the

vital

processes of the universe, to take a part in the

world's

life.

In

this

sense the words of Goethe

are strictly applicable,

"

Death

the parent of

is

Household Words.
Death may be said with almost equal

life."

ety to confer as well

In

as

to level

all

propri-

distinctions.

consequence of that event, a kind of chemical

operation takes place

those characters which

for

were mixed with the gross particles of vice, by

being thrown into the alembic of flattery, are sublimated into the essence of virtue.
ing the performance
of the world

was

of his

little

the close of the drama,

ite

of

"every

virtue

He who

dur-

part upon the stage

applauded,

after

if

at

is

portrayed as the favor-

all

under

Heaven."

Henry

Kett.

When

a friend

is

carried

to

his

grave we at

once find excuses for every weakness and

tion of every fault;

recollect

ments which before glided

off

pallia-

a thousand endear-

our minds without

DEATH.

311

thou-

impression, a

thousand

sand

unperformed,

and

wish,

vainly

return, not

much

that

we may

duties

wish, for

his

so

we may bestow

that

receive as

unrepaid, a

favors

and

happiness,

recompense that kindness which before we never

understood.

There
instructed,

is

not,

more

perhaps,

mind

to

occurrence

painful

well-

than

whom we have injured without

Our crime seems now irretrievable

death of one
ration.

and the stamp of

indelibly recorded,

upon

it.

We

consider,

pain which

anguish, the

with

most

the

we have

fate

the

repa;

is

it

is

fixed

afflictive

given and

now

and the losses which we have

caused and now cannot repair. Dr. Johnson.
cannot

It

every

From

alleviate,

(the

grave)

defect,
its

every

buries

extinguished

peaceful

covers

resentment.

bosom spring none but fond

Who

regrets and tender recollections.

down upon

error,

every

the grave of an

can look

enemy and not

feel

a compunctious throb that he should have warred

with the poor handful of dust
ing before him
It

is

Washington

impossible

that

that

lies

moulder-

Irving.

anything so natural, so

necessary, and so universal as death

should ever

have been designed by Providence as an

mankind. Swift.

Death

is

the liberator

and

cannot

whom

time cannot console.

cure,

to

whom freedom
him whom med-

of him

cannot release, the physician of

icine

evil

the

comforter

Colton.

of

him

IDEALS OF

312

What

death but a ceasing to be what

is

We

were before?
daily

die,

and put

kindled

are

nature that begot us expels

and a safer place

better

LIFE.

provided

is

out,

we
we

and a

us,

for us.

Seneca.

man

wise

even when death

departing

fied

summons him

shall

forasmuch

has attained the delightful end of the best

as he
life,

be deprived of pleasure

shall not

having

received

discharged that

and well satisupon trust and duly

a guest

like

life

full

he acquits himself at de-

office,

parting. Epicurus.

He

always

that

He

whenever
accounts

he

that death

Neglect

is

may be

Jacob,

God

mercies

Hooker.
There

is

nothing,

or none.

in its

the hour

of

through them,

in

no,
is

the

their

nothing,

forgotten

An

infant,
live

who loved

prayed for

posterity.

innocent

or

let

us hold to

a prattling

child,

again in the better

and play its part,

the redeeming actions of the

in

though

David, who,

lives in peace,

cradle will

thoughts of those

drowned

when

God upon

of

good, that dies and

faith

that,

Moses, Joshua, and

leisurably ending their

world,

your

come, the patterns of our dissolution

our rest

dying

ready

is

set

man who so lives as

may find him at leisure

times

all

Let us beg of

that

to

Feltham.

to die.

the

not

a happy

is

at

God

upon

waits

calls.

its

body be

deepest sea.

it,

burnt

to

There

ashes,
is

or

not an

DEATH.

313

angel added to the host of heaven but does

work

blessed

on

Forgotten

here.

earth

oh

creatures

could be

beautiful

would

much

those

in

even

appear!

death

When we

are

under

person who

other misfortune

dusty graves

in

was dear

any

men, or

in

ought

seek

son of

this

it

us,

us,

the

God

or for any

we ought not

in ourselves,

part of
in

that

is,

to

or in other

And

no created being

cause of those accidents which

God

But the providence of

we

call

we

but

creation,

alone.

death

the

for

affliction

which befalls

seek for consolation

to

for

mercy, and purified affection would

charity,

Dickens.

to

how
how

source,

their

to

be seen to have their growth

of a

it

good deeds of human

the

if

traced

loved

that

its

the

is

the

reafirst

afflictions,

being the true and

and the disposer of

them, we ought, undoubtedly, to repair immediately to their source, and look up to their Author

only cause,

sovereign,

the

...

to find solid consolation.

One

of the most solid and useful chanties

we

can perform toward the dead,

is to do that which
would
desire
of
us,
were
they still in the
they
world and to put ourselves, for their sakes, into
;

condition

that
in.

It is

which

now wish

us

to

be

one of the grand principles

anity, that

of Christi-

whatever happened to Jesus Christ,

likewise to take

every Christian
21

they

place
;

in

that as

is

the soul and body of

Jesus Christ suffered in

IDEALS OF LIFE.

314

mortal

this

ascended

was raised
heaven, where

life,

into

new life, and

He sat down at the

hand of God the Father

right

to

so the body

soul are to suffer, to die, to be raised again,

to

ascend into heaven.

is

is

detestable,

In Jesus Christ,

ture.
it

it

amiable, holy,

Every

in Jesus Christ;

it

is

it

Jesus

Christ

the

is

terror

and

it

itself,

was

not
it

is

of na-

altogether different;

and the joy of the

even death

thing,

in

Without Jesus Christ

without Jesus Christ.

dreadful,

Let us then view death

and
and

believer.

rendered sweet

is

for this

He

suffered;

He died to sanctify death and suffering to us.

And as He was God and man, He was all that
was great and all that was abject, that He might
sanctify

might

all

be

condition.

things

an

in

example

Pascal.

Himself,
to

us

except
in

sin,

and

every possible

gift

Mil

*p-s**-

am

the resurrection, and the

he were dead, yet shall he

me, shall never

We

die.

abide in

St.

Him

live

John

and

He

life

he that believeth

And whosoever

in

me, though,

and believeth

liveth,

in

xi. 25-36.

in us,

and

He

abides forever.

Brooke.-

In every-day existence the miraculous and the God-like rule

Choose

well

Is brief

and yet endless.

F.

us.

W. Robertson.

your choice

Goethe.
I desire nothing, I press nothing

human
choose.

life,

and to aspire

in

to

make

the most of

whatever state of

life

you.

Law.

Whatever
because

upon you, but

after perfection

God

is

is

doubtful this at least

good;

even to the death.

that

evil

must

is sure,

perish,

that

good must

because

God

Charles Kingsley.

(316)

conquer,,

hates

evil,,

;mwur!%
Ought not Christ
His glory?

If^AY and

^^

to

Luke

St.

have suffeied these things, and to enter into

xxiv. 26.

night

yearn for the immortal,

Thinking of what

and

is

be

to

is

Through the cloud and sun to yonder

Long and weary is the way I see.
Like the giants of the

Am

Through myself
sometimes

How
Life

All

If

In

solve

mystery

the

climb to

such delight!
too,

life,

Thy

pride

under,

sight

are with Thee,

alone

wonder

silence

forever in

Thy hand

my

above me,

issues

from

if

to

mortal
is

were able

as

painful

in

fixed

the

In

can

there

Am

of Babel,

vexed with immortality,

Building, building,

Tower

portal

see the

Father!

crown

success would gather,

Thy mercy Thou

wilt

cast

me down.
(317)

IDEALS OF LIFE.

318

Master builded,
And His Temple, rising height on height,
With eternal sunshine soon was gilded,
In humility the

Bringing immortality to

light.

and meekness of the Master,

see in all that comes to me

for grace

God

to

Building then, shall

And
And

escape disaster,

be soothed with immortality.

the suffering that

comes from

human eyes

Little as in

duty,

or much,

Will at length become eternal beauty,

Glorious

of God's transforming touch.

fruit

The natural man dies hard within us the man

Heaven is not born without a pang; first
the Anguish, then the Joy.
Are our souls wil;

from

ling, yea,

are they

ardently as
it

to

we may

desire the joy which

be remembered no more

ness of time

is

When

makes
the

ful-

come, the fulness of strength

will

and not before and, meanthe way of life continues to have its ache,

be given to meet
while,

it,

a sadness peculiar to

endure that anguish,

able, to

itself.

seems

natural,

even befitting to man, a being of keen

though

certain degree of impatience

limited

vision,

of

strong

though narrow

His mind, as one who sounded

has taught us,

is

system; he finds

its

grasp.

very depths

enamored of order and

within himself the surmise of a

naturally

IMMORTALITY.

319

perfection which outward nature does not respond

and

to,

he the more delights to trace a

for this

sequence through

her apparent confusion

all

discover that by earth, and

is

a path such

And

known.

mourns
great
it

the

as

has

eye hath

been truly

not
said,

gap every here and there in her

of cause and consequence,
how is

to find a

chain

with the Christian,

earth to

Heaven

wanting?

How

track

to

and ocean, there

air,

vulture's

science, as

if

in

if

should

there
is

the ladder which joins

be

some rounds

when man, who

it

end from the beginning,

the

loves

see

to

flower wrapt up in the bud, finds that the

to

the

life

of

must pass through

metamorphoses, through sundry successwhen he discovers that the
ive kinds of death?
life of the Divine seed, set so deep in the heart
the soul, like that of the insect,

strange

and

growth, of harmonious

sistent

be most

fitly

in

a jar of porcelain

plant that must shatter

while growing?

And
prophet

we

here

tells us,

thoughts, neither

its

it

is

frail

a mighty

earthly tabernacle

are

reminded

of

what

the

that God's thoughts are not our

His ways our ways.

He

far otherwise

and the tendency of

all

and pressure.

God

has

has room for everywith

human

His creature,

effort

straight to the desired aim, putting

ble strain

may

time for everything, and

but

of con-

development,

by the well-known simile

illustrated

of an acorn set

thing;

of being one

the world, instead

in

on

go

is

to

all

possi-

Thus, adding what

we

IDEALS OF LIFE.

320

conceive of Infinite power to what we know offinite

will, we have arrived at an idea of Omnipotence,
the

we

exact

opposite,

see of the

accustom

grace

in

irresistible,

one

Nature,

soon

as

speak

to

or

nature,

we

ever

as

broad surface-smile, betrays

marks of
that

we

care, of patience,

learn of

and more
of the

God

to bring

magical,

to

in

dealings,

being sudden,

as

and

design

in

of His

all

We

Almighty's works would lead.

ourselves

whether

which

of that to

surely,

yet

execution;

below her

pierce

on every hand the

All
and adaptation.
rep-ion tends

this

more

His works out of the domain

convince

us

that

it

is

the

human, and not the Divine energy, which craves

for its purposes the signet-stamp of full and
speedy accomplishment:
we are hasty builders, incomplete
Our Master follows after, far more slow
And far more sure than we, for frost, and
" For

And winds that breathe, and

Work with Him silently."

Miss

What man

Greenwell

can think of himself as called out

and separated from nothing, of

conscious, a reasonable,
in short, of

heat,

waters in their flow,

being taken

his

being

and a happy
in as

made a

creature,

sharer of exist-

and a kind of partner in eternity, without

swallowed up in wonder, in praise, in
being
ence,

adoration

It is

indeed a

thought

too

big

for

mind of man, and rather to be entertained

in the secrecy of devotion, and in the silence
of the soul, than to be expressed by words.

the

IMMORTALITY.

The Supreme Being has

321

given

not

powers

us

or faculties sufficient to extol and magnify such

unutterable goodness.
It

some comfort

however,

is,

we

shall be always doing what

able

do

to

finished will,

us

to

that

we

never be

shall

work which cannot be

however, be the work of eternity.
and

that

Addison.

There is nothing strictly immortal but immorWhatever hath no beginning may be contality.
of no

fident

end,

which

the peculiar

is

quality

of that necessary essence that cannot destroy

and the highest

self,

so

omnipotency

strain of

powerfully constituted as not

from the power of

itself:

suffer

to

it-

be

even

have a de-

others

all

to

pendent being, and within the reach of destruc-

But the

tion.

frustrates

all

sufficiency of Christian immortality

earthly

and the quality of

glory,

makes a

either state after death

of posthu-

folly

God, who can only destroy our

and hath assumed our resurrection, either

mous memory.
souls,

of our bodies or

duration;

names hath

wherein

there

is

and

but

animal,

scape

in

splendid

to

hold

long

ashes,

grave, solemnizing nativities

lustre,

much

of chance

subsistence

But man

oblivion.
in

so

promised no

have found unhappy

that the boldest expectants

frustration,

directly

is

When

his nature.
I

Sir

noble

and pompous in the

and death with equal

nor omitting ceremonies of bravery

infamy of

seems

in the

Thomas Browne.

consider the wonderful activity of the

IDEALS OF LIFE.

322

memory

mind, so great a

such a

when

behold

and

sciences,

thence

arising

But

if I

are

immortal,

would
from
as

err

and

afraid lest

The

we

firmly

per-

many

death

souls of

nor

while

this delightful error

after

men
live

extorted

shall feel nothing,

philosophers

think,

am

not

me

Cicero.

on being converted into an

scaly mass, does not appear to be fitting
an inhabitant of the
of the

consciousness

We

are the

being.

discoveries

caterpillar,

itself for

being.

err

and

arts

mortal.

the

that

and

future

dead philosophers should laugh at

for the error.

no

if

of

am

and

cannot be

willingly

the

which contains so

believing

in

some minute

inert

believe

wish to have

me

multitude

nature
itself

past,

is

number of

within

things

such

such

suaded that a

of what

of penetrating into

capacity

The

air,

and can have

of

brilliancy

its

future

are masters of the earth, but perhaps

slaves

of

that

fly

some great and unknown

we

crush with our finger or

feed with our viands has no knowledge of man,

and no consciousness of his superiority.

We
suppose that we are acquainted with matter and
all

its

cause

elements; yet

we cannot even guess

of electricity, or explain

formation of the

stones

that

the

fall

laws

at the

of the

from meteors.

There may be beings, thinking beings, near or

surrounding us, which we do not perceive, which

we cannot
in

mv

We know very little

we know enough to hope for

imagine.

opinion,

but,

the

IMMORTALITY.

323

immortality, the individual immortality, of the better part of

Even

in

man.

a moral point of view,

analogies derived from

sects admit

have

The

its

states

have,

of

entomologists.

caterpillar,

time

the

of

the

human

the

to typify

larva,

and

Greek
being,

apparent death and ultimate

terrestrial form,

and it seems more extraora sordid and crawling worm should

celestial destination

dinary that

become a

the

since

been applied

the

of in-

beautiful applications, which

neglected by our

not been
three

butterfly

poets,

some

of

think

transformation

the

beautiful and. active fly

itant of the

dark

stant entirely

foetid

change

that

an inhab-

dunghill should in an
form, rise

its

in-

into the blue

and enjoy the sunbeams than that a being

whose pursuits have been after an undying name,
air,

and whose purest happiness

from

the

acquisition

knowledge, should

has

been

of intellectual

rise

hereafter

being where immortality

is

derived

power and

into a

state of

no longer a name,

and ascend to the source of Unbounded Power

and Infinite Wisdom. Sir Humphry Davy.

Upon
or

is

he

science,

this

short question,

"

Is

man

immortal,

not?" depends all that is valuable in

in morals, and in theology,
and all that

is most interesting to man as a social being and

as a rational and accountable intelligence.
If he
destined to an eternal existence, an immense
is

importance must attach

tions,

actions,

to

all

his

and pursuits; and

present affecit

must be a

IDEALS OF LIFE.

324

matter of
in

moment

infinite

such a channel as

will

that they be directed

tend to

carry him for-

ward in safety to the felicities of a future world.

But if his whole existence be circumscribed within

the circle of a few fleeting years,

an enigma, an

phenomenon

inexplicable

human

universe,

life

man appears
in

the

a mystery, the world a scene

mere phantom, the Creator

and His plans and arrangements an inextricable maze.
Thomas Dick.

of confusion, virtue a
a capricious being,

When

reflect that

God

has given to inferior

animals no instincts nor faculties that are not immediately subservient

of their

beings,

same

principles,

dowed with powers

and
as

conclusive

evidence

all

of

exalted destination, because

the

the

his

find him, therefore, en-

to carry, as

it

were, the line

most distant worlds,

rule to the

that

and are connected with

When

superior nature.

but conclude

man were bestowed upon

reason and faculties of

the

ends and purposes

to the

cannot

future

consider

and

it

more

cannot believe that

Creator of the universe would depart from

the

analogies

of

the

lower creation

in

the

formation of His highest creature, by gifting him

with a capacity not only utterly useless, but destructive of his contentment

and happiness,

existence were to terminate in the grave

if

his

Lord

Chancellor Erskine.

And

can

we

then think that the most natural

and most necessary desire of

answer

it ?

that

all

has nothing to

nature should teach

us,

above

IMMORTALITY.
immortality, which

to desire

things,

all

be had, especially when

generous

most

of

of

ple

our

all

What
if

that which

other

in

whole

life

the

If

cultivated

follow,

this

in

with

attention,

immortal,

it

requires

not only

mean eternity; and

point may be attended

the

with

death were the

If

Sherlock.
to

be

what we

for

but for that which

sequences.

appetites.

God made man,

William

be

life,

to

soul

time of

the

call

laws

most fundamental and

of action
which makes
else but one continued

nothing
?

to

the

most universal principle

cheat and imposture

and

desires,

creature has

he deceives him

the

which

that

the governing princi-

is

passions,

strange

nature,

our actions, and must give

all

not to

is

most noble and

the

becomes a reasonable creature

all

nay,

desire,

is

it

human

of

desire

325

least

is

to

neglect

endless condissolution

final

wicked would be great gainers by

by being delivered at once from their bodies,,

of being, the
it,

their
is

souls,

immortal,

from

its

and
it

their

vices

but,

as

the soul

has no other means of being freed

evils,

nor

any safety

for

it,

but

in be-

coming very good and very wise for it carries

nothing with it but its bad or good deeds, its
virtues and vices, which are commonly the conse;

quences of the education

it

has received, and the

causes of eternal happiness or misery.

The
the

gospel, did

it

Socrates.

and immortality by
contain no other truth, were

annunciation of

life

sufficient to cast all the discoveries of science into

IDEALS OF LIFE.

326

shade, and to

of reason to

improvements
the comparative nothingness which
reduce the

moment

highest

the

flight

this

discovery the prospects of

infinitely

of a

widened, the

comes the

bears

nature are

of yesterday be-

creature

child of eternity;

By

eternity.

to

human

and as

felicity is

not

the less valuable in the eye of reason because

is

remote, nor the misery which

be depreciated because
the
chief,

All

care

of our

future

and, properly

besides

with these,

it

is

is

interests

it

it

certain less to

not immediately

speaking,

shortly

will

whenever

therefore,

it

is

becomes

felt,

our

our only, concern.

and
become nothing
comes into competition
;

as the small dust of the balance.

Robert Hall.

rowttomm Jitrmsr*
That which thou sowest

not quickened except

is

^THROUGH
^^

sin

and

toil

it

die.

and

Cor. xv.

tribulation

This earthly house must needs decay

But surely comes the renovation,

The building to endure for aye.

The

Christly

germ can never

And moulder

into

perish

nothingness

36.

PERSONALITY FOREVER.

The hope

we

of glory that

327

cherish

born of Everlastingness.

Is

There is no sleep that knows no waking:

Death will at last give up its dead,

And

With

manhood

their proper

all,

taking,

be garmented.

glorious forms

weary heart, if thou dost never

Find out perfection here below,

Take courage from

In which

the

and serve and know.

to love

Endures throughout

Whoever

What

if

is

of

all

God

generations,

the friend;

undreamed-of revelations

Shall flood the

The

forever

life

Year

that has

no end?

Faithful One, with grief acquainted,

So manfully

No
And

He

toiled

on earth,

mortal yet His Life has painted,

told us all in

Him had

birth.

The fountains of that Life are flowing,

With Love and Truth forevermore,

New

Excellence forever showing,

Which

all

The marvel

He

will

see and

adore.

of His Life foretelling,

burst like sunrise from the dead

Behold Him! God

And

all

in

man

still

be forever comforted.

dwelling,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

328

The

expectation

developed

fully

development.

learned of the laws of

vital

of the

res-

Paul's

St.

illustration

from the germination of the seed, which

urrection

is

new nature will be

life is in harmony

this

the future

in

we have

with what

has so

that

imagination of man,

the

affected

vividly

more appropriate than he was aware

ganization
Life,
in

not the cause but the effect of

is

life.

producing organization, works from with-

in

outwards,

and from

The

germ

ible.

Or-

of.

vital

the

invisible

not

is

to

the vis-

a miniature of the

mature organism, but only a minute, unorganized

mass, having, however, a power which no physics
or chemistry can ever explain, of organizing itself

and thus developing

into

So

future

is

be

will

it

the

in

in believing

right

that

the

mature organism.

life,

if

Church

the

Paul spoke as the

St.

God gave him knowledge. As the

mortal life which we inherit from
germ
the earthly ancestors whose image we bear, has
of

Spirit

of the

developed into
shall the

germ

our present bodily organism, so

of

eternal

spiritual,

life

vine, which Christ implants here in those

not

reject

kindlier

be developed

His grace,

influences

of

the

future

and Diwho do

under the

state,

into

the

body " (to use a most inadequate expression for what human language has

perfect

" spiritual

no adequate one)

which

image of the Heavenly.

The

soul

of

man

wholly of anxiety about

is

to

be created

in the

Murphy.
can
its

never

divest

itself

fate hereafter:

there

PERSONALITY FOREVER.
even

are hours when,

midst of

thought
ures,
life

less

one

pleasures,

their

prosperous, in

the

to

329

eternity

but

an

is

how much more when

awful

those pleas-

withdraw

after another, begin to

the

when

and becomes dark and cheerchanges warn the most inconsid-

alters its forms,

when

its

erate that what

tirely

is

so mutable will soon pass en-

Then

away.

pungent

with

earnestness

comes home that question to the heart, " Into

what world are we next to go ? " How miserable
the man who, under the distractions of calamity,
hangs doubtful about an event which so nearly
who, in the midst of doubts and
concerns him
;

approaching

anxieties,

which separates

awful

that

to

boundary

world from the next, shud-

this

der at the dark prospect before him, wishing to

exist after death,

catching

and yet

afraid of that existence;

hope

at every feeble

can afford him, and trembling

ment from reflection upon

There

is,

know

his

and

existence,

To

it

the

in

crimes.

how,

not

men, a certain presage, as

in

in

midst of

were, of a future

energies

of the

which a

few years

and

Cicero.

treat a subject so interesting

soul

in

at

the

most

embrace, and

serious hour

Blair.

greatest geniuses

the

ous with levity or indifference

from their

the

same mo-

takes the deepest root and is

this

most discoverable
most exalted souls.

which superstition

in reflecting

and moment-

to exert all

pursuit
will

the

of objects

snatch forever

never to spend one

on what may possibly

330

IDEALS OF LIFE.

succeed the present scene of existence, or

deavoring

some light to clear up the

may hang over this important inquiry,

to

doubts that

and

find

to treat with

would

in en-

and scorn those who

derision

them

direct

this serious investigation

in

and preposterous, but the

height of infatuation and of madness. It is contrary to every principle on which reasonable men
only

not

is

foolish

act in relation to the affairs of the present world.

.

Thomas Dick.
Interesting

been the past history of

has

as

our race, engrossing as must ever be the present

more

the future,

exciting

still,

mingles

itself

every thought and sentiment, and casts

with

beams

its

shadows of fear, over the stage

both of active and contemplative life. In youth
of hope, or

we

its

descry

scarcely

it

the

in

To

distance.

the

stripling and the man it appears and disappears

like a variable star, showing in painful succession
its

spots of light and of shade.

gigantic

to

the eye,

glorious anticipation

when

future

is

the

last

and

at the great

dim, the

is

picture

the retina of the mind.

it

looms

of chastened hope and

full

the outward eye

age

In

which

transition,

image of the
is

effaced from

Sir David Brewster.

The cast of mind which is natural to a discreet man makes him look forward into futurity,
and consider what

will

be

his

condition millions

of ages hence, as well as what

He knows
are

that

reserved

the

for

it

is

at

present.

misery or happiness which

him

in

another

world

lose

PERSONALITY FOREVER.

331

nothing of their reality by being at so great

The

tance from him.

dis-

do not appear

objects

lit-

him because they are remote. He considers that those pleasures and pains which lie
hid in eternity approach nearer to him every
moment, and will be present with him in their
tle

to

full

weight and measure, as much as those pains

and pleasures which he feels

For this reason he is
stant.
to

himself that

of

his

nature

He

which

and

the

is

at

in-

secure

to

proper

happiness

ultimate

the

very

this

careful

design of his

his thoughts to the end of

the most distant as
considers
and
every
He
well as the most immediate effects of it.
supercedes every little prospect of gain and

being.

carries

action,

he

does

consistent with his views of an

here-

advantage which
not find

it

offers

after.

In

a word,

tality,

his

schemes

his

hopes are

and how

interest

if

full

of immor-

are large and glorious,

who knows

conduct suitable to one

his

here,

itself

to

pursue

it

and

his true

by proper meth-

Addison.

ods.

There

one question, which combines with

the interest of speculation and curiosity an interest

is

incomparably greater, nearer, more

affect-

more solemn. It is the simple question,

Shall We Be?"
How soon it is
spoken but who shall reply ? Think how proing,

"What

foundly this question, this mystery, concerns us,

and

in

comparison with

questions of

all

this,

sciences?

what are

What

to

us

to us

all

all

re-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

332

searches

the

into

ages

career of events

empires?
globe

What

itself,

shall

be,

or

in

the

the

laws of ma-

investigations

all
?

to us
all

we

and

constitution

What

nature?

terial

history of past

we

What

progress

what

of

is

future

become of

shall

John Foster.
To take away rewards and

this

What

matter of

the

and

states

mundane system

ourselves,

the

into

us the

to

sur-

passing interest.

only pleasing to a
morally.

We

man who

punishments

resolves not to live

Dryden.
are led to the belief of a

only by the weaknesses, by

not
fears

of

human

nature, but

by

best principles which belong to

virtue,
justice.

We

is

and by the abhorrence

Adam

future

the
the

it,

state,,

hopes andnoblest and

by the love of
and in-

of vice

Smith.

carry the image of

God

in us,

rational

and immortal soul, and though we be now miserable and feeble, yet we aspire after eternal happiness, and finally expect a great exaltation of
all

our natural powers.

Bentley.

.-'

'

lffMiMm WBkWimXi
^f^Ste

v Ik:; --/' '^

"By and by, another sleep,

Angels watch and ward to keep.
By and by, from wakeful eyes,
Nothing of the old surprise
All pure dreams of earth

fulfilled,

Every sense with gladness

thrilled,"

i^

'

--

SATISFIED.

I shall be satisfied,

when

^SLEEPING,

In

I awake, with

waking, on

Dreamful and
the

333

Thy

likeness.

Psalm

we

xvii.

glide,

unsatisfied,

heart a vague

surprise

Master of the thoughtful

eyes.

What though spring is in the air,

And the world is bright and fair ?
Something hidden from the sight
Dashes fulness of delight.
Soothed are we

And

in

in

duty done

something new begun,

Like a kissed and flattered child

To

denial

reconciled

Yet the something unattained

Keeps us like Prometheus chained.
Sleeping,

waking,

Dreamful and

on we

glide,

unsatisfied.

By and by another

sleep,

Angels watch and ward

to

keep.

15.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

334

By and by from wakeful eyes

Nothing of the old

surprise,

pure dreams of earth

All

fulfilled,

Every sense with gladness

Then

It

piness

likeness

impossible

is

in

tions.

person

is

may

This doctrine

for.

known both

has been

should be

but there

this life;

most wishes

satisfied.

there

death every

after

no more denied,

are we,

With Thy

thrilled.

much hap-

great hope that

obtain
is

not new, but

Greeks and other na-

to

The body

a prison,

is

from

which the soul

must be released before it can arrive

knowledge of things real and immutable.

The

soul of each of us

and goes
of

Can

the soul

present

this

is

life

Spirit,

give an account

be destroyed
it

the

at

an immortal

to other immortals to

actions.

its

he

what

No.

But

if

in

has shunned being governed

by the body, and has governed itself within itself, and has separated from the body in a pure
taking nothing sensual away with

state,
it

not

self,

and

the

to

immortal
freed

it,

does

then depart to that which resembles

from
all

the

invisible,

And on

its

divine,

arrival

the

there,

it-

wise,

the

is

not

it

errors, ignorance, fears, wild passions,

other

human

evils ?

Does

it

not

irk

SATISFIED.

o-ods

the

pass

truth
?

existence with

its

the

of

rest

335

<_>

Those who have

lived a

holy

are freed from this earth, and

were from a
above
it

The God

Dead

of the

it

abode

a pure

than

beautiful

Plato.

easy to describe.

is

more

habitations

set at large, as

arrive at

prison, will

when they

life,

waits enthroned in im-

mortal light to welcome the good into His King-

dom

of Joy

homes He had gone

to the

One Being

pare for them, where the

yond the
Is

youth?
from

we

ing

demned

life

to

To complain

that

true

death.

life

into

Our

first

us

of the necessity of dy-

Nature

accuse

to

is

be

The new change which death

passage to a more desirable

life.

only the

is

to

connected with the progressive de-

velopment of
perfection.

from infancy

a misfortune to go

it

introduced by

are

changes are

effects

pass

to

can

less

miserable

this

which

misfortune

Still

be-

'dwells

From the Hindu.

Stars.

it

to pre-

of

perpetual

to

not

having

con-

Gregory of

infancy.

Nyssa.

Of what import
ing

elements,
loves,

selfish

thing

is

the

and

world

is

an

that

have

shall

found

not have

less

ennui
is

for

his

teaches
in

these

lives,

man

the only sane solution of the

comfort

sky,

insignificant

quarrels,

prospective,

That

after.

these

and

vacant

this

to

me

full

live

here-

education

to

of

Every-

enigma.

times

purl-

All

is

the

confide

and places

WEALS OF

336

do not yet know.

that

able

persons,

the

without
of

possibilities

evenings,

and

and

civilization,

Good Power
more

can

good.

as

for

have enjoyed the

machinery of arts

The

me

millions

have seen teaches

have not seen.

me

to

What-

be which the Great Providence prepares

it

us,

must be something

it

and
Emerson.

ous,

My

the

in

great

style

body must descend

my

but

provide

easily

trust the Creator for all

ever

have

results of comfort.

its

All

talent.

summer mornings and

complex

this

all

exhaust

they

that

and

virtue

midnight sky;

of
of

have known admir-

feeling

seen glories of climate, of

benefits

LIFE.

mortal,

and gener-

large

His

of

works.

to the place ordained,

soul will not descend: being a thing im-

ascend on high, where

will

it

it

will en-

Heavenly abode. Heraclitus.

sometimes congratulate ourselves at the
moment of waking from a troubled dream
it
may be so after death. Hawthorne.
Not by lamentations and mournful chants
ter a

We

ought we to celebrate the funeral

but by hymns;

for

with mortals, he
divine

is

a state of embryo,

man

is

This world
the

of

to

enters upon the

a good

be

man

numbered

heritage

first

of a

preparation for

not completely born

passed through death.

life;

ceasing

Plutarch.

life.

Life
life.

in

is

until

he has

Dr. Franklin.

simply the threshhold of our vast

stepping-stone

from nonentity into

SATISFIED,

boundless expanse of

the

infant-school of the

spread out before

337

possibility.

The

soul.

and the

us,

It

the

is

universe

physical

and

spiritual trials

mysteries of our discipline are simply our primer,

our grammar, our spelling-dictionary, to teach us

something of the language

are to use in our

Starr King.

maturity.

When we
dreams

our

we

we shall find we have

we have only lost our

not lost

die

sleep.

RlCHTER.

We
man

go

ing,

man

God

born.

our

throne,

and

we

around,

sit

one,

as

W.

earth

is

fall

asleep,
is

and in

He

While

footstool.

lifts

us

high

one by
into

inside the gates of

Mountford.

\% \vblh of

HE

His

His

is

and meditate, or pray,

everlasting world.

is light,

Beecher.

Heaven

Father.

this

we

H.

bosom, and our waking

God

friend, saying,

but angels throng about him, say-

is

is

grave of a

the

to

dead

is

Him

is

lip

no darkness

jSjtIjtui'

at

all.

John l

riddle of the Sphinx,

The ghost

that will not

down

5.

His

an

IDEALS OF LIFE.

338

Unto the man who only

The

cross that has no crown.

The riddle of the

The mystery of
To him who loves,

Sphinx,
life,

as well as thinks,

Rest after weary

The

riddle of the

In Sacrifice

Like a

thinks,

strife.

Sphinx

and Love,

falling star, forever sinks,

All beautiful above.

riddle of the Sphinx,

Thou

Who

hast no place in Christ:

at the Living

That water hath

How
sat

true

Fountain drinks
sufficed.

that old fable of the sphinx

is

by the wayside, propounding her

passengers, which,

destroyed
ours to

all

them

if

riddle to the

they could not answer, she

Such a sphinx

men and

who

societies

is

this

of men.

life

of

Nature,

womanly celestial loveliness

and tenderness the face and bosom of a goddess,
but ending in claws and the body of a lioness.
There is in her a celestial beauty, which means
but there is
celestial order, pliancy to wisdom
like the sphinx, is of
;

also a darkness, a ferocity, a fatality, which

is

in-

She is a goddess, but one not yet disimprisoned one still half imprisoned, the inarticufernal.

late, lovely,

still

incased

in the inarticulate,

cha-


THE RIDDLE OF TEE SPHINX.

How

otic.

true

And

her riddles to us
in

a mild

does

Of

voice, yet

she

propound

not

man

each

339

she asks

daily,

a terrible significance,

with

Knowest thou the meaning of this day ? What

thou camt do to-day, wisely attempt to do." Nature,
universe, destiny, existence, howsoever we name
this great unnamable fact in the midst of which
we live and struggle, is as a heavenly bride and
conquest to the wise and brave, to them who can
discern her behests and do them
a destroying
Answer her riddle,
fiend to them who cannot.
Answer it not, pass on reit is well with thee.
"

garding
of

dumb

not,

will

it

answer

deaf to

lioness,

Man

has

between

striven

soul

his

He who

bridge

to

over the

reason

upon
;

subject

this

He knows

precious of

all

it.

Human

tions, at

hard

until

what

nnd

best

earth's

He

its

Christ

one

noblest:

remains,

He

life

is

solves

bringing

sees

this

the

wouldst have

me

great

flings

thing

we

are

riddle

most

Himself into

beset with

forth

not

mouth has devoured

contradic-

but guess-

that

was too

food and sweetness

from the very jaws of the devouring

thou

and

to satisfy,

man spake does

the solution of which

for us,

chasm

and God with theories contra-

spake as never

gulf set

ers,

moral reason they desire to soothe;

false to the

is

thy pleadings, fiercely de-

dictory to the reason they profess

of

Nature

Carlyle.

vouring.

but

the solution

itself:

a thing of teeth and claws.

is

it

it

weep,"

said

lion.

one of

"If
old,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

340

"thou must

weep

first

God

thyself."

has wept,

and the tears of the Son, in

the great drops of sweat, as it were blood falling
in the strong- crying

down

to the ground, lies the witness

"

strong

so

my

Behold

con-

love,"

is

as

hands

rebuke

the

my

and

feet

it

administers.

"

These

testi-

a necessity endured, an anguish shared.

fy to
is

tra-

rebuking love,love that has no consola-

soling,

tion

Herein

"

of the Father's Soul.

vail

the

to

It

our brother's blood that cries to us from the

"A

ground:

spirit

"

me have

ye see
Life

full

is

All that the

fit

into

facts

which cannot

any moral standard of

moral judgment has a right

to say with regard to

lieve

Greenwell.

of inscrutable

be made by us to
ours.

hath not flesh and bones, as

Miss

them

is

to

refuse

to

be-

any proposed interpretation of them which

makes God unrighteous on account of such facts,

and to wait patiently in full faith that a time will
come when we shall see these now inexplicable
facts to have been fully consistent with the most
And the same use which
perfect righteousness.
we make of our moral judgment in regard to
the facts which meet us in life, we are bound to

make

of

lation.

light

it

We

with regard to the doctrines of reve-

may

through

all

now
but we

not be able

to

see

moral

of these,

are

to

refuse

any interpretation of them which does violence to

In both cases, however, we
the moral judgment.
have reason to
estly

expect

that,

and humbly use the

to

light

those
th'ey

who honhave, more


THE RIDDLE OF TEE SDH J NX.
be given,

light will

least
first

in

trustful

34 J:

growing insight

acquiescence

in,

into,

facts

or

at.

which at

were too dark and perplexing. There are

two extremes, equally to be
region
this

One

shunned.

is

who

theirs

in

matters of re-

ligion begin by discrediting the natural light,

by putting out the eye of conscience, that they
may the more magnify the Heavenly light of

revelation,

or

The

thereof.

throning on
findings

rather

other

own

their
is

seen

in

interpretations

those

the judgment-seat the

who, en-

first

off-hand

of their own, and that perhaps

no very

enlightened conscience, proceed to arraign before

this

bar the statements of Scripture, and to re-

ject

all

which does not seem to square with the

of the self-erected

verdicts

more
finable

way than

excellent

perhaps by

spiritual

wisdom.

There

tribunal.

either,

is

a way not

de-

but to be found by

criticism,

There are those who, loath

do violence to the teachings

either

to

of Scripture

and reverently
comparing them together, find that the more
deeply they are pondered, the more they do, on
the whole, reflect light one on the other.
To
or

of

conscience,

but

patiently

such the words of Scripture, interpreted by the

experience of

life,

reveal things about their

nature which once seemed

incredible.

And

own
the

more they know of themselves and their own

needs, the more the words of Scripture seem to
But as to
enlarge their meaning to meet these.
the large outlying region of the inexplicable that

IDEALS OF LIFE.

342
will

remain

still

the

in

world,

in

man, and

Holy writ, they can leave all this, in

dence that when the solution, soon or
come,

it

be seen to be

will

our

highest

with

that

word

light,

and

with

though

which

Him

in

be

the

in

"

that

at all."

and

his

God

is

Such,

words,

Coleridge's

of

spirit

shall

late,

righteousness,

of

no darkness

is

confi-

profound harmony

in

declares

expressed

not

believe to

sense

full

in

teaching.

J.

C.

Shairp.

^REAT
^^ bow

Searcher of the troubled heart,

Thy Throne,
And pray Thee make my doubts
I

Till

am

before

all

depart

Thine own.

Shine through the sky of

my

dark

soul,

Bring from the night the day,

Until the clouds

and darkness

roll

Forevermore away.

Thou,

in

Who am
My heart's
And

help

whom

trust,

believe,

of sinners chief,
strong, wrestling prayer receive,

my

unbelief.

UNBELIEF.

The blindness which, for Thomas'

Thou didst of old remove,
Do Thou from me in mercy take,

And
There

my

melt

sake,

heart with love.

but one thing without honor

is

smitten

with eternal barrenness, inability to do or

He who

insincerity, unbelief.

who

believes no thing,

believes only the shows of things,

relation with nature

What,

away.

fact at

nothing

Infidelity gives

takes

and

not

is

in

Carlyle.

all.

return for what

in

then,

to be,

is

worth?

it

it

Every-

compensating power.

thing to be

valued has

Not a blade
weed that is

of grass that withers, or the ugliest

produces

away

flung

Therefore, everything

ren.

posed
in the

to nature

and

to rot

Nothing

something.

that

cannot be true

but re-

die,

nature

in

is

bar-

is

or seems op-

it

can only exist

shape that a diseased mind imparts to one

mass of base money that won't

pass current with any heart that loves truly, or
any head that thinks correctly.
of

coinage,

its

And

infidels

are

sad

poor,

creatures

they

them a load of dejection and desolanot the less heavy that it is invisible. It is

carry about
tion,

the fearful blindness of the soul.

No

living

man

is

at heart

incompatible condition.

um

in

desire

the
is

not

soul,
filled

"ism;" something

It

an utter

an

Dr. Chalmers.

an
would require a vacuatheist.

impossibility.

with God,

it

to pet, love,

It is

If

the

must take up an
admire, and study.

IDEALS Ob LIFE.

314

"To

the

unknown God

nineteenth

the

"

century,

would apply
if

to

many

in

they would only open

their eyes.

How

any scientific man can be an infidel is a

perfect wonder to me.
For the more one studies

more he

out the marvels of creation, the

per-

is

mitted to peep into the penetralia and behold the

arcana, the hidden treasures of God's works,

more he looks
in

the

and never, never finds an error

the plan of the universe, the more he beholds
at

unceasing labors of the

the

in darkness, the

sleep

world

while

half

other half are toiling

heaven, some shrine beyond the reach of the tan-

and

gibility of science

analysis,

soul to take the wings of the

There is
I would rather dwell
no

pump

in the

S.

W.

fly to.

Francis.

dim fog of super-

in

and

vainly

which the panting

convulsively

air-

breast

gasping

for

Richter.

breath.

Unbelievers

enough thus

to

have

not

express

have renounced

been
the

able

always been

their

we know concerning

From

for the

morning and

limit to unselfish love.

of unbelief;

expires,

not

needed

than in air rarefied to nothing by the

stition

this

is

honest

real feelings

but

when they

them, that

their birthright of hope, they have

divest

to

nature of the

be presumed, and

in

themselves

human mind

fact

it

is

so.

of

this

fear.

might

They may

deaden the heart and stupefy the conscience, but

they

cannot destroy

SOUTHEY.

the

imaginative

faculty.

vaueh the

\$bn
Solitude

\\t

stars.

345

$ir* +
Landor.

the audience-chamber of God.

is

^ANISHED

are

all

the wild ghosts of the

air,

Echo sends back not a wail of despair,

Even the forests their moaning forbear.
*

slumbers the sorrowful world,

Peacefully

Like a tired angel whose pinions are furled,

All

shadowy glory impearled.

the

in

Out of the deep of ethereal eyes

Wherein a fathomless mystery lies,
Silence

Beautiful

Whispers she

Dreams

descendeth the skies.

into

the heart

of which mortals perceive not the worth,

Calmly announcing Eternity's birth

While

Earth

of the

the bath

in

the

Christ in

of her silvery sea

heart of the

Telling of infinite glory

Silence

Silence

Silence

now

my
I

to

faithful

doth the

is

free.

be.

time and Eternity

soul

meet

Deity greet.

marvel not death

is

sweet

so

be called from the valley we plod,

Sweet to be freed from the darkness and clod,
Sweet to be hidden forever in God

Sweet

to

23

IDEALS OF LIFE.

346

To go into solitude a man needs to retire as

much from his chamber as from society. I am
not

solitary whilst

read and write, though no-

body is with me. But if a man would be alone,

let him look at the stars.
The rays that come
from

heavenly

those

him

tween

and

worlds

what

he

the perpetual presence of

years,

how

appear

should

stars

One might

touches.

this design, to give man, in

cities,

be-

was made transparent with

think the atmosphere

the streets of

separate

will

the heavenly bodies,

the

great they are

one

Seen

sublime.

night

in

in

the

If

thousand

how would men believe and adore and

many years the remembrance of the
God which had been shown
But every
;

preserve for
city of

night

come out these envoys of

with

universe

the

their

beauty, and light

admonishing

smile.

Emerson.

The

starry heaven,

our view, never

frequently to

idea of grandeur.

themselves,

stars

number

though

occurs so very

fails

to

excite

an

This cannot be owing to the

separately

certainly the cause.

is

it

considered.

The apparent

The
dis-

order augments the grandeur, for the appearance

highly contrary to our idea of magnifi-

of care

is

cence.

Besides, the

confusion as
casions

to

makes

reckon

stars
it

Look
light

that

up,
lie

in

such

apparent

on ordinary ocThis gives them the

impossible

them.

advantage of a sort of

lie

infinity.

Burke.

and behold the eternal fields of

round about the throne of God.

UNDER THE

Had no
man

of

spirit

the

in

down

laid himself

heavens,

to

anguish,

as

to his last sleep in

upon a

over by a material arch,

vaulted

gloomy earth
solid and im-

Carlyle.

pervious.

a gentle and affectionate thought, that in

It is

immeasurable height above

for flowers.

our

first

birth,

stars

Coleridge.

She raised her eyes

down

at

us,

woven with sparkling

the wreath of love was

ing

347

would have been no heavens, and he

there

would have
a

STARS.

ever appeared

star

to the bright stars,

look-

so mildly from the wide worlds of air

new

upon
and more beyond, and more beyond
her view
again, until the whole great expanse sparkled
with shining spheres, rising higher and higher in
immeasurable space, eternal in their numbers as
in their changeless and incorruptible existence.
She bent over the calm river, and saw them
shining in the same majestic order as when the
dove beheld them gleaming through the swollen
waters, upon the mountain-tops down far below,
the dead mankind a million fathoms deep.
and, gazing on them, found

stars burst

Dickens.

When
looked

gazed into these

down on me

as

if

stars,

with

have they not

from their

pity

serene spaces, like eyes glistening with heavenly

tears over the

little

lot of

man

Carlyle.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

.348

Ip l[fotttqr&

MYTH,

$k
Did

that

grew within the

brain,

Relates that Eden's bowers

not, 'mid all

The

their gifts, contain

glory of the flowers

Because there were no opened eyes

To

take that glory

in,

The sweet and innocent surprise

Which looks rebuke to sin
For Love, and Innocence, and Truth,
There made their dwelling-place,
Than which fair three immortal Youth
Required no other grace.
But when, through sin, the happy seat
Was lost to wretched man,
Our Lord, redeeming love to meet,
Revealed His perfect plan

The

blessed flowers, unseen

till

now,

Shall deck the weary earth,

And, while men 'neath their burdens bow,
Remind them of their birth
;

And, with

To

all

their vernal

beauty

rife,

the Gospel preach,

The Resurrection and

the Life,

In sweet persuasive speech.

a
THE FLOWERS.

How

heart

universal

the

349

man

of

blesses

They are wreathed round the cradle,

marriage altar and the tomb. The Persian in

(lowers
the

the far East delights in their perfume, and writes

nosegays

his love

in

the

West

far

while

claps

blossoms,

Hindoos tipped

cient

are

and hung

Christian shrine.

bridal

in votive

bride, for they are in

for their perpetually

in

L.

It

nothing;

wreath before the

renewed beauty

They should
and

their

worship before

the

is

tomb,

a symbol

festoon the

beauty ascend

Most High.

the

M. Child.

Whence
violet?

us,

themselves a lovely type of

resurrection.

perpetual

Mrs.

with

brow of the youthful

the

for their fragrance

altar,

crown

They should twine round

marriage.

the

of the an-

All these are appropriate uses.

Flowers should deck

of

illuminated

Flowers garlanded the Gre-

nation of yesterday.
cian altar,

of

arrows with flowers, and

his

the

The Cupid

Scriptures of the prairies.

orange-flowers

child

hands with glee as he

his

gathers the abundant

Indian

the

this delicate scent

is

not from

is

the

not from the stalk,

in the rose

that
root,

that
is

and

smells

of

as scentless

as the root; not from the earth whence

it

grows,

which contributes no more to these flowers than

to the
leaf,

grass that grows

not from

the

bud,

by them
before

it

not from the

be

disclosed,

which yields no more fragrance than the leaf, or

yet here I now find it
stalk, or root
neither is
:

there

any miraculous way but

in

the

ordinary

IDEALS OF LIFE.

350

course of nature, for

all

and roses of

violets

kind yield the same redolence

it

this

cannot be but

and stem from

which the flowers proceed; and there placed and
thence drawn by the Almighty Power which hath
that

was

it

given

potentially in that root

those admirable

and induces them,

His due

in

How

beautiful

Not

those

season, to

and yet how cheap are flowbut what are called common
for instance, is among the most

rose,

The

beautiful of the smiles of nature.

flowers," exclaims the

"

laughing

But there

poet.

than gayety in blooming flowers, though

man

a wise

plants,

exotics,

flowers.

several

Bishop Hall.

excellent perfections.

ers

virtues to

to see the beauty, the

adaptation of which they are so

What would we

love,

more

it

takes

and the

full.

who had

of one

think

is

in-

vented flowers, supposing that, before him, flowers

Would he

were unknown?
the

opener-up of a paradise

Should we not
a

not be

god

And

the goodness

bright

earth

useful

consummate

and joy

to

until

a genius, as

man from

of the
the

first

now, telling him of

as

bring

forth

food, but

not

also

flowers, to clothe

only that

flowers, the
it

in

beauty

Bring one of the commonest

a room,

and wisdom of the Creative Power,

which bid the

which was

delight

yet these lovely offsprings

existence

of his

new

of

hail the inventor as

earth have been speaking

dawn

regarded as

place

it

on

table,

field

or

flowers into

chimney-piece,.

THE FLOWERS.
and you seem
shine

to

What

about flowers.

drooping invalid

coming

There
a

to

where we grow, and

ray

cheerfulness

are

they to the

of sun-

a sweet enjoyment,

from

"Come
say,

is

delight

They are

messengers

as

seeming

have brought

place.

the

into

351

the

country,

and

and see the place

your heart be glad in

let

our presence."

What

can

They are like

are emblems
fresh

more innocent than flowers ?

children undimmed by sin.
They

be
of

delight- to

and

purity

the

playful child,

tiful

and

pure

heart that does not love

conceit that invented

that

they

dared

flowers have a voice for

and poor.

"

a source of

innocent.

flowers, or

cannot be genial.

It

The

the voice of

was a beau-

a language of flowers,

by which lovers were enabled

ings

truth,

not

to express the feel-

openly

speak.

old

and young,
For me," says Wordsworth,
all,

But
rich

"The meanest flower that blows, can give

Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears."

Smiles.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

852

H[g$ of Jim,
The wages

of sin

is

fTRUTH

Romans

death.

out of sight,

Falsehood crept in,

Wrong put for Right

Wages

of Sin.

become god,
Eager to win
All at its nod

Self

Wages

of Sin.

Scorn of the Seer,

Vanity's

grin,

Darkness grown dear

Wages

of Sin.

Trouble without,

Canker

within,

Fear, Hate, and

Wages

What

is

to

be,

All that has

Shadows

Wages

Doubt-

of Sin.

been

that flee

of Sin.

Loss of the soul,

Wrangle and din,
Tragedy's dole

Wages

of Sin.

vi. 23.

WAGES OF
Sin

is

not

having them
higher

possession

the
in

SIN.

S53

of desires, but the

uncontrolled ascendency over the

does

Sinfulness

nature.

not

having strong desires or passions.

and highest natures,

est
is

strong.

Sin

is

consist

in

In the strong-

including the desires,

all,

not a real thing.

It

rather

is

the absence of a something, the will to do right.

It

disease or

not a

is

projected into the

which

of the

spirit

whole

so that what

man must

natural

from

left

sail set

her

to

above

sin inevitably

to

destruction

is

tation leads to

guided,

fall.

counteract

yet on

those

he

that

appetites

them

to sin

rocks

the

there

The

would

dash them on

is

no

gusts

she

pilot

have

the

will

her

at

Temp-

of instinct, which

carried

No

rocks.

but the spirit-pilot has

safely

into

one forces

left

the helm.

Nature

Sin, therefore, is

the

the state of ordinary men.

port,

Fallen

this,

is

say the

if a ship were deserted by her crew,

on the bosom of the Atlantic with every
and the wind blowing. No one forces

Such

rightly

the absence

harmonizes the

we mean when we

surely go, just because

helm.

and

is

as

exactly

and

orders

It

natural appetites, and that he has no

has strong
bias

an actual substance

taint,

constitution.

not

in the

appetites,

absence of a controlling Will.

F.

but

W.

in

Rob-

ertson.

Perhaps few narratives

in

History or

Myth-

ology are more significant than that Moslem one,

of Moses and the Dwellers by the Dead Sea.

IDEA LS OF LIFE.

354

men

tribe of

Lake

Asphaltic

do, the inner

to

and taken up with the

blances

of

verging,

were

it,

the Prophet Moses,

sad conditions,

deeper

far

Heaven

with an

Nature,

facts of

into

fallen

pleased kind

it

same

of that

and outer sem-

falsities

toward

indeed,

Whereupon

shores

and having forgotten, as we are

prone

too

all

dwelt on the

lake.

them
word of

to send

instructive

warning, out of which might have sprung 'reme-

measures

dial

Dead Sea

of the

always does
ness

Moses,

with

and

signified,

theory
to

with
or

grinning,

men

the

tedium to

real

with

splenetic
;

and

they found him a hum-

that

Such was

even a bore.

men

no comeli-

even to yawn

affecting

short,

these

no

prophets,

listened

sneers,

and

bug,

But,

discovered, as the valet-species

light

in

few.

heroes or

in

Moses

in

sniffs

not a

'

candid

the

Asphalt Lake farmed

of the

themselves of Moses, that probably he was

a humbug,

that

certainly

Moses withdrew
ous

veracities

did

he was a bore.

but Nature and her rigor-

not withdraw.

The men

of

when we next went to visit them,

changed into Apes " sitting on trees
were all
there, grinning now in the most z^affected man-

Dead

the

Sea,

"

ner

gibbering

nonsense

finding

most indisputable
become a
was.
only,

Humbug

There they
I

and
the

chattering

whole

Humbug
to these
sit

believe, every

and

very

genuine

Universe

now

The Universe had

Apes who thought it

chatter, to

this

hour

Sabbath there returns to

WAGES OF

SIN.

355

them a bewildered half-consciousness, half-reminiscence and they sit, with their wizened, smokedried visages, and such an air of supreme tran;

quility as

Apes may

blinking,

smoke-bleared eyes of

looking out through those

theirs,

into

the

wonderfulest universal smoke of Twilight and undecipherable

disordered dusk of Things

an Uncertainty,

wholly

and

Unintelligibility, they

it;

and

commenting thereon, here and there an un-

for

musical chatter or

mew

Hum-

truest, tranquilist

bug conceivable by the mind of man or ape

They made no use of their souls and so have
I

Their worship on the Sabbath now

lost them.

to

roost

unmusical screeches

with

there,

is

and

half-remember that they have souls.

Didst thou
portions

never,

of this tribe

somewhat numerous

He
at

it,

devil.

in

traveller,

It

seems they are grown

our day.

that falls into sin

may be a saint;
Thomas Fuller.
crimes

All

crimes.

sin

are

that

indeed

may be

boasteth

sins,

in

with

Carlyle.

man

is

fall

that grieves

of

but not

it,

all

is

sins

the thought or secret-

in

purpose of a man, of which neither a judge, nor

a witness, nor any man, can take notice.
Hobbes.

Use
it

will

sin as

it

not spare

will

you

the murderer of the

use you
;

it

is

spare

it

not,

for

your murderer, and

world
use it, therefore, as
should
murderer
be used.
a
Kill it before it
and though it kill your bodies, it
kills you;
;


IDEALS OF LIFE.

356

be able to

shall not
it

it

more

is

upon

sin's acting.

bitterness

in its

commission

conclusion

You

so

sin's

flowing

nothing but woe

your

sin for

sins.

profits

in

will

Dyer.

J.

the visage of sin seen at

dressed and unpainted,

light,

full

un-

were impossible, while

it

any one soul could be in

would rather flee from it as

appeared, that
with

love

sweetness

suffer

you that

on

that see nothing but well

will

never profit by your

Baxter.

following

ever there was

ending than

Were

it

be able to keep you there.

shall not

its

and though
did your Head,

your souls

kill

bring you to the grave, as

There

it

but

it,

hideous and abominable.

Archbishop Leighton.

Sin and hedge-hogs are born without spikes,

how they wound and prick after their birth

we all know. The most unhappy being is he
who feels remorse before the (sinful) deed, and

but

brings forth a sin already furnished with teeth

the

birth,

its

into

an

of which

bite

wound

incurable

soon prolonged

is

of

in

the

conscience.

RlCHTER.
Sin

to

is

matter:

it

the

soul

assimilates

like

to

fire

before

it

combustible

destroys

it.

South.

Once upon
there

which

is

the

inclined

road

we dash down

the quick descent.

is

and

no swiftness so tremendous as that with

the

plane, no insensibility

so obstinate as that which fastens

there

of error,

neither

The

start

stopping nor

on us through

once

made, and

waking

until

the

WAGES OF

SIN.

357

Our natural
and lowest depth is sounded.
fears and promptings become hushed with the
first impetus, and we are lost to everything but
last

the delusive tones

senses and
well

of

which only cheat the

sin,

make our misery harmonious.

opportunities of escape,

all

conscience,

the

the

strivings

whisperings

faithful

Fare-

of

of

shame,

which served us even when we stood trembling

at the

point

fatal

Farewell the holy power of

which made foul things look hideous, and

good things lovely, and kept a guard about our
hearts to welcome beauty and frighten off deFarewell integrity,
joy,
formity
rest,
and

virtue,

disturber of men,

kingdoms, worlds,
ble,

no such

the

man

Melville.

The only

wicked

happiness

is

traitor
;

to

there

any

is

no such

state, as

no such enemy to

enemy of God.
For every

sin

of families,

cities,

trou-

the wilfully

the

public as

Wogan.

sort of suffering there

is

sleep pro-

vided by a gracious Providence, save that of

Prof. Wilson.

sin.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

358

>mmi.
Eye hath not
Him.

Cor. xl

nor ear heard, neither have

seen,

heart of man, the

which God hath prepared

things

entered into the

for

them

that

9.

W[Y SOUL, my soul, Heaven

e^ Wherever God abides,
is

Up lofty stairs in number seven,

And many more besides ?

My

my

soul,

soul,

Where God

is

Heaven

Christ

in

found,

is

That marvellously peaceful haven

Where

My

soul,

fair

all

my

things

soul,

is

abound?

Heaven

Where Hate can never come,

And Love, beyond all thinking even,
In

My

whispers,

silence
soul,

my

soul,

is

Home

Heaven

Where rest is doing good,

And to the constant heart is
The joy

of Brotherhood

given

Are these the walls of Heaven ?

Are these what Truth is worth ?
Are these the four great Thoughts which
leaven
Eternal

life

on Earth

love

HEA VEX.

My

approach the Lord,

to

Is

Heaven

replies that

soul

359.

And, coming with no spirit craven,

To take Him at His word.

To

with

acquaint ourselves

Christ

come acquainted with Heaven. It is

to speak of it, as was said of a Saint

is

be-

to

to be able

of old,

as

where we have already been, and

from whence we have but returned upon an
There is no other possession which has
errand.

of

place

been made our own with as much certainty, no

other place of which, vaguely as we allow ourselves

speak of

to

know
because we know
If

we, indeed,

spiritual
Little,

it

revealed; for

is

true,

the outward

has been

is

only

this,

the true

life

eternal."

" is

made known

of our

constitution

so much.
it

God, and Jesus

about

little

acquaintance with God,

is

know

really

about Heaven,

little

whom He

Christ, in

we

it,

future

to us

of

common-

much has been imparted to us of its inward conditions, and this through experience,
good things given instruct us in good things preLove that " prepares " Many Mansions
pared.
for us, prepares us for what we shall find in
wealth,

them.

We

omy which
that

there

are so ignorant of the

regulates

our

the mere attempt

our

probable
us in

tions, involves

contradictions

and

to

Divine econ-

everlasting

habits, pursuits

habitations,

guess at what

thousand

yet, while

will

be

and occupa-

difficulties

we know

not

and

how

IDEALS OF LIFE.

3G0

we

then

shall

how we

degree,

we know

live,

shall then feel.

form and outline are strange

able essence
die shape

we

or color of

know

only

its

define

either
;

fragrance, unfolding

We

yet love, and peace,

flower,

this

to us, the imperish-

regenerate soul of man.

in the

in

God's glorious Rose

this,

through

it

not

if

Here, while the

we cannot

familiar:

is

in kind,

cannot paint

and joy

the

in

Holy Ghost convey w ithin our hearts a subtle

sense of its odor, and instruct us in the highest
secrets of Heaven.
Miss Greenwell.
Where the soul hath the full measure and
complement of happiness where the boundless
T

of that

appetite
that

fied,

ation

whose

there

think,

be

of

goodness

able to

is

will

thus

heaven, though within

Thus

visible world.

Some
heaven
is

real

once

and
felt

never comes)
lost.

the

wishes

the

of

Himself

circle

limits

of this
in

of his

if

the

sweet
trials

or shades

of

or
of

such perfect happiness

by good people
its

days

happiness

certain

for

anticipate

believe

Whatever

sickness

do,

lives

actually

terminate

Sir Thomas Browne.

own proper body.

years,

this

essence

man may be

the soul of

heaven anywhere, even within

alter-

and

manifest
the

satis-

nor

of that

and the unsatiable

itself,

wherever God
is

heaven

truly

is

enjoyment

the

in

infinite

desires
:

can neither desire addition

that,

can only

ours

it

remains completely

spirit

effect

follow,

death,

(to
is

the

wicked

never

it

wholly

whatever pains of
the

glory preced-

HEA VEN.
ent

through, cheering

shines

still

361

and tinging the deep

guish

the

cloud.

keen anCharlotte

Bronte.
Perfect

freedom,

purity,

of

fullness

joy,

everlasting
com-

perfect health and

substantial and eternal

fruition,

rest,

security,

plete

Hannah Moore.
Our souls, piercing through
behold

flesh,

highest

the

bring knowledge

to

and

Sir

Walter Raleigh.

All things of the Hereafter have their

The

truth,

and grows amid

suns and storms of earth, and

present Heaven,
or,

neglected
sin,

is

a present

"

its

fruit

the

hell,

Eye hath not

Heaven

to

prophetic of the hell to

seen, nor ear heard,

man

God

them

prepared

for

Reader, thy imagination

is

come

a
;

the
that

follow.

neither have

things

which

love

Him."

needs no help to draw*

the counterpart of this picture.

24

blossom

the

and hidden amid the cold impurity

and withers until its blackness-

entered into the heart of

hath

its

and

withers

of

it

begin-

Christly germ, fed by grace

and grows

unfolds

thence

contemplate the everduring

glory and termless joy.

ning here.

impurity of

the

heavens,

good.

"

IDEALS OF LIFE.

*62

\c/WHICH
'

^x

N(

has beginning here,

Confusion dark,

Loveless,

foreboding

Where God

is

less

soul

is

left

Until
In

the

invisible,

fear.

and

less,

dwell

to

utter loneliness.

The state from God apart,

The poisonous damp of death's deep
The vileness of the heart.

well,

Where sinners find their own,

The judgment only they can tell,
Self to

a viper grown.

Which lasts as long as sin,

The outer darkness terrible

To

all

that

are therein.

After a service in

place where the

had been a good deal bewildered by a

ple

ordained preacher,
of the

Bible

who accepted only

as suited his

make merry over the

wont
punishment, a man stepped up

idea
to

so

of

Bishop,

do you believe

in

future

me and

a canting voice
"

self-

much
whims, and who was

to

in

peo-

a hell

said,

"

HELL.
I

"Are you

said,

had a young

"the best answer

I,

heard came from

poor

negro

who

niece,

sorely

The more she struggled

seemed

to

woman.

She

the

poor

tried

to

keep

right

way,

the

wander.

One

day,

after

in

preacher,

this will-

more

she

hearing

came bounding

niece

the

have ever

the

charge

he.

"Well," said

soul.

know what

to

"Yes," said

new

anxious

"

think of hell

ful

363

into the

room, and said

"Aunty,

no more."

dar

If

know whar dey

place

The

for

any

jest

in

hell

wants to

dere brimstone for dat

all

know."

to

like

her eyes on her, and

fixed

said

you look out you don't

darlin',

dey

find

you'll

believe

hell

her cheek,

"Ah, honey
dare,

to

would

woman

old

with a tear on

go

is

gets

what

dat's

gwine

ain't

takes

all

der

own

brimstone wid 'em."

I

then

" Is

said,

there

any other question

theology you would like to ask

"No," said

he.

And he went home,

that

sin

in

brings

sorrow,

hope with a new idea

and that to be saved

we need deliverance from sin.

"their own brimstone," even

Some men
in

this

carry

world.

Bishop Whipple.

The heart
dwells in:
self:

Lucifer

of a
feel

man

the

is

sometimes

keeps

his

court

place
hell
in

the

devil

within

my-

my

breast

IDEALS OF LIFE.

364

Legion

There are as many

conceited worlds.
There

me.

revived in

is

Anaxarchus
hells as
was more than one hell in Magdalene, when
there were seven devils, for every devil is an
he holds enough of torture
hell unto himself;
own ubi, and needs not the misery of
in his
circumstance to
conscience here

The

Thomas Browne.
may indeed in some desperate

Sir

fear of hell

the moxa, give

cases, like

moral lethargy,

thus a distracted

a shadow or introduction into

is

hereafter.

hell

And

him.

afflict

or,

the

like the

first

rouse from a

green venom of cop-

by evacuating poison or a dead load from

the inner man, prepare it for nobler ministrations
and medicines from the realm of light and life,
per,

that nourish while they stimulate.

If

shame, superadded to
the

as

together,

prefiguring the

deprivation
sion

of

face,

mortifying
the

sinner's

portion

Coleridge.

and both met

here,

two saddest ingredients

of

the

blissful

cannot

of

loss,

vice,

vision,

in

hell,

and confu-

prove efficacious

the

perfectly

to

the

church doth give over

Hammond.
Many might go to Heaven
patient.

they go

to

hell, if

they would

dustry the right way.

with half the labor

venture their

Ben Johnson.

in-

THE

WIp
He

that

soweth to his

Jimtta

flesh,

but he that soweth to the

lasting.

Galatians

VI.

DIV1JSE LAW.

shall

shall

Spirit,

365

Jmuu
of

the flesh

of

the

reap

Spirit

corruption

reap

life

and Hell are dated here

Q n parchment of the free - born will

Judgment at last will make it clear,

The mighty law of good and ill.

The Light of Love and Truth Divine,

The glory of the Saviour's blood,
Can make the darkest spirit shine,
And work us everlasting good.
The

false

and

Engrafting
Will not,

evil
in

that

when time

is

with

cherish,

ended, perish,

again.

Prophets as thick as

And

we

our souls the bane,

Never bewildering

human

lives,

one burden evermore,

Proclaim that character survives,

On

ever-

8.

fgEAVEN
m>h>*

reaching the

And

that

to

In

that

far

Eternal shore

everything beyond
land to which

we

go,

Something of earth doth correspond,

To hint what is for us to know.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

3GG

sin

deluded ears and eyes,

Not

perceive

to

Eternity

everywhere beneath the

Is

Earth's only great

reality!

Man's actions here are of

and never die or end
little

at

all

downward low
years of Time

as

Hell,

an

holds

wonderfully hidden.

and

Heaven,

threescore

his

in

to

man, with

reaches upward high as

life,

and

Eternity fearfully

Carlyle.

even Christian

Reader,

moment

infinite

him,
his

skies,

Reader as thy title

Heaven and Hell ?'

goes, hast thou any notion of

I

rather

are

apprehend

on our

tongue they have

or semi-fabulous

pass

on

Often

not!

character for

as

got a fabulous

most of

a sound signifying

little.

Yet it is well worth while for us

once and always, that they are not a
nor a semi-fable
highest

Fact

sulphur

burns

"

No Lake

now
Well,

hold by

as

stages, to wider

has

vanished

anywhere
if

there

believe

all

has

or

Sicilian

these

in

not

did
it

similitude,,

if

thou

not

this.

But that an

Importance, speaking with

ages,"

wilt,

nay,

to higher

and empires.
vanished

other

Believe

increase, a rise

horizons

or

thou wilt as to
Practical

real

of

knowr

to

an everlasting,

they are

that

that there does not;

it

and

us,

a kind of transient similitude, like

like

sayest thou

words

the

All

this

believe

as

Infinite

of

strict

mathe-

matical exactness, an Infijiite has vanished or can


THE DIVINE LAW.
vanish from the
not believe

man:

of any

life

brother,

the

never

like

Oceans,

like

of Terror,

moment

disclose

unnameable ?
Came
gleam of /r^rnatural eternal

indubitable,

thee,

to

itself

thou shalt

this

Infinite

of Hope, of Pity, did not at any

it

367

the

voice

the

of

old

Eternities,

far

Never ?
?
was not thy Liberalism, then it was thy
Animalism! The Infinite is more sure than any
But only men can discern it mere
other fact.
spinning arachnes, much more
beavers,
building
predatory vulturous and vulpine species, do not
sounding through thy hearts of hearts

Alas,

it

discern

well

it

Of law
than

that

Carlyle.

there

be no

can

her seat
harmony

the

is

of the

less

acknowledged

bosom of God, her

world.

All

heaven and earth do her homage,

the

very least

as feeling her care, the greatest as not

exempted

voice the

from her power

both angels and

things

men and

in

crea-

tures, of what condition soever, though each in

different sort and manner, yet all with uniform
consent, admiring her as the mother of their
peace and joy. Hooker.

Law
harvest

immutable, universal, perfect.

The
brought from certain conditions yester-

is
it

brings

to-day,

day,

it

from

like conditions.

it

will

bring

to-morrow

Be not deceived

God

is

whatsoever a man soweth, that

for he that soweth to his
shall he also reap
the
flesh
of
reap corruption
shall
flesh,
but he
that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap
not

mocked

for

life

everlasting."

-.

IDLALS OF

68

LIFE.

mtjjmiitm.

?)RAY

thou,

Thy

Lord,

The vapor

and

in
will

thy confidence adore Him,

be done

Him

of the world will flee before

Like mist before the sun.

And

thou shalt have the sight of Truth Eternal,

As

beautiful as light,

Until thy withered

And

life

again

vernal

is

hid from every blight.

For, hid with Christ in God,

any more

In darkness

how can

it

wither

until thou goest whither

Oh, count it safe
Lord
has
gone
before
The
!

And

think, as oft as thou shalt see affliction,

An
Upon

angel

thy head has dropped a benediction,

flower from Paradise.

Shall
injustice

blind
fixed

rage,

No

not what
the

in disguise

is

in.

the

let

always right

fortuitous

sport

and accuse Providence of

me rather lament that I do

fret,

changes

of fortune,

mind

of

what depends not on

this

world,

but remains

untouched, though

nor

the

unalterably
this

shat-


RESIGNATION.
tered globe

shall fall

369

pieces,

in

and bury us

in

Though I do not lead a virtuous life,

let it show me how I am, and of myself how
weak how far from an independent being given
the ruins.

as a sheep into the hands of the great Shepherd

of

whom

on

all,

man

our cares, for

all

and

right

is

on the road towards

while he joins himself
the world, in spite of

invincible, virtuous

sure

conquest,

to the

deep law of

great,

superficial laws,

all

tempor-

victorious otherwise

course of

into the

soul that

This

not
is

it

fused form

We

it

before

us,

been.
to

all,

is

it

with his

own

properly the soul

definable

is

of Christianity

been, neither had

mands

Islam

for

or getting

it,

good, and alone good.

is

it

know

to

is

it,

that

the soul of Islam

is

of Christianity

a con-

as

had Christianity not

Christianity also

combe resigned to God.

are to take no counsel with flesh and blood

ear

give

wishes

to

know

to

no

vain cavils,
that

we know

seems

befalls us

that

as

we have

sent from

good and wise God

slay

me, yet

its

way

will

denial

to

God

nothing

trust in

of

self,

is

receive

Him.

that

not what

whatsoever

above, and say,

great

is

sorrows and

vain

the worst and cruellest to our eyes

in

he

and surely

chance of co-operating with

his first

is

victorious while he co-operates with that great

central law

it

and

precisely

ary appearances, profit - and - loss calculation

is

He

Burke.

careth for us.

us cast

let

" It

Though He
Islam means

annihilation

of

self.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

370

This

yet the highest wisdom that

is

revealed

True

our earth.

to

Carlyle.

resignation, which always brings with

make even

will

the disappointment of our hopes

and

the contradictions of

grave

casts

fit,

it

goodness

confidence that unchangeable

the

Heaven has

life

but

conducive to some benetranquil

light

over

prospect of even a toilsome and troubled

Humboldt.
We must learn

to

suffer

what

the

life.

we cannot

Our life, like the harmony of the world,

composed of contrary things, of several notes,
sweet and harsh, sharp and flat, sprightly and solemn and the musician who should only affect
one of these, what would he be able to do ? He
must know how to make use of them all, and to
mix them and we, likewise, the goods and evils

evade.
is

which are consubstantial with

life

our being can-

not subsist without this mixture, and the one are

no

less

necessary to

it

than

the other.

Mon-

taigne.

man

can even here be

with God, so

God

We

as he bears

within him.

long

should be able

most holy wishes fade

like sunflowers, because the sun above us still
forever beams, eternally makes new, and cares for
to see without sadness our

all

and a man must not so much prepare himself

for eternity as plant eternity

serene, pure,
else.

full

Richter.

of depth,

in himself:

full

of

light,

eternity,

and of

all

LIFE.

IFE
Is

371

and

supernal, fair

vernal,

the glory of the story,

Via Cruets via Lucis : *

Dawns

in

beauty born of duty;

Joins thereafter Heaven's laughter,

Via Cruris via Lucis

Finds probation tribulation

Onward

presses and confesses,

Via Cruris via Lucis

Bursts the fetter of the letter;

Reckons sorrow joy to-morrow,

Via Cruris via Lucis:

To

the Master in disaster

Bravely clinging, journeys singing,

Via Cruris via Lucis:

Ranges crownward, never downward,

Always loving, always proving,
Via Cruris via Lucis

Dips forever from the River

Everlasting,

still

forecasting,

Via Cruris via Lucis;

The way

of the Cross the

way

of Light.


IDEALS OF LIFE.

372

And

presages

the ages

all

In the sweetness of completeness,

Via Cruris via Lucis.

There

is

perennial

a beautiful

hidden

springs

Rains from heaven

riers,

with

voice

of blackbirds

water, as

it

down, waves upward

rolls

eyes,

gushing

the

like

springtime

the

in

in

over rocky bar-

it,

gurgling,

is

human

from

into

fall

musical

whose source

river,

and the

incense

its

of mist, which the sun kisses, and welcomes with

The

a smile of rainbows.
gentle cascade
places

is

broad and deep, and

But, as the

through which

on

the

stream travels on, the loose

soil

passes

it

lucent water and renders

who

those
for

thirst

are

or

will sink to the

water

to

the

thus they will

some
In

mingles with the trans-

and discolored.

turbid

it

can

obtain

their vessel

if

muddy water by

with

in its mirror.

from the source,

far

pure water,

out the dregs

some

in

calm and clear that flowers

so

banks nod to themselves

Still,

river that receive the

it

by

they

if

filtering

has been

filled

other hands, the sediments

bottom,
operation

they quietly leave

if

of

its

own laws

the

and

be supplied with clean and whole-

drink.

the

long course of

some

the

stream, trees

fall

and form snags which interrupt the free flow of the waters, and impede
the progress of those who are coming up from
into

it

in

places,

below and trying

to

ascend

to

the

source.

Still

"-*
further

down

37a

are stagnant pools, where alligators,

harmless logs,

resembling

devour whoever seeks

lie

ready to

wait,

in

to drink or bathe.

But the worst of all is a strange hallucination

siezes upon many who come to obtain

which

water for their own use.

sizes

all

some

as

large

They bring

vessels

a barrel, others no

as

But whether the vessels

bigger than a thimble.

be large or small, each one, when he has

and

his possession,

of

it

unless

each

his vessel.

one. consider

Vessel.

If that

is

globular, he

his vessel

says

the river to

be long and circular

only

of

it

form

with a clam-shell

is

that

slight a variation as

oyster-shell gives

do

all

these

is

of a

the

rise

become

to

the

river

is

a barrel, he declares

if

little

himself sole

exactly in the shape of his particular

is

orb-shaped;

up a

And

assumes that

proprietor of the river, but he also

the river

in

no other can have a drop

that

be obtained from

it

does

only

not

its

filled

own, declares that he has the whole river

his

of

he scoops

if

he

insists

clam-shell

that

even so

attempt to dip with an

contention.

that

each pelts

So excited
the

other

with stones, to maintain for their respective ves-

monopoly of the river.

Sometimes a philosopher comes along, and says:
"Do
sels the exclusive

you not perceive, friends, that water takes the

form of whatever it is put into ? And that each
of you has only a small portion of the mighty
river, in vessels of such shape and dimensions as

you brought

to it?"

IDEALS OF LIFE.

374

Then they

throw stones at the

to

and while they are thus occupied,

in wait, slyly to seize some of the

philosopher;
alligators

unite

all

lie

angry combatants.

But

far

away from

discordant

the

noise

of

hurling stones, the mighty river, fed by perennial

calmly

flows

springs,

with

on,

who bathe

health to those

in

lapsing

gentle

music; furnishing pure drink to the

thirsty,

and

deep waters.

its

Mrs. L. M. Child.

on

Life bears us

Our boat

river.

channel through
little

stream of a mighty

like the

down

at first glides

the

murmurings of the

playful

brook, and the winding of the

The

ders.

narrow

the

grassy bor-

shed their blossoms over our

trees

young heads, the flowers on the brink seem to

offer themselves to our young hands
we are
happy in hope, and we grasp eagerly at the
;

around

beauties
on,

and

in

youth

deeper

amid

We

magnificent.

around

We

is

and

The stream

may be shipwrecked,
whether rough

home,

ears,

till

or

the

we

at

some

bears
left

of the

passing

short-lived

be

river

ocean

and the tossing of the waves

is

on,

and

us.

We

us

behind

cannot

smooth, the
roar

and
the moving

striking

industry

excited at

our joys and griefs are alike

a wilder and

more

animated

are

are

disappointment.

its

Our course

along

objects

enjoyment

of
us.

but the stream hurries us

manhood

and

flood,

pictures

us

our hands are empty.

still

delayed
hastens to
is

in

our

beneath our

LIFE.

375

and the land lessens from our eyes, and

up around us, and we take
leave of earth and its inhabitants, until of
there is no witness save
further voyage

the

feet,

floods are lifted

Infinite

me

short

too

to

We

shall

put them

bodies

ible

burdened with

all,

world; but the time

this

we

one and

be,

off in

from us with

only the spark will remain,

ciple of

life

Creator to
it

from

the

will

fall

flesh,

and

impalpable prinleft
it

the

came,

the pale
.

which

human

cling.

to brighten

soul

a creed

It is

It

makes

in

which

eternity

a mighty home, not a terror and an abyss.

rest,

Besides,

my

to

trust,

perhaps to pass through gradations

to the seraph.
delight,

sin

and thought, pure as when it

inspire the creature: whence

will return,

of glory,

are,

putting off our corrupt-

cumbrous frame of

this

in

faults in

come when,

will

when debasement and

the

be spent

nursing animosity or registering wrongs.

and must

our

Bishop Heber.

and Eternal.

Life appears to

our

with this

creed, revenge

heart, degradation

never worries

never too deeply disgusts

me

me, injustice never crushes

too low

live

Charlotte Bronte.
when you can enjoy the

in calm, looking to the end.

It

is

to

live

recollection of

God

twice

your former

proves us

in

life.

this

life,

more plenteously reward us

Christian

Luther.

life

consists

in

Martial.
that

He may

in the next.
faith

and

the

Wake.

charity.

IDEALS OF

376

LIFE.

<P
Having;

made known unto us

His good pleasure, which

He

the mystery of His

hath purposed

dispensation of the fulness of times

things in

even

in

both which are in

Christ,

Him.

Eph.

HE

i.

according; to

will,

Himself:

that

mightgather together

Heaven, and which

are

in

in

the

one

all

on earth;

10.

9,

flower unfolded by the sun,

The

transient beauty of a day,

Tells out the

And

He

in

bloom of Heaven

to one,

to another Earth's decay.

The mountain

kissed by sun and storm

Proclaims the message of the sky,

And, down beneath

Sobs

There

its

mighty form,

in Destruction's muffled cry.

is

Or be

no
it

lot,

there

high, or be

is
it

no

life,

low,

That does not share the groan and

The marvel

strife,

of our weal and woe.

The fairest things that fill the eye

Are postured in a mournful light

And all their beauty seems to

To one who has too near a
Oh,

all

die
sight.

the language of the earth,

In every syllable twofold,

Utters the

And

new

eternal birth

sighs o'er something growing

old..

in one.

And must

be forever

it

377
so,

This mockery of wretched man,

All things like

And

hint

Vexed with
I

phantoms come and go,

no satisfying plan

the double speech below,

task the Holy, Perfect One,

Who

in the

ages long ago

Life's grand, eternal

Vexed
I

triumph won.

with the double speech below,

turn and hear the Heavenly Voice,

God

God,

in Christ

And, soothed

For

lo

Lit

For

whom

may know,

at last, rejoice, rejoice.

the darkness turns to light,

by the glory of the Cross

self therein is

bathed

in

out of sight,

And Gain remembers

And

all

not the loss.

Love's Eternity,

All things will feel their travail done,

And,

like the rivers in

Be gathered up

the sea,

at last in

The redemption of Man

the redemption of Nature.

One.

carries

There

is

in

the

its

train

picture

book of Genesis, of someof Nature, when Man by transEden vanished Earth became a
gression fell.
wilderness, Man became a pilgrim, his life became
a march through the hungry, wasteful desert,
set before us

in the

thing like the

fall

25

IDEALS OF LIFE.

378

while his Paradise regained lay awaiting him be-

yond the

ture of the Scripture

ditions of the

the

sustains

This

of death.

river

Man and

which

idea

sphere which

and the study of the con-

of

life

the poetic pic-

is

of the Creation,

behind

lies

Man, the whole world

surrounds

system which serves as the theatre of

As he

ture.

has fallen into captivity to

bondage
Redemption

corruption

to

in

regain

to

Creation, too,
.

is

his

Man,

and

battle,

homelike

is

it is

through

rises

the

may seem more

but that it may

it

transgressor,

the

of discord,

full

is

Like

sympathy.

in
it

suffering, not that

to

evil,

inheritance,

lost

to vanity,

by which he

process

the

help

life,

process of being redeemed.

in

subject

is

it

he

as

groaneth and travaileth

his

speak, to the pitch of his spiritual na-

so to

:set,

that the

it,

is

being

saved.

come when man's redemption shall

be complete when every knee shall bow, and

The day

will

every tongue

Lord

confess that

shall

when peace

eousness

sorrow

in

the wide

and

sighing

Christ

Jesus

through

reign

shall

is

right-

human commonwealth, and

shall

be

banished

forever

from the experience of the race.

And

then shall

Man

with

find

fairer,

himself

face

to

face

a more blessed Creation

and a new earth

shall

be

the

new Heaven

theatre

manifestation of the sons of God."

new, a

J.

for

"

the

Baldwin

Brown.

And what

My

friends,

it

is
is

the
as

breadth

of Christ's

Cross?

broad as the whole world

W
He
He is

ONE.

379

for

died for the whole worm, as

*'

a propitiation, not for

the

for

God

whole

of the

sins

none

written,

is

it

our sins only, but

world

and again,

"

"
and
judgment came on all
men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one, the gift came upon all men to justi<l

again,

that

willeth

"As by the

should

perish

offense,

fication of life."

And that is the breadth of Christ's Cross.

And what is the length of Christ's Cross ?
The

length

How

long,

Long enough
as

there

there

is

to

to

last

in

till

through

He

sorrow,

all

put

hath

it

all

As long
long as

as

death, or any-

pain,

God and
so

written,

is

Christ?

time.

universe of God,

For

signifies

last.

Cross of

the

contrary to

is

the

Christ's Cross last.

reign

will

a sinner to be saved

thing else which

man

is

father,

virtue

its

then,

ignorance,

is

an old

thereof, says

the time during which

hurtful

long

will

He must

enemies under His

and God is all in all.

And that is the length of the Cross of Christ
And how high is Christ's Cross ? As high

feet;

as the

highest heaven,

bosom of

and the
of

which

forever

the

and the throne of God,

Father,

proceeds

all

created

Ay, as high as the highest heaven

will

receive

Cross,

it,

when

into heaven.

for,

out

things.
if

you

hung

upon the
and earth
Christ never showed forth
Christ

heaven came down

ascended

bosom

that

to

earth,

His Father's glory so perfectly as when, hanging

IDEALS OF LIFE.

380

He

upon the Cross,

cried

in

His death agony,

them for they know not what

they do." Those words showed the true height
of the Cross
and caused St. John to know that
his vision was true, and no dream, when he saw
"

Father, forgive

afterwards in the midst of the

it

had been

slain.

And this is the

And how deep
a great

is

height of the Cross of Christ.

own

and

their

lieve

one

nor

Bible,

people

which

in

look at; and darken

because

will,

This

the Cross of Christ?

is

mystery,

these days are afraid to

of their

throne a lamb as

they will

the

voice

it

neither be-

of

own

their

hearts.

But

heaven, then,

deep as
sinner

We

hell,

in the

know

Adam

all

alive."

die,

We

lawful

deepest

He

know

preached

in

that

We
tells

He
for

know

right,

that

in

which he

to

pit

that

even so

know

and

as

seems to me, it must also be as

deep enough to reach the deepest

he
the

to

the

may

fall.

spirits

in

"As in
Christ shall all be made
when the wicked man
it

turns from his wickedness,

is

high

as

it

that

We

prison.

Cross of Christ be

the

if

will

is

written,-

and does
save

his

that

which

soul

alive.

very same chapter

God

that
ways are not unequal
has not one law for one man, and another
another, or one law for one year and an-

us

that

his

other for another.

It is

possible, therefore, that

has not one law for

this

life,

to come.

and another

He

for the life

Let us hope, then, that David's words

IN ONE.

may be
Spirit

up
to

God, he

to heaven,

Thou

hell,

that

that

At

we

after

true,

of

when speaking by

all,

says,

art there," but "

"

art there also

events,

my

if I

and

friends,

shall find St.' Paul's

let

words

Christ's love passes

that

" If

not only

let

the

ascend

go down
us hope

the depth of the Cross of Christ.

is

all

Thou

381

us believe that

true,

when he

knowledge

says

and there-

we shall find this also that however

broad we may think Christ's Cross, it is broader
However long, it is longer still. However
still.
high, it is higher still.
However deep, it is deeper
Yes, we shall find that St. Paul spoke solstill.
emn truth when he said, that Christ had ascended
that

fore

on

high

Christ
till

to
in

He

that

filled

the day

all

in

might
all

when He

all

fill

and

shall give

God, even the Father, that

things

He

that

that

must reign

up the Kingdom

God may be

all

Charles Kingsley.

all.

God, who at sundry times and

ners spake in time past unto

man-

divers

in

the fathers

by the

prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto

us

by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all

things, by whom also He made the worlds
who
;

being the brightness of His glory, and the express

image

things by the

His person, and upholding all

word of His power, when He had

of

by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the

right hand of the Majesty on high; being made
so

much

better than the

inheritance obtained a
they.

Hebrews

i.

1-4.

angels, as

more

He

excellent

hath by

name than

IDEALS OF

382

And what
power

exceeding greatness of His

the

is

LIFE.

us-ward who believe, according to the

to

He wrought

working of His mighty power, which

in

when He

Christ,

and

Him

set

places, far

is

to

come

in
:

His feet and gave

Him

and hath put

Him

name

every

world, but also

this

all

that

things

is

that

in

under

be the head over

to

church, which

to the

things

ness of

and

heavenly

in

and power, and

principality,

all

dominion,

named, not only

which

from the dead,

His own right hand

at

above

and

might,

Him

raised

is

that filleth all in

all

His body, the

all.

ful-

Ephesians

i:

19-23.

Wherefore God
and given

name

that

Him
at

the

also hath highly exalted

name which is above every

name of Jesus every knee

should bow, of things

earth,

and

things

Him,

in

under

heaven,
the

and things

earth

and

that

every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ

Lord, to the glory of
pi ANS

II.

9-I

I.

God

the

Father.

in

is

Philip-

Wmi

Sixth

S*v-&*'

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those

where Christ

sitteth at the right

Not because
self to

cheerful

knowledge

poverty and

affliction,

and wit good-natured.

convert ignorance into

render deformity itself agreeable.

There
selves.

is

He

make beauty

attract-

It will lighten sickness,

an amiable simplicity, and

Audison.

always a spot in our sunshine;

it

is

the

shadow of our-

Carlyle.

Honor and

is

in. 7.

Jacobi.

temper, joined with innocence, will

delightful,

which are above,

Colossians

myself above something, but because I raise my-

something do I approve myself.

A
ive,

I raise

things

hand of God.

profit

do not always

in the

same sack.

George

that reigns within himself,

more than a

lie

king.

Herbert.

and rules passions, desires and

Milton.

(384)

fears,

ilp

The Rose

yknl

JjfeaitM

of Sharon and the Lily of the valley.

Song

of Solomon

On

mountain,
verily

in forest

and

none of which

9.

grow

iF all the wonderful plants that

There are

ti.

field,

know

Whose generous blossoms yield

One -half the fragrance, one -half so sweet,
As the Beautiful Plant that I daily meet.
It

blooms the

And gay
It

first in

at the

the vernal time,

coming of June

ever outlives the Summer's prime

And when

the

Autumn - winds

tune

Their organs to play the dirge of death,

It

scorneth and shunneth their blasting breath.

When
Her
Will

it

Nature at length
children

ever

When
Oh, no

To my

it

all

know

shall

gone

is

in burial array,

to the tomb,

that wickedest

be out of

for every to

its

day

bloom

morrow doth bring

Beautiful Plant the return of Spring.

(385)

IDEALS OF LIFE.

386
It

drinketh the wine from the cup of morn,

And trembles with

And the loving stars
Look down from

And

my

unto

Thou

even born

at

their

homes

of light,

heart forever say,

hast the beauty that lives for aye.

And when I go
And join the

forth to the strife of the world,

hurry and

With banners of
I

rare delight;

light in

forget not that

all

din,

my

soul unfurled,

are kin,

Throughout the one great household of God,

Awake on earth or asleep in the sod.

The

present, the past,

And

am

All things

no longer
behold

Where nothing
And beauty flows

is

and the future are mine,

my own

in the light divine,

ever alone,

forth unto eager eyes,

Surveying the earth or piercing the

In the world's isolation

When

skies.

cannot move,

catch the glory of

all

meant by Universal Love,

To push from the heart the wall
Which is builded of hate and fear and doubt.
And fences immortal companions out.
That

My

is

Beautiful Plant a-through

my

heart

Diffuses such glory and cheer,

I

would never more from the garden depart

Where

it

blossoms through

all

the year,

NOONING.

THE BEAUTIFUL PLANT.

And

daily,

think,

becomes more

Receiving the kisses of purer

Oh who

does not nourish so holy a thing

Though he

And

fair,

air.

the poorest and vilest of

Is

387

live

all

unchallenged a very king,

a world respond to his

call.

Ah, such, I fear, when the earth

The garden immortal will never

is

behind,

find

For this plant is akin to the Tree of Life,

Blossoming under its shade,
And serving to sweeten the toil and strife
Which the Tempter for us has made,
Until at last we climb by its power,

So high as

And

then

to
in

pluck the heavenly dower.

truth

wondrous worth,

of such

roots so deep in the soul,

Its

That when we are weary and done

with

the

earth,
It will

And

go with us over the goal

there, at length, in

It will

In
liveth,

reach with

the

kindred a growth sublime.

meanest thing of every day, no man

interfolded are

human

and reaction
if

it

is

thus

things, dealing with

how

native clime,

no man dieth unto himself, so inwrapt and

action

And

its

its

rru:h

more so

destinies

that

with

the

what
in

in

goes on

is

that

the

outward

material

continual

through
course

and

life..

of

secular,.

great unseen order

WEALS OF

388

where

who

life

man

of

work and

in

touched to surer issues,

are

things

finer

the spiritual

LIFE.

The

himself" for the sake of many;

sciously to a

Christian
"

and prayer

life

kingdom

in

is

one

strengthens

he belongs con-

which there

nothing

is

unrelated.

And

when individualism becomes cramping, narrowing; when we

feel conscious that we cannot breathe and move
freely, either in work or prayer, except through
a time comes to the soul

the universal organic whole

What

is

Christianity

itself,

but living

to

the

whole instead of living to the part ? It gives the

heart Christ instead of itself for its spring and
centre

says unto

it

nor

now,

Paul

Himself as
such

"

if

"

not

even Jesus Christ

have known Him as

we

know Him

no more, but as the great High-Priest

as such

standing

before

sins,

God

whose

the place

in

griefs

Ecce

Homo / The

of humanity

and burdens,

taken upon Himself, first-born

ren.

not

Apollos,

man

Man

Behold the

a merely personal relation, we

in

whose

it,

He

among many

earliest impression

has

brethI

ever

received of Christ was from a colored engraving

with

words beneath
the place where it

these

tinctly

it;

used

remember

dis-

hang;

the

to

crown of thorns, the bleeding forehead, the kind

remember, as a
I
and sorrowful countenance.
Latin words
what
the
two
asking
very little child,
meant; how long have I been in learning their
Miss Greenwell.
full meaning?

THE BEAUTIFUL PLANT.

Doubtless
will furnish

memory

the

389

one of

of each

us

him with the picture of some member

seemed to shed
a daughter, perhaps, whose light

of a family whose very presence

happiness:

even

in

step,

every one's

the distance, irradiated

What was
countenance.
What had
one's power?

the

secret

she done?

of

such a

Absolutely

nothing; but radiant smiles, beaming good humor,

the tact of divining what every one felt and

every one wanted, told that she had got out of

so that at
self, and learned to think for others
;

one time it showed itself in deprecating the quarwhich lowering brows and raised tones
rel,
already showed to be impending, by sweet words;
at
at another, by smoothing an invalid's pillow
at another,
another, by soothing a sobbing child
by humoring and softening a father who had returned weary and ill-tempered from the irritating
;

of

cares
things.

That
Call

None

business.

None but a

but

saw

she

those

loving heart could see them.

was the secret of her heavenly power.

By referyou those things homely trifles?

ence to the character of Christ they rise into

something quite sublime. For that is loving as
He loved. And these trifles prepare for larger
deeds.

The one who

will in trial

be found capa-

ble of great acts of love, is ever the one who is

always doing considerate small ones. The Soul

which poured
for the

human

thought of the

race,

a mother.

was the

F.

disciples,

W.

of

Him who

people,

contrived

Spirit

wants of the

for the rest of the

for

out to death upon the Cross

itself

and was thoughtful

Robertson.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

3U0

mv allpdjjtrofc*
Go

ye into

all

the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.

St.

HEAR,
Of

Mark

hear the voices

those heroic ones

Through whose undying- greatness

One
I

endless purpose runs

feel their exaltation,

Those

levers of the world,

And know
Time

Till

Oh,

in

their mission holdeth

his

wings hath

furled.

the deathless glory

Of those who lived of yore,

The hero, saint, and martyr,
I

range forevermore,

With

joyful heart

and

thankful,

So much of love it sees,

For what the Lord hath given
In His dear witnesses.

But chief of all the voices

That fall on human ears,
Is that which groweth clearer
Through all the lapse of years,

The Master's Great Commission,

His word of boundless range,

Which

travels

through the ages,

Unheeding time or change.

xvi. 15.

BROTHERHOOD.

391

Master, Helper, Saviour,

Thee as to - day
Go up the Mount of Olives,
Upon Thy homeward way,
About to show the nations
The wonder that was hid,
The headstone of the corner
I

see

Of God's Great Pyramid.

And

while expectant angels

bright, triumphal train,

Are gathering to herald

Their Lord to Heaven again,
Thy little band and feeble
I see around Thee there,
The chosen ones and faithful
Of all Thy loving care.
Like meek and patient heroes

Who

heed God's bugle

Comes it at night
Be it to rise or

call,

or morning,
fall,

Those humble ones and

loving,

All having ears to hear,

Now

hear a voice that

To wondrous

lifts

them

atmosphere.

Thy last commandment,

Thy word of boundless range,
Which travels through the ages,
Not heeding time or change:
It is

IDEALS OF

392

Which

places

LIFE.

every hearer

servant in the van,

And

consecrates forever

The Brotherhood

now

to them,

higher charge and nobler

Than

of Man.

bold and great commission

Intrusted

:!

royal

diadem

dear and precious treasure

In earthen vessels here,

Preserved for us

mercy

in

Through many a wasting year!

treasure universal

For

all

the sons of men,

Thou at length in glory

Shalt come to earth again

Till

good and joyful

O sweet and blessed sound,
Borne on by patient heralds
tidings

In all the

world around

Dear Master, Helper,

Thy messengers

Saviour,

are

still

Abroad in every nation,

To work Thy blessed

The breath
Salvation

will

of heaven breathing,.
still

they bear:

Their feet upon the mountains,

Like Thine, are very

fair.

BROTHERHOOD.
Alike

in

393

cloud and sunshine,

As steady as a star
Which treads its pathway yonder,
Their lives and labors are.

shame and triumph,

They look away beyond

Alike

in

Earth's

And

evanescent

evil

never once despond.

For God, they know, in wisdom^

Sends both the good and ill,
And with no selfish murmur

They bide His sovereign will.

Be theirs the fate of Stephen,
Or that of loving John,
Their works are known in heaven,

And

live

forever on.

For chief of all the voices

That fall on human ears,
Is that which groweth clearer
Through all the lapse of years?

Which ranges every hearer

A
And

servant in the van,

consecrates

forever

The Brotherhood

of Man.

happened, once on a time, as

It

and
arts,

fro in the world,

that

they

and hidden away

26

who were

discovered,
in

many

at

men went

to

interested in the
different

countries,

periods,

portions,

it

IDEALS OF LIFE.

394

seemed, of exquisite statues,

broken

torso,

of

these

once

as

perfect.

Each

separate piece as an
into a

the

owing

each

in

them

at

cherished

nation

each

of art;

their

drifted

completed

the

statue

their

own

ability.

to

one upon

were

pieces

They were

from

At

decay of the nations, and to

the

to

of

rise

eral

superb

recognize

ideal

according

conjecture,
last,

an arm, a

foot,

thousand suspicions as to the author and

intention

his

men

made

each

Something

hand.

their

ruins,

collected

all

one

in

the

sev-

museum.

considered as belonging to sep-

still

and periods of art.

Dissertations
were written and lectures were delivered upon
the ideal completions which each nation
them
had made of their several pieces were placed
beside them, and the completions studied with
nations

arate

infinite criticism.

One

in the

collected

knew

when the artist world were

museum, a man whom no one
and slowly went from room to

day, however,

entered,

room examining
another, but

with

some

the famous

remnants one after

passing by the completions of each

indifference.

At

last

he

he approached the

have exam-

group of

artists

ined your

famous pieces of sculpture, and

'

ideal restorations.

Sirs,'

The

ing as examples of art

worthless

as

said,

'

their

restorations are interestat

foundation

different
for

any

periods, but

true

ideal.

you that all your pieces

are of the same time and by the same hand, and
But, did

it

never

strike

!
;

BROTHERHOOD.

395

them together out of

Your ideal
their several rooms and unite them?
know
it
not
you,
and
you
among
statue is
When he had thus spoken, many laughed and
some mocked, but a few were found to listen
the greater part, however, as the stranger grew
more earnest, became indignant for what would
become of their art theories if he were right ?
and drove him out of the museum with ignoBut the few sought him out, and it is said
miny.
that they entered the building by night and
that you have but to bring

brought together the remnants, the stranger superintending,

They saw

and found

unity,

but at the

great

cry

even as he had

said.

piece by piece,

into

end the head was wanting.

of pity

we never

shall

it

statue grow,

the

arose

'

What

they

'
!

see the ideal realized

"

wept,

But the

'

drew from beneath his

cloak the head, and crowned the statue with comAnd as he did so, he passed away
pleteness.
and was seen no more. But the perfect thing
they wept,

stranger, as

remained
ized at
ories,

and

the

last.

and
their

pure ideal of divine

art, fully

Then those few give up

their

delight

restorations,

in the

their

real-

the-

separate remnants

and went abroad, taking

them the perfect thing, to preach a new

kingdom of art and when men asked them to
define and theorize art, they stept aside, and unveiling the statue, said, " Look and see
this is
with

Art.

If

artists.

you can receive

This

is

all

our

it,

you, too, will

definition,

become

this is all

our

IDEALS OF LIFE.

3DG

And some

theory.'

new

but slowly the

to

be

the

mockers found

way,

its

it

till

grew

model of the greater

the

world.

artist

Of what took

won

ideal

and

rule

part of the

believed and others did not,

museum when the

gone
of how they

place at the

pieces

their

fought against the possessors of the statue, and

had anything

denied that

it

remnants

of

how

do with

to

made

they

their lost

counterfeits

of

these remnants, and clung to their ancient restorations

as

yet of a

the true ideals

more

pitiable

thing

need not

own

of

ideas

into

it,

perfect statue,

the

world of

tion of the

written in history
effort

of

back

men

nor

how in afterideal made false

and introducing their

and held up these, and not
for the imitation and aspira-

modifying

it,

of

times the followers of the true

copies

tell

it,

art.

Are not these

things

But again and again, the one

true artists since has been to bring

all

to

the

contemplation

of that single

figure.

This parable illustrates what

The

ing.

truths

scattered

from God.

round the diverse

and

not

did

truths of

Men wove
truths.

reject

but

Himself the previous truths

first

time

fit

into

At

have been say-

the

world were

diverse
last

brought

made

religions

Christ came,

together in

them

for the

one another, so that each took

and then crowned them with the

the truth of the
completing and new truth
Stopford A. Brooke.
Divine Man.

its

place

BROTHERHOOD.
It

Let us
I

not

is

am

beings

to

life

self

indifferent

is

The universe

but one great

is

to each

city,

Epictetus.

other.

name of
all
men

in the

brotherhood which binds

common Father

gether, under the

of

full

human, by nature en-

Give bread to a stranger,

universal

human

Terence.

me.

to

alone.

Menander.

a man, and nothing that concerns

beloved ones, divine and

deared

one's

for

live

one another.

help

397

the
to-

of Nature.

Quintillian.

To

love and

serve

men

all

My

makes

doctrine

no

high and low,

rich

and poor.

It

and

purifies

alike.

the sky, for

who

God,

He

and

As He

and

He

children.

It

and poor.

From

men,

inspires

like

is

men and

for

willed

He made them

all

imposed the same laws

promised immortality to
furnished good for all, and gives the

capacity for virtue to

and no

Father of

all

water

like

is

has

sweet repose of sleep to

a slave,

for

be equal.

capable of wisdom
;

all

rich

girls,

creates

that they should

all

room

has

it

women, boys and

the Hindu.

all.

in

between

distinction

which washes

upon

delight

to

is

Mencius.

God.

all,

one

all.

is

and we are

all,

so

does

He

give

With Him, no one

a

He

master.

all,

by equal

is

is

the

right,

His

Lactantius.

The human
angels, the

heart

heaven

the more
more room. Frederika Bremer.
is

like

IDEALS OF LIFE.

398

prefer

my

family;

Fenelon.

my

family to myself;

and the human race

my country to
to my country.

There are some races more cultured and advanced than others more ennobled by education.
But there are no races more noble than others.
All are equally destined for freedom.
Alexander von Humboldt.
God hath made of one blood all nations of
men to dwell on the face of the earth
:

they should seek

that

might

feel

be not

we

far

live,

xvii.

26,

Lord,

the

Him and

after

find

for

and move, and have our being.

27,

haply they

if

Him, though

from every one of us

in

He
Him

Acts

28.

Jtlojtttttip*

It

comes,

the earth.

if it

comes

Daniel

at

o-T?HIS, this
***

all,

like the

outbreaking of a fountain from

Webster.
is

eloquence,

The language

of the heart,

That native source of excellence

Above
This,

To

this

the realm of
is

art.

eloquence,

beat a falsehood down,

ELOQUENCE.

Too brave

And
This,

give

this

of consequence,

think

to

399

Truth the crown.

to

eloquence,

is

The cairn sincerity,

Which is its own sure
Of manly charity.
This,

this

To

eloquence,

is

erring

set the

Who

evidence,

right,

through the tears of penitence

Go
And

struggling into
this

light.

eloquence,

is

The power

of sacrifice,

That everlasting influence

Which reaches
Eloquence

is

be learnt

not

schools

the

in

does

it

matchless excellence
all

of

classes

perience the

life.

effects

excites

the

soldier

him

the

conflict.

to

weep

over

his

the

very

this

of Garrick, goes directly

whom

skies.

the language of nature, and can-

powerful pleaders, and

In

the

to

the

to

soul.

of

his

like that

Its

and the poor exmagic influence.

It

rich

of

error,

applicable everywhere, in

is

The
to

are

Colton.

not enkindle passion

its

the

charge and animates

The miser
and

depravity,

It

dispels

obscures his mind, and leaves

it

teaches

despise

to

grading betrayer of his peace.

infidel

passions

silence,

it

the

to

the

de-

convicts

the

cloud

that

pure and

ele-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

400

The

vated.

are

guilty

and the innocent

exertion,

cator of their violated

of their

sacred

of justice

courts

monuments of

living

hail

and the preserver

rights

How

reputation.

does the

the vindi-

as

it

its

often

in

the

prisoner behold his

arms unshackled, his character freed from suspicion, and his future left open before him with
all
its
hopes of honors, station, and dignity

And how

often,

in

unmask

Eloquence

the

and overthrow tyranny!

it

is

omnipotent.

ness of
in

the

its

purity

It

is

superiority,

of

its

of legislation, does

halls

expose

intrigue,

the cause

of mercy

corruption,
In

bold

fearless

motives.

conscious-

the

in

and unyielding

All

opposition

it

power it defies. Melvill.

Great is the power of eloquence but never
great as when it pleads alone with
is it so
nature, and the culprit is a child strayed from
his duty, and returned to it again with tears.
destroys

all

Sterne.

3J4?AME, which men desire,

^ Great men and mighty in creative

Does not become a self-consuming

To burn

in

vain

life's

oil

tire,

toil,

FAME.

But a

401

purge

fiery

And secret goad, bestowed by Providence,

To make them braver, better men, and urge
Them on to excellence.
Naught but

excellence,

Their hearts so teach, has any right to live

And hence they

To Art

so terribly, and hence

toil

their lives they give.

Comforted through

her,

The virgin mate of excellence alone,

They feel the pulse of Fame their bosoms

stir,

That flower which must be blown.

They are comforted,

The immortelle
For Fame

yet unproclaimed their own;

sweet,

is

In toilful

God be
The

after

one

is

dead,

unknown.

life

praised for Fame,

shining of His sweet munificence,

Till all find

Him,

The

vindication

universal

in striving for

a name,

only Excellence.

The advocates
its

Fame

love of fame allege in

for the

that

it

is

passion

natural

burning with greatest vigor

in the

and elevated minds

the

that

most enlarged

desire

of

praised by posterity implies a resolution

serve

and

a flame lighted by heaven, and always

their

praises,

and

that

the

folly

being
to

de-

charged

IDEALS OF LIFE.

402

upon

only a noble and disinterested gener-

is

it

which

and therefore not understood, by those who have been always accustomed
osity,

not

is

felt,

and whose

to refer everything to themselves,

self-

ishness has contracted their understandings:

the soul of man, formed for eternal

forward beyond the

springs

and

existence,

operating with
with

endless

duration

much

with so

future

ages,
that

of corporeal
herself as co-

and as co-extended
the reproach urged

petulance, the reproach of laboring

what cannot be enjoyed,

for

naturally

life,

limits

to consider

rejoices

that

founded on an

is

may with great probability be

doubted for since we suppose the powers of the
soul to be enlarged by its separation, why should
we conclude that its knowledge of sublunary
which

opinion

transactions

is

contracted or extinguished?

Dr.

Johnson.
I

fame,

ever labored for

as fame

before

but the

is

would be
ever,

like

the

have

so

" I write,

iety, therefore,

triumph

fancied

" I

For

directly.

of

write,

been repeated
paint, for

about

Fame

constantly has
!

is,

excellence,

it

shadow
Many, how-

attempt to project a

the account of reputation.

How

that

it,

contingent

substance was obtained.

its

fame," has often

been,

who deserved

cannot believe that any man,

it

paint,

should

reputation."

for

have

All anx-

should be placed to

Washington Allston.

mortification

accompanied

with what secret sorrow has that praise

been received from strangers denied to us by

FAME.

our friends
the

403

me more

Nothing astonishes

envy which attends

fame,

literary

than

and the

unkindly depreciation which waits upon the writer.

Of every
apart
It is

species of fame

would seem

it

bought by a

and

seclusion

from
in

that

all

humanity.

What

the

is

privation.

applause

thor have

the

interfere

It

asks

that

requital

ready

is

honors

only

were

that

the

else

and
too

to spir-

material.

Athenians of the

who have struggled through

seized

upon

what greedy

and

readi-

exaggerated

the sneer against his weakness

What
unjust

or

hours of feverish misery have

passed, what

over the

with no one.

and the dark night, for their

Both reproach and scorn. If the auand why should he be exempt from?

they

are

How
been

and

ideal

water,

ness

its

solitary hour,

faults of his kind, with

his error

most

most touching and most elevated

What is the reward that it craves?

earth give to those

the stormy

the

is

world

itualize

to

is

of labor; generally, also, of

life

many a

to lighten

it

bitter

censure

tears have been shed,

and the personal sar-

The imaginative feel such wrong far

casm
beyond what those of less sensitive temperament
can dream. L. E. Landon.
!

IDEALS OF LIFE.

404

Jasiors*

SBASTORS

own sandals
world more fair,

with Christ's

To make

the

shod,

Like Abraham, the Friend of God,

Go forth, not knowing where.

Workers together with the Lord,

They labor at their best,
Forever faithful to His Word,

And

that alone

rest.

is

Like Judah's Lion, firm they stand

In their appointed place,

And,

They

all

Lamb

like the

through

the land,

carry grace for grace.

ye people, pray

Who

all

for

them

choose a servant's part,

And ye shall be
And God shall

their diadem,

be their heart.

encouragement the reward

that awaits the faithful minister. Such is the mysterious condescension of divine grace, that though
Recollect for your

it

reserves to

the

itself

fountain of

human agency

the

all,

yet,

in the

contrives to multiply

exclusive honor of being

by the

employment of

completion of
its

gifts,

and

its

designs,

it

to lay a foun-

PASTOBS.
dation for eternal rewards.
the

bride adorned for

Christ as a

who

bridegroom 's

voice.

the church, in

be presented to
her husband, the

appear as the friend of the

pastor will

bridegroom,

Lord,

When

of beauty, shall

perfection

faithful

405.

greatly rejoices because of

His joy

the

be the joy of

will

same

inferior in degree, but of the

and arising from the same sources

his

nature,

while he will

have the peculiar happiness of reflecting that he

has- contributed

to

an

contributed, as

it,

humble

instrument, to that glory and felicity of which he

be conscious he

will

To have been

take.
to

utterly

is

unworthy

himself the object of mercy,

have been the means. of imparting

and

dispensing

of

par-

to

the

to others,

it

unsearchable

riches

of

produce a pleasure which can never

adequately felt or understood until we see

Christ, will

be

Him

as

He

There

Robert Hall.

is.

nothing

is

noble

a clergyman but

in

burning zeal for the salvation of souls

poor

thing

worldly

God

is

but

profession

his

in

spirit.

nor any-

idleness

and

Law.

the fountain of honor, and the conduit

by which He conveys it to the sons of men are

virtues and generous practices.
Some, indeed,
may please and promise themselves high matters

from

terests,

makes
their

full

revenues, stately palaces, court

and great dependences.

But that which

be knowing in

the clergy glorious,

is

to

unspotted

in

their

profession,

and laborious

in

their

charges,

in-

lives,

active

bold and reso-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

406
lute in

and

opposing seducers, though never so potent

illustrious

and, lastly, to

be gentle, courte-

and compassionate to all. These are our

robes and our maces, our escutcheons and highest

ous,

South.

of honor.

titles

:mi

when I think of Thee,

Thou didst for love of me,
for grace, that I may know
I Thy love may others show.
Saviour,

e>

^ And

cry

How
For

this,

all

Lord,

mine to
would be

is

And to my work I
To lead Thine erring
Thou

lovest

them as

do,
true,

ones to see
well as me.

Do Thou in this my efforts aid,

And with Thy love my soul pervade,
Until a guiding flame

And wandering

it

burn,

ones to Thee return.

Do Thou in this my labor bless,

And many unto righteousness
Shall

And

at length,

Lord, incline,

as the stars forever shine.

ZEAL.

The

only true zeal

a good light

that which

is

innocent

is

by

guid^c*

and that which consists

in the head,

of eood and

#fl

in the heart.

affections

Sprat.

To have

co-operated

in

any degree towards

the accomplishment of that purpose of the Deity

to

reconcile

them

things

all

to

Himself by reducing

to the obedience of His Son, which

ultimate end of

His works,

all

to

the

is

be the means

were but an inconsiderable portion of a lapsed and degenerate race to

of recovering though

it

eternal happiness, will

yield a satisfaction exactly

commensurate to the force of our benevolent sentiments and the degree of our loyal attachment to

Supreme

the

volved

Potentate.

a soul

saving

in

The consequences infrom death, and hiding

a rmdtitude of sins> will be duly appreciated in

that world where the worth of souls and the
malignity

of sin

are

fully

understood

while

to

extend the triumphs of the Redeemer, by forming

Him

in the hearts

of men, will produce a trans-

port which can only be equalled by the gratitude

and love we shall feel towards the Source of All

Good. Robert Hall.

When
what
of

it;

think, after the experience of

could and would do

what

ter than

of temperance, and

for

for

more and

bet-

the cause of humanity,

of peace

rod of the oppressor

life,

an amended edition

could and would do,

have done,

one

the

for

breaking the

higher

education

of the world, and especially for the higher educa-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

408

tion of the best part of

of these things,

me

within
in

furlough,

quarters,

would

yearn,

behalf of right,

without

Phoenix

feel the

pant,

woman

it,

in

to

enlist
it

for

into winter

another

years'

fifty

out for the glory of

God

Horace Mann.

and the welfare of man.

fervent and zealous as

is

glowing

wrong, where,

and without going

campaign, and fight

No man

spirit

think

another warfare

for

hostility

when

he

ought,

but he that prefers religion before business, charity

own ease,
money, Heaven

before his

before

and God before

rule

before

friend

secular

or

regards,

Which

interest.

not to be understood absolutely, and

is

particular

when

his

the relief of his brother

it

but

instances,

descends

proportion to

measures.

to

always

particulars,

and
must be in

generally
it

circumstances, and by their proper

Jeremy Taylor.

G2S52O^D-

3falur%

THE GOLDEN BOUGH.

OOK

in

up,

my

soul, the

The Golden Bough

is

heavens are blue

always there

NATURE.

And One

there

Tis thou

Thy

sins,

forever true,

that art both foul

and

fair

the clouds that are so black

Find out the

No more to
And then
To

is

409)

One and

they

hide His face

all

will flee,

come back

beauty thou shalt see.

thee kind Nature ever sings,

Forever chants some gentle song

To tell thee
To whom

of the

King of

kings,

alone thou dost belong.

She dandles thee upon her knee,

This mother of all things below,
And frowns and smiles to fashion thee
Till thou thy other Parent know.

The Golden Bough her token

is

That thou hast pierced her mystery,

And

found the dear perennial

The

bliss,

bliss of immortality.

Look up, my soul, the heavens are blue^

The Golden bough is always there>
And One who is forever true
Bestows that Bough on all the fair.

It

some

is

strange

men,

to

before

observe

whom

heaven and earth pass

out touching
27

their

the
all

in daily

hearts,

callousness
the

glories

succession

elevating

their

of
of

withfancy,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

410

or

who pretend

whom

there to

to

sensibility,

the lustre

night sky, the mountain

change

concave of the mid-

of

and

hill

tossing and rear-

forest

summer evening

of

or the

rising

or warbling with

ing to the storm,

odies

of the

sparkling

the

sun,

setting

Even of
how many are

any durable remembrance.

leaving

those

shade

dale,

sweet

the

the mel-

all

and

inter-

sunshine,

grove, lawn, and water, which an extensive land-

scape

offers

view

the

to

the

scenery of the

ocean, so lovely, so majestic, and so tremendous,

and the many pleasing varieties of the animal

and vegetable kingdoms, could never afford so
much real satisfaction as the steam and noise of
a ball - room, the insipid fiddling and squeaking
of an opera, or the vexations and wranglings of
a card

There
a

holy

religion

of nature, which

imitate.

It

stealing

no

a religion in everything around us

is

and

calm

things

it

Beattie.

table.

as

in,

comes

is
it

quietly,

meek and

glowing

Great
is

it

from

Spirit,

in

approaches

its
;

it

the

influence,

has

it

it

does

untrammelled by

is

immediate

it

presence

of

which pervades and quickens

written on the arched sky

every star

to

and unshadowed by the superstitions

is fresh from the hands of its Author,

the creeds,

man

blessed

well

and without excitement

not rouse up the passions

of

unbreathing

were, unawares upon the heart

no gloom,

terror,

the

in

man would do

is

on the

sailing

it

the
it

it

looks out from

cloud and in the

NATURE.

among

411

and valleys
of the earth, where the shrubless mountain - top
pierces the thin atmosphere of eternal winter, or
wind

invisible

where

is

it

mighty

the

strong wind with

it

spread

is

hills

fluctuates

forest

like

nature

poetry of

ocean

us until

look

shadows

the

which

breaks,

is

it

link

place

after

binds us to materiality

uplifts

the

the

the

link,

probation

of

chain

and which opens

is

it

strong enough to over-

our

of

which

this

is

it

the

upon

language,

legible

the broad face of the unsleeping

spirit within

before

dark waves of green foliage;

its

out,

the

that

to our

imagination a world of spiritual beauty and holi-

Ruskin.

ness.

As a countenance
soul's shining

through

this

it

by the

beautiful

so the world

it,

by the shining through

How

made

is

of God.

is

beautiful

Jacobi.

magnificent temple of Nature exalts

and enlarges the human soul

of night is spread around us

The

holy silence

above our heads,

the bright celestial luminaries are suspended, like

lamps
the

on one side

evening red

is

some

on the

lingering

other, the

shimmer of

moon

softly

rises up from behind the shadows of the forest.

At such moments the soul is deeply impressed
with the beauty and the nothingness of earth.

What
this

refreshment

star,

through
ishing

with

life

is

sun

heaven,

of

lights

the

God

has

and

provided

moon, those

alternately

Yet how

low,

speck of

earth,

and

for

us on

two

fair

conducting

us

small,

and van-

compared with the

'

IDEALS OF LIFE.

412

measureless

and glory of suns, stars,

Oh, how grand is the dwelling in

splendor

and worlds

me How fair by
and by day! That uttermost star lights
me on my way; the harmony of all the stars,
the music of spiritual ideas and relations, accomwhich

the Creator

has placed

night

panies

me

through the whole of

course.

life's

Herder.

am

and lately I was not.

But whence ?
How ? Whereto ? The answer lies around, written in all colors and motions; uttered in all tones
of jubilee and wail; in thousand -figured, thousand - voiced, harmonious Nature
But where is
the cunning eye and ear, to whom that God I

apocalypse

written

Creation

lies

but the sun that

from

made

us.

Carlyle.

Nature

never

mountains, the

language

dant woods

it

streams,

behind

lies

deceives

you

always

us, is

the

hidden

the

rocks,

speak the

same

shower of snow may hide the verin spring, a

der the blue, limpid

thunder-storm may ren-

streams

foul

and turbulent

but these effects are rare and transient

hours, or at

meaning

will yield articulate

before us, like a glorious rainbow

most

in

a few days,

of beauty are renovated.

And

all

in

a few

the sources

nature affords no

continued trains of misfortunes and miseries, such

as

depend upon the

constitution of

hopes forever blighted

of

life,

prime

in the bud,

humanity
no beings,

no
full

beauty, and promise, taken from us in the

of youth.

Her

fruits

are

all

balmy and

NATU11E.

sweet

none of those blighted ones,

she affords

common

so

the

in

413

life

of man, and

so like the

Dead Sea, fresh and

but, when tasted, full of
Sir Humphry Davy.

fabled apples of the

the

ful to

sight,

ness and ashes.

Nature

gaged

be reported

will

writing

in

rock leaves

ing

the river

bones

makes

in

the animal

soil,

fern

and

The

coal.

snow, or along

footstep in the

its

The

march

more or

every act of

The

air

lull

covered over with hints

is

Hugh

the intelligent.
In nature

all

perfect frugality

is

all

more
what

is

the

for

with

superfluous,

face.

and every
which speak to
the

exact

and

principal to everything.

The Author

own

best,

with

and reserve, profuse to none, but

never employing on one thing

enough, but

trenching

but

map

Miller.

managed

bountiful to

than

of sounds, the sky of tokens, the

ground of memoranda and signatures

object

not a

inscribes itself in

the memories of his fellows, and in his

is

drop

the ground,

less lasting

man

its

leaf their
fallen

sculpture in the sand or stone

its

prints in characters

of

the

the

the
roll-

on the mountain,

scratches

stratum,

the

epitaph

en-

planet,

shadow.

its

channels in the

its

in

modest

its

The

history.

its

pebble, goes attended by

bitter-

are

things

all

beauti-

economy

re-

adding force to
Shaftesbury.

of nature has not given laws to the

universe which, like the institutions of men, carry

in

themselves the elements of their

tion.

He

has

not permitted

in

own

destruc-

His works any

IDEALS OF LIFE.

414

symptom of infancy or old age,

which we may estimate either

He may

their past duration.

no doubt gave a beginning,

at

their

that

to the present

great

this

future

put an end, as

some determinate period of time

rest assured

any sign by

or

but

or

He

system

we may

catastrophe will not

be brought about by the laws now

that

is

it

not

indicated

existing, and
by anything which we

John Playfair.
Nature, the handmaid of God Almighty, hath
nothing but good advice, if we make researches
into the true reason of things.
James Howell.
Nature knows no pause in progress and development, and attaches her curse on all inaction.
Goethe.
perceive.

^O?o.

lfpnjfti}ni$$.

$E)ERENNIAL

sunshine of the heart,

Which keeps our life in flower

Through some mysterious, native art,
So marvellous

in

power.

The swift adjustment to the

Amid the outward gloom,

No

best

lack of sunshine in the breast,

For darkness there no room.

CHEERFULNESS.

Repose

in

Which

415

God's good providence,

in

both smile and frown

Displays His grand beneficence,

And

infinite

renown.

The calmness of a hidden life

Of unproclaimed delight,
With blessedness of duty rife,

And God

keep

to

bright

it

The sweet contagious

Which does a work

radiance

In lighting others with

work

us,

Be

his

time,

he

vere longer.

said

to

spheres.

what

occupation

who

will

One

will

be

bright.

Be

the

Wondrous
Efforts, to

in the

scarcely sensible

of fatigue

better,

is

stars are
in

their

the strength of cheerfulits

powers of enuseful, must

be permanently

spirit

from very gladness,

Carlyle.

is

same pur-

do more

marches to music. The very

make harmony as they revolve

uniformly joyous,

graceful

may, he

will perse-

it

ness, altogether past calculation

durance.

sings at his

he

do

is

it

follow

He

suit in silent sullenness.

whilst he

glance,

man who

give us the

equal to any of those

same

its

they begin to shine.

Till

Give

divine,

all

sunshine,

beautiful

because

no matter what reverse obstruct

your pathway, or what plagues follow in your
cheerful,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

416

annoy you. Ask yourself what is to be

gained by looking or feeling sad when troubles
throng around you, or how your condition is to
be alleviated by abandoning yourself to despondIf you are a young man nature designed
ency.
to

trail

you

to "

be of good cheer

your road to

"

and should you

fortune, fame, or

any other boon

to

find

respectability, or

which your young heart

pires, a little thorny, consider

all

it

as-

for the best,

and that these impediments are only thrown

your way
a whole
mitting

life
toil,

though you never

unnerve

to

naturally sweet

are

the

cheerful

fairer

link,

is

wound around
the

of

when compared with

cheerful

unrealized,

the

heart.

If

you
be

afflictions

disappoint-

hope banish despair

let

fastened

your

sour

humanity,

though we know that most

over fond hopes

cial

turn back at

disposition.

portion

ment and neglect, yet

and ill forebodings. Be

to be

to

your energies, or

and cheerful

softer,

are sweet to you

after

attain the pinnacle

desires, than

appearance of misfortune, and allow de-

first

spair

part.

diligent, aye,

in

of your ambitious
the

and more paFar better spend

cheerful and unre-

to induce greater efforts

endurance on your

tient

in

on

do not brood

until

each

thought,

chain, link

and

Nature intended you

fountain-spring of cheerfulness and so-

and not the traveling monument of deSir Arthur Helps.

and melancholy.

life,

spair
If

we

consider

with regard to

cheerfulness

ourselves, to

in

those

three

lights,

we converse

CHEERFULNESS.

and

with,

to

of our being,

little

accounts.

frame

cellent

great Author

the

recommend itself on each

The man who is possessed of

not a

will

417.

mind

of

and

of

faculties

his

in

the powers

all

His

soul.

his

this ex-

only easy

not

is

thoughts, but a perfect master of

it

of these

imagination

is

and his judgment undisturbed; his

temper is even and unruffled, whether in action
He comes with relish to all those
or in solitude.

always

clear,

goods which nature has provided for him, tastes

all the pleasures of the creation which are poured
about him, and does not feel the full weight of
those accidental evils which may befall him.

we

If

whom
love

consider him in relation

converses

he

good

and

mind

is

obliging,

those
finds

not

but

it

disposed

only
raises

within

he

pleased,

be

to

its

him.

same

the

to the persons

naturally

towards

will

who come
himself

with,

produces
cheerful

and

affable

good humor

influence.

does

not

in

man

know why,

with the cheerfulness of his companion.

like

It is

a sudden sunshine that awakens a secret delight

in

the

heart

mind,

without

rejoices

of

its

her attending to

it.

The

own

flows out into friendship

accord, and naturally

and benevolence towards

the person

who

has so kindly an

of nature.

An

inward cheerfulness

upon it.
When I consider this cheerful state of mind
in its third relation, I cannot but look upon it as
a constant habitual gratitude to the great Author
praise and thanksgiving

to

effect

is

an implicit

Providence under

all

IDEALS OF LIFE.

418
its

dispensations.

the

approbation

levity

distinction
to levity

fulness.

and a secret

placed,

Will

conduct

his

in

Addison.

Between
open

are

Divine

of the

toward man.

a kind of acquiescence in

is

we

wherein

state

wide

It

and cheerfulness there is a

and the mind which is most

frequently a stranger

is

cheer-

to

has been remarked that transports of

It

intemperate mirth are often no more than flashes

from the dark cloud, and

the violence of the

gloom.

Levity

or

folly

vice

that

effulgence

may be

spring of wisdom and virtue

an occasional agitation
habit.

other

The

degrades

one

To aim

and

at

the

of relig-

succession

of high

perate enjoyment

the utmost that

Beyond
our state and
;

deavoring
fallacious

to

this

in

we
fact

heighten

idea

is

allotted to

depress our joys by enthem.

us,

us a cheerful tranquillity.

Instead of

those

festivity with

which

religion confers

upon

Instead of dazzling us

with meteors of joy which sparkle and expire,

sheds around us a calm and steady

more

equal,

and more

of

struggle in vain to raise

hopes of perpetual

the world would allure

an

is

Calm and tem-

chimerical.

man.

the

dignity of

spirit

happiness perfectly
is

is

permanent

character;

with

of pleasure

sensations

vivid

off-

The one

other a
the.

a constant

natural

only.

and manly

reason, and the steady

ion.

the

perfectly consistent

is

production of

the

is

to

succeeding

the

is

the forced

cheerfulness

proportion

in

lasting.

light,

Hugh

more

it

solid

Blair.

The

CHEERFULNESS.

419

cheerfulness

basis of

true

is

love, hope,

Love evokes love, and begets

Love cherishes hopeful and
loving -kindness.
and

patience.

generous
gentle,
It

thoughts

and

turns to

face

is

of

truthful.

It

others.

is

brightest side

the

It

charitable,

is

discerner

of good.

of things, and

ever directed towards happiness.

It

its

sees

and the sunshine on the

It encourages happy thoughts, and lives
flower."
It costs nothin an atmosphere of cheerfulness.
ing, and yet is invaluable; for it blesses its possessor, and grows up in abundant happiness in
Even its sorrows are
the bosoms of others.
linked with pleasures, and its very tears are
'

the glory in the grass,

sweet.

Smiles.

Kind words cost no more than unkind ones.

Kind words produce kind actions, not only on
the part of him to whom they are addressed, but
on the part of him by whom they are employed
and this not incidentally only, but habitually, in
virtue

of

the

Ben-

principle

of

hath

one -half the might of

association.

THAM.

Power

itself

gentleness. Leigh

Good temper

is

not

Hunt.
nine- tenths of Christianity.

Bishop Wilson.

Gayety
rational,

cine for
all

and

courage, innocent gayety

honorable courage,

young men, and

men against
Go forward

are

for

sad thoughts.
with hope and

old

the

and

best medi-

men

too;

for

Luther.
confidence.

This

IDEALS OF LIFE.

420
is

the

advice

has had a

full

given

thee

share

of

by an old man, who

the

burden and heat

ol

We

must ever stand upright, happen

what may, and for this end we must cheerfully

life's

day.

resign ourselves

many- colored
but

trifles

You may

life.

you are partly

varied influences of this

the

to

right,

call this levity,

flowers
but such

and

for

light as air,

our

human

levity

is

a con-

without

stituent

portion

which

would sink under the weight of

it

of

nature,

While on earth we must play with

with that which blooms and fades upon

and

colors are

earth,
its

time.

and

breast.

The consciousness of this mortal life being but

the way to a higher goal by no means precludes
our playing with it cheerfully; and, indeed, we
must do
entirely

so,
fail.

otherwise

our energy

in

Perthes.

iompitliom

TxHOU that
^ Compete for

,Sft
(2x

dost so mightily

highest places,

Be on thy guard lest utterly

Thou miss the highest graces.

action

will

COMPETITION.

Thy

421

heart shall find the noblest things

What
And,

time thou truly servest,

in thy

deepest hungerings,

Thy manliness

preservest.

God's blessed things are free as air

Through all the world before thee,
To Love and Duty everywhere
An ever - present glory.

But him who puts

To

manhood

his

gain a shining bubble,

Will fiery serpents sting and

And make
There

is

it

are,

his

more good words

think,

a great incentive to

function

scoff,

judgment double.

against Competition than

said

off

for

exertion

it.

to

No

but there

be

doubt,
its

good begins and ends. It is no

Love
and is first cousin, with no reto Envy.
Then it deranges and puts
for

friend to

moves,

quite out of place the best motives for exertions.

"

Read your book because

ing

and you

his,

with him,

Consequently,

parted, the

of

in

you do not take care."

if

about learning

nothing
itself.

be beaten

will

that competition

motive

that other

book

him who

is

boy

is

the

Such

administers, but

read-

contest
the

is

it

says

being a good thing for

when

the

apt to drop

chiefly used

it

competitors

are

out of the hand

as a storehouse

of

weapons.

Then, again, when education has been greatly

IDEALS OF LIFE.

422
built

upon

made

too

sadly

discouraged.

motives of competition, excellence

much

and moderate proficiency

of,

very

injurious

effect

used to compete.

am

" If I

not everything,

clines to sing, or to play,

is
is

who

thus produced upon the mind of the person

has been

is

He, or she, thinks,

am
or

and de-

nothing,"

to

draw, or to go

some accomplishment, because it has

been ascertained by competition and examination,
on

with

at a certain time of

do

The world

better.

moreover,

and,

inferiority in anything,

cludes excellence in

time of

people could

loses a great deal

by no

is

it

that other

life,

at

that

means

by

this

that

certain

one time of

same thing

pre-

life,

another

at

life.

however,

Competition,

not

will

cease

be

to

urgently employed as a motive, indeed as a

first

motive, until the mass of mankind become real

Christians
an event which does not seem likely
The practical object,
to happen in our time.
therefore, is to see what limits and restraints can

be

applied

three

to

competition.

should

propose

i.

Do

reasons.
that,

for

not apply
In

the

the

mere

it

first

to the very young, for twfl

experience

place,

acquisition

shows

of knowledge,

it

and
to work the brain early
that children that are somewhat let alone as regards learning, surpass the others when the time
does not answer

for diligent

study comes.

define

time

this

that

is

do not pretend
matter

to

upon which

COMPETITION.

who

those only

423

education can pro-

are skilled in

nounce.

The second reason

speaking, to

that

is,

is

it

morally

well,

children get the habit of regard-

let

ing their fellows as friends and playmates rather

than as

rivals.

Never apply competition as a motive in

Looked at in the most businesslike
a family.
and worldly way, it does not pay. Let us take
a familiar and domestic instance, for abstract
2.

though

talk,

much

apt to be

is

Charley's

for

Let the

for his early

And

let

advice,

or

presence.

administer

father)

time

in

late.

and encourage James

but not in

(the

down

always

is

Charles

praise

rising,

two sons, James and

father has

James

Charles.

breakfast:

him

result.

father

sounds grandly, seldom leads to

it

good

Charley, in the matter of early rising,

blame, to

without saying one word about Jamesie's merits,

or holding him up

and

disliked.

family

interests

should

he

It

far

is

that

be

Charley's

love

domestic

life.

least,

Jamesie

than that
with his

the eighth wise

are odious

And

the

odious comparisons are

to

for

for the

up early.
That splendid copywonder who first said it?
I
it

must have been

Comparisons

followed

by competition

incited

brother to get

book, saying

to be

more important

not be diminished in the

should

incite

a model

for

competition.

is

man

of Greece

especially

most

true

unpleasant

always brought out

in

and
to

IDEALS OF LIFE.

424

purposes

for

If,

3.

some period of

at

almost

say

be as

little

for a

youth

fierce,

have

life,

be,

beat certain

must,

would

any rate

competition, at

let

it

Let the object

to get into a certain class, not to

other youth

seems

to

bar up

and

say,

"All

The

or youths.

good model.

furnish

be considered

those

that

Put a

and then

"

over

leaping

in

riding

leap over this

good horsemen

who do succeed

the youths

earnest,

individual as possible.

school

shall

education, you

of

it,

congratulate one another, and have a feeling

will

of pleasant

companionship, rather than

rivalry with

each other.

bars as you

like,

test different

ship

You may have

of bitter
as

many

of different heights, in order to

degrees of excellence

but do not inquire

in

horseman-

curiously into

too

the

exact merits of each individual rider, and seek to

put him

That
all

will

come

what you may

in

call

his

proper place.

be found out soon enough when

to ride across the

country, -the

country of public or professional

they

difficult

life.

After the foregoing illustrations, which are of

a very homely character,

what abrupt

it

may seem

a some-

transition to revert to religious con-

siderations.

essay without

But I cannot conclude this short

remarking that competition is not

much encouraged

Books
There is a
and by the Divinest of Teachers.
command the great command about loving one
another, but none about competing with one
another.
Yes; perhaps there is (at any rate an
a

thing

in

the Best of

COLD-WATER POURERS.
implied
place.

command) to compete
-Sir Arthur Helps.

Iclh-llfitbtj

425

the

for

lower

JWtm*

o^j?HEIR lives are but this epigraph,

cWd Which serves them for an epitaph:.
In

all

And

new things

they

found a flawr

never once a virtue saw.

Ah, when they

way

find their

to heaven;

Will heaven for new things be forgiven?

Regarding,

humorous

company with a
a noble vessel of a somewhat

one

friend,

day,

in

novel construction, sailing slowly out of port, he

observed,

"

What

a quantity of cold water some-

In my
body must have had down his back "
innocence I supposed he alluded to the wet work
of the artizans who had been building the vessel
but when I came to know him better I found
that this was the form of comment he always in!

when contemplating any new and great

work, and that his somebody was the designer of
dulged

in

the vessel.
28

My

friend

had

carefully studied the

IDEALS OF LIFE.

426

and there was a

art of discouragement,

men whom
pourers."

he designated simply as
It

was most amusing

scribe the lengthened

and

of

of the

who

of him

adventurous

the

of

class

cold-water

to hear

suffering

designed a wheel

first

boat;

"

him de-

man who
built

first

who

personage

proposed the daring enterprise of using buttons instead of fishes' bones to fasten the scantyfirst

raiment of some savage

theme,

he

scribing the long career of

rash

these

with his

said, to

their

themselves,

knowledge, must have

his

He

lives.

in de-

discouragement which

men had brought upon

and which, he
shortened

Warming

tribe.

would become quite eloquent

invented

imaginary

dialogues between the unfortunate inventor, say of

the wheel, and his particular friend,

cold-water pourer.

For,

who

has some such friend,

and

to

whom

as

he confides

fascinates

man

every

said,

him by

fear,

order

his enterprises in

to hear the worst that can

The sayings

he

some eminent

be said of them.

of the chilling friend, probably, as

he observed, ran thus

"We seem to have gone on very well
:

thousands

Your
king

of

years

father carried
is

burdens

is

on

his

for

thing.

back.

The

not too proud to do the same.

question whether

attempt to

shift

it

is

Then, as to

not irreligious to

from men's shoulders their nat-

ural burdens.
"

rolling

this

content to be carried on men's shoulders.

The high -priest

Indeed,

without

its

succeeding,

for

my

part, I

COLD- WATER POUEERS.

How

see no chance of that.

How

is

one

you have

to stop

and

time;

going down

Besides, you

You

my

as

go up

hill?

How

often
of

are losing your

yams about your hut are only

the

half- planted.

duty,

it

fanciful things

failed before in other

same nature

the

it,

can

427

be a beggar; and

will

to

friend,

tell

you

so

it

is

plainly.

There was Nang - Chung what became of him ?

We had found fire for ages, in a proper way,
taking a proper time about it, by rubbing two
sticks together.
He must needs strike out fire
and did he die in
at once, with iron and flint
Our sacred lords saw the impiety of
his bed ?
that proceeding, and very justly impaled the man
who imitated the heavenly powers. And, even if
:

you could succeed with

ing

would

State

the

thing,

new and absurd

this

be

ruined.

roll-

What

would become of those who now carry burdens

on their backs ? Put aside the vain fancies of a
childish mind, and finish the planting of your
yams."

No

one who had not

my

heard

ingenious

friend throw himself into the part of first objector,

can well imagine

against

the

invention

invention was

and
it

its

of

there

is

Besides,
difficulty

it

weapon

into

impossible,

if

it

were

It

was putting a

and,

when

the juice

of

every

unnecessary,

was

would be most dangerous.

ready

be said

to

The proposed

forks.

impious, troublesome,

ludicrous.

reason of

how much

possible,

angry man's

the grape

is

by

hands,

mounting

into

IDEALS OF LIFE.

428

would mount into the headseven of the wisest. Who would answer for the
deaths that would ensue from these dangerous
men's heads

and

it

weapons

being

could be

no blessing on a meal that was to be

always close at hand

They had a famine

eaten

with

forks.

when

two

million

What would happen

come

into

use

would

for

it

use

them.

four great

that

what was

Tang rang
-

anguish.

in

they could be used

take a lifetime

Then,

last year,

the year after forks should

Not

died

Celestials

There

to

learn

how

to

become of the

to

ceremonials, which

all

de-

pend upon the meat being taken, bit by bit, in

due succession, between the thumb and each of
the several fingers ? How was the Celestial monarch to show his .world - astonishing favor to a
wisely

sonage

controlling minister,

could

his little finger a

boiled

irradiate with joy

the

into his

when

that royal

not take between his

bird's

nest,

statesman,

per-

thumb and
and forever

by throwing

mouth, held open reverently?

The

it

thing

could not be done and he who should endeavor

to invent such a machine as a fork, was an idiot,
a hater of men, a parricide, cousin of a dead dog
;

Finally, what
and a despiser of all ceremonials.
Ling-Pe,
the
great
say ?
would his aunt, widow of
a wise lady, who had known all the sound
usages of old, and who had seven rice - fields

and three - and - twenty slaves to bequeath. Thus

the invention of forks was stopped in China.
My humorous friend was wont to say that

COLD-WATER POURERS.

fork inventors in various coun-

thus, too, several

had been quelled,

tries

tered into a

burnt

wicked idea en-

until the

man who had no

were invented

429

but he, the

and the forks

aunt,

was

inventor,

justly

alive.

really very serious to observe

It is

how, even

modern times, the arts of discouragement preThere are men, whose sole pretense to
vail.
wisdom consists in administering discouragement.
They are never at a loss. They are equally ready
in

to prophesy, with wonderful ingenuity,

varieties of misfortune

proposed

and,

when

possible

all

any enterprise that

to

the thing

is

has met with some success, to find a flaw

I

once saw a work of art produced

ence of an eminent cold

not deny that

was

it

in

it.

in the pres-

He

water pourer.

beautiful,

is

produced, and

did

but he instantly

upon a small crack in it, that nobody

had observed and upon that crack he would
dilate, whenever the work was discussed in his

fastened

Indeed, he did

presence.

only the

was

all

The

crack

in

not see the work,

That

it.

that

flaw,

cold

water pourers are not

Some

are

led to

sying

new attempts

envious

is

and

ill -

will

all

really

do

Others are

fail.

natured.

of one

indulge in this

They

recreation from genuine timidity.

fear that all

there

flaw,

in all to him.

frame of mind.

simply

little

but

Then,

again,

a sense of power and wisdom in prophe-

evil.

prophesy,

Moreover,
for

hardly

it

is

the

anything

safest thing
at

first

to

sue-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

430

ceeds exactly

way

in the

it

was intended

to suc-

ceed.

Again, there
gives

the utterance of

to

rise

been a great mental

and

of steam

telegraphs, and pain deadening

is

always,

make him

Again, there
that

is,

ruling

tender

enough, to appreciate
ing,

when,

ject

in

after

which

dull,

up

enough,
all

to

discourage.

sympathetic

or

the pain they are giv-

plodding way, they lay out

argument

the

their

want of sympathy and

cause in most men's

the

perhaps, the

argument

The

chloroform.

so.

is

not

electric

and often they do

minds who give themselves

They are

gas,

the eyes of his fellow-men,

in

somewhat of a madman
best to

discour-

must have

it

grasp the ideas of

strain to

projectors

first

inventor

much

so

For any ordinary man,

agement.
the

of imagination which

the lack

is

to

show

that the

poor inventor has set

pro-

heart

his

upon, and upon which, perhaps, he has staked his

fortune, will not succeed.

But what inventors suffer is but a small part

of what mankind in general endure from thoughtThose high less and unkind discouragement.
souled

men belong
but

to

the

must suffer
and tear of discouragement
;

it

is

in

suffering

daily

life

tell

pose, not a great invention, but a

class,

that the

so much.

Pro-

small party of

pleasure, to an apt discourager (and there

is

gen-

most households), and see what he

make of it. It soon becomes sickled over

erally
will

and
wear

one

in

DETRACTION.

doubt and despondency

with

only hope of the

when
All

realized, will

proposer

431

and, at

is,

that

last,

not be an ignominious

hope of pleasure,

at

poser, has long been out

least

failure.

him, the pro-

for

of the

question.

Arthur Helps.

23g$9^'

telratitmt*

|f MPERFECT man imperfect worldAre they not equal factors ?

Then why should any lip be curled,

Why
But

should there be detractors

softer,

words

like these suit not

The Priests of Imperfection

Be there a blemish or a spot,
Their mission

The

is

detection.

Poet's strain so grand

and true

To make his fellows better,

What is that heavenly music to
'

Displacement of a letter?

And

in a Painting, to the race

holy benefaction,

the

his proposal,

Sir

IDEALS OF

432

fly

speck on a darkened face

pleasure to Detraction.

Is

No

matter, in this world of ours,

How much

there be of beauty-

among

faded leaf

Announcement
This

spirit

is

the flowers

a duty.

its

acknowledgement as seek

to diminish or disparage

ments and curtailments. It

what it cannot condemn.
by

than

rather

faults

of

brightness

the

omitteth

to

tell

will

it

and has a sharper

If you speak of

merits.

the

the

sun,

you of
is

He

but

all

it

you show

If

may be

possibly

events

never

detractor

spots.

its

not,

nothing but paste, at

perpetual abate-

judges by defects

It

him a diamond, he alloweth

not say

in

inclines to depreciate

excellencies,

than for

deals not perhaps

It

it.

calumnious falsehoods, but

eye for

does not so much deny the excel-

lence you present to

in

LIFE.

there

one, he

may be

it

a flaw

is

and blemishes in all

things that seem whole and fair, and hath ever a
microscope at hand to show them to you if you
in

it.

will

spieth out cracks

but look

putting

it

goodness

to

through
the

use

He

it.

never thinks of

of disclosing

in things imperfect.

the

soul of

His vocation

spot

and human action

or

scrutiny.

flaw,

so

nothing

to

thing brightest and fairest in the world of

nature

is

good and as every-

detect imperfections in things

is

flecked

can

human

with

abide his

some
sharp

"

DETRACTION.

Now
fitted

there

to

nothing

is

affect

the

in

and

just

433

world that

mind

candid

greater aversion than such a detracting

The

habit of depreciation

proof of a base

the sure

is

with

spirit.

not indeed always

is

Sometimes

nature.

it

betokens nothing worse than a mere unfortunate

narrow-mindedness, which finds but few things

praise because

it

is

and admire things outside

is

to

simply unable to understand

its

own

sphere, and so

honestly disposed to disallow the possi-

quite

may be in them.
may proceed from

ble excellence that

Sometimes

it

intense self- love which

full

is

that form of

of satisfaction with

doings and possessions and with

itself, its own
everything in any way related to itself.
It thinks
highly and speaks warmly of its own wife, children, friends, horses and dogs,
which is nothing
to be condemned if only it were not given to

spying out things to dispraise

wives,

children,

own geese

in

and dogs.

horses

friends,

are not only always

other peoples'
Its

swans, but other

peoples' swans are nothing but geese.

Sometimes it springs from the vanity which

plumes itself on the acuteness it displays. It does

mean

be ill - natured but it cannot resist

the temptation to pick holes in its neighbor's
coat merely to show its smartness.
not

to

But sometimes,
said of

it

jealousy,

Devil's
cism.

than that
envy,

heartiest

Hence

or

nothing

alas,
it

has

its

wanton

even

laugh

at

is

the phrase,

'

better

root

in

malice.

detracting

Devilish good.'

be

can
spirit
"

of

The

witti-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

434

So wrote Washington Allston

one of

in

commode

aphorisms pencilled on the old pine

have

detraction

be

And

mentioned.
is

of the Devil, and

more

the

doubtless

goodness

its

is

malignant

all

the wittier
"

his

may

it

good-

Devilish "

ness.

But

have only to

hope that

attempt to analyze the detracting

have

anything of

fallen into

in

spirit I

myself.

it

more than

necessarily uncharitable, any

true, to say that the detracting

slight

this

spirit is

may

not

It

is

not

it

is

un-

a wrong

and unlovely spirit. But it is easier to speak of

what is good and noble in spirit than it. is to
speak exactly as one should of what is the oppoavoiding un candid harshness on the
site to it
and
the mawkish indiscrimination of
hand,
one
The
sentimental charitableness on the other

reverse of

en

mean

wrong

The

not always right.

is

of just judging

doubtless

Mr. Malevolus Bitter and

Semper Sweet.

If

thing,

one could only always

however,

is

certain.

likers than to

great

what

in others rather than

rather than disparage.

deal

of

find

It

cynics never see.

is

nothing

excellence

C.

S.

is

Mrs.
hit it!

better to

look out for what

cultivate the disposition to

good

It

some-

lies

where between

One

gold-

is

ill,

to

is

praise

better to be too wide

to like.

in

the

Henry.

There
world

is

which

TEMPERANCE.

A&~

Hiattprattijs,

Bodily enjoyment
temperance.

Thales.
*

depends upon health,

PPLY

and health depends upon

and curb
To thine untamed desires,
the bit

Or Judgment will thy life disturb

And light consuming fires.
Let Temperance control
Desires which

And keep them

Then

all

God

has given,

servants of the soul,

are gates to heaven.

Let Riot rule them now,

And wise restraint

No wreath is woven
For

all

repel,

for thy brow,

are gates to

hell.

Reward and Punishment

Are ever on our way,
For comfort and

for

warning meant,

God's preachers night and day,

Temperance

first,

as

it

tends

to

coolness and clearness of head which

procure that
is

so neces-

sary where constant vigilance was to be kept up,

and a guard maintained against the unremitting

attraction of ancient habits and the force of perpetual temptation.

Dr.

Franklin.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

436

Temperance gives Nature her

enables her to exert herself

in all

and
and

play,

full

her force

Addison.

vigor.

Indeed, the abuse of the bounties of Nature,

much more

any

surely than

privation

partial

of

them, tends to intercept that precious boon of a

second and dearer

bestowed
from

the

in

All

the

in

life

our progeny, which was

command

great

first

Gracious

Giver

of

name be blessed, whether He

His hand, in every page
away
well-being,

our moral worth,

Our

physical

depend on

that

and passions which

by the cardinal virtue of

our appetites

the ancients designated

temperance.

takes

our social happi-

ness, our political tranquillity, all

all

or

of His book, has

of moderation.

lesson

man

whose

gives

written the

control of

all,

to

Burke.

Temperance,

that

virtue

without

pride,

fortune without envy, that gives indolence

of freedom

from

and

(in

the

of
and right
body with an equality of mind the best guardian of youth and support of old age the precept
of reason as well as religion, and physician of
the tutelar godthe soul as well as the body
universal
medicine
and
of life.
health
dess of
Sir William Temple.
Temperance is a tree which has contentment
From the
for its root, and peace for its fruit.

sense

old

pain)

Arabian.

Who
with so

is

this

natural

much grace ?

The

beauty,

rose

is

who advances
on her cheeks

TEMPERANCE.
her breath

is

morning dew;

as

perance.

From

the Hindu.

man

While the intemperate

he brings

his friends,

Not only
ruin on

wrong

ruin

to

his

me

wine,

gift

that

upon

evil

family, but

be the

nicious, inflaming

also
is

himself.

anything

there

greatest

Socrates.
of Bacchus, per-

weakens both body

which

greater

reflects

upon a man's person than a severe tem-

lustre

perance, and a restraint of himself from

pleasures

he

cause

quer himself;

dear to the Deity, beto

is

Him.

is

great

It is
;

it

sacrifice,
J.

sacrifice

for the

do

it

vile.

discontinue

for

own

your

the

if it

sake.

we owe

is

to narcot-

merely counterfeit excitement and

great, calm presence

not

forth

of the

fury.

Creator comes

of opium or wine.
comes to the pure and simple
a clean and chaste body.
Emerson.
to

The sublime
in

to

of

is

May.

The

soul,

to con-

Plato.

sake of others

not inspiration which

is

man

be conquered by himself

small
it

The

for

things the most shameful and

Samuel
ics

victories

to

use of wine, do
a

is

assimilated

is

and best of

it

vicious

South.

The temperate man

If

bring

to

the

Homer.

and mind.
Is

more

far

upon

evil

inflicts

own body and soul,

any man can commit.

his

that

Far from

all

Tem-

Health, the daughter of Exercise and

is

first

tem-

joy,

countenance.

her

modesty, animates

pered with
It

pure

437

the

sorceries

vision

IDEALS OF LIFE.

438

The body oppressed by

excesses bears

the

mind, and depresses to the earth

tion

of the Divine

with.

Horace.
said of

is

It

Spirit

Diogenes

man who was going

have

the gluttony of a

thought

have

have begged

said

down

oil

salads

to his

into

own

friends,

imminent danger,

What would

him.

had he been

that

present at

Would

modern meal ?

not he

master of a family mad, and

the

his servants

to

had he seen him devour a

swallow

took him up

to a feast, he

not prevented

philosopher

meeting a young

that,

who was running

he

had

any por-

we had been endowed

and carried him

in the street

as one

down

down

tie

his hands,

and

fowl, fish,

flesh

and vinegar, wine and spices; throw

of twenty different herbs, sauces

of

a hundred ingredients, confections and fruits of

numberless sweets and flavors? What unnatural
motions and counter -ferments must such a medley of intemperance produce in the body
For
!

my
out

part,
in

gouts

when
all

its

behold a

fashionable

magnificence,

table set

fancy that

and dropsies, fevers and

lethargies,

see

with

other innumerable distempers, lying in ambuscade

among

the dishes.

Nature delights in "the most plain and simple

Every animal, but man, keeps to one dish.
diet.
Herbs are the food of this species, fish of that,
and flesh of a third. Man falls upon everything
that comes in his way; not the smallest fruit or
excrescence

of the

earth,

mushroom can escape

him.

scarce

berry

Addison.

or a

TEMPERANCE.
It is

the sign of a wise or

little

temperance

suffer

439

good man

be transgressed

to

in

to

order to

purchase the reputation of a generous entertainer.

Atterbury.

Drunkenness
son, a

pleasant

not himself;
not commit

a flattering

is

devil,

a sweet poi-

which whosoever hath, hath

sin,

which whosoever doth commit doth

sin,

but he himself

is

wholly

sin.

St. Augustine.

Drunkenness calls
and then all
towers
;

loose

heart,

an

watchmen from

that

evils

untied

we put upon

spirit,

off the

proceed from a

and a dissolute
account.
Jeremy Tay-

tongue,

its

their

lor.

When

this vice

has taken fast hold of a man,

farewell

industry, farewell

tention

to

things

emulation, farewell

worthy

of attention,

at-

farewell

love of virtuous society, farewell decency of manners,

and

son

everything

farewell, too,
is

even an attention to per-

sunk by

this

predominant and

passion.
In how many instances do we
men who have begun life with the brightest
prospects before them, and who have closed it

brutal

see

one

ray

Young men

with

without

of

comfort

or

consolation

good fortunes, good talents,

good tempers, good hearts, and sound constitutions, only being drawn into the vortex of the
drunkard, have become by degrees the most
loathsome and despicable of mankind.
In the
house of the
for

any one.

drunkard
All

is

there

is

no

happiness

uncertainty and anxiety.

He

IDjl^LS OF LIFE.

440
is

man

not the same

No one knows his

When he will rise
rest

he

wholly a

is

swallows

outgoings

what

for

and

Our own

it.

if

we have

disgrace,

No man

will

not

is

oppress

Cobeett.

wet, this can

avoid

make no

to

that

all

and

requisite:

avoid

contempt,

free
this

No

of

thee
;

but

and does
this

is

deserve

son

this
!

soured

pratfest of thy " liberty,"

neither

relief

and independstupid

Adam

porter

can

bid

absurd pot of heavy

Thou

art the thrall, not

own

brutal

ap-

dish of liquor.

And

thou

of Cedric the Saxon, but of thy

Carlyle.

To

train.

but does not

come or go

petites,

brings

morning.

the

upon

the will to

oppresses thee,

ent franchiser!

thee

the

in

to

That which

pleasure

brings

called

and misery, we

nor compassion.

pot

are

down

lie

Abstinence requires no aid to accom-

sacrifices.

plish

we

will

calls

night

incomings.

his

of chance.

he

Poverty and misery are

results

or

when he

or

matter

pain as surely as the

those

any one day at a time.

for

thou entire blockhead

HOJSESTY.

441

Iftmssli^

^0S7HEN

the genuine article

~^>" Dwindles down to a particle,

And the name

Oh the shame
Is

of

it,

of

it

the stock in the trade of

Honesty

When

"

society "

Till to

shadow

And

culminates,

but charity

What becomes

rarity,

of the modesty

Honesty?

reality

When one
And omits
Is

it.

cultivates

it

Sees the

Of

of

afraid

is

it,

seeks to be beautiful
to

be

dutiful,

not vanity

Then

profanity?

Does not folly abound in it?

there Honesty found in it?

Is

According to a well-known
is

man who buys and

and spices

Happy

sells

writer, 'a

sugar,

grocer

and plums,

for gain.'
is

the English grocer

who can

lay his

upon his commercial heart, and, making

answer to the text, say, I am the man V For
hand

'

29

IDEALS OF LIFE.

442

men who

of the

designation of

buy and

how many

Grocer,'

'

upon

spices

written in

the

who

books

certain

upon the means of

outblush the pale

but

it

is

prying chemist
bent,

it

may

be,

respectability doth

social

face

vend

undoctered clove!

of the

that the roguery of the Briton

who
turn

purity:

the villainy of the Chinese

is

doors the

are there

their

in

naught but the true ware

Great

and sugar only

sugar,

sell

penny

the

over their shop

set

Mongolian

of the

trick-

sters.

The Chinaman
blue

he paints

to his

glazes

but he, the pig

does not recognize

brother,

and, in

acknowledge
lous

his

age soever, a
grocer

is

It is

man and

sympathies,

limited

woman and

is

sister.

a benighted barbarian
the gust

the creed of

is

possible,

if

common

The

the Brit-

the Brit-

love.

the effort be made,

a tear over the ignorance of the

to

The China-

revenge

of

fails

any fabu-

British maiden, of

an effulgent Christian.

is

man's religion
on's creed

tailed heathen,

a Britisher a

in

any

in

China teaman
ish

Congo, and adds a perfume

his

Twankey

Prussian

with

tea

his

to

drop

Chinaman who

dusts his faded tea-leaves with chromate of lead;

but shall not one's

eyes flash

ened British tea-dealer

imparts

the

mortal

who

ers

as

who
their

the enlight-

glow of plumbago?

theless, there are grocers in

of men,

fire at

to the withered

treat the

leaf

Never-

the commercial form

stomachs of their custom-

customers

treat

their

stoves

HONESTY.
namely,

blacker than

of liquid worse and

cups

in

the

internals

their

polish of blacklead, innocently swal-

questionable

lowed

upon

bestow

they

443

Lacedemonian black broth. How many an

innocent tea-loving spinster, proud of the jetty
loveliness of her fireplace, would vent a spasm
the

know

of horror did she

the

that

polish

her

of

bloom of her own black tea,

stove and
fragrant and smoking at her lips, were of one
and the same blacklead of lead that, in due suf-

own

the

ficiency, is akin to coffin lead

upon

grocer, intent

And

the English

the chemists,

deceit, outvies

teamen of the Flowery Kingdom. There is

not a toss-up between the two and if there be,
though China beats by a tail, England fails not
the

by a head.
Of coffee (a word

to win

dictionaries)

acres

it

wherein

have

eventide,'

in

some of the

hardly necessary to speak; the

is

of chicory,

may

well as his customers

at

found

still

the
"

pious

walk forth

It

may be

haps there

is

not a more touching, a

than

and

ployed

withal

man

either

drinking

in

to

muse

a language and a lesson

their own.

structive,

grocer as

or

added, however,

more

woman
what

the

of

that per-

more

pathetic

in-

picture

complacently emdrinker,

in

more

than primitive innocence, believes to be coffee

grocer's

coffee,

at

one

shilling

per

pound.

Douglas Jerrold.

Show me
and

sham.

will

a people whose

trade

show you a people whose

Froude.

is

dishonest,

religion

is

IDEALS OF LIFE.

444

When men

cease to be

he who expects to find

to

their

them so

to

each other

The

be much disappointed.

will

God,

faithful

primitive sincer-

accompany the primitive piety in her

from the earth, and then interest will suc-

will

ity

flight

ceed conscience

man

one

duct,

till

than

he holds

way,

it

him by that

few choose

selves, yet

to

many

that

to

be

depended on

their social duties.

Wisdom
cozenage

must

for

the

Bishop

without

honesty

another further
:

hence,

their

and

are

Christians

true

con-

by the

are infidels them-

have

dependents such; as judging,

ing,

tie

human

of

cannot trust

although

that

is,

in the regulation

the

exact

and

families

rightly judg-

only persons
discharge of

Horne.
is
mere

and

craft

and therefore the reputation of honesty

be gotten, which

first

living well:

a good

life

is

be

cannot

but

by

a main argument.

Ben Jonson.
Put

it

out of the power of truth to give you

anybody reports you not

to be an honest man, let your practice give him
the lie and to make all sure, you should resolve
for
to live no longer than you can live honestly
an

ill

and

character;

if

it

is

better to be nothing

than a knave.

Anto-

nius.

The arts of deceit and cunning do

grow weaker and less effectual and
to

them

that use

strength by use

man

practices

it,

continually

serviceable

them; whereas integrity gains

and the more and longer any
the greater service

it

does him,

. juioH/zsra/t

"

The

river of beneficence to

man.

M5

DEVOTION.

by

confirming
with

those

and

reputation,

his

whom

he

greatest trust and confidence in

unspeakable advantage
of

life.

encouraging

hath to do to repose the

in the

him, which

is

an

business and affairs

Tillotson.

'sttolkt;
OR,

THE SECRET OF
IJ^EVOTION

^^ And

is

the secret of success,

heaven's perennial fount of happiness.

Devotion marshals

all

With every longing

And

the powers of mind,

of the heart combined

from the free united exercise

All blessed hopes

The

SUCCESS.

and expectations

river of beneficence to

Devotion wafts the worker

rise.

man,
to the

van

And goes forever flowing through the earth,

To bring all grand, enduring things to birth.
Devotion cheers the

And keeps

toiler

through the day,

the sense of weariness away.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

446

Devotion makes the garden of the Lord,

its own exceeding great reward.

The deed

Devotion bears the lover to his love

Devotion lifts the saint to God above.

And
And

the

so Devotion brings success,

dearest presence to the

the

It is

hand and head alone that

self- culture, growth in wisdom,

Even when men are born

position,

social

may

which they

inheritance of acres

man may pay

for him, but

it

is

application;

may be

of knowledge

wealthy

any

to

solid reputa-

individually achieve

attained by energetic

itance

best

breast.

diligent

maketh rich in
and in business.
wealth and high
tion

human

is

only

though an

for,

bequeathed, an inher-

and wisdom cannot.

others for

doing his

impossible for him

to

The
work

get his

thinking done for him by another, or to purchase

any

kind of

self- culture.

that excellence

by

laborious

the case

of

in

any pursuit

application

the

Indeed,

man

of

is

only,

to

the

be achieved

holds as

wealth as

doctrine

in

true

in

that

of

whose only school was a cobbler's stall, or Hugh Miller, whose only college
was a Cromarty stone- quarry.
The knowledge and experience which produce wisdom can only become a man's individual
possession and property by his own free action

Drew and

Gifford,

and
ious,

it

is

as futile to expect these without labor-

painstaking

effort,

as

it

is

to

hope

to

DEVOTION.

447

has not been

gather a harvest where the seed

sown.

It

of Lincoln,

possessing

was

that he

replied

the

power

great

asked by

once

make

brother to

old Bishop

related of Grosteste, an

is

a great

his

man

his

day,

stupid and

idle

in

"

of him.

your plough

Bishop, "if

Brother,"

broken,

is

mending of it or, if your ox

should die, I'll buy you another
but I cannot
make a great man of you a ploughman I found
you, and a ploughman I must leave you."
Riches and ease, it is perfectly clear, are not
pay

I'll

the

for

necessary for man's highest culture, else had not

the world been

An

ranks.

men

train

nor

action in

awaken

it

converted even

of

blessing

ease

triumph.

drink

out

rousing a

man

by

degradation,

the

Bacon

says,

"

Men

understand their riches nor their

the

former

things than they should

Self-reliance

true-hearted will find strength,

and

to neither
;

by vigorous self-help, be

with the world in which, though

right-minded and

strength

power

energetic and effective

for

into a

may purchase

confidence,

difficulty

that consciousness of

may,

it

to that struggle

seem

humbler

Indeed, so far from poverty being

life.

misfortune,

some

times

all

the

encounter with

so necessary

is

in

easy and luxurious existence does not

to effort or

does

which

indebted

who have sprung from

those

to

largely

so

and

of his

believe

greater

much less.
man to
and eat his own

of the latter

self-denial

own

they

will

cistern

teach a

sweet bread, and to learn and labor truly to get

IDEALS OF

448
his

and

living,

carefully

LIFE.

expend

to

things committed to his trust."

To our

thinking

it

secret which the

man

reveals

neither

Smiles.

a secret easily guessed

is

life

good

of every great and

nor more than

less

But though the secret

one's duty."

good

the

"

doing

so simple,

is

by no means easily applied. We may know

thoroughly, and then not profit by it, like the
is

it

it

who

magicians

professed to have discovered the

secret of immortal

manhood

duty

one's

What

our faculties

and

and

bear,

reliance

iously

and

insist

we

all,

we

enter

most rigorous

shall

fail

on the task

example of

of the

imitation

submit to the sternest

to

after

unless

than doing

demand it makes upon all

we must be content to strive,

practise the

to

self-discipline,

the flush of

in

anything harder
a

How

and died

life,

there

Is

Christ,

self-

egreg-

fail

humble

in

and with a

strong resolve to walk in His footsteps.

But what do we mean by

"success

phrase,

for

signification

resents

ring fence

ciety

to

has

life,"

"

to yet

fifth,

our

success

to

another,

another,

poet's

To one

enclosed

life

to

in

place

or an

the trumpet- voice of fame.

sense of

"

The

very different

a high

title

it

to an-

own

its

in

office
It

rep-

will

so-

and
be

of our aspirations

So that
be embodied in the

our opportunities.

some will
modest ambition
in

account at his banker's

modified also by the measure

and

success

different minds.

a comfortable estate,

other,
"

a large

in

"

DEVOTION.
" I often wish that

For

to others,

it

not

fall

out of ten

other,

and

in

suppose that by nine

or

large

some way or

in

identified,

is

it

of a

short of a capital

We

quarter of a million.

men

clear

three hundred pounds a year;"

life,

will

had

449

with

sense,

limited

Now, we do not profess the

money -getting.

sumption of a tone

of extravagant morality,

as-

and

pour upon money -getting a flood of

indiscriminate censure.
On this point we have

we

shall not

already hazarded our opinion.

It

is

right

enough

and honorable enough for a man to covet an independent position, such as only money can
Money as an. end is a serious evil as a
secure.
Of
means to an end it is a splendid good.
but then you
course Diogenes despised money
We do not
and I, reader, despise Diogenes.
think it a good thing to live in a tub, or a great
thing to wear a cloak with more holes in it than
substance.
God forbid that we should work for
money alone, for money as the great aim and
;

object

of

life

but

God

forbid

that

stoop to the pride of humility which

dross,

we

rails at

and pretends that true happiness

seems

should
it

as

lies in

comupon earning a competence, if he can make up his mind

as to what is a competence, and to keep his
desires under stringent control.
But for a man
who gives up his nights and days, his heart and
the lap

of poverty.

mendable

in

a young

It

man

soul, to the acquisition

to

of a

to

us very

resolve

larger fortune

than

IDEALS OF LIFE.

450

neighbors,

his

tempt.

The

money, and

we
man

whose

ness

forgive,
!

If

lor,

for

he

affections to

will

Adams.
you wish success

your bosom

point

friend,

life,

feel-

money, may

need of forgive-

have

in

to

make perseverance

experience your wise counsel-

your elder brother, and hope your

caution

guardian genius.

The

aspirations

thoughts to money, and his

his

ings to money, and his

God

most supreme ten-

the

feel

talent

Addison.

of success

doing what you

can

do

is

nothing more than

well,

and

doing

well

whatever you do, without a thought of fame.

Longfellow.

hand are prosbecause whether, men in the end

All things religiously taken in

perously ended

have that which religion did allow to

that which

it

teaches them

desire,

or

contentedly to suffer,

they are in neither event unfortunate.

Hooker.

ft

*p-&*8-

am

the

Way, and

However,
us,

and that

is

am

the Truth, and the Life.

sure that there

the Spirit of God.

is

St.

common

Whoever

spirit,

me

there

is

no heat under the

dwelt in the body of the sun.

Afflictions

us the only

face.

are

Sir

6.

warm
for,

gale and

truly, with-

light,

though

Thomas Browne.

of a merciful Providence to force upon

the methods

means of

nor any

tropic,

xiv.

that plays within

not the

feels

gentle ventilation of this Spirit, I dare not say he lives

out this to

John

setting matters right.

The sensible presence of God, and

Archbishop Leighton.

L'Estrange.

shining of His clear-discovered

The doctrine in which all religions agree, is that new light is added
mind in proportion as it uses that which it has. Emfpson.

to the

Here eyes do regard you

In Eternity's stillness;

Here

Ye

is

all

fulness,

brave, to reward you;

Work, and despair

not.
*

-(iOETHE.

(452)

Wxd\.
lie that

is

K\

of the Truth heareth

PERFECT

My

voice.

St.

John

xvii.

37.

Character,

The Truth, the Life, the Way,

Through Thee descends the Comforter

To
Thou
The

turn

our night to day.

hast

endured

cross

of

it

life

all,

below

And from the wormwood and

What peace and sweetness

gall

day by day

us

Inspire

the
flow

With Thy heroic mind,

To leave along our homeward way

Our

And

little

selves behind

through the Comforter

Whom

Thou

dost send us here,

Approach Thee, Perfect Character,

Where Truth
Truth
speak

lies

truth

in

is

always

character.

He was

truth

clear.

Christ did not simply

;

truth through

(453)

and

IDEALS OF LIFE.

454

through

for truth

of Life and

a thing,

is

not of words, but

None but

Being.

can

Spirit

be

true.

For
words

The

example.
of

verities

strictly

ing,

wrong

accurate

swept into

God

the

He was

that

in

impetuous, blunder-

hasty,

veracious

verbal

in

though

true,

of place

falsehoods

nothingness the

endless

perplexed,

out

whirlwind came, and before

but the

the Voice of

wrong,

cold, hard, theologi-

Job spoke many words

and untrue.

place cruel

not

but verities

spoke

Job

maxim which they

uttered could be impugned:

cal

of

friends

Scarcely

truth.

his

error,

were

true

man,

stood

firm.

were not;

sentences

turned to the truth as the sunflower to the sun,

as

the darkened plant, imprisoned in the vault,

turns towards the light,

struggling

enigma of his existence.

Job was a servant of the

to

solve the

fearful

in

character.

gether

acting

two things inseparably

joins

Christianity

truly,

and perceiving

truly.

day the eternal nature of that principle

more certain. If any man will do His
shall

know

It

action

is
;

acting
refined

posed.

mon,

true

being

truth,

of the doctrine whether

it

to-

Every
becomes
he

will,

be of God.

a perilous thing to separate feeling from

to

have

rightly.

learnt
It

is

to

feel

rightly

without

a danger to which,

in

and polished age, we are peculiarly exThe romance, the poem, and the serteach

us

how

to

feel.

Our

feelings

are

"

What though

And
Ruin

the venerable oak be broken,

ruthless floods

is

sweep down the mountain-side?

wrath the token,

not, perforce, of

Nor doth

stern vengeance

on the torrent

ride."

TRUTH.

But the danger

delicately correct.

ing

455

given to lead to action

is

this

is

feel-

feeling be suf-

if

awake without passing into duty, the

character becomes untrue.
When the emergency
fered

for

to

comes,

action

real

produced

feeling

without

circumstances

titious

the

accustomed as

but,

it

as

is,

usual,

to rise in

is

action, neither

sentiments,

lofty,

it

honorable,

when

somehow,

presents

truth

shape of

duty,

we

And

such

characters

so
the

like

artificial

which the

in

grotto

unable

are

become

does

waterfall

lives

perform

by

it.

degrees
taste,

and the

fall,

hill

does not strike

and the tree does not grow.

Their

are a sugared crust of sweetness trembling

over

black
"

still,

not

the

refreshment of an imagi-

nary shade, and the green

the skies,

to

but

in

itself

pleasure-grounds of bad

only the

offers

refined,

will

We pity
We utter

lead on to action in the real ones.

wretchedness, and shun the wretched "

"

just,

fic-

upon,

depths

holiowness

of

whited sepulchres,"
"

within

full

of

all

more

without

fair

uncleaness."

to

F.

truly

look

W.

Robertson.

Truth indeed came

Divine

into

the

world with her

and was a perfect shape most

but when He ascended, and
after Him were laid asleep, then

Master,

glorious to look on

His apostles
straight arose

wicked

race

of deceivers, who,

Typhon with
the good
Truth, hewed her lovely

as that story goes of the Egyptian

his

conspirators,

Osiris,

how

took the virgin

they dealt

with

IDEALS OF

456

LIFE.

form into a thousand pieces, and scattered them

to

the four

From

winds.

of Truth, such

the sad friends

ever since,

time

that

durst

as

imitating the careful search that Isis

appear,

made

for the

body of Osiris, went up and down,

gathering up limb by limb still as they could find
them. We have not yet found them all, Lords
and Commons, nor ever shall do till her Master's

mangled

He

coming:

second

bring

shall

together

every

mould them into an

immortal feature of loveliness and perfection.^
and member, and

joint

shall

Milton.

Nowadays, men will investigate all things, inTruth canst thou escape
ward and outward.
from the furious hunt ? They go forth with nets
!

and poles

to

catch

thee;

but,

with

spirit -like

thou glidest away through their midst.

tread,

Schiller.

To
part
all

love truth for truth's

of

human

perfection,

other virtues.

When

sake

is

the principal

and the seed-plot

of

Locke.

the majestic form of Truth approaches

a disingenuous mind to start aside

she is past, and then reappearing, say, "It
till
was not Truth/' than to meet her, and bow, and
John Foster.
obey.
This same Truth is a naked and open daylight, that does not show the masks and mum-

it

is

easier for

meries and triumphs of the world, half so daintily

as

candle-lights.

the price of a

Truth

pearl

that

may perhaps come

to

showeth best by day,

TRUTH.
but

it

457

not rise to the price of a diamond or

will

carbuncle that showeth best

mixture of a

there were

if

out

taken

of

opinions, flattering hopes, false

men's minds vain

imaginations

valuations,

Doth

add pleasure.

ever

doth

lie

any man doubt that

varied lights.

in

as

and the

one would,

would leave the minds of a number

of men poor shrunken things, full of melancholy
like,

and

but

it

and unpleasing

indisposition,

Lord
Do
that

to

themselves

Bacon.

not be over

fond of anything, or consider

your interest which

for

your word, qui

makes you

break

your modesty, or inclines you to

any practice wwich

will

not

bear the

light,

or

x^xtoxixus.
with
neighbor; for
one another. Ephesiaxs

look the world in the face.

Speak every man

we

members of

are

his

25.

iv.

To speak
two

are

the truth and

things

that

Every man ought

to

perfect integrity that

to

truth

doubt

his

resemble

God

speak and act

simple affirmation.

whom

offices

with

such

no one could have reason

Only they who carry

point, in

perform good

Pythagoras.

sincerity to the

highest

there remains not a single

hair's

breadth of hypocrisy, can see the hidden springs

of things.

The
put
true

No

in

Confucius.

sacrifice

of a thousand horses has been

the balance with one true word,

word weighed down the thousand

virtue surpasses that of veracity.
30

and the
sacrifices.

There are

IDEALS OF LIFE.

458

two roads which conduct

to perfect

be

to

creature. From

and to do no evil to any

the Hindu.
Falsehood and delusion are

true,

case whatever, but, as

in

may speak

he

that

truth.

of
It

man speaks

temperance, by which a

measure,

allowed

the exercise

an economy of

virtues, there is

of

virtue

no

all

the

is

a sort

truth with

the

it

in

longer.

Burke.

Whosoever
tion,

civil

sion, is

or

is

more

in

with the truth.

any ques-

afraid of submitting

religious, to

the test of free discus-

love with

own

his

opinion

than

Bishop Watson.

Seek truth by thought, not by searching for

Look up to the sky to see
it in mouldly books.
the moon, instead of seeking for it in the pond.
From the Persian.
Truth and reason constitute that intellectual

Dr. Johnson.

gold that defies destruction.

Do

not

let

us

at

lie

Do

all.

not

think of

one falsity as harmless, and another as slight,

and another as unintended. Cast them all aside.
They may be light and accidental, but they are
ugly soot from the smoke of the pit, and it is
better

that our

them.

Ruskin.

Truth

is

always

needs nothing to help

hand,

and

sits

swept clean of

hearts should be

consistent
it

out

upon our

it

with
is

and

lips,

itself,

and

always near at
is

ready to

drop out before we are aware whereas a lie is

troublesome, and sets a man's invention upon the
;

TRUTH.

459

many more

rack, and one trick needs a great

make

good.

it

It

shore

props to

is

which

foundation,

up,

it

than

chargeable

like

to

upon a

building

constantly

stands

and proves

have

in

false

need of

more

at last

substantial

raised

to

upon a true and solid foundabuilding at

for sincerity is firm and substantial, and
tion
there is nothing hollow and unsound in it, and,
because it is plain and open, fears no discovery
of which the crafty man is always in danger and
first

when he

thinks he walks in the dark,

who runs may

tences are so transparent, that he

read them
to

be

found

he

the last

is

man

that finds himself

and whilst he

out;

pre-

all his

takes

it

for

granted that he makes fools of others, he renders

himself ridiculous.

straight line

mathematics.

Tillotson.
is

the shortest in morals as in

Maria Edgeworth.

It is in the determination to obey the truth,

and to follow wherever she may lead, that the
genuine love of truth consists. Whately.
I

love truth

because

love to have an apple

thought to be an apple, and a hand a hand

the whole beauty and hopefulness of God's

crea-

on a truth instead of a

The law

of

lie.

Christianity

and

Leigh Hunt.
is

eminently

transcendently called the word of truth.

and

South.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

400

put

what

%m yfjtpmam

bitter things

if

sometimes betide thee

loving, outstretched

Which

doth

in

Hand

is

always near,

judgment and compassion guide

thee,

And

point

the

way where

all

is

bright

and

clear.

Lo

when from cloud

to cloud the lightning flashes,

What time the storm is plunging through the

And in commingling peals the thunder crashes,
Needeth the heart be told that God is there ?

air

What though the venerable oak be broken,

And ruthless floods sweep down the mountain
side?

Ruin

wrath the token,

not, perforce, of

is

Nor doth

stern vengeance on

the torrent ride.

Let crimson Battle tread on many a bosom,

Let Sorrow clasp the tendrils of the heart,

If

Truth thereby put forth a

And

Life a fragrance

more

fairer blossom,

divine impart.

Revenge and punishment have here no

Severity and tenderness combine,

And

lo

descending with

places

celestial graces,

Proclaim that healing only

is

divine.

BUT ONE
In

PHYSICIAN.

heaven and earth there

And though
Like discords

ofttimes

but one Physician,

is

He

461

addeth unto pain,

in the strains

of a great musician,

His acts are but the harbinger of gain.

Some used to
may say so again,
and death,

is

old

say, in

This

very

ill -

times,

world,

made

so

and
full

they

of pain

We

world.

will

was made by the good God. It

must have been made by some evil being, or at
the
least by some stupid and clumsy being,
Demiurgus, they called him, .or world -maker,
some inferior god whom the good God would
conquer and depose, and so do away with pain,
and misery, and death. A pardonable mistake
but, as we are bound to believe, a mistake, nevCharles Kingsley.
ertheless.
Could we get a view of our world from a
high enough point, might we not possibly disnot believe

it

cover that there

is

nothing absolutely evil?

aid of the

microscope

beauty

mouldiest

matter.

in

Were

might not

our
clods,

physical

wonders

vision
in

By
finds

dullest

our moral vision similarly armed,

that

look

globular

and

symmetrical

which now seems flat and deformed, that useful

which now seems obstructive, that attractive which
is now repulsive, that beneficent which now looks
malignant? In the bounded view we commonly
get we often find that what we thought a calamity proves a benefaction.
What we call evil is
always a consequence of a breach of law. To

IDEALS OF LIFE.

462

your son that

tell

his toothache

or

parents,

grand - parents,

his

check the pain

sure,

nor do

it

law

is

can

learn,

that

most fruitful of his lessons,

absolute, and in its aim beneficent

improvement.

be

the tooth

the

is

aim being, along with growth,

tion,

think

his

to

not,

will

But man

ache a spiritual lever.

and

caused by the

is

law by him, or

breaking of a physiological

stability,

that

conserva-

Whichever way we turn we

are met by law, and we soon perceive that law

uniform and irresistible, and that we prosper
is
in proportion as we conform ourselves to its be-

Could we always submit us

hests.
cally,

be

we should

morally, intellectually, spiritually,

above

active ideal,

guiding

Law

prosperous.

completely

The

law, physi-

to

around

us,

an

is

ever-

correcting us,

us,

us, cultivating us, inviting us, exalting us.

nations and

the

individuals

that

have

dis-

obey the most and deepest

laws are the most advanced and the wisest and
covered and

best.

The
fest

that

themselves

no sign of

mind
fect.

tutes

and

creative Mightiness

that

"

in

deficiency of

we and

Imperfection
the

Law

Law.

life

of

all
is

sufficiency

mani-

perfection.

It is

is

power "

the creative

in

about us are created imper-

demanded

life,

for

what

progression,

the

consti-

joy

of

change, the delight of improvement, the exhilaration of ascent.

Law, being

oning us toward

perfect,

perfection.

not be lived without hope

is

Human

ever becklife

could

and hope implies a

BUT OXE

PHYSICIAN.

463

something brighter and better and happier

in the

and implies, therefore, a present imperfecImperfection is the

tion and a growth out of it.
ground whence spring up stimulants to motion,
Without imperfection
to activity, to aspiration.
there were no expectation, no curiosity, no color,,
future,

no ecstacy, on

As

God

surely as

no such

thing

is

good, so surely there

religious mind, sickness,

evils.

evil.

own making; and undoubtedly

of them

Of

may be

divers

[avoidable),

in case of so

to

be

the greater part

prevented. Southey.

things

we

evil,

all

being not evitable

take one; which one, saving only

great urgency, were not otherwise

taken. Hooker.

War,

for example,

peace

dishonorable

may be chosen
with

and,

all

rather than
its

prove one of the means of a higher

one
of

is

For by the
and pain, and death are
Moral evils are of your

necessary

as

not to be counted

tears,,

tragedy. Calvert.

comedy nor

neither

nor

smiles

neither

earth,

misery,

civilization,

of innumerable illustrations of good

out

evil.

Take away honor and imagination and poetry

becomes carnage. Doubtless,
And take away public spirit and invisible principles from resistance to a tax, and Hampden
becomes a noisy demagogue.
Carnage
from war, and

it

is

terrible.

stroyers

is

The conversion
a

calamity.

woman, worse than

Death,

death,

of producers into de-

and

insults

to

and human features

IDEALS OF LIFE.

464

beneath

obliterated

hoof of the war-horse,

the

and reeking hospitals, and ruined commerce, and

violated homes, and broken hearts,
they are all
But there is something worse than death.
awful.

Cowardice

And

worse.

is

asm and manliness

when

than death,
deaths,

the creed

aye,

the

And

worse.

is

decay of enthusiit

worse

is

worse than a hundred thousand

a people has gravitated down into

the

that

"

wealth of nations

consists

"

not in generous hearts,

" Five in each breast, and freedom in each brow,"

in

national

virtues,

heroic

endurance,

and
to

not

life;

men,

in

and something

primitive

and
but

in

of

of

and

silk,

" capital."

out

arising

simplicity,

preference

that they call

Peace,

blessed.

and

cotton,

Peace

peace

is

not blessed.
is

this,

that

decay, better far

of our once
F.

If

accumulate and

every street

in

men

every town

noble country should run

W. Robertson

selfish-

the price to be paid for

wealth

that

is

But

charity.

peace, springing out of the calculations of

ness,

duty

blood.

465

RICIIES.

]|k!p$*

POSSESSIONS

of the heart and mind,

With or without an outward

And

treasures never

store,

behind,

left

Because they always go before.

And He spake

a parable unto them,

saying,

man brought

forth

and he thought within himself,

because I have no
ing, 'What shall I do
where to bestow my fruits ? And he said,
I will pull down my barns
and
will I do
and there will I bestow all my
greater

spy-

The ground
plentifully

of a certain rich

my

and

goods.

And

much goods

thou hast

take thine ease,

laid

drink,

eat,

God

said unto him,

shall

be required of thee

things be which
that layeth
rich

toward

Now
that

He

thou

that has no

"

night thy soul

then whose shall those

for

God. St. Luke

which constitutes a

Christ,

soul, Soul,
;

hast provided

up treasures

fruits

up for many years

and be merry. But

fool, this
:

This
build

himself,
xii.

So
and

is

is

he
not

16-21.

the Scripture ever considers the heart as

affections,

fact,

Thou

my

say to

will

room

no

truly rich

love of God,

no share

in the

sympathies

wretched

man

and

or

no large

poor.

spiritual

unsearchable riches of

with

his

miserable,

brethren,

and

poor

is,

in

and

IDEALS OF LIFE.

466

and naked," and shall one day find out

he is so, however now he may say, " I am

blind,

that

and increased with goods, and have need of

nothing " he is poor towards God, he has nothrich

God

ing with

he

hand,

toward

God

his desires

things,

gar,

and

is

up

laid

time

the

only

who

in store,

no good

On

the

who is rich
God, who has made

truly

is

come.

to

rich in

rich,

and the unchangeable the object of

the eternal

all

he has

against

foundation
other

and

though
for

He

his efforts.

him

in

to

in

God

possesses

world he were a bee-

this

die will

not be to quit,

but

go to, his riches. Trench.

True happiness consists in perfect health, a
moderate fortune, and a life free from effeminacy
to

and ignorance.
o

covetous

Thales.

man does

his wealth possesses him.

What

a rich

his real wealth.

man

not possess his wealth

and

uses

gives, constitutes

That which thou hoardest, whose

Other covetous men

Hindu.
the
From

is

Bias.

it?

man make money

will sport

with

it.

expense of his
He sells honor
he dishonors his soul.
virtue,
All the gold on earth is of no value
for gold.
If

compared with

virtue.

at

the

Plato.

If the rich have diseases of the soul, they are

worse off than the poor afflicted with bodily inBodily infirmities are not of our own
firmities.
seeking, and death will deliver us from them

but diseases of the soul we bring upon ourselves,

and when we die they go with us. Gregory.

BICHES.

Riches

are

what

society

to

4G7

food

the

to

is

Should any one of the members of the

body.

body

absorb

intended

nutriment

the

body would perish

held together only by the requisite
whole, the

nourishment to

the

divers

for

the

same

is

main-

manner, the general harmony of society

only by

tained

interchange

the

is

it

distribution of

In

parts.

the

for

utterly;

of services

be-

and the poor. St. Chrysostom.

In the sight of God no man is poor, but him
who is wanting in goodness and no man is rich
but him who abounds in virtues. Lactantius.
Large rivers, great .trees, wholesome plants,
and wealthy persons are not created for themselves, but to be of service to others.
From the
Hindu.
tween the

rich

man

has three friends in his

life,

wealth,

good actions. When the hour of

death approaches, and he calls on friends to deand

family,

liver

him,

good

his

wealth

actions

and family

respond,

"

avail

not

but his

Even before thou

hast

upon us, we have preceded thee, and have

smoothed the way for thee.
Jewish Talmud.
called

Glory not

in

God, who giveth

desireth

to

give

wealth,
all

if

things,

thee

thou have

it

but

and who above

Himself.

Thomas

in
all.

Kempis.

Wealth bears heavier on

talent

than poverty

Under gold mountains and thrones how

many a spiritual giant may be crushed down and
does.

buried.

Richter.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

4G8

$jtp*tttiioin

|j?^ELIGHT in excellence of other

Is of Humanity the living yolk

folk,

^~
It

proves the heart

Nor by

not by self consumed,

is

entombed
And bears us into that bright atmosphere
Where all things good and true and fair appear,
that tyrant of the world

In fellowship with His elected host,

Who

sends the Comforter the Holy Ghost.

do not know anything more loveable and

charming than the disposition which shows itself
I

erous joy in

sympathy with whatever is

and a hearty, genrecognizing and praising it.
I have

a particular

delight in seeing

in

a quick and

and

good

full

noble

others,

in

cotemporaneous men of
cause

come

the

in

present

this

letters

age,

spirit

the

when

among

greater

be-

literature

has

be so much of a profession (not to say

the temptations to rivalries and jealousies,

to

trade),

or to a depreciating disposition, are perhaps

and

numerous
with

especial

strong.

Appreciation
:

thank

example of
Henry.

gladness Tor any

generous admiration.
neighbors

therefore

more

is

C.

S.

the

bond

the manifestation

and the shining

mark

of

"

of

peace

of love

the

God
this

among

in families

communion of

the

EVIL- EYED.
saints."

Washington Allston

469

speaks

of

it,

in

very beautiful way, as proof of devotion to our

own chosen work. "If an artist," he says, "love his

Art for its own sake, he will delight in excellence
wherever he meets it, as well in the work of another as in his own.
love."

And

This

this is true of

is

the test

every

of a true

calling.

Appre-

shows that a man is doing- his own work

in
the right spirit, and is in the free current
of Humanity,
not a useless wreck on the:
ciation

shore.

2s^p^D-

JfoH-Jripk
is there any blessed use
That one should see but evil,

J?)H,

e*^

And every joyful

To prove there

sight refuse
is

a devil

Behold the shimmer of the

Which

ride the

Enthroned upon

And

Who

heavens

stars,
in glory,

their radiant cars,

think of Satan's story;

from

his post as Lucifer,

That wondrous heaven -adorner,.

IDEALS OF

470

Became

A
And

LIFE.

a vile interpreter,

fallen earthly scorner:

answer,

Is

there any use

That one should see but

And every joyful sight

To prove there is a

evil,

refuse,

devil

imittm*
:REATNESS is divine
An influence that comes
;

Which

from

God

alone

a house of clay begins to shine

in

Beyond, as yet unknown.

In that
It kindles

narrow

place,

more and more, and brighter grows

And, though unrecognized, imparts a grace

Whose source no mortal knows.

Months and years go by:

The Giant

And

dwells within those walls of dust,

waits to gather for the victory

The

fire

Waits,

And when

of

as

Truth and Trust:

giants can

the hour for shining forth arrives,

GREATNESS.

He

man

bursts into the firmament of

To

cheer ten thousand

The power
our

vating

of awakening,

fellow- creatures

be called

fitness,

God

on

ele-

enlightening,

may,

peculiar

with

no agency of

divine, for there is

them

other souls

is

admire,
material

sources

which

of a

of

impulses to

But

state.

forth

develops

or

the

the

it

the

physical

re-

might

and moral

which communicates

throws into

society,

subdues
nobler

is

intellectual

people,

We

of greatness.

test

energy which

the

creation,

calls

sources

to

the surest

indeed,

He
He

and by which
This sway over
Himself.

natures,

rational

assimilates

and

lives.

so beneficent and sublime as that which

exerts

circulation

re-

new
new

mind a new conand rouses and fortifies

stirring thoughts, gives the

sciousness of
the will
doing.

to

its

faculties,

an unconquerable

This spiritual power

To improve man's outward

ary agency, and

is

minister of

worth

condition

chiefly important

God on

life-giving

purpose of well

is

the means of inward growth.

471

earth

is

all

other.

a second-

is

as

it

The most

gives

glorious

he who speaks with

energy to other minds,

breathing

them the love of truth and virtue, strengthin a good cause, and lifting
them above the senses and the world.
We know not a more exhilarating thought
than that this power is given to men
that we
into

ening them to suffer

can not

only

change

the

face

of the

outward

IDEALS OF

472

and by virtuous

world,

selves, but

and

that

we may become

fellowship

highest end was

He

rejoice to think that

His

obey

did

Christ,

whose

human mind. We
not come to monop-

portion

his

Every

progress,

all

who should

partnership of this

the

into

religion,

happiness.

this divine

life

are thus ad-

Jesus

receive others, even

honor and
to

We

of

sway, to enjoy a solitary grand-

divine

eur, but to

springs

might act with a new

energy on the

celestial

olize this

with

He

that

improve our-

discipline

our fellow-beings.

light to

mitted to a

and

LIFE.

pro-

Christian, in

acquires a

measure of

In the humblest conditions, a

agency.

power goes forth from a devout and disinterested

spirit,

calling

sentiment,

forth

silently

perhaps

in

and

moral
or

child,

religious

some

other

and teaching, without the aid of words, the

loveliness and peace of sincere and single-hearted
friend,

virtue.

uals

In

more enlightened

the

now and

then

rise up,

classes, individ-

who, through a

gular force and elevation of soul,

obtain a

sin-

sway

over men's minds to which no limit can be preThey speak with a voice which is heard
scribed.

by distant nations, and which goes down

ture ages.
eration

by

Their

names are repeated with ven-

millions

and

millions

lives and writings a quickening

areotness of the mind, to

the

its

in

their

moral strength, to

These are the

They share in the

They have a greatness

true sovereigns of the earth.

Christ.

read

testimony to the

reality of disinterested virtue.

royalty of Jesus

to fu-

GREATNESS.

which

will

coming,

be more and more

signs are visible,

its

long eminently,

be

will

deeds,

is

long -mis-

this

seen to be-

who>

not exclusively, to those

if

characters,

their

The time

felt.

when

taken attribute of greatness

by

478

writings,,

sufferings,

leave imperishable and ennobling traces of themselves on the

Among

human mind.

mate sovereigns of the world

who

philosopher,

penetrates

its

legiti-

will

be ranked the

the

secrets

the

of

who opens new fields

the intellect, who gives a new consciousness of
own powers, rights, and divine original; who

universe and of the soul

to

these

enlarged and liberal habits of thought

spreads

and who helps men to understand that an evergrowing knowledge is the patrimony destined for
them by the "Father of their spirits." Among,

them

will

be ranked the statesman who, escaping,

a vulgar policy, rises to the discovery of the true-

who seeks without fear or

favor the common good who understands that a
who
nation's mind is more valuable than its soil
of a

interest

state

inspirits

a people's

without

enterprise,

them the slaves of wealth; who

to

or

originate

which society
fides with a

give

may be

stability

tue, as the only foundation of

drunk

into the

spirit

and,

of

mainly anxious

in justice

who conand

above
Christ

all,

who has

so

and of God as

his particular

country

member

human

bound

of the great

vir-

a wise policy and

never to forget that

31

by

institutions

to

forward

carried

sublime constancy

of public prosperity

is

making:

family,

is

to all

IDEALS OF LIFE.

474

nations by a

and

est,

common

by

charity.

these

who

above
pulse

his

to

assail

who

moral and religious

the

is

vicious

and

equity

name who rises

moved by a holy im-

merits that

truly

times

of

inter-

be ranked, perhaps,

will

on the highest throne,

reformer,

laws

indissoluable

Among

by a common

nature,

establishments,

sustained

and inveterate prejudices who

rescues great truths from the corruptions of ages;
who, joining calm and deep thought to profound
by

fierce passions

feeling,

and

secures

earnest

higher forms
tained or

more

religion

to

conviction

of virtue

conceived

thrilling

at

once enlightened

who

than

who

unfolds

they

gives

to

men

have yet

at-

brightness and

views of the perfection for which

they were framed, and inspires a victorious faith

in

the perpetual progress of our

nature.

Chan-

ging.

JwLL,

^^

whatsoever cometh from the heart,

Which born

of

life

begetteth

life,

While nothing which proceeds alone from

Is

ever with

its

flavor rife;

The lightning flashes of a thoughtful mind,

Which place the subject in a light

art,

ORIGINALITY.

Whose

475

clearness, with simplicity combined,

Draws out

at

once responsive sight;

Wealth of the inner -man, passed

through

the

mint,

Which makes
While

it

current with the race,

that which only has

Goes tumbling

to

its

shining

in't,

deserved disgrace

These, these are thine, Originality,

Thy worth to God's unnumbered

W ho know the signet of Reality,

host,

Sign

It

manual of the Holy Ghost.

has been justly observed

of

"flashes

that

mind" in a writer are struck out by the rapid

pen, and that one flash of a man's own mind is
more profitable to himself, and will procure him
a more favorable reception from the public, than
any amount of reprint of second-hand confiscations.
Of course, the flash may be elicited by
contact with another mind. Thorwarldsen's Mercury was sugested by the sight of a lad sitting
in

a graceful attitude of repose.

Memoriam

"

Edmund Kean was

III.,

victorious

In

might never have been written but

for Milton's " Lycidas."

Richard

"

Tennyson's

Hazlitt records that

praised

in his final

for

his

after

his

as

sword has

his

been wrested from him, he stood with

if

action

unavailing struggle with

Richmond, when,

stretched out, "as

when

will

could

his

not

be

hand
dis-

armed, and the very phantom of his despair had

IDEALS OF LIFE.

476

acknowledged

he

power,"

withering

had conceived the idea by seeing the

of Painter
ever,

his

in

with

fight

upon

illustration,

No

best.

most

suggestion,

original writer, like

stock of ideas,

variety

of sources
all

flowers

the

"nectared sweets,"
not

tell

is

seen at

remarked,

its

the

the bee, will derive his

funded

his

but as

often

been

has

as

capital

plunders

is

act-

up an

catching

in

an original mind
doubt,

adopting and

In

or

how-

This,

impudent plagiar-

not imitation, not the

is

ism of the servile copyist.

ing

Oliver.

he

that

last effort

the

of

careful

though

bee,

the
that

of any special blossom, so

from a

store,

of

field
its

it

their

honey

shall

the

man

will

mind ensure that his work shall

not speak too directly of any particular master.
He will collect his material from every nook and
corner of the wide domain of literature, but it

of independent

will

own

all

be

brain,

filtered

and

its

through
elements

being presented to the public

the

alembic of his

recombined before
in

enduring form.

A writer who would seize and retain the ear of

the public must have something of his own to
say, while at times repeating and transmitting
through a new medium the thoughts

of others.

He may adapt and borrow, but what he adapts

and borrows he must invest with a certain degree of novelty. His style must be peculiar and
proper
style, to

ese,

is

to

himself.

write
as

To assume

another

Johnsonese, Carlylese,

foolish

man's

or Ruskin-

and unprofitable as

to

strut

ORIGINALITY.

about

property

the

Plato

man's

another

in

477

The

everybody.

of

Ideas

clothes.

become

thoughts

of

and Cicero are part of the heritage of wellminds but style is, or should be, a

cultivated

man's

self.

Let the writer, then, who pants for 'notoriety

or

covets

true

follow

fame,

advice

Pat's

to

bad orator, come out from behind his nose and

speak in his own natural voice. The heaven of
popular approbation is to be taken only by

Emerson has

storm.

Emersonisms, and not by

many

imagine, for he

echoes of Carlyle,

like

is

world by his

the

startled

as

Carlyle only in be-

ing original.

Edgar A. Poe, with all his personal faults,

eternized his name on the scroll of American
authors simply by being Edgar A. Poe but who
The Raven ?
reads the legion parodies of
Cooper has won a great name as a novelist,
;

though

his writings are stuck as full

the firmament with

mances of equal

ability

Sir

themselves.

Walter Scott

genius at the

new scenes
and

scalds
thrilling

fires

of

while

of faults as

thousands of ro-

have gone to the

tomb

because they have tried to be

of the Capulets/
unlike

stars,

Who
first

can forget how,

kindled the

of feudal

interest

troubadours

of his

poesy, working out

from

and

torch

when

the'

warblings of

minnesingers,

his

cadences were imitated by a whole forest

of mocking-birds,

who made

with

of mosstrooper and

the

glories

the

heavens vocal
marauder,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

478

baron bold and gay ladye, hound

hawk in hand,
henchmen 'and
Spanish

leash and

in

huge and gray chapele,

servitors,
slashed sleeves and

bastion

boots,

blunderbusses,

trumpets,

guns,

'

No

drums, and thunder?'

sooner had the Wiz-

wand

ard of the North gracefully resigned his

to

a mightier Prospero, whose star of popularity had

shot with a burst to the south, then, presto!

Wat

went Rhoderick Dhu and

Hassan and Selim

fore

were

exchanged

of Baccleuch be-

the paeans

down

Rosabelle

to

of Medora,

for the praises

the

and the bonnet for the white turban and

the baggy trousers
and over the whole realm of
song arose the Oriental dynasty under the prime

plaid

Ten thousand puny rhyme-

viziership of Byron.

moon

sters called the

hans/ drummers

became

'

daggers 'atta-

Phingair,'

women

Tambourgis,' and

'Hou-

and haters of pork

discarded their neckcloths and put on sackcloth

ris

'

lovers of gin

strove perseveringly in turn-down collars to look

Conrad

like

and

misanthropic

beard of the Prophet, and raved

stanzas about

over their
of

'

their

jereedmen
butcher's,

oracles

barber's

'
;

Spenserian

dreamed by night

by

beauties,

and janizaries
or

in

and,

day

of

Giaours,

whether baker's,

apprentices,

became the
when

of impassioned wretchedness, and

they could raise

the

'burning brows' or mourned

dark imaginings

gazelle-eyed

by

swore

money enough

hacks hired by the hour

adventured

imitations

at a hand-gallop along the highway.

of

on

Mazeppa

Where

are

"The major

notes and minor

Are waiting

for their

wings-

Pray thou the great Diviner

To

touch the secret springs.'

MUSIC.

they

mances
with

now ?

all

Alas

the

thousand

ten

whole swarm

with historical

cantos

six

in

the

479

echoes

of

of

ro-

notes, alike

Byron, have

long since gone to the land of forgetfulness

or,

they live in an accommodated sense of the term,

owe

it

to the tender mercies

of the pastry-cook

Anonymous.

and the trunk-maker.

mtmt.
^7[7HERE

^>

is

a strain eternal

every

In

faithful heart,

melody supernal,
Obedient to

There
In

is

all

art.

the music
the

glorious

brave and strong,

Of those who march

victorious,

Triumphant over wrong.

God's harmony

is

All through, in

written

shining bars,

The soul His love has smitten,

As heaven is writ with stars.
The major notes and minor
Are waiting for their wings,

WEALS OF

480

LIFE.

Pray thou the great Diviner

To

touch the secret springs

And

chant that music glorious,

That

Of

song\

everlasting"

who march

those

victorious,

Triumphant over wrong.

The meaning
there

that,

of song

Who

deep.

can

words,

logical

in

music has on us

effect

goes

express

is

the

kind of inarticulate,

unfathomable speech, which leads us to the edge

of the

that

into

and

infinite,

lets

moments gaze

us for

Carlyle.

Music

the

is

of the

art

prophets,

only

the

art that can calm the agitations of the. soul:

it

is

one of the most magnificent and delightful presents

God

has given us.

There
is

rules

and

of music

music

is

no

there

heaven, because

self-will.

Music

Man

did not

laws.

his

discord and ugly sounds.

the

world

as

the

learner

musician

because

on

make

these laws

is

he

is

one
is

certain

and

and break them, there

music instantly:

in

music

in

goes

he has only found them out

he be self-willed

end of

in

Luther.

as

The

school

who, instead
clever,

an

is

he brings out

is

greatest musician

much bound by

the

in

all

if

those

laws

and the greatest

of

fancying that,

he may throw aside

the

knows the laws of music best,

and observes them most reverently. And there-

laws of

music,

MUSIC.

was

that the old Greeks, the wisest of

fore

it

the

heathens,

them not
see

of

And

they

said,

and of

perfect

of melody and

of

spirits

order

but to

is

in

fit

and

pattern

of

life

heaven

themselves

in

the

rule,

everlasting
live

their

music

is

the

all

taught

it

fanciful,

therefore

music

therefore

of heaven,

God, which
life

teaching

of

usefulness

the

of laws.

heaven

point

be self-willed and

to

divineness

type

because,

beauty,

the

for

made

music;

children

481

a
life

harmony with each other and with God.

If

thou

God

the .law which

fulfillest

has given

and liberty, then

makest music before God, and thy life
hymn of praise to God.
law

the

thee,

of

love

thou
is

and charity with thy

neighbors, thou art making sweeter harmony in
the ears of our Lord Jesus Christ than psaltry,
If

thou

dulcimer,
If
life,

God

and

thou

all

art

love

in

kinds of music.

living

cheerfully

has put thee, then thou art

if

in

the

thou

ears

and a useful
where
making sweeter

a righteous

doing thy duty orderly and

melody
than

art

of

hast the

the

Lord Jesus

throat

of

Christ

a nightingale;

thy humble place

humbly
copying the everlasting harmony and melody
which is in heaven the everlasting harmony and
melody by which God made the worlds and all
that therein is, and behold it was very good, in
the day when the morning stars sang together,
for then

thou

in

art

and

all

the sons of

God

shouted

for

joy over

IDEALS OF LIFE.

482

the

new created
-

pattern

of

which

earth,

own

His

God made

perfection.

to

be

Charles

KlNGSLEY.

swmtmmt*
FOOLISH

once went astray,

star

Through some

self

calculation

She vanished from the Milky Way,

That troubled constellation,

Through which long

lines of mist

you

trace,-

You any night may view

And see the gleam of many a face
Come softly struggling through it.
But God in mercy led her back,
And suffered no exclusion
it,

Yet could not take away, alack

Her
It

tearful self- confusion:

lingers in the Milky

Way,

Shared by her kin forever,

Which

oft

they seek to smile

away

In brave but vain endeavor.

Now

it

is

difficult

confounded means;
for

to

tell

men what

being-

and almost needless;

there are those who know what it means
difficult

CONFUSION.
without beine told

what

it

48'3

and those who do not know

means without being

know by my

not likely

are

told,

any man's telling.

No, not if an angel from heaven came and told
them what being confounded meant would they
understand him, at least till they were confounded
to

or

telling,

themselves; and then they would

experience,

perhaps

And who
they

when

was too

it

What

are they?

know by

bitter

late.

sort of people are

First, silly

though

persons,

they

whom Solomon

themselves

think

often

calls fools,

refined

"
luxurious and " fashionable
and clever enough,
people, who do not care to learn, who think

how

to

enjoy them-

bad form "

to

be

nothing worth learning save

selves

who

call

"

it

earnest,

and turn off all serious questions with a

These are they of whom Wisdom says,
"

long, ye simple ones, will ye

the scorners

delight

in

jest.

How

love simplicity, and

their

scorning, and fools

hate knowledge?

I also
will laugh at your caland
mock
amity,
when your fear cometh."
Next, mean and truly vulgar persons
who
who do not care if they are
are shameless
;

caught out
they of

in

whom

it

kingdom,

in

ths

lie
is

or

in

written that

outer

outside

darkness

weeping and gmsl'.'mg of

These are

trick.

teeth,

of God's

wherein
are

dogs,

are
ind

whosoever iovcth ar.d -CScUceth a lie.

And next, *iA aroat of all, self - conceited
These arc they on whom Solomon says,
people.

IDEALS OF

484
"

man who

Seest thou a

LIFE.

wise

is

in

own

his

con-

more hope of a fool than of him."

who will not see when they
are going wrong who will not hear reason, nor
There

ceit?

They are

is

the people
;

take

nor

advice, no,

who

tempt

fools

of themselves,

even

not

will

take

see

they are making

that

while

but,

and con-

scorn

all

world

the

is

laughing at them, walk on serenely self-satisfied,

and they
and how

certain that they,

world

made

is

of,

These are they of

being often

whom

know what the

manage the world.

only,

to
is

it

written

hardeneth

reproved,

his

"

He

neck,

that
shall

suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."

Then they

and with a vengeance, what

means by being confounded

will learn,

confounded

being

themselves, and finding themselves utterly wrong,

where they thought themselves

no.

utterly right.

Yet

do not think that even that would cure

some people. There are those, I verily believe,

who would not confess that they were in the
wrong even in the bottomless pit, but, like Satan
and his fallen angels in Milton's poem, would
have excellent arguments to prove that they were
injured and
lay the

ill -

used, deceived

blame of

on anything but

Who,

then,

their

their

being confused means

ribly afraid,

own

are the
;

and betrayed, and

misery on God, on man,

infallible

people

who

are

selves.

who know what

afraid,

and

ter-

of being brought to shame and con-

fusion of face?
I

should say,

all

human beings

in

proportion

CONFUSION,

human

as they are truly

485

beings, are

not brutal

proportion as the Spirit

in

proportion, that

is,

in

of

God

in

them, giving them the ten-

is

working

der heart, the quick feelings, the earnestness, the

modesty, the conscientiousness, the reverence for

good opinion of

the

their fellow-men,

beginning of eternal
the

young

ness

as

the

is

It

which

good old English word was

all

very

the

goodness

in

the

is

you not see

Modesty, bashfulness, shame

the very beginning of

girls.

Do

life.

faced-

that

is

boys and

out of which

material

in

it

all

is made
and those who laugh at,
young
people
for being modest and
or torment,

other goodness

doing the

bashful/ are

themselves under

who

curse which

the

mouth of Solomon,
the scorners

work, and putting

devil's

the wise,

God, by the

pronounced against

love scorning, and the fools

who

hate knowledge.

This

is

the rule

dumb

with

animals likewise.

The more intelligent, the more high - bred they

are, the more they are capable of feeling shame
and the more they are liable to be confounded,
to lose their heads, and become frantic with
Who that has watched dogs
doubt and fear.
does

not

know

that

the

cleverer they are,

more they are capable of being

of themselves, as human beings
be?

Who

that,

the

actually
are,

ashamed

or ought to

that has trained horses does not

stupid

takes fright?

horse

The

is

failing

never

the

vicious,

know
never

which high-bred horses

have of becoming utterly unmanageable, not so

IDEALS OF LIFE.

486

much from

bodily fear as from being confounded,

what people want them

not knowingis

the very sign, the very

organization

and more shame

do

to

that

of their superior

effect,

to those

who

ill-

If God, my friends, dealt with

clumsily as too many men
and
as
us as cruelly
deal with their horses, He would not be long in

use such horses.

driving us

mad

But

fusion.

with terror, and

He

remembers

shame, and con-

frame

our

He

knoweth whereof we are made, and remembereth

that

we

are but dust:

the

else

before Him, and the souls which

And

to

Him we

spirit

He

would

fail

hath made.

even when we know

can cry,

Father
we have made fools of ourselves
who made me, Christ who died for me, Holy
Spirit who teachest me, have patience with my

that

stupidity
I

trusted

and
;

let

my
me

Thee have
never be confounded. Charles
ignorance.

Lord,

in

KlNGSLEY.

ittirosmmu

^
And

EMEMBER
When
sought

that

happiest day

from myself turned away,

my

devotion to prove

In acts of adorable

love?

COSVEESION.

487

Escaped from a bottomless

hell,

How

spell

could

Which

And sang

To

forget

the

it,

me up from my fall,
my bosom the call

lifted

in

enter the lonor whitened

field

That harvests for heaven doth yield,

And bind up the bright golden sheaves

Which God

my

fairest of all to

My

love for

Till

yonder

cast at

Who

that

weaves?

to a coronet

heart,

Thee will not depart,

bowing me down

in

Thy

footstool

compares

my

his heart with the picture

of the renewed heart, as the

Spirit has traced

dispute as to whether

cases

all

works upon what

sion

varies

is

it

it

with

from on
sent

of the

Christ,

freedom
its

own

and
;

it

soul

the

history of conver-

each

of

individual

with
is

It is

of

is

pardon,

but

the con-

the acceptance

the withdrawal of the

objects to fix

life,

renewing

of the

Conversion

it.

God.

Him,

soul

who need no repentance

even that

need

to

to

when he feels
The Holy Spirit

that

high, all

complete,

finds,

deeper sense,

Scrip-

most cases sudden

sense of a turning of the outward

in the

in

conversion

needed?

thus, there are persons

in

in

is

it

Holy

of the

outline

at

cavil

or

or gradual, initiative
that in

pencil

firm

clear,

its

be inclined to

ture, will

crown.

of

deliverance,

soul

from

upon those which the doc-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

488

trine of Christ presents

heart does

longs

the

to

Conversion be-

cannot receive.

not,

at which,

fact,

and which the natural

it,

rationale

of spiritual

even

were not revealed, were

if it

life

is

it

Man

not insisted upon, in Scripture, the heart of

would arrive through

Miss Greenwell.

its

own unanswerable

logic.

what way, or by what manner of working,

God changes a soul from evil to good, how He
In

gems
the
the human mind an impenetra Coleridge.
cases

impregnates the barren rock,

and

gold,

is

to

ble mystery in all

As

to

God

can judge.
the

alike.

value

the

God alone
know how wide are

of conversions,

alone can

which the soul

steps

priceless

has

to

take before

can approach to a community with

Him,

to

it

the

dwelling of the perfect, or to the intercourse and

Goethe.

friendship of higher natures.

One

glance of God, a touch of His love,

and enlarge the heart, so that it

and part with all, and make an
nouncing of all to follow Him.
free

all,

It is

His power

and spread the

carry thee on
vain air

swiftly;

of men's

breathings

which

to

do

it

and

carry

it

sails

applause,

soft

gales

straight

Archbishop Leighton.

to

re-

He

can

for thee.

within

filling

entire

and expand thy straightened

stretch
hoist

in

will

can deny

thee,

heart,

can

and then

them, not with the

but with the sweet

of

His

own

Spirit,

the desired haven.

IMAGINATION.

489

^majwaltoju

vn?HE
***

unseen alone are everlasting,

things

Our wondrous

lives

before:

Imagination finds them, in forecasting,

God's anoels evermore.

The promises

of

life

are in their keeping,

All things divinely fair;

And

what, since
If

gloom

The monsters
in the

their

proper time

breaking of the chains of Error

How

sometimes there

is

of foreboding Terror

Abide

And

exaltation follows weepings

Truth becomes sublime

grasp the marvels of Imagination,

They

all

And

build

will

smile at

them

into

last,

form

their fascination

Like sunshine after storm.

The faculty of imagination is the great spring

of human activity, and the principal source of
human improvement. As it delights in presenting to the mind scenes and characters more perfect than those which we are acquainted with, it
prevents us from ever being completely satisfied
with our present condition or with our past at32

IDEALS OF LIFE.

490

tainments, ana engages us continually in the pur-

some untried enjoyment, or

excellence.
Hence the ardor of
better their fortunes, and to add
suit of

some

of
the

ideal

selfish

their

to

to

per-

and hence the zeal of the

and philosopher to advance the virtue and

sonal accomplishments
patriot

the happiness

human

of the

truth of

it

is,

become

will

this

as

Dugald Stewart.

stationary as that of the brutes.

The

Destroy

race.

and the condition of man

faculty,

look upon a sound im-

life,

next to

a clear judgment, and a good conscience.

In the

agination as the greatest blessing in

meantime, since there are very few whose minds

are not

more or

less

subject

to

we

thoughts and apprehensions,

ourselves against them by the

and

religion,

hearts "

my

(as Persius

paper,)

tions

"to pull the old

expresses

it

in

out of our

the motto

of

which we imbibed at a time when we were not

lieve, as

many

Or if we beand good men have done,

wise

that there are such

I

absurdity.

phantoms and apparitions as

have been speaking

to establish to

holds

of reason

dictates

woman

and extinguish those impertinent no-

able to judge of their

those

some dreadful
ought to arm

the

ourselves an

reins

of

the

of,

let

us endeavor

interest in

whole

Him who

creation

in

His

them after such a manner

that it is impossible for one being to break loose
upon another without His knowledge and permishands, and moderates

sion.

Addison.

The imagination may be

said

in

its

widest

IMAGINATION.

491

synonymous with invention, denoting

that faculty of the mind by which it either "bodies
forth the form of things unknown," or produces

sense, to be

new combinations

or

thoughts

original

up

from materials stored

may be

fancy

materials

the real world

for

make

shut out,

is

of the

it

imagination
that

when

can create a world

Washington

necessary

to

the

but particularity
of the

creations

the

to

Irving.

advance-

is

indispen-

imagination.

men know more and

proportion as

In

think more,

more

they look less at individuals and

at classes.

make better theories and worse

They give us vague phrases instead of

therefore

poems.

images, and personified qualities

They may be

better able

to

not to

of the
dissect.

poet.

he

analyze

His

He may

Shaftesbury;

instead of men.

human

But analysis

ture than their predecessors.

the business
tray,

the

populous, and irradiate

solitude

ment of knowledge

They

to

Brande.

unconfinable

gloom of a dungeon.
Generalization

sable

the

glorious

visions to

the

all

and with a necromantic power can conshapes and forms, and brilliant

itself,

jure up

is

of

habit

subservient

attribute

irrepressible,

is

it

are

that

divine

the

It is

peculiar

that

imagination.

efforts of the

that

considered

The

memory.

the

which presents to our choice

association
different

in

of ideas

office

is

is

na-

not

to por-

believe in a moral

may

actions to self- interest, like Helvetius;

human
or he may

never think about the matter at

His creed

sense, like

refer

all.

all

IDEALS OF

492

on

such

subjects

LIFE.

more

no

will

influence

his-

poetry, properly so called, than the notions which

may have

painter

lachrymal glands,

conceived

respecting

the

or the circulation of the blood,

will affect the tears

of his

Niobe, or the blushes

of his Aurora.
If Shakespeare had
written a
book on the motives of human action, it is by no
means certain that it would have been a good
one.
is
extremely improbable that it would
It

have contained half so much able reasoning on

the subject as

But

Bees.

is

to

be found

have

Mandeville

could

the Fable of the

in

created

an

Well as he knew how to resolve characters into their elements, would he have been
able to combine those elements in such a manner
as to make up a man, a real, living, individual
man ? Lord Macaulay.
Iago

Imagination, although

ordinate rank to

enlarging the
It

is

a faculty of quite sub-

intellect, is

of infinite value for

the action of the intellect

field for

medium

a conducting and facilitating

intellect

to

feel itself in

vacuum.

Nor

expand

itself

a genial,

vital

John Foster.
it be supposed

let

through, where

terrors

that

not so easily rid

then create a
unbelievers

itself
it

of a

of imagi-

The reprobate
of God, can-

of the fear

of the devil;

all

succeeds

hell for

may

love

which has discarded

and even when

it

element, instead

nation belong to childhood alone.

heart,

for the

itself.

who thought

it

in

that also,

We

it

will

have heard of

probable

that

they

IMAGINATION.
should be awake
opinion

the

which

for

graves

imagination

the

Southey.

frames

does not strike on the

if it

and this was

exchanged a

had

they

hope of immortality.

Christian's

When

their

in

493

comparison,

presentation, a

first

sense of the truth of the likeness, from the mo-

ment
grow
7

grows

perceived,

is

it

upon

mind

the

continues

to

resemblance depend-

the

and

upon the outline of form and feature

upon expression and effect,
less upon
casual and outstanding, than upon inherent, intering

less

than

properties

nal

processes
as

the

moreover, the images invariably

modify each

of fancy

carried on

playful, ludicrous,

or

fortunately

the

as capricious

is

the

effects

amusing, tender,

happen

objects

pathetic, as the

produced,

is

of things, and

accidents

surprising,

The law under which

other.

are
or

be oppositely

to

Fancy

combined.

is

given to quicken and beguile the temporal part

of our nature

imagination to incite and to sup-

Yet

port the eternal.

fancy, as she

laws,

and

in

is

an

her

it

is

not the less true that

active, is also,

own

spirit,

under her own

a creative faculty.

what manner fancy ambitiously aims at a rivalship with imagination, and imagination stoops to
work with the materials of fancy might be illustrated from the compositions of all
eloquent
writers, whether in prose or verse.
In

The grand storehouse

itative

guished

imagination,

from

of enthusiastic

of poetical as

and med-

contra

human and dramatic

distin-

imagination,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

4)4

are the prophetical and lyrical parts of the

Holy

and the works of Milton, to which I

cannot forbear to add those of Spenser. Wordsworth.
Scriptures,

lp

The same

COHERE
By which

foal fikm 'T{m.

is

a path

the

to reach the

Full fifteen

Hebrews

yesterday, to-day, and forever.

hundred

Whose mystery
Save when the

soul

xiii.

8.

may go and come

Face* on Cannon's summit,.

feet

by

line

and plummet

has never yet been uttered,

storm

with

bursting

heart

has

muttered,

Or hermit
I

mean

eagles round their eyrie fluttered.

the

wondrous Face of Ancient

Silence,

Older than Egypt's Sphinx, or pyramidic Science,

Whose

features spell both strength

liance

and self-re-

By Nature figured from her blocks of granite,

Where four times twenty feet forever span it,

And
*A

all

the mighty winds of heaven fan

celebrated natural curiosity on

it.

Mount Cannon, Franconia,

H*.

THE GREAT STONE FACE.

I

mean

Man whose

the

Whose mighty

heart

throne

is

495

on the mountain,

one unfailing fountain,

is

All history too brief his thoughts to count in

Who

in his solitude

an age of ages

Has witnessed every war which Nature wages.

Oh wiser he than all our human sages
!

lingered yesterday, in silence viewed him,

Until

my

soul with very

life

endued him,

And like an over eager maiden wooed him.

To day will other wondering souls endeavor
To guess the thought from which he ceases never,
To - morrow too, to - morrow and forever.
-

And some

will think, as

did,

of Another,

sublimer Face, our Elder Brother,

far

Time His Mother

Rock is but a semblance

Eternity His Father,

Of whom

the Profile

Flung out by Nature with celestial temp'rance,

To keep Him in perpetual remembrance.
Franconia, N. H., Aug.,

Hugh
found
.

1878.

Miller, the

inspired Apostle of Science,

rudiments

the

of Christ

in the

Rocks.

Jesus Christ in every lamina of the Earth's

crust
iron

and, as
his

in

with

hand,

saw

faith

in

he toiled

his

heart

among

the

and the
old

red

sandstone,

he

Scotch

tipped with tongues of flame, and the

hills

the

fosil

flora

of

fauna rigid with the stress of prophecy.

as

if

the

his

It

blood of Calvary had stained and

own
was
in-

formed with meaning the insensate mass in which

IDEALS OF LIFE.

496

he wrought

or as

if

he were, with a divine

in-

hewing away the rock from the door of

the sepulchre where the ages had laid his Lord.
With a vision that was too wonderful and too
stinct,

glorious

protracted entertainment of his

the

for

mighty brain, he saw the various

forms of

life

climbing through the rugged centuries, and leaping from creation

olution in the

fco

creation, until they

union of matter and

took res-

spirit in

But science with a pining heart behind

even then.

not satisfied
creature

man was

Then, with the

lost

united

riddle

foundation

of the

chain

link fastened

world

and men.

slain

swung

"

was

complete.

Throne,

to the

Lamb

man.

complex

the

until

in

of " the

the grand

sight of angels

Not

it

from the

clear

in

the

Dr. Holland.

Qjsm )$*&>'

fT

WILL

not vex His ears with

^ For unto Him obedience

is

my

due

And as a father He forecasts the

To make His children strong and
I

will

But

not vex His ears with

I

will

ask

Him what

complaining,

training,

brave and true.

my repining
for me is best,

PATIEXCE.
Till of

His

What

time

Patience

How

will

my

vast the

Patience

see the blessed shining

heart

is

Him work

let

497

lifted to its

rest.

on, the great Refiner

work no eyes but His

descry.

of this strange heart, the one Diviner,

His burning look doth pierce and purify.

Patience

and when the day

till foes aweary

Patience

And

thou,

who

is

at the darkest

shall despair.

to celestial voices harkest,

Shall see the watching skies

grow

clear

and

fair,

Until at length old things, forever passing,

more

Shall hold the panting heart no

And

in thrall,

heaven and earth renewed, before thee massine

Their glorious things, shall hence be

Patience

the

is

guardian

of

faith,

all

in

the

all.

pre-

server of peace, the cherisher of love, the teacher

Patience governs the

of humility.
ens

the

spirit,

subdues pride
the

hand,

she

anger,
bridles

strength-

extinguishes
the

envy,

tongue, refrains

upon temptations, endures

consummates martyrdom. Patience

tramples

persecutions,

produces unity

harmony

stifles

flesh,

in the church, loyalty in the state,

and societies
she comforts
the poor and moderates the rich
she makes us
humble in prosperity, cheerful in adversity, unin families

moved by calumny and reproach she teaches us

to forgive those who have injured us, and to be
the first in asking forgiveness of those whom we
;

IDEALS OF LIFE.

49.3

have injured; she delights the faithful, and invites

she adorns the woman, and imthe unbelieving
;

man

proves the

loved

is

in

praised in a

child,

young man, admired in an old man she is beauBishop Horne.

tiful in either sex and every age.
what
lovely
sight
is
it
behold a pera
to
But
son burdened with many sorrows, and perhaps
his flesh upon him has pain and anguish, while
yet his passions are
his soul mourns within him
;

calm, he possesses

kindly

all

the

his spirit in patience,

relief

that

give them any grief or

afford him, nor does he

uneasiness but what they feel through

of

mere sympathy and compassion

in the

to

himself,

their

love

faster

upon

obligations

divine a conduct under

The

Thus, even

of

and lays greater

by

so

the weight

great remedy which

our hands

and
heavy

lovely

of his

is

patience,

Heaven has put

in

by which, though we can-

not lessen the torments of the body,

and

force

Dr. Watts.

sorrows.

great

the

midst of calamities, he knits the hearts

friends

his

he takes

attempt to

friends

his

we

can in a

measure preserve the peace of the mind,

suffer only the natural and genuine
of an evil, without heightening its acrimony,

shall

force

or prolonging
If

its

effects.

Dr. Johnson.

thou intendest to vanquish the greatest, the

most abominable and wickedest enemy, who

able to do thee mischief both

and against

whom

thou

in

body and

preparest

all

is

soul,

sorts

of

weapons, but cannot overcome, then know that

REWARD.
a

sweet

serve thee,

named

there

is

Be

and

499

Patientia.

herb

physical

loving-

Luther.

patient in the age of pride,

when men

to

live

by short intervals of reason under the dominion

of

humor and

when

passion,

it

the

in

is

power

of everyone to transform thee out of thyself, and

run thee into the short madness.

If

you cannot

come not short of Socrates, and

Pagans who tired the tongues of

imitate Job, yet

those

patient

their

enemies,

while

their

malice

brazen

at

they

perceived

walls

and

they

statues.

spit

Sir

Thomas Browne.

^]?HE glory of the summer morn,

^ From

Is

Night's refreshing slumber born,

unto thankful birds reward,

Their anthem to the Lord.

Gleams of the True, the

Beautiful,

The Good, all things of Him so full,

Are they not unto man reward
Which cometh from the Lord?

The sense

of what

Pursued with

love,

is

well begun,

and

rightly done,

IDEALS OF LIFE

00

not a poor and low reward,

Is

Unworthy of
Think not

He

the Lord.

bargains with His

child,

To Duty here unreconciled,

And offers some far - off reward
To them that own Him Lord.
I

hold the flower enjoys the sun,

Rewarded ere the day is done

So our exceeding great reward
Is day by day the Lord

And

in the

When

blessed time to come,

angels bear us safely home,

Will our unspeakable reward

Forever be the Lord.

am

thy

Genesis xv.

ward.

The

and thy exceeding great

shield,

re-

t.

statutes of the

Lord are

right,

rejoicing

commandment of the Lord is pure,

the eyes. The fear of the Lord is

the heart: the

enlightening
clear,

enduring

forever

Lord are true and righteous

be
fine

desired are they

gold:

sweeter

judgments of the

the

than gold, yea,

also

More to
than much

altogether.

than

honey

and

the

honey - comb. Moreover by them is Thy servant

warned and in keeping of them there is great
reward.
Psalm xix. 8-ii.
Love ye your enemies, and do good, and
lend, hoping for nothing again
and your reward
:

BE WARD.
be great, and ye

shall

the Highest

and

for

to the evil.

Justice ought

rewards

is

St.

Luke

kind unto the unthankful

it.

best reward to the soul.

The reward

we

If

own

not for

for itself,

the

itself

is

Plato.

duty

power

the

is

-Ben Azai.

practice goodness not for the sake of

its

but for the sake of gain-

intrinsic excellence,

some advantage from

ing

35.

Justice

of doing one

perform another.

to

vi.

be pursued

from

springing

children of

be the

shall

He
to

501

it,

we may be

cunning,

we are not good. Cicero.

The only reward of virtue is virtue. The
only way to have a friend is to be one.

but

Emerson.
Beautiful

worth,
earth.

done

it

to see

is

and understand that no

known or unknown, can die, even on this

The work an unknown good man has
is

like a

of water flowing hidden un-

vein

secretly making the ground green.

and flows it joins itself with other veins
and veinlets and one day it will start forth as a
visible and perennial well.
Carlyle.
The penny is very different to the differ-

der ground,
It

flows

ent

receivers

subjectively

to

unto

and

one

the
all,

He

very

is

every

What

though

"I

different

exactly

Lord

am

has no

said

thy
other

it

what he
to

in

is,

He

exceeding great

reward

to

fact,

make

will

Abraham,

save only this: namely, Himself.

same,

the

objectively

it.

says

reward,"

impart to any

To

see

Him

as

IDEALS OF LIFE.

.502

He

this is

is,

His people, the penny unto

all

murmuring laborers

these

He

reward which

the

has for

whom

but they

had

represent,

all

been

laboring for something else besides the knowledge

and enjoyment of God, with an eye to some
other reward, to something on account of which

others.

It

themselves and glory over

glory in

could

they

was not merely

have much which

to

not
body of
brethren

they desired, but to have more than others,

to

grow together with

whole

the

beyond

but to get before and

Christ,

their

and the penny then, because it was common to

while in fact it was to
all, did not seem enough,
each what he would make it. For if the vision

of

God

constitutes the blessedness

world, then they

whose

since only like can

are here

made

in

know

more

the eye that

see

more amply of

the contrary,
sin

may

holiness,

image,

more

of

all

it

impairing,

or

in

may

love,
reflect

purging

clearly

may

it

it

stop

short

end by altogether destroying,

capacities for receiving

from God,

a staining of the mirror, a

a narrowing of the vessel.

is

in its

re-

and on

self- righteousness,

whether

of

the divine

the divine fulness

pride, all

every kind,

then,

advances which

all

mirror that

divine

glory;

an enlarging of the vessel that

glory,

ceive

it

like,

future

most en-

is

of His

humility, in

are a polishing of the

distinctly the

eye

spiritual

lightened will drink in most

of the

all

with
the

degree

darkening of the eye,

Trench.

xrt iiiitl.

The

was the Light of men.

Life

Wisdom

that which

is

John

St.

i.

makes men judge what

4.

are the best ends, and

what the best means of attaining them, and gives a man advantage of
counsel and direction

Not what

Sir

I have, but

William Temple.
what

Constantly cnoose rather to want

To be happy
happiness.

Life

not

less,

than to have more.

Thomas

purpose

the

of

was not given us to be used up

our being

when we

die.

a Kempis.

but to deserve

in the pursuit of

no society can be upheld

sentiment of religion.

what we must

Joseph May..

have lived long enough to know what I did not

that

Carlyle.

kingdom.

Fichte.

leave behind us

lieve

is

my

I do, is

in

at

one time be-

honor and happiness without the

Laplace.

(504)

Jhanmtg.
To be proud

of learning

^^ISDOM
^ Wisdom

the end of Learning,

is

'

XiiX

Learn and

Thou

which

use, that

is

life

indeed

end discerning,

dost live a hero's creed.

Books are

Nor

Jeremy Taylor.

the greatest ignorance.

is

tools,

not for parading,

moulder on

to

Modestly they bring

their shelves

their lading,

Modestly they give themselves

Eyes and ears and thoughts are

In the shifting fight of life

And

the

spirit,

Makes

not the

Learn and

Thou

use, that

Wear your
merely to
33

strife.

of Learning,
life

indeed:

end discerning,

dost live a hero's creed.

private pocket
it,

letter,

thee bravest for the

Wisdom is the end

Wisdom which is

better,

like your watch, in a

and do not pull it out and strike
show that you have one. If you

learning,

505


IDEALS OF LIFE.

506

are asked what o'clock

proclaim

it

it

tell

is,

but do not

it,

hourly and unasked, like the watch-

Lord Chesterfield.

man.

pretender

make

all

learning

to

more

others

one that would

is

than

fools

himself;

for,

though he know nothing, he would not have the

world know so much. He conceits nothing in
learning but the opinion, which he

chase without

seeks to pur-

though he might with

it,

cure his ignorance than hide

He

it.

less labor

indeed, a

is,

kind of scholar mountebank, and his art our de-

He

lusion.

is

out

tricked

ments of learning,

and

none passes

He

better.

in

the

at

the

first

oftener

is

than at his book, and you

in

accoutre-

encounter
his

study

cannot pleasure him

him yet he hears you

the third knock, and then comes out very
You find him in his
as interrupted.

better than to deprehend

not

all

till

angry,

and a pen

slippers,

which formality

in his ear, in

was asleep. His table is spread wide with

some classic folio, which is as constant to it as
the carpet, and hath laid open at the same page

he

this

half- year.

His

sicter

up than

himself,

dow

He

at midnight.

candle

always a longer

is

and the boast of

his win-

walks much alone

in

posture of meditation, and has a book before

His pocket

face in the fields.

a Greek

opens only
stander

company

in

the

by looks

some

church,
over.

his

seldom without

is

Testament or Hebrew

the

Bible,

which he

and that when some

He

has

sentences for

scatterings of Seneca

and TaciI

LEARNING.

which

tus

at dinner
is

comes

are

parcels

lost.

he
all

a great plagiary of tavern

is

he may

He

at

Aus-

parting what time

wonderfully capricious

is

and

wit,

talk of

mere scrapings from

the

company, yet he complains

he has

it

that lasts the discourse

sermons only that

to

His

tin.

If

comes out

occasions.

all

morning,

the

in

and as long as

He

his.

good upon

are

reads anything

507

in giv-

ing judgment, and listens with sour attention to

what he

understands

He

not.

and Casaubon, and the

Sciliger,

much

talks

of

and pre-

Jesuits,

some unheard - of Dutch name before them

all.
He has verses to bring in upon these and
these hints, and it shall go hard, but he will
fers

wind

He

in his opportunity.

guage he cannot
under

Arminius

in

no

delight

His

divinity.

retirement with callers always

protests

to

it

critical

is

in

a lan-

and speaks seldom

construe,

is

business

his study,

and he

He

comparable.

or

is

great nomenclator of authors, which he has read

in

general in the catalogue,

the

title,

and goes seldom so

He

tion.

and
far

in

particular in

as

the

dedica-

never talks of anything but learning,

and learns all from talking. Three encounters

with the same man pump him, and then he only
puts in or gravely

says

nothing.

pains to be an ass, though

and

is

at

length

discovered

He

has taken

not to be a scholar,

and laughed

at.

Bishop Earle.

Learning

is,

in truth,

considerable quality

a very great and a very

and such as despise

it

suf-

IDEALS OF

5 OS

ficiently

do not prize

some others do

for one,

own want

discover their

ing: but yet

rate

who

LIFE.

therein

of understandthe

at

it

excessive

as Herillus, the philosopher,

places

sovereign good,

the

and maintained that, it was only in her to render

us wise and contented, which I do not believe
no more than I do what others have said, that
learning

is

the mother of

all

and

virtue,

vice proceeds from ignorance, which,

is

if it

a very long interpretation.

subject to

that

be

all

true,

Mon-

taigne.

No man
minister

upon

is

but wit

no

it

may

ad-

to

pride of learning and the abuse of learn-

ing are fatal

it,

work in, or object to work

and wisdom are born with a man.

matter

Selden.
The

wiser for his learning

evils,

doubt

the

and without the possession of

man

devoted

of

merely the vernacular Scriptures

be even eminently useful

piety,

in his

hand,

with

may

but there are higher

and more extensive spheres of service which he

is

clearly

not

qualified

to

occupy.

when employed not for ostentation,

not to set up human w isdom in
r

divine

revelation,

but humbly,

boriously to trace out,

to

defend

apply

it

the

to all

to

revealed
the

but for

to

of

varied purposes

tcse;

opposition

patiently,

exhibit,

truth

Learning,

and

assert,

God,
for

to
la-

and

and to
which

it

was made known, is of the highest value. And

student remember that he
let every younger
knows not to what scene of service he is destined;

LEARNING.
let

be

it

humble

his

aim,

509

depending upon, and

seeking constantly, the divine blessing, to become

as well qualified as possible for that station, be

what

may, to which

it

And,

him.

the indefatigable labor,

patient zeal of those

Swiss
they

may

please

great and good

to

pursue

it

yet

did

not

denied

but

life,

themselves

its

own

might gain

contemplative

and

themselves,

(the

learning as

it

in

men

for

sake (or for the earthly distinctions

for them), or lose

to call

let

Reformers), who, devoted

were,

God

him duly consider

the diligent study, and the

view,

this

in

it

it

studied,

and

prayed without ceasing, in

act with wisdom and success to the glory of God
and the higher good of their fellow-men. There-

order that they might

fore

their

is

memory

blessed.

Dr.

Thomas

Scott.

Learning

maketh

young

men

temperate,

is

the comfort of old age, standing for wealth with

poverty,

and serving

Cicero.
The
little

chief art

at a time.

for

of learning

may

require

is

riches.

attempt but

to

Locke.

Learning, like money,

coin, as to

an ornament to

may be

be utterly void of use

good management

to

of so base a
or, if sterling,

make

the purposes of sense or happiness.

it

serve

Shenstone.

IDEALS OF

510

fXjHE

best of servants thou canst have;

^A

Joy

is

And

tyrant,

the

is

death

to its
in

am much

Dutch barber

way, a collector of

things

old

good thing

coins,

rooms were
neatly

put

pleased

to

thickly

up

in

its

resided

Rene was a virtuoso in

curious out-of-the-way

medals,

like.

in natural

urns and vases, and

other bits of antique pottery, savage

arrow-heads, and the

for

of the opinion of Rene,

and other objects

stuffed birds,

history,

use,

Cambridge, when

at

at that seat of learning.

his

slave.

its

abuse.

its

an exceeding

is

proper uses.

thou be

if

wedded

not

life

Money

LIFE.

The

arrows and

walls of his

two

garnished with these things,

He was much

glazed cases.

be complimented

on

collection

his

though he always made a mild disclaimer of any

special merit in

it

intimating

that

his

taste

was

superior to anything he could show, and that his

collection

would be much larger and of a much

higher order but for his want of

it

means

to

make

it

is

no

am

so.

"Poverty," he would say, "poverty

disgrace,

sir,

but a great inconvenience."

quite of Rene's mind.

do not think any philoso-

MONEY.
pher could put the matter

511

a juster or better

in

way.
If

man

planting and landscape

in building,

books and a large

in

an enjoyment

likes to travel, or has

library

or

creation

or

a lover of

is

and pleased to possess good pictures, sculpand the like, as well as commodious furnithe want of
ture in good taste and keeping;

art

tures,

money

procure these things

to

And

convenience.

money and
tion of

if

the

in-

has plenty of

sacredly sets apart a generous

for the relief

it

a decided

is

man who

and welfare of

men, chooses to spend, the residue of

por-

his fellowit

in indul-

and cultivated tastes, he is

not justly to be blamed for it, and certainly none
but a mean - hearted man will envy him the conveniences and elegancies and refined enjoyments
gence of these

he

is

liberal

Who

able to procure.

so base as to object

and giving hospitable

so long as he spends more

to a Peabody's eating off plate

dinners to his friends,

hundreds of thousands for the good of mankind

than thousands on himself and friends.

But the shame and the mischief of the case

among

us

is

in the inordinate greed, the universal

scramble for money, not for

for

selfish

nation of

its

money

is

own sake
far

proper uses, but

vulgar misuses of

or

avarice which

its

seekers, not

We

it.

from the miserly

gathers and hoards

merely for

it

as an end in itself (for

this, I think,

from being our vice as a people)

the sake of the

homage

it

are a

secures, the

but for

power or

IDEALS OF LIFE.

512

influence

or the

gives,

it

with

rivalry

others

in

ostentations display which the extravagant expenditure

of

one

enables

it

money - seekers

terribly a nation of

We

are

for these

and

maintain.

to

and comparatively ignoble ends,

with scarcely a thought or desire of becoming
able to do good and promote the welfare of society, actuating and sanctifying the eager, incesthe

selfish

like

sant

struggle

And

the

effect

on the

after

mischief

of social

not

is

only

the

in

(which

but

the

honor,

and

intense

this

in

disposition,

shipwreck of integrity

and

defalcations

dishonesties

trusts, the

gendered

the

ostentatious

gambling

in the reckless

the unscrupulousness,

and

lowering

cause and effect of

both

is

extravagant expenditure and vulgar,

rivalry,)

shame.

the

is

of the people and on the tone

spirit

life,

This

riches.

falseness

frauds,
selfish

are

that

struggle

to

enafter

and quick gained riches. We are going,

morally, the road downwards with tremendous

great

velocity,

accelerating
to

Pandemonium was

molten gold.

C.

S.

The man who

is

proclaimed

in

Gold
standing

is
:

enslaves himself to

capacities

clearer

accommodates

paved with
his

money

Trench.

dissipates every

it

in an instant

and

Henry.

wonderful

built

we come

shall

our very language to be a miser,

or a miserable man.

est

and where

silences

the

of

the

under-

doubt and scruple

itself

to

the

mean-

loud and clamorous,

and brings over the most obstinate and

inflexible.

CONTENTMENT.

Macedon was a man

Philip of

reason

dom

this

He

way.

Athens,

of

513

of most invincible

by

refuted

confounded

all

it

statesmen,

their

struck their orators dumb, and at

wis-

the

length argued

them out of all their liberties. Addison.

Chilon would say, that gold was tried with the
touchstone, and men with gold.
Lord Bacon.
or

how a command

wonderful to consider

It is

to

call

be

liberal,

either

upon a

civil

or

re-

sudden impoverishes the

ligious account, all of a

breaks the merchant, shuts up every private

rich,

makes those men in a

minute have nothing who, at the very same instant, want nothing to spend.
So that, instead of

man's

exchequer,

and

'

relieving the poor, such a

creases
into

their

number, and

beggars presently.

wise

but not

command

man

transforms

in-

men

rich

South.

should have

in his heart.

strangely

money

in his

head;

Swift.

StmbttlmimL

IgONTENTMENT

Wherewith

the

uses

all

the powers

Lord His creature dowers.

Contentment thrives and never knows

The trouble which from folly grows.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

514

Contentment

And

never vexed with

Contentment

And

and

discreet

is

wise,

lustful eyes.

trusts in Providence,

finds that trust munificence.

Contentment

And measures
Contentment

abiding wealth,

is

spiritual

a pearl of great price, and

is

whoever procures

health.

it

at the

expense of ten thou-

sand desires makes a wise and happy purchase.

Balguy.

virtue (content) does indeed produce, in

This

some measure,

those

all

effects

which the alchy-

mist usually ascribes to what he calls the philosopher's stone

and

if it

does not bring

riches,

it

does the same thing, by banishing the desire of

them,
ing

cannot remove the disquietudes

if it

out

man's mind,

of a

body,

makes him easy under them.

It

kindly influence on the soul of

every being to

whom

or
has,

man

in

aris-

fortune,

it

indeed,

respect of

he stands related.

It

ex-

tinguishes all murmur, repining, and ingratitude

towards that Being who has allotted to him his

part to act in this

world.

It

destroys

nate ambition, and every tendency to

with

regard

placed.

and

Among

It

to

gives

perpetual
the

the

all

inordi-

corruption,

community wherein

he

is

sweetness to his conversation,

serenity

to

all

his

thoughts.

many methods which might be made

CONTENTMENT.
use

of for

the

acquiring-

of this

mention the two following":

should always
than

he wants

consider

51

First

virtue,

shall

of

man

all,

how much he has more

how much more

and, secondly,

unhappy he might be than he really is. Addison.

As for a little more money and a little more
time, why it's ten to one if either one or the
If you
other would make you a whit happier.
had more time, it would be sure to hang heavily.
It is the
workingman who is the happy man.

Man was made

be

to

happy as when he
the miserable man.
happens

that

so.

is

It

and he
is

What comes

far too often of sight

harm

active,

the

on those days.

is

idle

never so

man

is

of holidays, and

seeing, but evil

is

Half the

And

as for

money
Don't you remember the old saying,
" Enough is as good as a feast ? "
Money never
made man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The
more a man has the more he wants. Instead of
makes one. If it satisfies
one want, it doubles and trebles that want another way. That was a true proverb of the wise
man, rely upon it " Better is little with the fear
of the Lord than great treasure, and trouble
its

filling

a vacuum,

it

Dr. Franklin.

therewith."

There are thousands so extravagant

ideas of contentment as

to

imagine that

having everything

consist

in

out the

way they wish

in happiness,

and

feel

that

in

this

in

their

it

must

world turn

they are to

sit

down

themselves so at ease on

IDEALS OF LIFE.

516
all

and nothing

points as to desire nothing better

more.

seem

own

to pass

there

are

instances

experience

will

convince us

go upon. We are
and we may depend upon it

"

pectation to

world we

this

missions

shall find

shall

that

is,

in

have

way

to

by

alted

good and

the

their paths

delight- but a

'tis

we

whilst

live

though with

it,

evil

contentment

is

ex-

fatal

to trouble

whatever state we

to receive these certain

returns of

if

born

a mixture of good and

fore the true

some who

through the world as

had been strewed with rosebuds of

little

of

to

vicissitudes of

;"

in

inter-

are,

we

and there-

know how
life,

the

so as neither to be ex-

evil,

one nor overthrown by the

but to bear ourselves towards

other,

everything which

happens with such ease and indifference of mind,

as

hazard as

to

true

as

temperate climate

which every wise

and
Sterne.
That happy
in.

in

little

may

for

fitted

say,

" I

the

by nature,

wish to

have enough,"

highest attainment of philosophy.

not in possessing much,

tent with

us

man would

is

live.

state of mind, so rarely possessed,

which we can

sists,

This

be.

what we possess.

always has enough.

is

the

Happiness con-

but in being con-

He who

Zimmerman.

wants

little

" Fie

is

the

Rainbow

of the heart,

Which was and is sua is to be.

And, when the Rainbow must depart,
The Light that shines eternally."

TRANSFORMATIONS.

51'

Ifarasfoijttraltcms*

I.o.

am

with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

St.

Matthew

xxviii. 20.

Rainbow of the heart,

Which was, and is, and is to be,
And, when the Rainbow must depart,
The Light that sh nes eternally.
|p3
7 Sri

^^

is

the

'

His everlasting loveliness

little

while

Peace and Rest

is

Nothing of earth can long express

The Lord Almighty

To day He
-

To-morrow
Proclaims

And

As

falters in the race

laureled Victory

Him

with another Face.

Him

have seen
beautiful

their

to

bringing courage

His countenance

Defeat

in

anywhere,

as

Lifting the fallen

And

best.

Energy

the

is

That never

His

at

is

feet,

from despair.

Freedom

that of

When men are pulling tyrants down

He comes, like One who came from Edom,
The

toil

Devotion

of His
is

Within the

redeemed

the form
cloister's

He

to crown.

wears

narrow

aisle

IDEALS OF LIFE.

518

And Conscience in her heart declares

He is the Life that knows no guile.

He changes into Charity

When self is passing out

of sight,

becomes Humanity
Through suffering divinely

In pain

The very Bird

He
Then

lights
flies

bright.

of Paradise,

and shows Himself

away

in part,

to other skies

In other regions of the heart.

Ah me

all

moulds

distort,

Or keep some proper

or scrimp,

feature back:

Comparisons forever limp,

One

foot at least forever lack.

The marks of Christ forever change

Through some supreme Eternal law:
The Universe His mighty range
For signs of comfort and of awe.

His perennial Life on earth

Which He bestows upon His own,

Grows from the feebleness of birth,

And

in

ten thousand forms

is

known.

To judge Him who is all in all,

As only what He seems below,
Were into grievous sin to fall
And bind His grace to what we know.

TBANSFOBMA TIONS.

51

The blessed tokens of His love

Are endless as Eternal Life,

And showered

forever from above,

With many a form and aspect

Dear Lord

From

help

and

sin

me
its

to

rife.

my

keep

pollution free

heart
;

Thee where Thou art,

And take Thy blessing ere Thou flee

So

shall

see

Assured that

Thou art
The Infinite

in the

One who changest

the
in

change forever

Transformed, indeed, but

Let no

man

or

woman

in his thought.

who

think,

young, on

whom

not

that they will have a quiet

fallen,

the necessary

are in earnest, for

many

the world without or

in

Development must have

tion

its

slidings.

transient

Accept

if

they

the

world within them.

its

rude shocks, evolu-

necessity,

principles

still

years to come, either in

count

Christian

life,

earthquakes, progress
the

is

calm of age has

make ready to take your part in

w hich are coming on the earth. Be
vast

not,

man's endeavor,

of

back-

its

the

the
true

cost,

things
to

the

Fatherhood of

the

God and the Brotherhood of Man steadily go to

war with every opinion and system which tends
But in fighting
to limit them and enslave men.
against systems and opinions, do not be betrayed
;

yourselves into

intolerance of men,

into

inability

IDEALS OF LIFE.

520

good

to see the

any statement or
deny that the men

in the evil, into

may

action which

practically

whose views you oppose are children of God and

your brethren in Christ. Constantly keep your
temper in the battle guard jealously your power
;

of looking on

ail

may be above

yourself that you

men and

sides of questions

narrowness the narrowness

skepticism,

of

lar sets

down,

See that

to

who
land

thought,

one

life,

to

differ

Do

locked

having

ride at anchor in a safe

not

bay,

in

put aside

you, without

sided and the

skill,

ness from

making

the

Christ.

best in

human

Progress

the law that

life,

trial

of

tender-

sorrows, love from assisting others,

its

faith in the final issue

is

dull.

on to a

sail

wisdom from the storms of

the

intellect

conscience intolerant or

is

ought

nature,

the
to

from the clear inward

are growing up

consciousness that you

that

of

troublesome ques-

You cannot quench

unknown.

within

comfort

cultured
all

boundless horizon, gaining strength from

and

your

fetter

from yourselves, who oppose and

Rather tempt the ocean paths and

your

intel-

make you

tions of the
spirit

your

limit

contradict you.

and

norrowness of

wise in your own conceits.

mix
with
men your brothers, with
you

thought, to

those

the

of religion, the nar-

keep yourself apart from particuof men and opinion.

They tend to fix

lectual vanity

you

watch over

things just to

Clear your minds from

their opinions.

rowness

all

into

all

into

that

law of the world,

rule

our

lives.

is
it

all

of
is

See that

FATE.

521

you are an active part of the great evolution of

What

the race.

the convulsions
suffer,

the

matters after
of heart and

shattered

the hurricane, the

It is

the

at

life

moving

of the

Which

is

His place

and the world

Law
man

unto every
in

God's good plan

no contradictions

are,

Or here or in remotest star

Where truth is truth, and lies
Above, beneath

And

yet

to

are

beautiful

world, of truth and freedom

Law

is

Before Immanuel's

lies r

skies.

all

make more

Fate turned to
34

mid - ocean ?
moving with

holds the Universe in awe;

And measures

In which

it

world,

irrevocable

is

of the

Stopford A. Brooke.

in Christ.

^WATE

you must

midnight watch in

more,

is

it

the catastrophe,

intellect

the

sail,

loneliness

least,

movement

all

changed
face.

full

to

Grace

is

IDEALS OF LIFE.

522

And every crying child

An orphan and without
That he possesses

know

region of our

nent westerly

atoms
tion,

and

self

that

souls

to

alleged, in

is

atmosphere, a perma-

which carries with

current,

rise

thrall,

all.

not whether there be, as

the upper

when

estate,

when escaped from

Finds,

of Fate,

but

that height,

it

all

see that

reach a certain clearness of percep-

they accept a knowledge and motive above

selfishness.

breath

of

through the universe of souls

the Right
intellects

blows

will

in the direction of

and Necessary. It is the

inhale and exhale, and it

air

drowns

unpenetrated

is

and

ship

sailor,

causes.

like

which
the

is

which blows the worlds into order and

Fate

eternally

orbit.

The

grain

all

wind
.

water

of dust.

But learn to swim, trim your bark, and the wave

which drowned it, will be cloven by it, and carry
it,

like

The

its

cold

blood,

is

own

plume and a power.

inconsiderate of persons, tingles your

freezes

learn to skate,
ful,

foam,

man

and the

ice will give

The

sweet and poetic motion.

your limbs and brain

foremost

men

to

of time.

an imperial Saxon

dew - drop.

like

race,

But

you a gracecold will brace

and make you

genius,

Cold and sea

will

train

which nature cannot bear

and after cooping it for a thousand

years in yonder England, gives a hundred Englands, a hundred Mexicos.
to

lose,

FATE.

The annual

523

slaughter from typhus far exceeds

that of war;

but right drainage destroys typhus.

The plague

in

and other

healed by lemon juice

or procurable
small

pox

is

and

scurvy

is

portable

diets

by cholera and
ended by drainage and vaccination
depopulation

the

and every other pest

cause

from

sea -service

the

is

not less

effect,

of

chain

the

in

and may be

fought

off.

Emerson.

As soon

the

as

relation

is

does

us.

away,

like

cease

mask,

new

may

be,

But wherever the

position.

we have

only

to tear off the

Law.

that be possible, to find the face of

if

it

only dashes

It

an Arab of the desert, to beset us

again in some

next onset

trouble

to

effect

Yet

changed,

appears, the aspect of Fate

not

and

of cause

And so on to the end.

No man may fold his arms and
.

Things
must be so and in erring, I yield but to nature."
There is no fate in this world, like the fate that
a man makes for himself. That is fate, indeed
say,

"

the

inevitable

freely

necessity,

work out

his

that

man must

every

own weal

woe

or

the

fact

on which hinges the whole moral philosophy of

human life and history. It is a fact, unalterable,
fixed as adamant.
rock, or
tain

upon

break upon that rock

cannot be removed.

it
it

Whether we

and therefore

to point

one

lift

it

up

upon

thing

that

is

cer-

But we may build

out, and,

it

the waves, the strifes and perils

ence, to

build

of

clearly to view,

is

human
to

amidst
exist-

send out

IDEALS OF LIFE.

524

challenge

indolence

do

do

to

the

soul

moral

and

all

responsibility

fairly

and of

with

trust

are

say in

fine,

for

be

the

lists

liver.

to
stu-

resolution

study

right

all

and

say plainly, that for sickly

poor

voluptuaries,

sheep

and

be happy,

of

than

wrest-

blows and wounds

natures, taking
virtue

weak

for

had rather

for ignoble creatures that

innocent

ling angel

of that

and

ends of

and

true wisdom.

all

worldlings

To arm

face,

itself

humility

highest

the

complainers,

can for himself,

the

in

arouse the soul to discharge

these

every

look that dread fact of inalienable

to

pendous

summon

to

that he

the

in

sluggard

to all the

call

he can for others.

that

all

heroism

spiritual

world

the

in

that lives to

and

the

all

and an alarm

world, aye,

man

to

no doctrine

have

say deliberately and firmly,

that

in

to

de-

had

commenced my existence as I have,

some imaginary elysium of negative, stachoiceless, unprogressive innocence and

rather have

than in
tionary,

enjoyment.

Give

me

me breadth
No memory

me

freedom, give
of experience

would have

so hallowed, no

is

knowledge, give

memory

as that of temptation nobly withstood,

fering nobly endured.

and

garner

world, like

doms?
glorious,

up
its

Come

What

from the

struggles,

its

is

it

solemn

that

to the great battle, thou

all.

so dear,

or of suf-

we gather

story

sorrows,

it

its

of the

martyr-

wrestling,

marred nature; strong nature! weak na-

FREEDOM.
ture

come

mortal

for

strike

strife,

highest Son of

great

the

to

God

the

cup of immortal

was

The
Heaven

made

"

this

in

best beloved of

And

through sufferings."

and,

battle,

immortal victory

ever stood upon earth

that

525

perfect

sweeter shall be the

joy, for that

it

was once dashed

with bitter drops of pain and sorrow; and brighter

shall

shadows
ing.

everlasting

the

roll

that

clouded

this

ages,

the

for

dark

of our be-

birthtime

Dewey.

Ijmkttn
The Truth

9toLL

shall

make you

free.

St.

John

viii.

32.

possibilities are his

W-. Whose

life

Joy, joy which

proclaims what
is

Freedom

is;

the spirit's token

The fetters of the man are broken

The bow that spans the firmament
At the Accuser's banishment
The mountain air of happiness
Above the breath of selfishness
:

Faith which transfigures and inspires

And

lights in

man undying 'fires;

Bright Hope, which sets the world aglow

And

watches angels come and go

IDEALS OF LIFE.

526

Sweet sunshine from the face of Love,

Which maketh Earth like Heaven above

The

vision of a living

That sees

soul

every part the Whole

in

The will and energy sublime

To grasp Eternity in Time
Yea, all things born of God are
;

W hose
7

that

call

which

life

proclaims what Freedom

mind

protects

own

its

body

the

animal

against

itself

which

energy,

and

recognizes

greatness, which passes

shall eat or drink,

is

free which masters the senses,

which contemns pleasure and pain

with

his

appetites,

comparison

in

beneath

penetrates

its

own

and

reality

not in asking what

life,

it

but in hungering, thirsting, and

seeking after righteousness.

I

call that

mind

which escapes the bond-

free

of stopping at

age of matter, which, instead

material

and making

universe

passes beyond

it

to

radiant signatures

it

prison

Author, and finds

its

which

the Infinite Spirit, helps

it

to

the
wall,

in

the

everywhere bears of
its

own

spiritual

en-

largement.
I

its

call that

mind

free

and powers, which

intellectual rights

man

master, which

which jealously guards

does

a passive or hereditary

not content

faith,

calls

itself

which opens

may come, which

no
with

itself to

light

whencesoever

new

truth as an angel from heaven, which, whilst

it

consulting others, inquires

still

more

receives

of the oracle

FREEDOM,
within

not

and uses

itself,

own

energies.

call that

its

mind

which

love,

quicken and exalt

free which sets

not imprisoned in

is

from abroad

instructions

supersede but to

to

527

its

no bounds to
itself or in a

sect, which recognizes in all human beings the

image of God and the rights of His children,
which delights in virtue and sympathizes with

wherever they are seen, which conquers

suffering

and

anger,

pride,

sloth,

and

willing victim to the cause of

1

mind

that

call

free

framed by outward

offers

up a

itself

mankind.

which

is

circumstances,

not passively

which

not

is

swept away by the torrent of events, which is

not the creature of- accidental impulse, but which
bends events to

its

own improvement, and

acts

from an inward spring, from immutable principles

which

has deliberately espoused.

it

call

that

mind

free

which

protects

itself

against the usurpations of society, which does not

cower

to

human

opinion,

which

feels

itself

ac-

countable to a higher tribunal than man's, which

respects a higher law than fashion, which respects

much

itself

too

many

or the few.

in
all

call that

God and

to

mind

in the

fear but that of

ace or peril

can

be the slave or tool of the

free which,

through confidence

power of virtue, has cast off

wrong - doing, which no men-

enthrall,

which

midst of tumults, and possesses

else

be

lost.

is

calm

itself

in

though

the
all

IDEALS OF LIFE.

528
I

call

age of

mind

that

old

precise rules, but

science,

and

and higher
I

itself

on

itself

to

behind,

is

of confresh

forth in

itself

mind

free

guards

which

in others,

which

is

jealous

itself

which guards

its

of

from

its

being

empire over

as nobler than the empire of the world.

In fine,

of

pour

live

exertions.

freedom,

merged

which does not

which forgets what

rejoices to

call that

own

past,

new and higher monitions

for

bond-

the

resists

which does not enslave

virtues,

listens

which

free

which does not mechanically repeat

habit,

and copy the

itself
its

its

call

affinity

that

with

mind

which, conscious

free

God, and

confiding

promises by Jesus Christ, devotes

to the unfolding of

all

its

in

His

itself faithfully

powers, which passes

bounds of time and death, which hopes to

advance forever, and which finds inexhaustible
power, both for action and suffering, in the pros-

the

pect of immortality.

-Channing.

zzsjfo.

Jbfitm.
Why

W
cJ|7

stand ye gazing up into heaven

N"

gazing up to heaven

In idle ecstacy,

Acts

I.

n.

ACTION.

529

What progress make we to the haven

Where we at length would be?
appointed work
The sure advancement lies,
Wherein the dearest comforts
In heaven

There are beneath the

lurk

skies.

How

David wrought of old,

Like One to him unknown,
To bring again the Age of Gold
Which from the world had flown
His conquest of the bear

And

Was

lion in his

youth

prophecy which everywhere

Proclaimed the way of Truth.

In action

day by day

His mighty manhood grew,

character to live for aye,

was so strong and

It

true.

He grappled with all rude

And unpropitious things

garden from the solitude

Smiled to the King of kings.

His enemies became

As
Till

stubble to the

songs of praise,

fire,

like leaping flame,

Burst from his sacred

lyre.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

530

He wrought his people good

He left a name behind,
The

strength of honest brotherhood,

And
And

richer

so

it

made mankind.

ever

is

and zeal

In usefulness

The Lord announces who

And
Action

forth of the

gives eternal weal.

the

is

highest perfection

God

is

best that he can give

tion that
act,

and drawing

utmost power, vigor, and

man's nature.
can do.

are His

activity

of

pleased to vouchsafe the

only

to

the

we

best that

The properest and most raised concepwe have of God is, that He is a pure
South.

a perpetual, incessant motion.

Act well at the moment, and you have performed a good action to all eternity. Lavater.
There is no action of man in this life, which
is

not the beginning

sequences, as that

enough

to

give

of so long a

chain of con-

no human providence
us

prospect to

the

is

high

end.

Thomas of Malmesbury.
That every man should regulate his actions
by his own conscience, without any regard to the
opinions of the rest of the world, is one of the
first

precepts

of moral

prudence

justified

not

by the suffrage of reason, which declares

that none of the gifts of Heaven are to lie usebut by the voice likewise of experience,
less,
only

ACTION.

which

soon inform us

will

we

be

shall

of

variety

that,

we make

if

the

blame of others the rule of our con-

praise or
duct,

631

irreconcilable

suspense

perpetual

by

distracted

boundless

judgments,

between

be held

contrary

in

impulses,

and consult forever without determination.

Dr.

Johnson.

The

actions of

their character

takes

are oftener determined by

:

their

conduct

more from their acquired tastes,

and habits, than from a deliberate

color

its

inclinations,

regard

men

than their interest

to

greatest

their

good.

It

is

great occasions the mind awakes to

on

only

take an ex-

tended survey of her whole course, and that she

of reason

suffers the dictates

impress a new

to

upon her movements. The actions of each

day are, for the most part, links which follow
bias

each other in the

mind with right

Hence

of custom.

chain

great effort of practical

wisdom

tastes, affections

the

to imbue the
and habits
the

is

elements of character and masters

of action.

Robert Hall.

The

which we can be said to

have any property are our actions. Our thoughts

may be

only things

bad, yet

in

produce no poison

be good, yet produce no

fruit.

Our

they

riches

may
may

be taken from us

by misfortune, our reputation

by malice, our spirits by calamity, our health by
disease, our friends by death.
But our actions
must follow us beyond the grave with respect to
:

them alone we cannot say

that

we

shall

carry

IDEALS OF LIFE.

532

when we

us

nothing with

die,

neither

we

that

Our

shall

go naked out of the world.

must

clothe us with an immortality, loathsome or

glorious

these are

we cannot be
weight

full

thing else

the only

disinherited

deeds of which

as nothing

and

have their

they will

balance of eternity,

in the
is

title -

actions

their

when

value

everywill

be

confirmed and established by those two sure and

destroyers

sateless

of

other

all

Time and Death. Colton.

Under no conceivable set
we justified in sitting
Waiting

Under

no

be true that there

it

whether

circumstances,

or
is

strife."

of

irreparable

thus

is

it

that

life,

the

spirit

or

pain,

mistake,

not something to be

done, as well as something to be suffered.

over our

of circumstances are

" By the poisoned springs of life,

morrow which shall free us from the

disappointment,

or

grief,

can

for the

earthly things,

of Christianity

And
draws

not a leaden cloud of Remorse and

Despondency, but a

sky,

not, perhaps, of radiant

but yet of most serene and chastened and manly

hope.

There

But there
F,

W.

is

is

Past

which

a Future which

Robertson.

is

is
still

gone

forever.

our own.

THE SOLDIER OF

CHRIST.

Wi\t jSflfom* of dlptsL

,|E)

CHILD

^^ O
God,

of great

affliction,

child of greater joy

God will grant His benediction,

And find for thee employ.

Go forth the
Go forth in
Naught

world
all

waiting

is

thy youth

of thy heavenly strength abating,

Fight thou the fight of truth.

Thy sword is from the Spirit,

Whose thrusts are brave and quick:
Thou hast above thyself a merit
What though the foes be thick ?

And One who came

from

Edom

In greatness of His might,

Abides with thee

And
There

is

is

Than

assigneth thee

no mightier commission
that of Liberty.

Rejoice with joy exceeding,

freedom

no grander mission

Than God
There

to strike for

citadel the right.

thou forever true

IDEALS OF LIFE.

534

For others

fighting, toiling, pleading,

Thy heavenly

strength renew.

The Truce of God will hasten

With many a psalm of peace,
Or constant warfare prove and chasten
Until the great release.

Thou canst not miss

What though

wages
eye be dim

thy

thine

The Master's eye

is

in

on the ages,

All times belong to

And when

Him.

separation

Of good and evil here,

The long, long wished-for consummation,

New

heavens and earth appear,

thine will be the

wonder

All free from wild alarms

For thou

The

thou

art forever

under

Everlasting Arms.

For that

terrible

saying of

Anne

of Austria

holds true for mercy as well as for

to Richelieu

My Lord Cardinal, God does not

judgment
pay at the end of every week, but at the last He
pays, "
God may put His faithful ones upon a
long and painful apprenticeship, during which they
food only, and
learn much and receive little,
" that in a measure, "
often the bread and water
Yet at the last He pays ; pays
of affliction.
:

"

fiEST.

them

535

pays them into their hands

remember long seasons of faint

into their hearts,

We

also.

yet honest

may

endeavor

without strength

the prayers

of a soul yet

the sacrifice of an

imperfectly

bound even with cords to the altar

we may remember such times, or we may forget
subdued

will,

them, but

their result

good seed sown

in

is

enly fragrance within our

will

blossom, perhaps bear

Miss

Some of the
now shedding a heav-

with us.

is

tears

and some of

lives,

over our graves.

fruit,

Green well.

\*L
EST! Rest! Rest!
^ The sweetness of His

Who

word,

speaks to them that are distressed,

With all their trouble stirred

The fellowship with One
Who knows the cares which life infest,
:

And how
Rest!

release

Rest!

The calm

is

And

won.

Rest!

within the heart,

Which, humbled, has at

felt its

it

last confessed,

sin depart;

!!

IDEALS OF

536

As undefined

And

form

as hard to be expressed

all

As sunshine
Rest

Rest

The sense

in

LIFE.

after storm.

Rest

of something done,

nearer what

little

is

best

Before the setting sun

fairer,

purer

light,

That does not fear the inner

test,

Self further out of sight.

Rest!

Rest!

The beauty

Rest!
of the soul

In her ethereal glory dressed,

Her eye upon the goal

Which often-times we feel
:

Along our journey

And
Rest

to the

West,

silently reveal.

Rest

Rest

Love growing beautiful,

Our purposes of Heaven blest,
Until our days are

The
The

full

end of Fast and Feast,

folded hands

The looking
Rest!

Rest!

To wake

all

upon the

breast,

to the East.

Res,!
satisfied,

With immortality possessed,

BEST.

Like

Him who

58Z

for us died

And in the land above

To seek some higher mountain-crest,
Increasing

still

not the lake locked in ice that suggests

It is

repose, but the river

in silent

moving on calmly and rapidly

majesty and strength.

It

not the cat-

is

but the eagle cleaving the

lying in the sun,

tle

in love.

air with fixed pinions, that gives

you the idea of

repose combined with strength and

creation, the

of

God

Rest of

Power which nothing

exhibited as a sense

is

When

wearies.

burst into harmony, so to speak,

perfection

the

one

Rest.

Nature

in

aspiration

longing after

the

other,

the

chaos

God had

There are two deep principles

apparent contradiction,

In

motion.

in

after

repose.

harmony of these lies the rest of the soul

of man.
There have been times when we have
experienced this.
Then the winds have been
hushed, and the throb and the tumult of the
In the

passions have been

blotted

out of our

That was a moment when we were

with

around,

all

our God; when

pure,

all

was

This
life,

that

life

in

reconciled

we sympathized

was
not
its

Nature witnessed
in that

the

with

all

harmony
and
that

to

was

was lovely.
was fulness of

beautiful, all that

stagnation,

most
in

it

expanded form,

her

first

hour.

such

This

is

as
life

form of benevolence which expands into

mind of
35

in

ourselves

to

bosoms.

Christ.

And when

this

is

working

IDEALS OF LIFE.

538
in the soul,

it

how

marvellous

is

man's words and countenance.

cal

to

is

the

God,

and

power of

"Who

its

distils into

Strange and magi-

that collect

wherein we pray

alone can order the unruly wills

affections of

people that they

men, to grant unto His

sinful

may

love

thing which

the

He

commands, and desire that which He promises

that so among the sundry and manifold changes

may

of the world, our hearts

surely there be fixed

where true joys are to be found. " There is a

the words are
wondrous melody in that rhythm
the
thought.
The
mind
of the man
the echoes of
was
in
repose,
all
them
is
ringing of
wrote
who
We do not wonder when Moses came down
rest.
;

from the mount on which he had been bowing in

adoration before the harmony of God, that his
face

was shining with a brightness too dazzling

to look upon.

Brother man, there

He

is

Love

is

because

Rest

His

Christ,

in

are

the

because

everlasting

God does not cease to be

Verities of Humanity.
the God of Love because men are low, sad, and
desponding.

In the performance of duty, in

ness, in trust in
It is

God,

is

our

rest,

meek-

our only

not in understanding a set of doctrines

rest.
;

not

in an outward comprehension of the "scheme of

salvation, " that rest and peace are to be found,

but in taking up in
the yoke of the

ertson.

all

lowliness

Lord Jesus

Christ.

and meekness

F.

W. Rob-

THANKS.

539

ifljpmks*
In every thing give thanks.

I.

Thessalonians

v. 18.

ORD, Thou hast all my sins forgiven,

Let not my thanks grow old,
Thy love assureth me of Heaven,
Let not my thanks grow old.
Through Thee alone my soul prevaileth,
Let not my thanks grow old,

Thy dear compassion never

Let not thy thanks grow

Thou

hast been with

Let not

And

Let not

Thou

my

turned

me

faileth,

old.

in affliction,

thanks grow

old,

into benediction,

it

my

thanks grow

hast not

left

me

in

old.

my

blindness,

Let not my thanks grow old,

But lighted me with loving-kindness,
Let not

my

thanks grow

Thy Providence

old.

has not abated,

my thanks grow old

know I am to Thee related,
Let not my thanks grow old.

know Thou

Let not

Let not

my

art

my

Father, Saviour,

thanks grow

old,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

540

Who

Let not

New

me

hast bestowed on

my

thanks grow

such favor,
old.

Thy mercies every morning,

Let not my thanks grow old,
At evening fresh as at the 'dawning,
are

Let not

Through

Thy

my

thanks grow

my

all

days,

old.

my good

forecasting,.

grown old,
So true and strong and everlasting,
And can my thanks grow old ?
love has not

Annihilate not the mercies of

livion

of ingratitude

annihilation

and

for

God by

oblivion

is

the ob-

a kind of

be as though they

for things to

had not been, is like unto never being. Make

not thy head a grave, but a repository of God's
mercies.

Though thou

hadst

Seneca, or Simonides, and

ual

memorist within

membrance

us,

things

in

memory

the

conscience,

the punct-

yet trust not to

need

which

of

thy re-

phylacteries.

Register not only strange, but merciful occurences.

Let ephemerides, not olympiads, give thee account

of His mercies

let

thy diaries stand

thick

with

mementos and

asterisks of acknowledgment.
forget nothing, date not
and
And to be complete
look beyond the
His mercy from thy nativity
dutiful

world,

and before the

aera of

Adam.

Sir Thomas

Browne.
seashore a holy man, who had
I saw on the

THANKS.

been torn by a tiger

541

and could get no salve

to

For a length of time he suffered

much pain, and was all along offering thanks to
the Most High.
They asked him, saying, " Why
are you so grateful?"
He answered, "God.be
praised that I am overtaken with misfortune and
heal his wound.

sin. "

not with

am

From the

thankful for small mercies.

notes with one of

my

friends

thing of the universe,

anything
I

Persian.

is

less

and

who

compared

expects every-

disappointed

is

than the best;

and

when

found that

begin at the other extreme, expecting nothing,

am

and

always

Emerson.
Father,

full

of thanks for moderate goods.

we thank Thee

that while

heaven and

the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thine

trancendent being, yet

Thou

and workest in all things

ing, and blessing all and

We

livest

that are

and

all-

movest

causing, guid-

each.

thank Thee for the material world, with

which Thou hast environed us, beneath, and about,

and overhead. We thank Thee for the night,
where Thy moon walks in brightness, with a star
or two beside her; and we bless Thee for the
sun,

who

curiously

prepares the chambers of the

and then pours out the

golden day upon the waiting and expectant earth.
East with

We

his

beauty,

thank Thee for the new

life that comes tingboughs of every great or little tree

green in the new-ascended grass, and

ling in the

which

is

transfigures itself in the flowers to greater bright-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

542

We

ness than Solomon ever put on.

which

seed

the

for

ground, which thence

dinous prophecy,

thank Thee

the

farmer cradles

lifts

up

face of

its

telling of harvests

the

in

multitu-

that are to

come. We thank Thee also for the garments of

prophecy with which Thou girdest the forests, and
every

adornest
fresh

and

which

life

in the

teems

Thee

bless

waters about

in the

branches of the

in the

Lord,

we thank Thee

and sweet, when the trees

us,

hills,

and

trees,

with new-born insects throughout the

pled land.

the

for

brooks which run among the

little

which warbles

hums

We

tree.

peo-

day

for this

up their
hands in a psalm of gratitude to Thee, and every
little flower that opens its cup, and every wandering bird seems filled with Thy Spirit, and to
be grateful unto Thee. We thank Thee for all
so

fair

Thy

the world

on

the

ground beneath
corded there of

We

presence,

for

time with which Thou

We

bless

Thee

which never

for

thank
us

Thee

for

the

in

the

lift

for

perpetual
the

Sun of
beams,

His

day on eyes

that longingly

that

visitest

spring-

human

soul.

righteousness

never allows any night there,

sets,

but with healing

perennial

Thy power, Thy

love.

Thee

thank

and the

us,

the testimonies re-

for all

Thy

and Thy

justice,

heavens above

and

on the walls of

of revelation

hand-writings

lift

that

showers down

open, and on hearts

themselves up to Thee.

the

great truths that

lesser lights,

like

the

shine

moon

in

We
to

the

THANKS.

darkness of the night

and

543

those great lights,

for

which pour out a continuous and never-ending

day wheresoever we turn our weary mortal feet.

We thank Thee for the generous emotions which
spring up

anew

in

every generation of mankind;

for the justice that faints not,

the

nor

weary

is

for

philanthropy which goes out and brings the

and heals
the sick, which is eyes to the blind and feet to
the lame.
We thank Thee for the piety which
has inspired Thy sons in many a distant age, and
in every peopled land; and we bless Thee that
it
springs anew in our own hearts, drawing us
unto Thee, shedding peace along our pathway
here, and giving us multitudinous prophecies of
wanderer home, which

lifts

up the

fallen

glories yet to come.

O
Thee

Thou who
for Thyself.

art

We

we thank
of Thy wis-

Perfection,

Infinite

know

that out

dom, power and love have proceeded

of matter, this world of man, and
of heaven into which

We

we

all

hope

this

that

world

kingdom

to enter at last

thank Thee for the loving-kindness and ten-

der mercies over

all

Thy works

and where we

can only see through a glass darkly,

Thee with infinite longing which

every fear.Theodore Parker.

in

God! God!
thank Thee for a
God! God!

do not pine

for

life

any

of use

truce.

we

will trust

casteth

out

IDEALS OF LIFE.

544

Peace, Peace,

Has always come from duty done:

Peace, Peace,

Will

Thanks

be won.

until the end,

so,

Thanks

thankful heart

Thanks

my

is

Thanks

reward
!

Befit the children of the Lord.

Wind
The

Wind

peaceful reel must

Wind
The

Wind

thread of

still

go round

life will

soon be wound.

ratptps*

Vials

Jft

full

THOU

^ To

of odors.

who

Revelation

v. 8.

art the flame

keep the world

alive,

Burn, burn away my sin and shame,

My dying life revive.

The

fire

May

of heart and

not

in

me

be

lip
lit,

PRAYERS.

Except,

Breath of Fellowship,

Thou somehow
Breathe

And

And

it.

cold, cold heart,

in this icy soul,

bid

shall

me go

Of what

And

kindle

wondrously impart

likeness to the whole.

Its

in

true

life

search
desires,

through Thine all-embracing church

Help

Gr

my

in

warmth

Till

Cio

if

Let

light

undying

that

may

me

abide

fires.

not be,

Thy will,
cup Thou

And drink the

And in Thy

love be

givest me,

still.

We

go to God by prayers, not by steps.

Andrews.
Good prayers never come creeping home. I
am sure I shall receive either what I ask or what
Bishop Hall.
I should ask.
It was the saying of a learned man, saith Dr.
Lightfoot, that he got more knowledge by his
prayers than by all his studies.
Bishop Wilson.
To distort one's eyes in prayer does not seem

Bishop

to

me

necessary

hold

it

better to be natural.

But one must not blame a man on that account,

provided he
should

make

is

not a hypocrite.

But that a man

himself great and broad in

prayer,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

546
that,

seems

it

me, deserves reproach, and

to

is

One may have courage and

not to be endured.

must not be conceited and wise

for if one knows how to counin his own conceit
sel and help himself, the shortest way is to do
confidence, but he

it.

Folding the hands

and looks as

a fine external decorum,

one surrendered himself without

if

and

capitulation,

is

down

laid

But the

arms.

his

inward, secret yearning, billow-heaving, and wish-

ing of the heart, that,

thing

prayer

in

my

in

stand what

people mean

pray.

just

wish,

is

It

opinion,

and therefore

as

who

the chief

is

cannot under-

will

not have us

they said one should not

if

or one should have no beard and no ears.

That must be a blockhead of a boy who should

have nothing to ask of his father, and who should
deliberate the whole day whether he will let
to that extremity.

When

you nearly, and

of a

is

not question long

it

rags

few

of

words,

the wish within concerns

warm

will

strong and armed man.

come

it

It

complexion,

overpower you
will

just

and knock

it

will

like a

hurry on a

at the

door of

heaven.

Whether

the prayer of

mov^d

soul can ac-

complish or effect anything, or whether the Nexus

Rerum (connection of things) does not allow of
that, as

point

some learned gentlemen

shall

enter into no

think,

on

controversy.

that

have

Nexus Rerum, but I cannot

Samson, who left the Nexus of

great respect for the

help thinking of
the gate-leaves

unimpared and carried the whole

PRA ?ERS.
one knows,

gate, as every

And,
it

is

in short,

dry,

and

rightly

to the top of the

believe that the rain

we pray

if

God's earth can pray

He meant
tation

But

comes when

aright and

are

disposed.

"Our Father" is once for

you know who made it

for

hill.

that the heart does not cry in vain

water,

fresh

after

547

it.

We

it

But no man on

Him, precisely as

after

cripple

the best prayer,

all

with a distant imi-

it

and each more miserably than the

other.

mean

well;

matters

that

not,

if

we

only

any
Because
be.
rate,
you desire it, I will tell you sincerely how I manage with " Our Father. " But it seems to me a
very poor way, and I would gladly be taught a

God must do the best

and He knows how it ought to

dear

the

part at

better.

Do

you

of

my

first

see,

when

late father,

am

going

how he was

loved so well to give to me.

to

to pray,

myself the whole world as

so

think

good and

And then I picture

my Father's house,

and all the people in Europe, Asia, Africa, and

America are then in my thoughts, my brothers
and sisters and God is sitting in heaven on a
golden chair, and has his right hand stretched out
over the sea to the end of the world, and His
left full of blessings and goods
and all around
the mountain-tops smoke
and then I begin
Out Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be
Thy name. Here I am already at fault. The Jews
;

are said to have

known

special mysteries respect-

IDEALS OF LIFE.

548

name

ing the

But

of God.

and

that be,

let all

and every trace

by which we can recognize Him, may, be great

only wish the thought of God,

and holy above

all

Thy Kingdom

how
how

come.

Here

drives hither and

it

this

sorrow

and

heart,

and that

and

me,

within

thither

can

men.

all

think of myself,

and now that

governs,

of

me and

things, to

all

is

on no green

light

And then I think how good

for me, if God put an end to all
govern me himself.
branch.

it

would be

discord,

and

Thy will be done as in Heaven so on Earth.

Here I picture to myself heaven and the holy
angels who do His will with joy, and no sorrow
touches them

and then

only so here on earth

think

if it

were

Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

hurts

It

revenge

is

the wicked

my
I

eyes,

will

word

seems so

It

inclination leads that way.

servant in the

and

forgive

my
my

heart

and

to

me,

an affront

receives

sweet to man.

my

and

too,

when one

But then

Gospel passes before

fails,

and

fellow-servant

resolve, that

and not say a

him about the hundred pence.

to

And

lead us not into temptation.

Here

think

where people in such and

such circumstances have strayed from the good,
and have fallen and that it would be no better

of

various

instances

with me.

But

us from

evil.

of temptations, and that

man

deliver

Here
is

still

think

so easily seduced

PRAYERS.

549

and may stray from the straight path.

But

same time

of

think of

consumption and
birth, of

all

the troubles

gangrene and

insanity,

and

that plagues

none

to

of

and the thousand-

misery and heart-sorrow that

is

life,

of old age, of the pains of child-

fold

there

at the

in the

is

world,

and tortures poor mortals, and

And you will find, if tears
help.

have not come before, they

will

be sure to come

and one can feel such a hearty yearning

to be away, and can be so sad and cast down
in one*s self,
as if there were no help at all.
But then one must pluck up courage again, lay
the hand upon the mouth and continue, as it were
here

in

triumph.

the

kingdom and the power and

glory forever. Amen.
Matthias Claudius.
For Earnestness. O God, let us not linger at

For Thine

is the

the threshold of Christianity;

inmost depths of

life.

conduct us into the

Help us

to

break through

the obstacles, the doubts, the desponding lethargy,

weakness, which hinder

us.

Open

quenchable aspiration for truth and

us a spirit of rational

filial,

triumphant, glad obedience.

fidence in

us an

virtue.

strong,

un-

Give

unreserved,

Give us perfect con-

Thee, whose laws are the dictates

wisdom and love, and who dost

the purity and glory of Thy children.

fatherly
in

in

of

delight

Dispose us to see Thy goodness everywhere,

when descending upon us, but when

diffused abroad, so that we may discern the love
which pervades the universe and quickens all
not only

spirits.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

550

Make

us sensible of inward wants, indigence,

destitution,

Lay open

weakness.

us our cor-

to

Expose to us our hidden vices in

all their depravity.
Teach us to look steadily into
ourselves till we see, with something of Thine
own abhorence, every evil affection. Lead us away from false resources to a sure dependence
on Thy perfect will, and may this reign supreme
rupt motives.

within us.

Help us to look through the disguises of selflove, to judge ourselves truly, to anticipate the
revelations of the last day
and let not this knowledge of our deficiencies and deformities fill us
;

Thy mercy,

with dejection, but rather endear us to

and lead us
vigilance

Thy

to

and

and

firm

to

Morning

faithful

Our Father

thank Thee for the return of

for the

to feel

Heaven, we

in

this

morning, and

We

renewal of our daily blessings.

that

we

with

conflict

Channing.

every irregular desire.

Prayer.

while rousing as to

grace,

love

surrounded by Thee,

are always

and that the blessings of each day are the

of

Thy

We

providence.

art

coming

the

morning,

evening, in

us

to
in

the

in

the

love

the

of

all

to

feel

of

and peace of the

our loved ones,

in

gifts

Thou

that

joy and freshness

serenity

happiness of our home,

experience, and in

love

in

the

the discipline of daily

things which

make

us glad

and strong, and heavenly-minded. And now, before entering upon the labors and trials of this
day,

we meet

together that

we may

think

how

PRAYERS.

and earnest

real

551

should be

life

how

innocently

we should enter into it, and how much

we need Thy guidance, even when we cannot
think of Thee.
O Lord, how often have we felt
that we would be more obedient to all Thy commands How often have we said within ourselves,
" This day, we will not sin
we will be kind, and

and

actively

and

just,

down
But

patient,

alas

come upon

us,

and

the day that

many

and

day,

all

memory

regretful

lie
!

as the excitements of duty or pleasure

forgetful

affectionate

without

night

at

and

things,

we grow anxious and

frivolous,

we

and

or

restless,

find at the

of

close

are careful and troubled about

and that we have not

yet

found

"good part" which cannot thus be taken away from us.

Our Heavenly Father, we now
come to Thee in no confidence in our own strength,
and pray that Thou wilt help us. Let Thy grace
that

be

Come

sufficient for us.

day,

holy

in

thus keep

all

that

that

true lead

is

truth.

blessed;

May

all

One

even

all

that

send us not from

before

duty, that

Thy

times this

feeling,

and

our forgetful-

in

of Thee,

lovely remind

is

May

all

source of

all

altogether lovely.

us to Thee,

but breathe

many

beautiful. remind us

is

the Infinite Beauty.

us of Thee, the

to us

and reverent

us near Thee,

May

ness.

strength

the

Thy presence

loving Spirit upon

we take up the burden

we may go on our way

un-

us

of our daily
rejoicing,

and

the words of our mouths, and the meditations of

our hearts,

may be

acceptable

in

Thy

sight,

O,

IDEALS OF LIFE.

552

Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer.

Altar

at Home.

Evening Prayer.
thank Thee, for
life,

God, Fountain of

Thy good

We

through another day.

life,

we

of the waters of

gift

bless

Thee

we
The

that

and move and have our beino- n Thee.

world presses hard upon us, and we might faint
and die if we were alone but we are not alone,
live

Not one moment in

all our life is passed without Thee
Thou wilt
never leave us; no place is without Thee; Thou
Thou hast made us for
wilt never forsake us.
kept us in life. When our last
life, Thou hast
Father

for the

with us.

is

Thy

night in this world shall close about us,

us to sleep, and

will fold

to

life

in

Thy

we

come,

love shall

shall

we

dust as

sight,

it

with

in the

Thee,

Our sun

for
shall

earth shall pass a-

this

body shall return to the

Sun that lights the sun

the

was, but the

shall shine forever.

be

live forever.

be turned into darkness,

way from our

when we awake

still

love

The Hand

in

which the earth

Thou art the same

Thy years shall not fail and we are the sons of
not
God. Not our will, but Thy will made us
is

but a speck of dust abides

our

but Thine has kept us

will,

this day.

God,

our Father,

help us to a deeper trust in the

everlasting,

from

May we

feel that

the
this

of

lesson

love

this

which

is

life

one

day.

now,

ever

Thy gift to Thy

this
shall be
child, and when it is worn out Thou wilt clothe
him a^ain this work of life is the work Thou
robe of flesh

is

"-"^t^PF

Bfc*

^~

1
'

"Wind!
The

thread of

^Mw

^Vl^'^i

Wind!

peaceful reel must

Wind

The

still

go round

Wind

life will

soon be wound.'

553

PRAYERS'.

when

hast given us to do, and

wilt give us

so

life

God,

more;
flows

glad,

God

for

is

and we

love,

feel

how day

shadow of the
us at the

faith

in

Thy

our hearts

we

will

unite

our
of

help us

some

see

dim

break upon

Thy Son,
make our

Gospel of

Spirit,

all

fountain

to

come more solid and clear

we be glad when Thou shalt call us,

the

then shall

the

makes

shall love forever.

day that

May

whisper of

the

day

after

eternal

last.

in

Thou

done,

is

deep

out of the

O, set these lessons deep

to

that

love,

this

it

to

life

;.

and enter into Thy glory in Jesus Christ. Altar:

at Home.
Prayer before work. O Eternal God, who hast
made all things for man and man for Thy glory,
sanctify my body and soul, my thoughts and my
intentions, my words and actions, that whatsoever
I shall think, or speak, or do, may be by me deand by
signed to the glorification of Thy name

Thy

blessing

it

may be

effective

work of God, according

the

Lord, turn

my

as

and successful
it

can be capable.

necessities into virtue

of nature into works

let

to

the

of grace, by making

orderly, regular, temperate, subordinate,

able

in

and

ends beyond their proper efficacy

works
them
profit;

and

no pride or self-seeking, no covetousness or

revenge, no impure mixture or unhandsome purposes, no

my

little

ends and low imaginations, pollute

and unhallow any of my words and aclet my body be a servant to my spirit,

and both body and spirit servants of Jesus that
spirit

tions

but

36

IDEALS OF

554
doing-

Thy

things for

all

partaker

Thy

of

LIFE.

glory here,

glory hereafter

Christ our Lord.

may be

through Jesus

Jeremy Taylor.

For Strength. Gracious Father, keep me now

through Thy Holy Spirit
keep my heart soft
;

and tender now

of the world

in health and amidst the bustle

keep the thought of Thyself pres-

me as my Father in Jesus Christ keep

alive in me a spirit of love and meekness to all
men, that I may be at once gentle, active and
ent to

firm.

me

strengthen

Thou

danger, or whatever

upon me,

my

let

my

as

Christ's

that

and servant

soldier

things eternal,

may

death,

be pleased to lay

shalt

overcome the world

faith

faith

bear sickness, or pain, or

to

realize

daily.

to

and things

and

Strengthen

my mind
after death,

the

and

Thyself.

How much
hand, and shall

Lord,

me
me

strengthen
body,

in

God have

of

me

with the grace

to

Thy

in

any

received at God's

not also receive evil

to

bear

mind, or

in

in

it,

whether

estate.

which Thou didst

martyrs, and let

me

not

fall

me

will

it

visit

Strengthen
vouchsafe

from Thee

trial.

Lord,

let

me

cherish a sober mind, to be

ready to bear evenly, and not cullenl)

to

Only,

Thyself

make

of Rugby.

all

in

T
.

Reveal

Jesus Christ, which knowledge

sufferings

and

all trials

easy.

Arnold

PRAYERS.

Teachers Prayer.

5 -j 5

Guide,

and strengthen,

and enkindle me, O Lord, inspire me with zeal,

and guide me with wisdom, that Thy name may
be known to those committed to my care, and
that they may be made and kept always Thine.
O Lord, save me from idle words, and grant
that my heart may be truly cleansed and filled
with

Thy Holy

and that

Spirit,

serve Thee, and

down

lie

me

Let

arise

will,

ready for

live for the day,

What

my

is

not here.

is

eyes to

to

it

for

God

May God open

Him by faith, in and

may He draw me
Christ
;

and keep me with Him, making His

His love

my

His strength

love,

may He make me
not derived from

in

my

feel

Him,

May

worst weakness.

my

live

see

His Son Jesus

life

not over-

charged with worldly cares, but feeling that

treasure

to

entire confidence in

in

Thee, and submission to Thy

or for death.

may

my

will

no strength,

Him,

to

my

strength

that pretended
is

through

will,

and

strength,

but the

His strength be perfected

Arnold of Rugby.
In School. Give Thy blessing, we pray Thee,
this our daily work, that we may do it in faith
weakness.

to

and

and not unto men.

All our powers of body and mind are Thine, and
we would fain devote them to Thy service. Sanctify them and the work in which they are engaged let us not be slothful, but fervent in spirand do Thou, O Lord, so bless our efforts
it,
heartily as

to

the Lord,

that they

may

bring forth

in

us the

fruits of true

556

IDEALS OF LIFE.

Strengthen the faculties of our minds,

wisdom.

and dispose us to exert them, but let us always

remember to exert them for Thy glory, and for
and save us
the furtherance of Thy Kingdom
from all pride, and vanity, and reliance upon our
own power or wisdom.
Give us this day Thy Holy Spirit, that we
may be Thine in body and spirit, in our work
and in all our refreshment, through Jesus Christ,
;

Thy Son, our Lord.

For Submission.

Jesus

in

all

human

"Thou

for

times.

all

let

not always

wilt

chide,
"

Thou keep Thine anger forever

wilt

May

And if Thy consolation

Thy will and righteous
me as the chiefest com-

probation of me, be to
fort

at

being willing to bear the want

in

comfort.

be withdrawn,

also

and

places,

all

find consolation

of

Arnold of Rugby.
Be present with me, Lord

neither

Thomas

a Kempis.

A
ful

Prayer for Communion with

and Eternal God

ther

all

but shadowy

shall find

and death
I

am

rich

phantoms.

may

fail

the

world

Father

and not

threaten me.

look

enough, though

If

am

may

life

If

Fa-

have

bring, are

have but Thee,

through light and darkness.

enough, though

me

may

My

things else, that

my way
my way

shall find

Merci-

Love Inexhaustible

Universe!

the

of

but Thee,

God.

all

falter,

If

though want

have but Thee,

that others call riches

sufficiently exalted,

though

all

am strong
I
down upon me
many conspire against me I am
;

PRAYERS.

557

may befall me, and all my

If I have but
worldly possessions may be lost.
Thee, death itself cannot rob me of joy, even if
though disasters

safe,

it

my

should tear from

my

jects of

seneer

Thy

of

love

have but Thee,

Ah, death

love.

possess

all

From The

Lord,

know

self.

may

it

ses or comforts.

my

Thee, and open

of which

wants,

me
me

need.

If

can love my-

Thy mercy.

me how
Spirit.

Smite me, or

me

adore

only desire

by Thy Holy

all

my God

if

ask

is,

Thou

art

as

thy

seem-

purposes,

myself

give

up,

up

to

Thy will.
Dwell Thou in

to accomplish

is

pray

to

Fenelon.

Prayer for Resignation when in

a spectacle to

proper,

myself ignorant, and deal

knowing them.

My

is

Look upon my

heart to thee.

unto Thee.

Lord, teach

am Thy

merely present myself before

am

ask

to

dare not ask for cros-

depress me, or raise

without

what

not

better than

be.

according to

eth good

All

in

Persian.

Lord, give to thy child what

whatsoever

me

thou lovest

friend,

The

not what to ask of Thee.

Thou alone knowest what

me

If I

Zschokke.

things.

Prayer when one knows

for. O

Thee.

the

in

have already been blessed by Thee,

being- virtuous.

heal

and

God, show compassion on the wicked.

virtuous

with

the ob-

them again.

shall find

all

Thy angel mes-

is

he carries them to Thee

bosom

bleeding heart

pleased

to

trouble,

render

me

men and angels, Thy will be done

that Thou wilt be with and save

WEALS OF

508

who

those

so

Thee;

love

LIFE.

that neither

may

death, neither principalities nor powers,

God

separate them from the love of

As

Jesus Christ.

men

me from

since they cannot separate

whose name

my heart.
am w lling
me.

If

engraven

men

all

Him

whom

for

Purify

me

of Thee.

lest

self,

what may be defec-

die daily.

before

Thee an

peace

in

Saviour

pre-

offering, a sacrifice.

Thy blood, that I may be accepted

Madame Guyon. (In the Bastile.)
in

of

self before

should despise and hate

may be presented

Self- Examination.

tribunal

that Saviour

very bottom of

the

will polish

me, so that

sent myself

in

what
suffer,

can only be accepted of Him,

that

Their strokes

tive in
to

is

in

is

it

make me

they

ever

which

me, what matters

for

of me, or what

think

nor

life

Go

thy conscience:
hide

thyself:

God

my

up,

into

soul,

there set thy

the

guilty

not thyself behind thy-

bring thee forth before thyself.

St.

Augustine.

For Entire Devotion.

ery

thought to the

what

cannot give

abilities,

age,

money,

in

Take

Christ.

heart, body, thought, time,

in

Thy

God.

Whom

have

and there

is

comparison of Thee.

O,
I

let

in

My heart is
When shall

Robertson.

cru-

not these

heaven but

none upon earth that

God, for the living God.

God

O my

service,

Master, Redeemer,

appear before

into captivity ev-

of

health, strength, nights, days, youth,

be mere words

Thee

my

and spend them

cified

Bring

obedience

desire

athirst
I

for

come and

FRA YEBS.
Trust, in view of death.
elation will

and

live,

in

Thy

Jesus, in

will

it

559

'

Blessed

die.

rev-

power of Thy word; to it the power of

death must yield. I live in Thee, and I shall not
it
die.
There is no death, there is no grave
God is no God
is but change and calorification.
of death
He is our life. He created life, and
the

is

my
it

spirit

my body

animates

My

His work.

is

to

it

is

and remains

dust which for a time

and which was

spirit

clothed

life,

when

life

the

garment,

as a

it

while

as an instrument, returns a-

gain to dust.

Heavenly and Eternal Father, Source of

Thou from whom

being,

Thine

spring,

all

whom

unto

Sweet is
life, in truth,
but death has nevertheless no terrors
no fear of it shall overwhelm me, shall turn
me away from Thee, and from the path of virtue.
that I do not adorn
I hold as naught the days
with good deeds, I hold as naught a life which
return

shall

ever be

shall

cannot glorify by virtue.

And me
earthly goal

fight

as

reached.

is

pleted a
life

far as
life

also,

can say unto myself,

nal

me

God, Thou

wilt call

when my hour comes, when

Thyself

unto

if

also,

of

awaits

my

Blessed shall

me

also.

then be

have fought a good

powers allowed,

well-doing

my

the

have com-

crown of Eter-

Zschokke.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

5GJ

Jmm*.
There remaineth therefore a

2T7HERE
^ Which

is

a song

in this

rest to the people of

the

God.

saints in

round of

iv. 9.

heaven sing

toils that

may

Enters the heart, whatever pain

Hebrews

it

never cease,
bring

it,

Laden with patience and with blessed peace.

What

soul has heard

it

not,

knows not

its

losses

Nor can it know the secret of the eain

Which only comes to men from bearing crosses
With all their weight of agony and pain.
The mighty ones and

true of

all

the ages,

For whose brave lives the world has better grown

Prophets and prie c ts and holy men and sages,
The lofty music of that song have known.

It fills

the soul with never-ending praises,

Which

is

a more exalted

life

than prayer

For every throb of such existence raises

The servant of the Lord to purer air.

And who may

Which from

tell

the strength

and consolation,

a sense of God's unfailing care,

Flow through the wilderness of our vocation,

Making it bud and blossom everywhere ?

PXAISES.

'

561

comrade, loving God, dost thou need wonder

How

in

the blessed hush of

In looking back, they

lift

Thy ways are jhist and

Holy,

holy,

was, and

is,

holy,

and

is .to

all

complaints,

their voices yonder,

Thou King of saints ?

true,

Lord God Almighty, who

come
heaven and earth
:

angels and men, the air and the sea,

and honor, and thanks

throne,

who

to

Him

that sitteth on the

and

forever

liveth

give glory,

ever.

All

the

blessed spirits and souls of the righteous cast their

crowns before the throne, worship

Him

that liveth

forever and ever.

Thou

art worthy,

honor, and power, for

Lord, to receive glory, and

Thou

hast created

all

things,

and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.

Great and marvellous are Thy works, O Lord
God Almighty just and true are Thy ways, Thou
King of saints. Thy wisdom is infinite, Thy mercies are glorious, and I am not worthy, O Lord,
to appear in Thy presence, before whom the an:

gels hide their faces.

O
wert

Lamb of God, who

from the beginning of the world, Thou

holy and eternal Jesus,

slain

God by Thy blood out of

every nation, and hast made us unto our God
kings and priests, and we shall reign with Thee
hast redeemed us to

forever.

and power be unto Him

and to the Lamb forJeremy Taylor.

Blessing, honor, glory,

that sitteth on the throne,

ever and ever.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

5G2

Lord God, Fountain of comfort and help,

of life and peace, of plenty and pardon, who
heaven with Thy glory, and earth with
fillest
goodness
we give Thee most humble
Thy
and earnest returns of a glad and thankful heart,
for the blessings of nature and the blessings of
grace, for the support of every minute, and the
What are we, O Lord, and
gifts of every day.
what is our fathers house, that the great God of
men and angels should multiply upon us the
;

proofs of His loving kindness

Lord

daily,

of

earth be

Praise
is

the

even the Lord that helpeth us and

poureth His blessings upon

name

Praised be

His majesty
filled

the

within me, praise

O my

and

forever,

with His glory.

Lord,

Blessed be the

us.

O my

let

all

the

Martineau.

soul

and

His holy name.

all

that

Praise the

efits;

and forget not all His benwho forgiveth all thy sin, and healeth all

thine

infirmities

Lord,

struction,

kindness.

soul,

who

saveth

thy

life

from de-

and crowneth thee with mercy and loving

Psalm cm,

1-4.

PROVERBS.

17HE

***

of old experience,

fruit

The

store of golden age

The heart of youth may

The wealth of many a

And

it

5G3

may

gain from thence

sage.

often fare, a word,

homely word and

mood

In thoughtful

true,

or read or heard,

Will hint the thing to do.

Then ponder

well the golden store

Plucked from the veins of Time

more grandly than

Will daily grow sublime.

Thy

life,

And what
At

thou ownest give thy neighbor

fitting

time and place,

To prosper him in every

And add to thine own

Knowledge
Punishment
Better good

is

lame,

far

long tongue

off
is

but
than

The wise head does

mouth speaks.

labor
grace.

except grace guide

folly,

is

before,

it

evil

sign

not

it.

comes.
at hand.

of a
all

short
that

hand.
the

foolish

IDEALS OF LIFE.

5G4

Man proposeth, God disposeth.

He begins to die, that quits his

handful of good

life

desires.

better than a bushel of

is

learning.

He

that studies his content, wants

Humble

He

hearts have humble desires.

that stumbles

The house shows

He
All

and

well with

not,

falls

mends

his pace.

the owner.

grows

that gets out of debt,

is

it.

him who

is

rich.

beloved of his neigh-

bors.

The scalded dog

fears cold water.

Pleasing ware

half sold.

is

Light burdens, long borne, grow heavy.

and warm feet, live long.

Not a long day, but a good heart, rids work.
cool mouth,

He

pulls with a long rope that waits for another's

death.

The Devil

is

not always at one door.

When a friend asks, there is no to-morrow.

He loseth nothing, that loseth not God.
At dinner my man appears.

Who

gives to

all,

denies

all.

Benefits please like flowers while they are fresh.

He

that will take a bird,

merchant that gains

must not scare

not, loseth.

Love, and a cough, cannot be

it.

hid.

dwarf on a giant's shoulder sees further of the

two.

He

that sends a fool

means

to follow him.

Better the feet slip than the tongue.

PROVERBS.
Nothing

is

be presumed on, or despaired

to

a good house

In

God

all

in

little

house.

never cheap.

Ill

ware

cheerful look

is

of.

quickly ready.

is

hath a great share

oft

5G5

makes a

dish a feast.

Virtue never grows old.

Were

there no fools, bad ware would not pass.

Never had

Were

ill

workman good

tools.

there no hearers, there would be no back-

biters.

Everything

When

is

a dog

of use to a housekeeper.

drowning, every one offers him

is

drink.

Who
He
He
He

is

that

so deaf as he that will not hear

is

warm

thinks

that goes barefoot

that lives well,

is

all

so.

must not plant thorns.

learned enough.

All truths are not to be told.

Sleep without supping, and wake without owing.

Mend your

clothes,

and you may hold on

this

year.

Deceive not thy physician, confessor, nor lawyer.

Virtue and a trade are the best portion for children.

He

that lives

ill,

fear follows him.

man give money when he asks.

good
men
Keep
company, and you shall be of

To

a grateful

the

number.

snow year a

rich year.

Better to be blind than to see

Who

hath

ill.

no more bread than

keep a dog.

need

mu::t

not:

IDEALS OF LIFE.

560

garden must be looked unto and dressed as

the body.

The

when he cannot reach

fox

they are not

Though

old

Slander

is

Happy

is

says

ripe.

and

wise, yet

advise.

still

a shipwreck by a dry tempest.

he that chastens himself.

Love your neighbor, yet

grapes,

the

drunkard's purse

is

pull not

down your hedge.

a bottle.

Play with a fool at home, and he will play with

you

The

mill

Corn

is

market.

in the

cannot grind with the water that's past.

cleaned with wind,

and

the

with

soul

chastiseings.

Good words are worth much, and cost little.

None is a fool always, every one sometimes.
God heals, and the physician hath the thanks.

He

that lies long a bed,

diligent scholar,

his

estate feels

and the master's

it.

paid.

Giving much to the poor doth enrich a man's

Whose house

is

store.

of glass must not throw stones

at another.

He
He

not before finds himself behind.

that looks

that riseth first

is

first drest.

child's service is little, yet

despiseth

The
The honey

is

no

little fool

that

it.

river past,
is

he

and God forgotten.

sweet, but the bee stings.

good years corn is hay, in ill years straw is corn.

Send a wise man on an errand, and say nothing
In

unto him.

"

There remaineth therefore a

rest to the

people of God."

PROVERBS.

The

heart's letter

is

read

507

in the eyes.

Sometimes the best gain is to

Truth and oil are ever above.

The more women look

lose.

in their glass, the less

they

look to their house.

It

more

costs

to

do

ill

than to do well.

Good words quench more than a bucket of water.

By suppers more have been killed than Galen
ever cured.

Gossips are frogs, they drink and

talk.

Prayers and provender hinder no journey.

The

fox

knows much,

but,

more he

that

catcheth

him.

Many

friends in general,

He
Go

a fool that thinks not that another thinks.

is

one

in special.

not for every grief to the physician, nor for

every quarrel to the lawyer, nor for every

thirst

to the pot.

The

best mirror

an old friend.

is

man's discontent

That

is

worst

his

evil.

not good language which

is

all

understand

not.

He

not poor that hath

is

sireth

Although

little,

much.
it

rain,

throw not away thy watering-pot.

When God will, no wind but

He that sows, trusts in God.

Who
He

spits against

that

is

at thirty,
will

but he that de-

heaven,

it

brings rain.

falls

his face.

in

not handsome at twenty,

nor rich at

forty,

nor strong

nor wise at

never be handsome, strong,

rich,

fifty,

or wise.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

5G8

He
He

doth what he

that

will,

doth not what he ought

that hath lost his credit

All things have their place

is

dead

to the world.

knew we how

to place

them.

have wide

Little pitchers

Dry

He

warm

feet,

ears.

head, bring safe to bed.

enough that wants nothing.

One father is enough to govern one hundred
but not a hundred sons one father.
is

He
He

rich

sons,

that seeks trouble never misses.

makes a thing too

that

fine

breaks

it.

Fly the pleasure that bites to-morrow.

Where your
Building

The

is

ready your feet are

will is

degree of

first

folly is to

second to profess

the

light.

a sweet impoverishing.

it,

hold one's self wise

the

third to

despise'

counsel.

Poverty

is

the mother of health.

poor beauty

Discreet

more

finds

women have

In choosing a wife,

lovers than husbands.

neither eyes nor ears.

and buying a sword, we ought

not to trust another.

The

filth

under the white snow the sun discovers.

and money accommodate

Patience, time,

For want of a

nail the

a shoe the horse

the rider

Gluttony

When

is

kills

is

shoe
lost,

for

lost,

for

things.

want of

want of a horse

lost.

more than

the sword.

children stand quiet they have

ill.

is

all

penny spared

is

twice got.

done some

PROVERBS.
Bear with

He

evil

and expect good.

that tells a secret

another's servant.

is

good

All things in their being are

death honors the whole

fair

Living well

is

for something.

life.

the best revenge.

may throw

fool

a*

stone

a good spender

God

is

which

into a well,

hundred wise men cannot

To

569

pull out.

the treasurer.

Music helps not the toothache.

Help thyself, and God will help thee.

Love makes all hard hearts gentle.
The shortest answer is doing.
He that would have what he hath not should do
what he doth not.
He that hath no good trade it is to his loss.

He

that lives

not well

one year sorrows seven

after.

He that is angry at a feast is rude.

He that mocks a cripple ought to be whole.
When the tree is fallen all go with their hatchet.
He that burns most, shines most.
It

better

is

to

be the head of a

Little

than the

of a lion.

tail

Valor that parleys

There

lizard

is

near yielding.

great force hidden

dogs

wise

is

in

a sweet command.

start the hare, the great

man needs

not

get her.

blush for changing his

purpose.

and confidence are an unconquered army.

To be beloved is above all bargains.
Skill

Love makes one

37

fit

for

any work.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

570

Show me

and

liar,

wise

man

show thee a

will

husband wisdom,

In the

A
A

thief.

in the wife gentleness.

cares not for what he cannot have.

holy habit cleanseth not a foul soul.

Every one

is

weary, the poor

keeping, the good

in

Dry bread

at

home

is

in

seeking, the rich

in learning.

than roast meat

better

a-

broad.

More have repented speech than silence.

Beauty draws more than oxen.
One eye of the master's sees more than

ten of

the servant's.

When
The

thunders the thief becomes honest.

God

tree that

He

it

is

plants no wind hurts

it.

only bright that shines by himself.

valiant

man's look

is

more than a coward's

sword.

Three can hold their peace

Be what thou wouldst seem

He

that will not

if

two be away.

to be.

have peace God gives him war.

is

peace

God

That's the best

gown

that goes

Where

there

is.

up and down the

house.

The

chief disease that reigns this year

Better suffer

ill

Neither praise

than do

is

folly.

ill.

nor dispraise

thyself,

thy actions

serve the turn.

Lawsuits consume time, and money, and

rest,

and

friends.

He

that hath a wife

ness.

and children wants not

busi-

PROVERBS.

Courtesy on one side

The

only,

best of the sport

is

571

lasts

not long.

do the deed, and say

to

nothing.

You must
That

He
He

lose a fly to catch a trout.

gold which

is

is

knows nothing doubts

that

that marries late

It is

worth gold.

more pain

The

wife

Life

is

to

marries

nothing.
ill.

do nothing than something.

the key of the house.

is

half spent before

we know what

is.

it

Years know more than books.

The

of the great are the tears of the

dainties

poor.

known till they be acted.

presumed good till they are found

Sins are not

All are

in

fault.

Lawyers' houses are built on the heads of

The

fools.

best bred have the best portion.

Better be a fool than a knave.

To

live

peaceably with

all

breeds good blood.

Pains to get, care to keep, fear to lose.

Should God take the sun out of the heaven, yet

we must have patience.

When God

is

made master

of a family

He

orders

the disorderly.

He
He

that praiseth himself spattereth himself.

that

is

surprised with the

first frost feels it all

the winter after.

He

a beast doth die that

hath done

no good

his country.
If the brain

sows not corn,

it

plants thistles.

to

WEALS OF

572

LIFE.

Whatsoever was the father of a disease, an ill

diet was the mother.
The war is not done so long as my enemy lives.

Some

cured by contempt.

evils are

manners are moulded more by the ex-.

ample of parents than by stars at their native

Infants'

ities.

Modesty sets off one newly come to honor.

Unsound minds, like unsound bodies, if you
you poison.

He

an egg

that steels

will steel

feed,

an ox.

city that parleys is half gotten.

They

that hold the

greatest farms pay the least

(applied to rich

rent:

men

that are unthankful

to God).

He

that hath time

comes

and looks

for better time,

time

that he repents himself of time.

Of a pig's tail you can never make a good shaft.

The devil divides the world between atheism and
superstition.

We

do

God

gives His wrath by weight, and without weight

it

soon enough,

if

that

we do be

well.

His mercy.

We

must

recoil a

little,

to the

end we may leap

the better.

No
No

day so clear but hath dark clouds.

hare so small but hath his shadow.

The

healthful

Virtue

Say

flies

man

sick.

from the heart of a mercenary man.

to pleasure,

apple.

can give counsel to the

Gentle Eve

will

none of your

PRO VERBS.
There
find

remedy

is
it.

day

fair

winter

in

and be

Tithe,

men

could

everything,

for

Great fortune brings with

573

it

great misfortune.

the mother of a storm.

is

rich.

we may make an end

Stay awhile that

the sooner.

Great deservers grow intolerable presumers.

The

love of

money and

the love of learning rarely

meet.

Trust no friend with that you need, fear him as

he were your enemy.

if

The

man

never assails a

devil

either void of

except he find him

knowledge, or of the fear of God.

Much money makes

a country poor, for

it

sets

dearer price on everything.

The

virtue of a

coward

Every man's censure

suspicion.

is

is

moulded

first

in his

own

nature.

What

ever

is

made by the hand of man, by

man may be over-turned.

hand of
Sweet discourse makes short days and

the

nights.

Jn a long journey straw weighs.

He
If a

that

good man

Pardon

The
If

serves

all

need not ask

well

thrive,

all

with him.

it

is

weakest.

be crooked, the shadow cannot be straight.

The goat must browse where she

Talking pays no

toll.

Where your

is

He

that

wages.

but thyself.

thread breaks where

staff

thrive

his

will

respects

is

tied.

ready your feet are

not

is

not respected.

light.

IDEALS OF LIFE.

574

He
He

that

measures not himself

that speaks

is

measured.

sows, and he that holds his peace

gathers.

The tongue

talks

mountain and a

at

the

river

head's
are

cost.

good neighbors.

Think of ease, but work on.

One

stroke

fells

not an oak.

comes in by ells, and goes out by inches.

Hearken to reason, or she will be heard.
Praise day and night, and life at the end.
Le^rn weeping, and thou shalt laugh gaining.
Ill

Better spare

to

have of thine own than .ask of

other men.

He

that looks not before finds himself behind.

Good
Love

service
is

is

a great enchantment.

the true price of love.-

George Herbert.

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

[The Author and Editor would here acknowledge the courtesy of those
Authors and Publishers who have so kindly allowed him to draw from their
copyrighted works: among whom he would especially mention Ralph Waldo
Emerson, Dr. C.

S.

Henry, E.

P.

Button

&

Co., and Mr.

James

Miller.]

A
Adams,

W. H. Davenport, contemporary

author of The

Secret of Success,

etc.

English

writer,

16, 37, 42, 55, 131,

144, 183, 202, 448.

Addison, Joseph, (1672-1719), chiefly

known

famous papers in The Spectator 78,

as the author of

79, 87, 112, 132, 133,

139, 153, 179, 201, 223, 284, 320, 330, 384, 416, 436, 438,

450, 490, 513, 514.

Allston, Washington, (1779-1843), an American historical

painter,

distinguished for excellence

coloring

in

402,

469.

Andrews, Lancelot, (1555-1626), an English bishop,

ointment of whose name is sweeter than spices "

ki

tlie

292,

545.

Antoninus, Marcus Aurelius, (87-161),

and philosopher
Arnold,

Thomas,

scholar,

the

best

story

of

Stanley 554,
(575)

444,

(1795-1842),

known
whose
555.

Roman Emperor

457.

as
life

an

English

the Master of

divine

and

Rugby School

has been written by

Dean

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

576

Ascham, Roger, (1515-1568), a scholar and writer of great

repute in his day, author of The School- Master 163.

Atterbury, Francis, (1662-1732), distinguished in the ecclesiastical and literary history of England 83, 87, 136,
289, 439.

Auerbach, Berthold, (1812

28.
Augustine, Saint,

),

the

(354-430),

Christian Fathers, author of

a popular

German author

most celebrated of the

Confessions, etc.

149,

23,

439, 558.

B
Bacon, Francis, (1561-1626). author of the Novum Organum,

which marked a new departure in philosophy

109,

9,

456, 513.

Balguy, John,

(1686-1748),

an

eminent

English

divine

514.

Barrow, Isaac, (1630-1677), a distinguished mathematician

and divine of England 28, 154.

Baxter,

Richard, (1615-1691), a famous Nonconformist

355.

261.
writer 168.

Bayne, Peter, a contemporary Scotch essayist

Bartholin, Kaspar, (1585-1630), a Danish
Beattie, James,

(1735-1922), a Scotch

author of Essay on Truth, The

Beecher,

Henry Ward,

Ben Azai; Israelite

(1813

poet and

Ministrel, etc.
),

moralist,

286,

409.

337.

501.

Bentham, Jeremy, (1748-1832), author of Principles

and Legislation, etc. 419.

of Morals

Bently, Richard, (1662-1742), one of the most eminent

critics of

Bias,

modern times

(about 570

466.

C),

332.

one of the seven sages of Greece

INDEX OF AUTHORS.
Blair,
the

577

Hugh, (1718-1800), a distinguished clergyman

Church of Scotland 328, 418.

of

Boswell, James, (1740-1822), friend and biographer of Dr.

Samuel Johnson 129,

138.

Boyle, Robert, (1626-1691), distinguished in Natural Science

199.

Wm. T., (1788-1866),

Humphry Davy 490.

Brande,

long

associated

with

Sir

Bremer, Frederika, (1802-1865), a well-known Swedish

novelist 397.

Brewster, Sir David, (1781-1868), a distinguished Scotch

philosopher and eloquent writer 330.

Bronte, Charlotte, 1816-1855), among the most distinguished

of

360,

375.

modern

novelists,

author of Jane Eyre

Brooke,

Stopford A., contemporary

divine 39, 255, 316, 393, 519.

Brooks, Philipps, a

celebrated

English

etc.

author and

American preacher

239,

246, 269, 302.

Brougham,

Lord,

(1778-1868),

singularly versatile

power

an

orator

and

writer of

157.

Browne, Sir Thomas, (1605-1682), author of Religio Medici,

a famous work which appeared in 1642 93, 99, 150,

303, 321, 360, 363, 452.

Brown, J. Baldwin, a contemporary English author and

divine 82, 101, 377.
Brown, John, M.

D.,

author of Rab

and

192.

his Friends

Brown, Dr. Thomas, (1778-1820), a Scotch metaphysician

499.
Burke, Edmund, (1730-1797), a noted

writer,

statesman of Irish birth, among the

first

orator,

and

of his age

55, 78, 113, 123, 124, 181, 236, 284, 346, 368, 436, 458.

578

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

Burritt, Elihu,

(1811-1879), a

known

as the

distinguished

Learned Blacksmith

American,

161,

Burton, Robert, (1576-1639), chiefly known as the author

of

Anatomy

of Melancholy

29.
C

Calvert, an American contemporary essayist

Carlyle, Thomas,
calls,

(1795

),

not unfittingly, a

31, 32, 76, 170, 179, 199,

Columbus

252, 275,

461.

whom Chambers

a writer

literary

138,

17, 23, 26, 30,

338, 343,

346, 347,

353, 366, 369, 384, 412, 415, 440, 480, 501, 504.

Clarendon, Earl of 304.

Chalmers, Thomas, (1780-1847), a Scotch divine of great

genius, of marvellous

efficiency

among

the poor

92,

162, 279, 343.

Channing, William Ellery,

rare genius, in his

who

strive

own

and pray

(1780-1842), an American of

words, "aloof from

for clearer light"

all

but those

52, 91, 114, 163,

471, 526, 549.

Charnock, Stephen, (1628-1680), a distinguished Nonconformist, whose "works are full of force and originality"

70,

92.

Chateaubriand, (1769-1848), an eminent French

author of Les Martyrs, etc

Chesterfield, Earl
of Letters

to

his

Child, Lydia Maria,

124,
(1802

authoress, well-known for

Cicero,
of

162.

of, (1694-1773), best

Son

writer,

known

as author

505.

an eminent American
),
two generations 349, 372.

Marcus Tullius, (105-42 B. C), the most famous

Roman orators and philosophers 168, 322, 329, 501,

509.

Cobbett, William, (1762-1835), a celebrated English

ical reformer

439.

polit-

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

579

most imaginative of modern poets," and the Socrates of his day

in philosophy 9, 75, 156, 347, 364, 488.

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor,

Collier, Jeremy, (1650-1726),

of great distinction

"the

(1772-1834),

19,

a learned English Nonjuror

185.

Colonna, Vittoria, (1490-1547), the most celebrated poetess

of Italy 26.

Colton, Charles
best

known

Caleb,

(1780-1832),

as the author of Lacon

an English writer,

48,

107, 146, 156,

289, 311, 399, 531.

Confucius, (about 550 B. C), the greatest Chinese sage and

religious lawgiver

457

Coverdale, Miles, (1483-1568), an English prelate, associated with Tyndale in the translation of the Bible 93.

Cowper, William, (1731-1800), who "restored the poetic

art to England "279.
Craik, George Lillie, (1799-1866), a Scotchman by birth,
best

known

as the author of Pursuit of Knowledge under

Difficulties172.

Chrysostom, Saint John (347-407), the most eloquent of

the Greek Fathers467.

D
Davy, Sir Humphry, (1778-1829), the great English chemist whose fame extends to all countries
322, 412.

De Bury, Richard, born 1281,

man of his day, author of
De

the most learned Englishthe Love of Books

169.

Tocqueville, (1805-1859), a French author, the most

eminent writer of his age on the science of

Dewey, Orville, a contemporary American

Dick,

Thomas,

well

known

323,

329.

(1774-1857),

as author of

The Chrldian

politics

writer

distinguished

26.

523.

Scotchman,

Philosopher, etc.

INDEX OF A UTHORS.

580
Dickens,

Charles, (1812-1870), the quaint and

pathetic

English novelist 191, 312, 347.

Donne, John,

(1573-1631),

one of the most famous of the

old English divines 28, 309.

Dryden, John, (1631-1700), distinguished as a poet, and

master also of what he calls " that other harmony of
prose "332.

Dyer, John, (1700-1758), among the

British

Poets 356.

E
Earl, John, (1601-1665), author of Microcosmography

Edgeworth, Maria, (1767-1849), a

noted as a novelist

writer of Irish birth,

459.

Editor, matter from whose pen

marked with a dash

is

51, 57, 63, 69, 74, 77,

27, 30, 32, 42, 45, 47,

11,

18,

24,

80,

85,

91, 94,

195, 506.

100, 103,

105,

111,

108,

114,

116,

119,

125, 130, 133, 137, 140, 148, 153, 160, 165, 171, 178, 182,
185, 189, 190, 193, 197, 201, 206, 211, 220, 225, 233, 238,
245, 250, 255, 258, 260, 262, 268, 276, 278, 282,

288, 291,

296, 300, 306, 317, 326, 333, 337, 342, 345, 348, 352, 358,
362, 365, 368. 371, 376, 385, 390, 398, 400, 404, 406, 408,

414, 420, 425, 431, 435, 441, 445, 453, 460, 464, 468, 469,

470, 474, 479. 482, 486, 489, 494, 496, 499, 505, 510, 513,
517, 521, 525, 528, 533, 535, 539, 544, 560, 563.

'Emerson,

Ralph Waldo, (1803

29,

Christian

first

century of the

Era 397.

(about 340-270, B. C), father of the Epicurian

Philosophy

Erasmus,

a writer in

90, 198, 335, 346, 437, 452, 501, 522.

Epictetus, celebrated Stoic philosopher,

Epicurus,

whom

of

more independent and

Magazine says
thinker can no where in this age be found "

Blackwood's
original

),

" a

12.

Desiderius,

(1467-1536),

earliest

Greek Testament, and a prominent

formation

399.

editor

of the

factor in the Re-

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

581

Lord, (1750 ?-1823), a distinguished Scotchman

Erskine,

324.

F
Felltham, Owen, a quaint writer

of the

century

17th

122, 312.

Fenelon, (1651-1715), Archbishop of Cambrai, loved and

honored wherever known 104, 398, 557.

Ferguson, James, (1710-1776), a Scotch

Fichte,

(1762-1814),

stirs

Foster,

German

one like a trumpet

John, (1770-1843),

"

176.
life

504.

English

as author of Decision of

scientist

philosopher, " whose

Character 130,

known

best

essayist,

157, 331, 456,

492.

Fox, Charles James,

statesman
Francis, Dr.

237.
S.

W., (1789-1861) 343.

Franklin, Benjamin,

the

(1706-1790),

philosopher and statesman

Frothingham, N.
poet

English author and

(1749-1806), an

71,

famous American

123, 147, 435, 515.

L.,

(1793-1870), an American divine and

B.,

American contemporary

105.

Frothingham, O.

Froude, James Anthony, (1818

England,

etc.

),

writer

29.

author of History of

443.

Fuller, Thomas, (1608-1661),

author of The

Worthies

of

England, etc. 90, 168, 259, 268, 269, 355.

G
Gladstone,

W.

E.

(1809

),

English

Prime

Minister

146.
Gibbon, Edward, (1737-1794), author of The Decline and

Fall152,
Goethe,

170.

(1749-1832),

414, 452, 488.

the

prince

of

German

poets

316,

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

582

Goldsmith, Oliver,

The Deserted

(1728-1774), best

Village,

and The

known

as author of

Vicar of Wakefield AS.

Greenwell, Dora, an English woman, author of

Life

of

Lacordaire, etc. 23, 74, 85, 318, 339, 359, 387, 487.

Gregory Nazianzen,
466.
Gregory of Nyssa,
Fathers 335.

(329-389), one of the Greek Fathers

most learned of the Greek

(332-394),

97.

Griffeth, an Englishman, author of Behind

the

Guyon, Madame, (1648-1717), celebrated

writings and spiritual songs 557.

her devotional

for

Veil

H
Halford, Sir Henry, (1766-1844), an eminent English
Physician 308.
Hall, Joseph, (1754-1656), English bishop 205,

349, 545.

Hall, Robert, (1764-1831), celebrated English dissenter

86, 229, 238, 267, 289, 325, 404, 407, 531.
Hamilton, Dr. James, author of

Hamilton, Sir William,

Life in Earnest

(1780-1855),

philosopher of the Scottish School

Hamerton,

the

192.

most learned

223.

P. G., author of Intellectual Life 230.

Hammond, Henry,
72, 266, 364.

(1605-1660),

a learned English divine

Hawthorne, Nathaniel, (1804-1864), an eminent American

author, of marvellous facination

Hare Brothers,

A.

W. &

J.

220,

336.

C, authors of Guesses

at

Truth

152.
Heber, Reginald, (1783-1826), missionary bishop of Cal374.
cutta, and author of many sacred lyrics

Helps, Sir Arthur, (1811-1873), an English writer of great

value,

"the most delightful essayist since

Hunt"

152,

192, 267, 415, 421,' 425.

Lamb and

INDEX OF A UTHOES.

583

Henry, C. S., an American writer distinguished in philosophy and general literature 14, 25, 190, 432, 468, 510.
Herbert,

George,

an

(1593-1632),

mainly known
says Emerson, ought

poet,

English

and

divine

The Temple, which,

be among a young man's first

as author of
to

reading in English literature

90, 384, 563.

Herbert, Lord, (1810-1861), 280.

Herder, (1744-1803), German

411.

scholar,

divine,

and poet

Heraolitus, (about 500 or B. ), a Greek philosopher

Herrick,

Robert,

(1591-1662?),

quaint and

336.

eminent

English poet 84.

Herschel,

John,

Sir

only

son

of

the

astronomer

Sir

William 168.
Homer, (about 850

B. C), the greatest of Epic poets

431.

Hobbes, Thomas, (1588-1679), an English writer on social

science

355.

Hood, Thomas, (1798-1845), an eminent English poet and

humorist 152.

Holland, Dr. J.
and novelist

G.,

(1819

),

American

poet, essayist,

495.

Hooker, Richard, (1554-1600), author of

Ecclesiastical Polity,

etc. 312, 367, 450, 463.

Hopkins,

John Henry, (1792-1868),

first

Bishop of the

Diocese of Vt . 290.

Horace, (born 65 B.

C.)

the

famous

Roman

satirist

and

lyrist438.

Horne, George, (1730-1792), author of Commentary on

Psalms444, 497.

the

Hoadley, Benj., (1676-1761), English prelate 279.

Howitt, Mary, a genial

story- writer

and poetess 208.

Humboldt, Baron Von (1769-1859), one of the greatest of

naturalist and travellers
370, 398.

INDEX OF A UTIIOHS.

684

Houghton, Lord

232.

Hunt, Leigh, (1784-1859), an English poet and

419.

Howell, James,
414, 459.

author

(1594-1666),

of

essayist

Familiar

Letters

Washington, (1783-1859), among the first to give

American literature a standing abroad
152, 196, 311,

Irving,

491.

J
Jacobi, Friederich Heinrich, (1743-1819), a distinguished

German
28,

writer of

romance and philosophical

treatises.

384, 411.

Jameson, Mrs. Anna,

celebrated as an

an English authoress,

(1797-1860),

art-critic

24.

Jerome, Saint, (345 ?-420), the most learned of the Latin

Fathers,

translator

of

the Scriptures into the

Latin

109.
Jerrold, Douglas,

(1803-1858), a miscellaneous writer, at

one time connected with Punch

Johnson, Samuel,
power, whose

a versatile author of great

(1708-1784),
life,

the best of novels

written

441.

by Boswell,

is

better than

48, 52, 78, 83, 122, 188, 189, 199,

222, 310, 401, 458, 498, 530.

Jonson, Ben,

(1574-1637), a dramatic writer, contemporary

with Shakespeare, to

whom

alone he was second

364,

444.

Judson, L. C, an American lawyer

46.

K
Kant, Emanuel, (1724-1804), the greatest of German metaphysicians

24.

Kean, Edmund, (1787-1833), an English actor

49.

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

585

Kett, Henry, (1761-1825), Bampton Lecturer 1690310.

Kingsley, Charles, (1818-1875), an

and

prose-writer,

9,

of great

and freshness

167, 232, 316, 378, 461, 480, 482.

American

Thomas Starr, (1824-1864), an

King,

divine, poet,

English

originality

man and

Lecturer

clergy-

336.
L

Lactantius (250-323)

one of the Christian fathers 397,

467.

Landon,

L. E, (1802-1839),

an English poetess 402.

Landor,

Walter Savage,

(1775-1864),

and prose-writer

an English poet

345.

Laplace, Pierre Simon, (1739-1827), a French mathematician

and astronomer

of great celebrity

503.

Lavater, Johann Kaspar, (1741-1801), a German poet and

physiognomist

530'.

Law, William, (1686-1761), author of the

72, 316, 405.
Ledyard, John, (1751-1789), American
Robert,

Leighton,

(1611-1685),

356, 452,
author

nomen

venerabile

Leopold, a German

Serious Call, etc.

traveller

Archbishop

219.

of

Glasgow

488.

28.

L'Estrange, Robert, (1616-1704), an English

political writer

452.
Lessing,

Gotthold Ephraim, (1729-1781), an

German

writer,

author of Nathan der Weise,

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, (1807

eminent of American poets 104, 450.

),

illustrious
etc.

116.

the

most

Luther, Martin, (1483-1546), the Reformer, whose words,

says Richter, were half-battles 375, 419, 480, 498.
Locke,

John,

Essay on
38

(1632-1704),
the

best

Understanding

known

230,

as author of the

254, 456, 509.

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

586

M
Macaulay, Thomas Babington, (1800-1859), English
essayist, and historian
157, 491.

poet,

Mann, Horace, (1796-1859), a distinguished American Educationist 223, 250, 253, 407.

Martial, the famous author of Epigrammata,

of Christian Era

Martineau,

first

century

375.
(1807

James,

),

an

English

divine

and

essayist 23, 104, 304.

May, Samuel Joseph, (1797-1871), an American divine

and writer, "great in moral qualities of the rarest kind"
437, 504.
Melvill, Henry, (1798-1871), an eloquent English divine

356,

399.

Menander, a Greek

poet, (born 342 B.

popular comedies

C), author of

many

397.

Mencius, (about 313 B. C), a Chinese sage

104,

397.

Miller, Hugh, (1802-1856), the distinguished Scotch geologist 413.

Milton, John, (1608-1674),

his

verse 93,

Mohammed,

whose prose

is

as vigorous as

167, 384, 455.

(570-632), founder of

essayist 72,

Mohammedanism

Montaigne, (1533-1592), the famous French

84.

221, 370, 508.

Montholon, (1782

1853),

author of Memoirs of Napoleon

/.,

etc. 220.

More, Hannah, (1745-1833), an English didactic writer

361.
Mountford, William, American contemporary

Murphy, John, an English contemporary

Scientific

Bases of Faith

-328.

337.

divine, author of

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

587

N
Napoleon L, (1769-1821) 123.
Norton, Caroline

E.,

(1808

poetess

),

and

209.

novelist

P
Paley, William, (1743-1805;, author of Natural Theology,

Uorae Faulinae,

Palgrave, T.

F.,

etc.

29, 136.

an English poet

232.

Parker, Theodore, (1819-1860), the boldest of the

England Transcendentalists 541

New

Pascal, Blaise, (1623-1662), a celebrated French Thinker,

whose Thoughts are published in many tongues

75,

313.

Perthes, Caroline, wife of Friederich 188.

Perthes, Friederich, (1772-1843;, a famous German bookseller 135, 419.

Petrarch, (1304-1374), the great

lyric poet of

Italy

166.

Playfair, John, (1748-1819), a Scotch natural philosopher

and mathematician
Plato,

413.

(429-348 B. C), founder of the Platonic School of

Philosophy 334,

437, 466, 507.

Plutarch, a Greek biographer and philosopher,

tury of the Christian Era 336.

first

een-

Pope, Alexander,

(1688-1744),

the greatest

poet of his

time 280.
Price, Dr., an English divine of the last century

106.

Pythagoras, (500-404 B. C), founder of a school of Greek

philosophy 90, 457.

Q
Quintillian,

397.

Roman

rhetorician

of the

first

century

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

588

R
Raleigh, Sir Walter,

(1552-1618),

of the most splendid

of splendid developments of

lific

"unquestionably
"

humanity

Ray, John, (1628-1705), an eminent naturalist

361.

254.

Richardson, Samuel, (1689-1761), author of Clarissa

Jean Paul Friedrich, (1763-1825),

Richter,

poet of

Germany28,

one-

figures in a time unusually pro-

125.

the prose-

90, 198, 280, 337, 344, 356, 370,.

467.

Robertson,
English

Frederick William,
clergyman
73, 232,

famous

(1816-1853), a
286, 292.

297, 300, 306,.

316, 353, 389, 453, 463, 532, 558.

Rochefoucauld, (1613-1680),
author of

Reflections,

Ruskin, John,

(1819

etc.
),

a celebrated French writer,

199.

the most eloquent

and

original

of art critics 41, 163, 410, 458.

S
Saint John,
Cross

J.

A.

author of Philosophy

at

305.

the foot

of the

Saint-Simon, (1760-1825), a French social philosopher

SqHEFFER, Ary, (1795-1858), a French painter

Schiller,

German poet and

16.

128.

historian 456.

Scott, Dr. Thomas, (1747-1821), author of Bible Commentary'

509.
Scott, Sir

and

Walter, (1771-1832), an eminent Scotch poet

novelist

135,

187.

Selden, John, (1584-1654), an English lawyer and author

508.
Seneca, a distinguished

C 124,

Roman

Stoic,

born a few years B.

312.

296.

Sewell, Miss, author of Thoughts for Holy Week

Shaftsbury, Earl

of,

(1621-1683), 413.

INDEX OF AUTHORS.
Shairp,

J.

C, a Scotch professor

589

341.

Shakespeare, William, (1564-1616), greatest of dramatic

poets

1.

Shenstone, William, (1714-1763), an English poet.

Sherlock, William, (1641-1704), an English divine 324

Shuttleworth, Philip
509, 305.
Sidney,

Sir Philip,

N., (1782-1842),

Smiles, Samuel,

an English bishop

an English author and

(1554-1586),

model gentleman 136,

181, 199.

suggestive

and helpful English

author of Self-Help, Character,

etc.

writer,

11, 25, 49, 59, 64,

119, 127, 134, 136, 169, 212, 226, 262, 350, 419, 446.

Adam,
332.

Smith,

Smith,

(1723-1790),

Sidney,

for wit

author

(1771-1845), an

and wisdom 36,

of

Wealth

of Nations

English divine celebrated

58, 83, 123, 126, 138, 152, 232.

Socrates, (469-399 B. C), the greatest of philosophers

29,

305, 325, 437.

South, Robert, (1633-1716), an English divine of great

learning 90, 113, 125, 136, 199, 254, 356, 405, 437, 459,
513, 530.

Southey, Robert, (1774-1843), an English poet and prosewriter 307, 344, 463, 402.
Sprat, Thomas, (1636-1713), an English prelate, "to whose
talents, "

says Macaulay,

justice" 83,

" posterity

has scarcely done

185, 407.

Stanley, Arthur Penrhyn, the present Dean of Westminster 162.

Stanley, Lord, sometime Lord-Rector of Glasgow Univer-

sity 186.
Steele, Sir Richard, (1671-1729), author of papers in the
Tatler, Spectator,

and Guardian122,

200, 205.

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

590

Stephen, Sir James, (1789-1859), author of Essays in EcBiography

clesiastical

Sterne, Laurence,
widely

known

79.

an English

(1713-1768),
as author of

divine,

Tristram Shandy

280,

most
400>

516.

Stewart, Dugald, (1753-1828), a Scotch philosopher 139,

182, 489.

Swedenborg, Emanuel, (1688-1772), a Swedish philosopher

and religious writer 104.

Swift, Jonathan, (1667-1745),

and

poet

9,

are

of St. Patrick's, Dublin r

author of several famous books,

satirist,

mong which

Dean

Tub and

Tale of a

Gulliver's

a-

Travels-

137, 147, 275, 311, 513.

T
Jeremy,

Taylor,

known

an

English

prelate,

author of Holy Living and Dying

as

254, 266

(1613-1667),

Temple, Sir William,

(1628-1699),

best

206 r

205.

an English statesman

author 222, 436, 504.

Tennyson, Alfred, (1810

),

Terence, (195-159 B. C), a

Thales,

72,

284, 307, 408, 439, 553.

Taylor, Sir Henry, English poet and essayist

and

Roman comic

(about 636-546 B. C),

one of the seven wise

the English Laureate

397.

a Greek philosopher,

men435,

and

436.

530.

Thomas

of

Malmesbury

Thomas

Kempis, (born 1300), author

Christ,

poet

232.

The

Imitation

of

one of the most famous books of the world

103, 467, 504, 556.

Tillotson, John, (1630-1694), an English prelate and pulpit

orator 47,

Trench,

87,

113. 254, 275, 444, 458:

Richard Chenevix,

(1807

Dublin, and a distinguished scholar

501, 512.

),

Archbishop of

and author

465>

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

591

w
Wake, William,

&,

(1672-1736),

Archbishop of Canterbury

375.

Walpole, Horace. (1717-1797), an English Statesmen

Walton, Izaak, (1593-1683), author

and several quaint biographies

137.

of the Complete Angler

113.

Watson, Richard, (1737-1816), an English prelate 458.

Watts, Isaac, (1674-1748), the celebrated author of Hymns
498.

Webster, Daniel, (1782-1852), an American statesman,

and perhaps the most eminent of modern orators. 160,

398.

Whately, Richard, (1787-1863), Archbishop of Dublin,

and author of many valuable works
124, 154, 210,

276, 280, 459.

Whipple, H.

(1819

B.,

),

Bishop of Minnesota 362.

Williams, Isaac, (1802-1865), author of The Cathedral,

etc.

282.
Wilson, Thomas, (1663-1755), an English bishop,
guished

good works

distin-

Apostolic piety and unquenchable zeal in

for

419,

Wilson, Prof. John,

of Blackwood's

Woolman, John,

545.

(1785-1854),

Christopher

the

North

Magazine 357.
(1720-1772),

of the Society of

an eminent philanthropist

Friends 239.

Wordsworth, William

(1770-1850), one of the most emin-

ent of the English poets

351,

493.

Wesley, Susannah, the mother of John

Wogan, William, an English author

357.

209.

of the last century

INDEX OF AUTHORS.

592

z
Zimmermann,

Johann Georg,

(1728-1795),

122,

Swiss physician and author

Zschokke,

J.

H.

D.,

born 1771, a German by

of Meditations on Death

and

an

eminent

516.

Eternity, etc.

birth,

556,

author

559.

INDEX OF SUBJECTS.

A
Action.

Editor,

South, Lava'ter,

Thomas

of

Malmes528

bury, Johnson, Colton, Robertson

Affliction.

Editor, Smiles, Jeremy Taylor,

Hammond,
262

Helps, Robert Hall

Editor, Addison, Burke, Sidney,

Appreciation. Editor, Henry, Allston
Ambition.

Stewart

178

468

B
Books.

Editor,

Cicero,

Petrarch,

Thomas

Milton,

Kingsley, Herschel,

Fuller, Bartholin,

Richard De Bury,

Smiles, Gibbon, Carlyle

Brotherhood.

Editor,

165

Brooke,

Menander,

Terence,

Epictetus, Quintillian, Mencius, Lactantius, Freder-

ika Bremer, Fenelon,

But One Physician.

Humboldt

390

Editor, Kingsley, Calvert, Southey,

460

Hooker, Robertson

C
Character.

Editor,

Smiles,

Perthes, Sir Walter Scott,

Atterbury, Sidney, South, Paley, Swift

Editor,

....

Baldwin Brown, Wake, Atterbury,

Sprat, Johnson, Sidney Smith, Mohammed, Herrick

Charity.

133

J.

80

INDEX OF SUBJECTS.

594

Cheerfulness.- Editor, Carlyle, Helps, Addison, Blair,

Smiles, Bentham, Leigh Hunt, Bishop Wilson,
Luther, Perthes

414

Editor, Earle, Irving

Children. Editor, Mary Howitt,
Childhood.

Wesley, Whately

Cold- Water Pourers.

Common

Sense.

193
Mrs.

Norton,

Mrs.

206

<

Editor,

Helps

422

Editor, Walpole, Sidney Smith, Calvert,

Boswell, Addison, Stewart

'

Editor, Helps
Concentration. Editor, Adams, Anon
Confusion. Editor, Kingsley
Conscience. Editor, Addison, Burke, Walton,
Competition.

Tillotson

Sterne,

Conversion.

420
42
,

Editor,

Balguy,

Addison,

513

Greenwell,

Goethe,

Coleridge,

Leighton

Courage.

486

Editor,

Napoleon
Courtesy.

I.,

Sidney

Smith,

Smiles,

SchefFer,

Boswell

Editor,

Steele,

Ill

Franklin,

Zimmermann

Editor,

482

South,
.

Contentment.

137

125
Johnson,

Smiles,

Zimmermann,

Felltham, Sidney Smith, Burke,

Franklin,

Seneca, Chesterfield, Whately, Richardson, South,

119

Editor,

Jeremy Taylor, Southey,

Halford, Donne, Household Words, Kett, Johnson,

Death.

Robertson,

Irving, Swift, Colton, Dickens, Pascal

Editor, Foster, Adams, Addison ....

Detraction. Editor, Henry
Duty. Editor, Kant, Jameson, Smiles, Henry, Colonna,

Decision.

Carlyle,

De

Tocqueville

306

130
431

24.

INDEX OF SUBJECTS.
Devotion.

Editor,

fellow,

Hooker

Smiles,

595

Adams, Addison, Long445

Education. Editor,
Economy.

Editor, Johnson, Channing, Burke,

Adams

51

Addison, Barrow, Whately, Coler-

Macaulay, Daniel Webster

idge, Colton, Foster,

Editor, Colton, Melvill, Sterne ....

Employment. Editor, Lord Stanley, Sir Walter
Eloquence.

153

398

Scott,

185

Caroline Perthes, Johnson

Encouragement.
Eternity.

Editor,

Editor.

St.

171

Ferguson, Craik

Augustine, Sir

Thomas Browne 14S

Evil-Eyed. Editor

469

F
Failures and Successes.

Editor,

63

Smiles

Editor, Greenwell, Pascal, Coleridge, Carlyle

Fame. Editor, Johnson, Allston, Landon
Fate. Editor, Emerson, Dewey
Food for the Soul. Editor, Brooks
Forgiveness. Editor, Cowper, Chalmers, Hoadly, Lord
Herbert, Pope, Sterne, Richter, Whately ....
Forsaken; Editor, Sewell, Andrews, Robertson
Freedom. Editor, Channing
Faith.

74

440
521

245

278
291

525

G
Gilead.

God.

Editor,

Bayne

260

Editor, Channing, Chalmers, Charnock, Coverdale,

Sir

Thomas Browne, Milton

Editor, Lord Bacon.

Greatness. Editor, Channing

91

Goodness.

Jerome

St.
.

....

108

470

INDEX OF SUBJECTS.

596

H
Health.

Editor, Montaigne, Johnson, Temple, Addison,

William Hamilton,

Sir

Heaven.

Editor,

Greenwell,

Editor,

Coleridge,

Home.

220

Thomas

Sir

Hannah More,

Charlotte Bronte,

Hell.

Mann
Sir

Browne,

Walter Raleigh 358

Bishop Whipple, Sir Thomas Browne,

Hammond,

Editor,

Dickens,

Ben. Jonson

362

John Brown,

Dr.

James

Dr.

Hamilton, Sir Arthur Helps

Honesty.

Editor,

Home, Ben.
Hope. Editor,
Collier,

190

Douglas Jerrold,

Bishop

.......

Jonson, Antoninus

Addison,

Froude,

Burke,

441

Jeremy

Johnson,

Stephen

77
I

Imagination.

Editor, Stewart, Addison,

Brande, Irving,

Macaulay, Foster, South ey, Wordsworth

Editor,
Immortality. Editor,
Immanuel.

J.

Editor,

J.

Dick,

489
100

Greenwell, Addison, Sir

Browne, Cicero, Davy,

Socrates, Robert Hall
In One.

....

Baldwin Brown

Erskine,

Thomas

Sherlock,

317

Baldwin Brown, Kingsley

376

Sidney Smith, Smiles

57

L
Labor and Greatness.
Learning.

Editor,

Thomas
Life.

Editor,

Chesterfield,

Earle, Montaigne, Dr.

Scott, Selden, Locke,

Editor,

Mrs. Child,

Shenstone

....

Charlotte Bronte,

Martial,

Wake, Luther
Life Work.

371

Editor,

Sidney Smith,

Adams, Brooke,

Ruskin
Life's

Completion.

505

32

Editor,

Robertson,

Brooks,

Thomas Browne, Clarendon, Martineau,

John, Socrates, Shuttleworth

J.

A.

Sir
St.

300

INDEX OF SUBJECTS.

5 97

Editor, Henry, Addison, Bacon, South,

Music. Editor, Carlyle, Luther, Kingsley
Money.

Nature.

Ruskin,

Beattie,

Hugh

Davy,

Editor, Adams,
Editor, Anon

Editor,

Luther, Sir

Herder,

Jacobi,

408

Opportunities.

Patience.

479

Miller, Shaftesbury, Playfair,

Howell, Goethe

Originality.

Collier,

P
Home,

Bishop

Sprat

182

474

Johnson,

Watts,

Thomas Browne

496

Editor, Robert Hall, Law, South ....

Perseverance. Editor, Johnson, Goldsmith, Colton,
Pastors.

Smiles,

510

Editor,

Carlyle,

Swift

Kean

404

47

Personality Forever. Editor, Murphy, Blair, Cicero,

Dick, Brewster, Addison, Foster, Dryden, Adam
Smith, Bently

Plighted

326

Love. Editor,

Carlyle,

Emerson,

Rochefoucauld, South,

Johnson, Steele, Addison

Editor,
Prayer. Editor,

Praises.

Richter,

Boyle,

Sidney, Erasmus,
197

Jeremy Taylor
Charnock,

Franklin,

56

Law,

Taylor, St. Francis de Sales, Robertson

Prayers. Editor,

Hall, Wilson, Matthias

Jeremy

....

69

Claudius,

Channing, Jeremy Taylor, Arnold, Zschokke, Feneloii,

Madame Guyon,

Augustine, Robertson

Editor, George Herbert

Prudence. Editor, Judson, Tillotson
Purity. Editor, Brooks
Proverbs.

544

'

563
45

238

598

INDEX OF SUBJECTS.

Pursuit of the Ideal. Editor,

St.

Augustine, Carlyle,

Greenwell, Martineau

18

R
Recreation. Editor, Smiles, Hall, Locke

Reformation. Editor, Thomas

Tillotson, Carlyle, Whately

Repentance. Editor, Robert

Bishop Hopkins
Resignation,

Editor,

225

Brooks,

Fuller,

Swift,

268

Hall, Atterbury, Colton,

288

Burke,

Carlyle,

Humboldt,

Montaigne

368

Editor, Robertson
Reward. Editor, Plato,
Rest.

Carlyle,

Riches.
St.

535

.
'

Ben

Azai,

Emerson,

Cicero,

Trench

Editor,

499

Trench, Thales, Bias, Plato, Gregory,

Chrysostom,

Lactantius,

Thomas

Kempis,

Richter

465

S
Satisfied.

Editor,

Heraclitus,

Plato, Gregory of Nyssa, Emerson,

Hawthorne, Plutarch, Franklin, Starr,

King, Richter, Beecher, Mountford

Simplicity.

Editor,

Thomas

333

Kempis, Mencius, Swe-

denborg, Martineau, Longfellow, Fenelon, Frothing-

.103

ham
Spiritual Thirst.

Editor, Robertson
Editor, Johnson,

Sponge, or Fountain.

296

Henry

Sympathy. Editor, Isaac Williams, Addison,

Jeremy Taylor, Beattie, Robertson

189

Burke,

......

282

T
Teachers.

Editor,

briand, Ruskin,

Burrit, Chalmers, Stanley, Chateau-

Ascham, Channing

160

INDEX OF SUBJECTS.
Temperance.

Editor,

Burke,

Temple,

Samuel

J.

Temptation.

Thales, Addison r
Homer, South, Plato,

Dr. Franklin,
Socrates,

May, Horace, Atterbury,

Cobbett, Carlyle

599

St.

Augustine,

435

Editor,

Mann,

Carlyle,

South,

Locke,

Ray, Jeremy Taylor, Tillotson

250

Editor, Sir Thomas Browne, Emerson, Parker 549

Angel of Prayer. Editor, Brooke
255
Beautiful Plant. Editor, Greenwell, Robertson 385
Day of Judgment. Editor, Greenwell, Robert

Thanks.

The
The

The

Hall, Atterbury, Tillotson

The Divine Law.

Editor,

The Flowers. Editor,

The Great Stone

The Riddle
well,

85

Carlyle,

Hooker

Editor, Holland .
Sphinx. Editor, Carlyle,

337

The Second Man. Editor,

GrifTeth, Sir

The Seven Words from the

of Christ.

Thomas Browme

Editor ....
Greenwell ....

Cross.

Editor,

The ,Two Helpers. Editor,

Burke,

Adams,

Gladstone,

Colton,

533

Franklin,

Swift

140

Transformations.

Editor,

Tribulation. Editor,

Editor,

Foster,

276

333

Editor,

Truth.

94

Fox, Robert

C. J.

Hall
Time.

494

Green-

Shairp

The Soldier

365

Mrs. Child, Bishop Hall, Smiles 348

Face.

of the

Brooke

Thomas

Robertson,

517

Fuller
Milton,

258
Schiller,

Bacon, Antoninus, Pythagoras,

Locke,

Confucius,

Burke, Bishop Watson. Johnson, Ruskin, Tillotson,

Maria Edgeworth, Whately, Leigh Hunt, South
453
.

(Truth and Obedience.

Editor,

....

Channing

&

114

INDEX OF SUBJECTS.

600

U
Unbelief. Editor,

Chalmers,

Carlyle,

S.

W.

Francis,

Richter, Southey

Under the

Stars.

342

Editor,

Emerson,

Burke, Carlyle,

Coleridge, Dickens

Uprightness.

Editor,

345
Lessing

116

V
Virtue.

Editor,

Price, Colton

10c

W
Wages op
Fuller,
Melvill,

Wedded

Sin.

Editor,

Carlyle,

Thomas

Hobbes, Baxter, Dyer, Leighton, Richter,

Wogan,

Love.

Prof.

Wilson

352

Editor,

Bishop Hall,

What

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Adams, Sir Henry

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Smiles,

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Auerbach,

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Worship.

Editor,

Carlyle

......

30

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Editor,

Jeremy Taylor

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Robert

Sprat,

Hall,

Horace Mann,
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