Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
MEMORIAL LIBRARY
1353-I9a
DR.
J.
R.
MILLER'S BOOKS
CJ)e
<ate irautiful
BY
J.
R.
MILLER
AUTHOR OP "silent TIMES," " UPPER CURRENTS,' "making the most of life," etc.
LieftART
THOMAS
Y.
CROWELL &
CO.
PUBLISHERS
Copyright, 1909, hy
Thomas
Y. Crorvell
Co.
LIBBARY
li i:
THE REASON
HESE
WHY
Nearly
to
all
of
icritten in
answer
actual ques-
from
O 3
ing after
same everywhere, and if these answers prove helpful to any the book will be
questions are the
worth while.
J.
R.
M.
Philndelphia, U. S. A.
.1
TITLES OF CHAPTERS
I.
II.
III.
Thk Gate Beautiful The Call to Pkalse The Desiees of Thy Heart
Called to Be Saints Guarding Our Thoughts Points of Departure Building Again the Home Nest "Behold, Thy Mother" What God Thinks of Us Hating One's Life
Paqe
3
19
33
47
IV.
V.
6S
77
91
VI.
VII.
VIII.
105
IX.
119
133
147
161
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
175
189
XV.
XVI.
XVII. XVIII.
203
Does God Care? Thou Shalt Know Herr.a.fteb The Practice of Immortality XIX. Looking Unto the Hills XX. No Miracle, But Power XXI, The Work of the Lord
219
233 247
261
275 289
C^e
dDiate
OBeautfful
1]
chamber of my heart, Wherein no mortal enters, Lord, come thou And make thy dwelling place ere day depart/
thou who didst create the
"0
human
heart,
[2]
CHAPTER FIRST
Cl^e (Kate I3eautiful
HE
Gate Beautiful
in
the
We
know
it
was
Corinthian
brass
and
in the
and
this
God
loves
beauty.
If he
made
blind,
this
world so
of
see
lovely
things.
Everywhere
we
go
we
beauty.
The
The Gate
suggestions
has
many
interesting
It
our thought.
was the
Everything
be
beautiful.
about God's
worship
is
should
God
himself
beautiful.
his
When
Charles
his
daughter saw
[3]
"
as
How beautiful God Some people think of God as terrible, a being who is angry, vengeful, not a
friend,
gentle
but
stem,
severe
judge.
fear.
One who
gentle,
compassionate,
loved
lov-
The
children
him and
None were
afraid of him.
But God
hath seen
is
He
that
was the
Christ.
Father." Jesus
of
God.
It
is
in the face of
Jesus
Since
God
is
beautiful,
we should make
his
house beautiful.
built for
dwelling for
God was
living in a weather-beaten
He
for God.
An
is
ever
[4]
Cl^c
God
line
(late
iscauttful
to
be
We
and
feature.
We
It
bright, attractive.
dishonoring to
God
it
to
The
God
will
meet
his
people
place, in the
open
field, if
that
is
can do
The worship
beauty of holiness."
When we
enter at the
Gate Beautiful into the Lord's house, our behavior should be beautiful, and every part
of the service we render should be in keep-
We
are in
Almighty God.
In Isaiah's
[5]
reverence
covered their
did
fly
service;
We
We
need often to remind ourselves of this duty of reverence for God's house, " lest we
forget."
We
is
being worshiped
temple:
let all
"
The Lord
is
in his holy
God."
sing
should be sincere
prayer
is
offered,
we should we
^we are
talking to God.
[6]
The Gate
into
we enter
the
temple,
suggests
lives
is
that
we should
beautiful.
It
God
is
is
Holiness
beautiful.
in
not
a beautiful house,
orderly, dealso
shall be
Our character
must be
Some
man, and
men." They said that his face was repulsive. " Base of aspect," said one. " His body devoid even of
human
But this was not true. Jesus was beautiful. The heart makes the face, and his heart was
full of all beautiful quahties.
We
are to be
lives.
like Christ,
He
[7]
Cl^e
(lE>ate
'Beautiful
love.
He
loved,
and we are to
St. Paul, in
one of his great pictures of worthy Christian life, names " whatsoever things are
lovely " as part of his description of a true
life.
in
our
life.
is
Master.
In
St.
Love
is
not provoked
bad
tem-
per
is
not beautiful.
flies
You do
not admire a
of anger at
man who
behave
tifully.
into a passion
unseemly
is
that
not unbeauis
Selfishness
is
not, irritability
not,
anger
is
not, dishon-
We
admire the
insults
man
or the
woman who
bears
pa-
tiently,
reviles
when
reviled,
evil
with
good.
traits
of
C^e
beauty.
(Bate iBeautifui
for us toin disposi-
day to
tion,
beautiful things in
life,
in
George Macdonald says, "I should like to just minded his duty and
;
who did
his
How
How
What
working not
will of
for
was the
God
God!
clothing,
them
as
gifts
of
What
!
a sober
gaiety!
ter
his
!
How
What
a friend he would be
How
sweet
sympathy!
And
his
mind would be so
clear he would understand everything. His eye being single, his whole body would be
full
of light.
Xo
men do mean
things."
The
life
of faith
is
always beautiful
unbe-
lief is
never beautiful.
Peace
is
beautiful
[91
are unlovely.
We
should set
for
lives.
At
John saw
a beggar.
For years
left
this
and
No
hand
from
may have
received alms
him.
ing, he
the while.
lie
So
3^ear after
is
con-
Some one
tells
of a sexton
for
is
The beggar saw Peter and John coming up to the church door. He did not know who rioi
m^t
alms.
(Bate QBeauttful
they were, but he readied out his hand for He expected to get a little money. He
know they were able to do something far better for him than drop a coin into his hand. So always in our prayers we
did not
ask for httle things, bits of coin or bread, or some mere earthly thing, not knowing,
not realizing that there are infinitely better things we might ask for and get. We are
fooled
by
life's illusions.
The
things
we think
are the most important are really the least important. kneel in the morning and ask
We
little
things
pleasure,
these are
in their
when
it
God
at whose feet
we are bowing.
Many people pay no heed to beggars, do not even deign to give them a kindly look or a gracious word. How do we know who this
beggar may he? At
is
child. The beggar that sits by the wayside and holds out his hand to you may meet you
[11]
heaven
some
least
day,
wearing
white
gar-
you know what Jesus said, " I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink I was a stranger, and ye took me not in. Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of
ments.
;
.
At
it
Notice the
this
fine
poor beggar
Gate Beautiful.
We
need not always give money to beggars Peter gave no money to this man. Nevertheless
by with contempt.
the beggar.
fine
talk with
He
by a rough word, by
It
Peter's
Christlike.
We
[12]
any
the
silver or
money he wanted.
He
said,
"
What
money even
nothing at
to those
Indeed,
love
is
better.
He
gave
love,
is
What
agement.
In one of the Psalms is the striking expression, " Blessed is he that consid-
[13]
" Blessed
is
he
Many who
them
a moment's thought.
They
fling the
beggar
con-
a coin, but they have no interest in him, not a particle of sympathy with him.
sider
is
To
up
the case
To
consider the
poor
is
to
become
their
make plans
for their
good.
What
He
little
But when he healed him, the man did not need to be helped any more. He was now able to take care of himfarther as
self.
Was
kindlier
way
relief.?
him
helpless, giving
him only a
little
tem-
porary
There
is
something
else
He
[14]
hand.
The human
is
is
needed
only a pitiful
mockery to pray for one who needs help, and then do nothing for him. We must take
him by the hand and help him.
[15]
Cl^e Call to
pvaiH
[17]
f*
shade,
its
valleys deep
But round our feet the shadows To prove the sunlight near.
creep.
And down
their sides will those who seek With hopeful spirit, brave though meek, Find gently flowing rills."
[18]
CHAPTER SECOND
Cl^e Call to
pvaiH
are
in
calls
HERE
the
Bible
many more
to praise
than to prayer.
Prayer
is
is
continually urged. It
es-
vital breath.
does
not pray
all
cuts
himself
from the
is
source of
good.
peril.
Prayer
be no
is
essential.
less
commanded
fire
"
all
deeps,
and
all
tains
and
all
hills
fruitful
trees
and
cedars."
The poet
that
is
in
calls
upon
name.
ties
all
He
[19]
He
exhorts him-
What
;
;
redeemeth thy
life
from destruction
benefits.
They
coming
to us continually.
It
Nothing but
^ood
listen
on any
day of the
3'ear,
the day
shines
you
The
in
grown
so strong
some
flaws.
[20]
however,
in
the
persons
in
themselves
the
If they
were
in
tions they
now
What
their
is
cij-cumstances,
tastes
things
to
suit
The
fact
is,
we may have,
should be able
We
a mass of
fits,"
roses.
all his
is
bene-
thing
we do
we
the very
forget
God's
wonderful
An
memory
of a whole
[21]
day long.
One
is
the angel of
Each
Soon the
filled
it
basket
into
to
Everybody pours
great
is
two or three
little
contributions of gratitude
in his basket.
This
is
nearly
all
the un-
loading of burdens, fears, wants, and clamorous requests for favors, with only here and
there a feeble
received.
tics tells us
y Santa Claus,
before
Christmas,
but
that
in
the
whole
month
thanks.
came
Ten
[22]
Where
We
ing
pitifully want-
Thanksgivings languish on
little
our
Some
the
of us do
but complain.
us.
We
have no
love
good things of
lives.
divine
We
ought to
help
in
us
to
believe
in
the
divine
goodness
unkindl3\
The
It
is
praising spirit
his best
is
essential in
in
him who
of
life.
would do
work
any
line
said that
lyre
in his
his art.
his heart
was glad
and praising.
a sad heart.
No
You
[23]
in trouble, for
cheer.
If
you are
in sorrow, another's
you.
lifter,
He who
of
would come to you as an up^ must have joy to bring to 3^ou. " The
the
joy
Lord
is
Nehemiah
to his people
would
at-
and
life
beautiful.
always
so.
No
ever reached
its
best
possibilities in sadness.
and radiant
harp
in their hands.
They sang
at their
only he
to the brightness
Gloomy people
The
it
joyless
man
for
is
a misanthrope.
He makes
He
harder
less
other people to
live,
makes them
chills
the
[24]
C^e Call
to i^raijse
ardor he ought to kindle to a redder glow. He is a discourager and thus a hindcrer of every
He
does better
pictures,
work
more beautiful
is
a better teacher, a
No man
is
No man
ever
fit
to be a preacher
who
is
Carlyle has a strong word on the value of " Give us, oh, give us
:
man who
who
will
sings at his
it
work
is
Be
his occu-
pation what
those
may, he
will
it
equal to any of
sullenness.
he
He
do
is
do more
better
in the
will
he
same time
persevere
fatigue
stars
longer.
One
scarcely sensible to
The very
are said to
their
as they revolve in
is
the strength of
powers of endurance.
spirit all sunshine
Efforts to be per-
gladness
graceful
life
is
from very
Joy
is
a splendid inspirer.
The emblem
light
of Christian
praise.
light,
and
means joy,
There used to be
smiled on
Sunday desecrated
He who
reverence.
no piety in long-facedness.
first
is
Indeed
one of the
life is
joy. It
named
as second
among
the
fruits
of the
Spirit.
Joy
is
is
always lovely.
a wondrous in-
You
[26]
it
twice as well.
The
woman
told of
thought of gladness
in
her heart.
Every-
the out-
Light broke
if
and song
The
away
told in a
little
of the magazines
"
it
long,
to
blind me.
[27
Cl^e
(t5ate
oscautiful
It mocked at me, and turned and fled, But played on, fluttering overhead,
Till I forgot I
went
footsore,
And the dusty hill that rose before Was the blue hill far behind me."
writer
tells
of a
brave.
He met
the
of
life,
which too
tragedies,
as
almost
happened.
He and
our
little
and he
fell
to the ground.
He
cry.
The
own
tears
it
hoping to
find
him crving.
[28]
My
said,
said,
" I didn't
bit."
And
When you
load,
down
bit.
in
despair,
try singing a
Trust God
and
praise.
[29
Ci^c
J^ejsireis
of Ci^t f^tart
[81]
and
hate;
And
Shake hands with Pain, give greeting unto Grief, Those angels in disguise, and thy glad soul
From
[32
CHAPTER THIRD
Ci^e cjstrcjs of .\)v i$tan
HE
in
in.
is
Hence
also
one's
de-
sires are
prophetic of one's
future.
We
will
grow
into
In
Lord
and he
of thy heart."
this
Most of us would
is
have
Nights' Entertainment
of Aladdin's lamp.
in
The son
poor widow
services of
By rubbing
got
the
lamp
he
with
the
ring,
Aladdin
whatever
here
us of a
way
in which
[33
Ci^e
dEiate
TBeawttful
Lord
;
and he
It is
thy heart."
not magic.
it
money. But
not thus
life's
We
all
would
way
all
our desires
realized. And that is what we seem to have here. " Dehght thyself also in the Lord and
;
he
will
What
It
We
know what it is to delight ourselves in a human friend. We love our friend so much that when we are with him we are perfectly
happy, have no wish ungratified, need nothing else to complete our contentment. This
is
^that the
two who
wed
They should
[34]
Clje ejsiresi of Cl^v 1$tavt
meet
each
other's
desires
in
and
yearnings.
They should
in all the
be one
life.
interest, in
purpose,
con-
aims of
young woman,
ing of the young man she had in mind, writes " I love him very dearlj^ and yet I
:
hesitate to give
is
my
life
He
some respects
always had in
he
man
mind
in
thinking
of
in
marriage.
him. There
There
is
is
something lacking
a need
my
life
which
is
dently there
is
not yet
full,
is
undisturbed denot
full
There
accord,
is
there
is
not
To
ties
delight in
God
Connected with
promise
in
the Psalm
" Trust in the Lord," " Delight thyself also in the Lord," " Commit thy way unto the
[35]
W^t
Lord," " Rest
.
(^att TBeautifttl
in the
Lord."
if
You
cannot de-
light yourself in
the Lord
him.
Trust implies
upon
was
the betrayal.
terrible.
The
distress
of the
had
believe in
God, be-
Trust is necessary to delight. " Commit thy way unto the Lord." There
will
in every
life,
is
God who
orders
God
their
souls,
[36]
C^e
the
their lives.
^mm
of
of Ci^r i^cart
affairs,
direction
their
the
care
of
They worry
continually.
We
have
not learned the full meaning of trust until we have formed the habit of committing our ways without question unto the Lord. The
reason for worrying, which
habit,
is
is
so
common a way
knew
the
upon
the
Lord.
If
only
they
Think what
ple
if
it
they
understood
instead
of
little
thing, the}"
it
would take
If
it
to the
Lord and
leave
there.
will
no longer
the old
" Rest in the Lord." A marginal reading is, " Be silent to the Lord." Never
answer
the
Lord
in
the
way
of
protest
the
day of cross-bearing or
[37
1
ask,
Why?
"
Some
God
when he does things that are hard, when he leads us in the ways that are rough and steep.
To
be silent to
to
the
submission
his
will,
my mouth;
These are suggestions of the meaning of the words, " Delight thyself also in the Lord."
We
The
no
ideal
home
strife,
no doubt, no
telling us these
fear,
no bitterness.
Men
are
keep our
that
lives in
we should
fall in line
God
in every-
thing.
We are not
;
to
shall
bring his
fancies
way down
whims and
good mah
said the
[38]
Ci^e
j^esfirejS
of Ci^v l$tan
many persons really ever learn it. There are not many kind people that is, people who
good
and
that
is
what the
New Testament
means when
it tells
us to be kind. It takes a
The same
is
absolutely true, to
to learn
is
them
these
lessons
all
better
than
riches,
all
power,
fame.
it is
This
is
what
to delight ourselves in
God,
that
to find our
if
joy
in
him.
we have
for.
this delight
give
we
long
This
may seem
[39]
rather an unusual
is
and over
mon,
shall
as he
began
his
reign, "
Ask what
said
give thee."
choose
for
his
God
:
he
New
;
and
find
;
it
seek,
and ye
shall
knock, and
shall be
and
to
shall
God
solute ?
We
is,
You
love
God
su-
You
You
you without a
murmur
make
all
why
your
all
your heart
unworthy wishes.
It will quell
[40]
longirgs.
You
all
will
evil
You
for
will seek
God's guidance
things. It
is
in
desires
earthly
if
the things we
want
we had them.
We
our inner
Christlike.
We
the
wisdom of our
and therefore we
God.
will of
When
the
given that
it
God
is
will
give us the
Desires
turned
God
in
But many of
and most
They
who have
[41]
be
filled."
Hungerings and
to
after
God,
desires
be better,
God
Hunger
is
a mark of
indicates
Not
It
it is
is
to
hunger
any more
it
is
so in the body,
so in the
mind,
so in the soul.
The
true spiritual
life is full
of longings.
We
will
should remember, too, that whether we or not, the things we desire are really
given to us.
We
life,
and
so of pure
and good
desires.
righteousness makes us
for
the
same
is
[42]
Ci^e
J^cjSircsi
of
W)v
J^tart
we
will
our mind and cherish them, grow corrupt in heart. " As a man
is
he." If you,
by
will
desires, im-
Let
in
you
will
We
the
should
making us
man
or
woman we
up
in
shall be
3'our
desires
you a temple of snowy purity. Keep fixed upon holy things, right
you
will
have the
your hearts
they
unto you
and
God
will
give them
life
will build
up your
is
into beauty
and holiness.
for us, therefore, that we
and Christ-
What
What
[43]
What
your answer be? If you delight yourself in the Lord, then he will give you what you desire.
This
din's
is
lamp.
Abide
in you,
in
Christ,
let
Christ's
words abide
will
and no
desire of yours
will
be happifullness of
ness.
then be a song
good
44]
[45]
"Never in a costly palace did I rest on golden bed, Never in a hermit's cavern have I eaten idle bread.
i'Born within a lowly
stood
stable,
where the
cattle
round me
toiled
and
found
it
good.
"They who
my
feet
have trod
many toil
together, there
Where
the tired
workman
sleepeth, there
alone.
amid
the
strife,
[46
CHAPTER FOURTH
Callet) to T5t
^a(nw
the
Roman Catholic
is
the enrollment of
beatified persons
saints.
till
among
fifty
the
more than
years
after
most searching
into their life
made
word saints is used of living believers. The meaning is not that the Christians of those early days were perfect. They were faulty, incomplete in life and character, just
ever, the
who
love
and follow Christ are called to be saints. The form of Christian life changes from time to
time.
The type
days
is
in these
the
[*7]
W^t
who
(Kate 'Beautiful
all
not
man who
is
secret prayer.
commended to-day as the greatest Christian the man who is always abounding in the work of the Lord. The best Christian life is
is
We
say
is
we are saved
disciples
to serve.
We
the nations.
We
are
make to go
The Modem
Saint
No monkish
Nor
is
tells,
immured in
humanely
But from
mercy ever
wells ;
life.
He
looks
forth
on human
He
His creed for mystic visions do not scan ; His face shows lines cut there by other's grief
And
in his eyes
is love of
brother-man.
[48]
CalleD to TBe ^afntis
Not
self
nor self-salvation
to
is his
care ;
He
To
yearns
make
the world
a sunnier clime
live in,
and
in
speaking of the
in the
appears
Gospels:
whom the New Testament calls the Saint of God lived in the fields and in the streets, mingling in the common life of man at the common level; and what strikes us most as we contemplate Him is not
a monotonous and conventionally expressed
sanctity,
however deeply
felt,
and
a
yet
life."
the
thorough
naturalness
of
such
saint-
Brotherhood. It
is
to
pronounce
it
is
rather
coming
to be
fashionable
word among
use
it
Christian people.
it
Orators
It
like to
is
is
an inspiring word.
practice.
something we
ought to
Men
[49]
moment
Httle
as
if
they saw
God
be-
common days
we really believe Some one writes also of practicing the Incarnation. The Incarnation was God coming down and living in human flesh, the highest, the most divine, coming down to help the lowest. We open the New Testament and we see the Eternal God
nity, of eternal life, as if
shall live forever.
we
its
head;
we
God
curing a blind
man
by putting clay on his eyes, healing a lame man by a touch or by a word. This is very
beautiful, very wonderful.
Now
life.
practice the
That
is
what
The
angels must
and
plays of eloquence or
An
act of love,
[50]
Paul,
is
a martyr.
Thus
ness,
tions,
saintliness
is
shown
in love, in helpful-
^t
is
that
we are
to be less prayerful,
waiting upon
the
life
God
always
essential
in
that
pleases God.
We
must be
abounded
in
He
was intensely
active.
But he
also spent
much
time in prayer.
fore day, that he
his
He
its
mani-
festation
Another
essential
mark
of saintliness
is
holiis
ness of life
and character.
the church
No
accusation
made against
[51]
C]^e (ate 'Beautiful
frequently than this, that the professed followers of Christ are not living
up
to their
You
are
not as good as your Book," said a great Hindu. " If you were as good as your Book,
Christianity
would
soon
conquer
India."
What
all,
does our
Book
" If
my commandments."
it.
Saints
pur hands.
What
meant
It
does
this
mean
in
life?
The
no
cross
stopped at
sacrifice.
We
some-
The
old
monk
said
palms of
his
not what
to rest one
who [52]
overwrought,
CalleD to T5e
you take
hands.
his place
^afnw
When
the
young
an
visit
and pray
his
Saintliness
life.
is
shown
The
ness.
Sometimes,
however,
is
what
is
called
holiness
by men
The
exact in certain
forms of obedience,
They
tithed
down
and
cummin,
little
garden herbs,
giving every
judgment,
mercy and
faith.
in the streets
and
synagogues, assumed
[53]
not follow
the
all
they
crushed
the
Their
not
God
does
approved orthodoxy,
with meanness,
strict
selfishness,
criti-
True
sainthness
is
beautiful.
is
are lovely,"
morrow get angry when he is beaten game, or sulk when some other one
of holiness.
in
gets
The work
is
of a church in
all its
departments
not good
the
making of
beautiful lives,
lives
[54]
They
not lovable.
Christian
saw.
He
in
thing
was gentle to all men. He did everya gracious way. Let us strive to at-
commends
in
and
There
is
too
much
counterfeit saintliness.
in doctrine,
It
it
lacks love.
is
It is
orthodox
but
not pleasant to
live with.
it
is
It
is
clean cut
as cold as
is
mar-
flesh
and
human,
it is
Christly,
Many
pride.
spoiled
is
by
the
One of the
doing good
secrets of saintliness
absence of self-consciousness.
He who knows
he
is
good.
is not doing the highest Moses wist not that his face shone. is
The
of
saintliness that
most divine
is
unaware
its
radiance.
Saintliness
is
made
[55]
W)z
ness
is
(Kate iseautiful
its
own
sake.
life.
Fruitful-
Fruit
is
beautiful as
hangs on the
It
tree or vine,
but
who
purpose
is
adorning
is
it
to feed hunger.
We
fulfill
lives
when our
lives
holiness,
make us
useful.
make our
Some one
This
is
says,
"
God
is
loving service."
St.
is
really only
an expansion of
love," for love
service
Is
John's
service.
definition, "
God
is
is
Love that
not
not
genuine.
and served to the uttermost, withheld nothing. There is no true spiritual culture which does not add to our power of
Christ loved
serving
others.
The prayer
of
saintHness
Give
If
me
strength to help
him on;
thee.
he,
Let
me
[56]
mortal dreams come true work I fain would do; Clothe ivith life my weak intent,
Make my
With
the
Let
me
he the thing I
meant;
Old
Seem my
nature's habitude."
saints
in
the world
'
Some people
are pessimists
We
We may
all
but
let
tian community,
in
ever ministering.
Think
who
many husbands
care for
who
parents.
Think of the
sacrifices
cheerfully
[57]
Ci^e
dEfate
Beautiful
weak and
of those
feeble,
who endure
of
of
all
Think of the
their lives
way thousands
how they deny how they scale their own indulgences down to the last penny, that they may
hours to add to their income,
feed and clothe their children and educate
Think, too, how the poor help each Think of the heroisms of labor, of the way men risk life to save other lives. Every day you read of the way some brave fellow
them.
other.
may
his
of the
life.
prolong a
redeem
this
world from
accusation of
[58]
are
made against
are
it.
We
men
They
enough
bad enough
wc
are
all
bad
bless-
but
days.
common
sea,
of the
common
rifice
For
all
in the
home, on the
on the
street,
and
in all life,
cross of Christ.
We
We
may
be only
press forward.
on low
levels,
.'59
til
'
Would have
Hot anger,
Scorn
thee take
away
And discontent that casts a shadow gray On all the brightness of a common day.'*
[62]
CHAPTER FIFTH
is
in
our
where
our
Sundays.
j
We
they
cannot
came,
tell
whence
these
and
to control
your
in
thoughts, to
thoughts,
is
the
bitter
thoughts?
Thought mastery
of
life.
We may
think
impossible to
keep out the wrong, the unworthy thoughts. But St. Paul gives us the secret: " The peace
of
God
shall
Have you
you.
ever considered
life?
importance of
thoughts in your
They
[63]
The thought
make
habits
future.
Let your thoughts in the early years be occupied with yourself, your brightness, your
beauty, your attainments and achievements,
the
worthy things you do, and you are maka paragon of self-conceit.
If
you allow
criticism, of dissatisfaction
life,
you
will
build
man
you
or
woman you
few years. If
if
of brave
make for yourself a life strong, riclx, courageous, loving and true. Charles Kingsley says, " Think about your[64
1
self;
like,
Youwill
will
make
which
as
God
sends
you you
;
will
be as wretched
you choose, on earth or in heaven either." But think of others and think lovingly and generously of them, and you will make your own heart a flower garden and will be a benediction wherever you go. St. Paul gives us a splendid programme for
our thought
life
:
honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely,
port;
there be
any
virtue,
and
if
there be
any
praise,
think
on
these
things "
the
praise-
worthy things.
Do
Some people
see
al-
[65]
They read
in the
newspapers only
You
of
life.
Think
and the
stars,
Think
in the
them
in
are building
Based on
Sure and
Through
Up and
Every
on
may make
or mar.''
But
is it
and school
thoughts.?
Can we keep out unworthy by many considerations in the words we allow ourselves to speak, in the things we allow ourselves to do,
our thoughts?
We
are influenced
[66]
in the
same way
sees
Nobody
them, and so
it
An
angry man
that
is
will
trembling
on
his
lips,
for
people
in his heart,
to restrain that.
elusive.
Thoughts
and
They
They do
Nevertheless,
if
we
will,
is
it
and we are
no
is
" There
sin in a
a sin to
sentment, you are sinning against others. If you allow unclean and impure thoughts to nest in your mind, you are simply making it
The beloved
thought
sin.
You
[67]
your thoughts.
evil
thoughts
You
in
their possession.
How
has become
come
will
full
sweet breath.
We We
cannot keep
cannot help
is
not enough
You must
bring in
good
noble
things.
thoughts into
with
Read
words.
upon
holy
Read
clean,
pure,
inspiring
books.
[68]
and think on
entirely
it
his
So
free
from
filled
with good
thoughts.
evil
with a feelit
A
A
joygen-
thought
will drive
will
erous
impulse
correct
hurt feeling.
Some boys had played a game. One little fellow came home gloomy and cast down. His side had lost. But that was not the cause of
his dejection.
God was on the side bad boys to-day, and they won. You
But
the other
cross
and
their
God was on
she
could not
[69]
The
quietly told
him of the
state of things.
Pres-
" Well,
my
won
portant
thing
you
my
conquered
You
you
of
boy
am proud
you."
The
that
boj^'s
is
face
so,
father,"
it
didn't think of
way.
God was on
our
man
a
fluence
upon him of a
critical
He
was
in
a de-
[70]
instinctively perceived
gan at once to kindle me, and before I knew what was happening, I was afire to do a man's work again." A few strong, cheerful
words from that rich-hearted woman changed
the depression of the
man
into
hope and
life.
of
and no thought of
the tonic air
live in
No
good
over those
who
who are
infirmi-
discouraged.
Thoughts of
ties of those
love
influence of
dispositions.
it is
whom
not
They
Perhaps they
[71]
not easy to
live
ple sweetly.
Even
in a
home
not easy
live
There
all
is
one secret
the
evil.
the peace of
God
which
St.
is
Paul says
es-
will
He
speaking
is
pecially of anxiety,
that
the peace of
God
will
all
wor-
We
cannot be
marv^elous peace of
God
fills
our hearts.
then,
is
how
to get the
the
writer
wishes
away
is
from
the
wind
and
no such shelter
is
any wilderness.
by ac-
God
^'
himself.
shall I quiet
it
my
its
heart?
How shall
I keep
still?
shall I
hush
ill
tremulous
start at tidings
of good or
shall I gather
peace
and
rest,
Wrapping
my
troubled breast ?
God
is still,
and
gentle
and mild
and sweet;
What time
Controlling all
heart of
lesser
things,
this
turbulent
mine
He
[78]
pofntis of ?epattut:e
75
His nimble
In and
shuttle to
and
fro,
seemed to bud and grow had helping been One small stitch which could scarce be seen; Bui the one stitch dropped pulled the next stitch And a weak spot grew in the fabric stout; A nd the perfect pattern was marred for aye
Till the pattern
if the fairies
As
out,
By
was dropped
that day.*
[76]
CHAPTER SIXTH
i^otntjs of
j^epamtte
of
life
is
HE
way
straight.
It
It does not
wind about.
does
path.
not
variable.
Now
We
ease,
pass
through a thousand
every year
gain,
is
loss
but
all
di-
rect,
Yet
in
every
it is
easy
to depart,
to turn aside.
when there are strong temptations There are certain points, too,
many persons do turn aside. The first leaving of home is a time full of dan^r. Home is a warm sanctuary of love. Esat which
pecially
is
a true Christian
home a
place of
[77]
W)t
dPate 'Beautiful
sacred fellowship.
Many
of the departures
guidance.
Going away
danger.
to school
is
for
The
of
to
new environment and look back upon laughed at and represented as not up
Its habits of pra^-er, for
at.
it.
to
date.
example, are
sneered
Many young
them the
night in the
retir-
home habit
prayer
.f^
of kneeling
battles
by the bedside
are
lost
in
Many
is
fought at that
hour
Marriage
It
is
of ideal
beauty.
Nothing good that has been learned should be lost when two young people leave their old homes and enter
in the years before
[78]
pointjS of
a home of their own.
^tpavtmt
Every beautiful thing
do they should conthey
life
now begin
to-
own
quietly
down to their first meal, the wife said: "In my old home we never began
first
a meal without
either
in
my
bent
their
and
sought
first meal. That is the way it always should be when two Christian young people begin their life together. Some-
is
not observed,
is
in the
days
life
grows
sumptuous, forgets
God and
[79]
The
life
man whose
for a
God
him."
still
But
it
might not
it
farther
has
to
bring
the
home.
and with a
life less
beautiful.
One
day
in talking to a friend,
The
friend spoke of
.^^
have not given up prayer Do you not pray any more? " " No," the person replied, " I used to be an earnest Christian,
You
but
five
While
it
was im-
God most
[80]
earnestly to save
^ointjS of
me from
I
JBtpattmt
He
did not do
it,
the calamity.
and
him
I do not think
The
losing of a friend
occa-
Moses
that after
my
and turn yourselves from the way which I have commanded you and evil will befall you
;
The day
a strong, guid-
many the beginning of departure from God. A man with a great temptation said to his friend, who was trying to help him in his
struggle toward a better
only
live
life,
" If I could
always when I
am tempted
The
feel
Come
me any
will talk
For
and
several years he
lived bravely,
went often to
failing.
not once
[81]
opportunity
Business
is
of
turning aside.
right,
be a right business,
in business.
sa^^s,
Owen Wister,
is
"
wish."
Pleasure
is
right.
Our Master
led
its
by
charm,
its
enamoring.
God
is
driven out
per-
of
many
is
is.
hearts
by amusements, which
absorption
that
the
in themselves.
the
dan-
ger
What
ship.'^
is more sacred than friendOf course friendships are sometimes formed with unworthy people, and these cannot but lead awa}- from God. There are
in all life
and main-
[82]
pointjS of
J^zpattmt
Such friendships
life.
friendships
lives
may
away
two
from God.
not be
so.
When
make
richer, better.
But
leads to the
forgetting of God.
said
:
Only the other day one " Before I was married I loved Christ
active in his service.
I
and was
with
was so happy
my
and
my mar-
riage, that
less
my
less,
for
my
moments were given, and after a while Christ was left out of the day altogether." Too
often this
is
the story.
There
est
is
friends
may become
hinderers
of
our
Christian
life.
He
is
referring to
[83]
;i)e (Bate
iseautiful
There
is
another
true.
which
this
may become
gravest
Our
dearest friends
may
unwittingly become
the
liarm.
may tempt
us to slacken
We
will.
When
Peter sought to hold him back from his cross and cried, " Lord, this shall not be
!
unto thee " Jesus rebuked Peter, saying, " Get thee behind me, Satan " Thus Peter's
!
l^em.pting
from
service
for
Christ
that
demands
sacrifice.
Thus
love
may become
a peril,
to turn aside
known
to keep her
had
called him.
young
1
Christian wife
[84
j^oinw of J^tpattutt
to influence
him to give up
his devotion to
Turning
No
When
from
close following of
God
to complete de-
sertion, there
breakit
The
first
relaxing
Still, it
is
in
the
once given up
is
week there
still
Take
promise
as
good
as his note.
he begins to be a
self.
little less
He
He
begins to
In
a few months he
reliable,
man
[85]
who
esty
is
gone.
is
this process.
The
writer
lest
haply we drift
is
The
sea.
Lives continually
drift away.
They
They
more
so
irritable,
sweet
in
ready to serve
drifting.
It is the
beginning of the departure against which we need to guard. " Turn not from it
to the right
of caution.
hand or to the
left," is the
word
is
That
evil
is,
do not deviate
right.
in the
It
the
we need to avoid
if
we
[86]
|0o(nt!3 of
j^epatture
final
step.
It
is
the
we would never
find ourselves in
open
re-
Httle girl
was
till
makes
its
progress.
The
avoidance of the
steps
To make
take
it
in a positive
way.
satisfied
beautiful in
Christian
we
should seek to
make ever a
We
can always
live better
We
our
Not one
lives in
Scientists
tell
[87
We have
capacities for
undeveloped in
us.
In-
line
to
little
prayer
in
an
Psalm which would Hft us ever up" Lead me in the way everlasting," it The way everlasting leads ever toward
ward.
runs.
God.
[88]
f ome HHm
[89
^'Hurt as
it
love forever
Love for lovers sake, like the Father above, But for whose brave-hearted Son we had never
Known
[90
CHAPTER SEVENTH
TSuilDtns again
tl^e
i^omc Bt^t
should always
is
EDDED
life
be happy. That
the ideal.
its holi-
and best
in the
marriage
relation.
There
St. Paul's
alized
J vision of love should be re" Love suff ereth long, and is kind
is
itself
un-
own,
is
not provoked,
unrighteousness,
truth
;
but
rejoiceth
with
the
hopeth
things, endureth
its
all
things."
Marriage, in
is
full
Like
holy friendships,
it
must be a growth.
President
King
sociation in friendship
into larger
"
[91]
l^e
dDiate
'Beautiful
friend
is
if his
in truth
as he seeks, the
way
of
association.
off
One
fine
with the
fruits
friendship.
No
friendship
that
much with either men or God can become one's own without the giving of time,
counts for
of thought, of attention, of honest response."
and best of
all
no exception.
wholly married.
Then
Something new
in each.
The
possibilities of
infinite.
simply
growth
marriage
in friendits
in
" Suresee in
world
full as it is of beautiful
ad-
than the
growth of two
friends' natures
who, as they
IsmlDing again
tl^e
i^ome
0m
helpfulness.
And
friendship
is
by Christ."
of marriage, what
it
may
attain to,
strive to re-
own
case.
But
riages
Young
member
It does
happy home
is
not
vows,
gratulations.
happy wedded
it
life
must be
one, not
made by
No
for them.
beauti-
Love
is
der as
it
may
be, needs
cultivation.
Then
it
infinite
care that
be
[93]
its
may
hurt or earth's
droughts
may
wither.
ruffled.
is
Some-
unhappiness
It
ought never to be
true, so con-
Wedded
life
ought to be so
happiness.
nothing
love
could ever
mar
its
Wedded
sacrifice that
may
and no
sacrifice is
too great
made
that the
broken.
The following letter was sent by a friend to one home into which trouble had come. The young husband and wife had been married for several years. They were both Christians.
Two
little
children
their
home,
No
difference
was not
settled in Christ's
way, and
[94
-Butiuing again
the trouble grew until
t\)t
f ome
Bm
serious.
letter
it
became very
Then a
The
wife.
and proved
so welcome
and
so helpful
home
that,
in
it
is
given here
may
other
home
is
that
in
" "
My
dear Friend
You do
my
loving
interest in
piness of
your home.
for
Noth-
mar your
you
and
You
that
is
all
and
little,
gone wrong a
bit
tangled.
But
it is
going to be
all
right now.
You
will
195]
heavy
night
storm,
and
walking
through
his garden.
Under a
tree he
saw a
pitied
He
the birds,
their misfortune.
in his
busy building
They were
"
am
sure
it
it
and
it
And
fuller of
love,
has been
before.
" It
may
home
[96]
BuilDfng again
ter
tl^e
i^ome
0m
means
what
it
costs,
it
will
is
be a thousand times
worth doing.
Love
is
not easy.
It
much self-denial, much forgetting of one's own wishes, much restraining of one's own impulses, much curbing and checking of one's own feelings. St. Paul tells us that love suf*
fereth long,
and
is
kind;
have
itself
own,
is
evil
beareth
all
all
hopeth
way.
It takes the
God
in
"
love
each other.
lover days.
When
and tender.
to
make you unhapp^^ some days. But your is really true and strong as ever. It would break your hearts to be separated. All you want is to get this love into the common
love
[97]
jour
lives.
You
learned yet
how
up
"
me
year.
She picked up
little
What would
tell
Jesus do?
'
and
said,
you about this card, for it saved my marriage and my home.' Then she
I
want to
gave me
this story
'
:
When my husband
in
little tiff
and
I were married
temper
before
and speech.
We
had many a
first
evening we had
our differences.
When we
new home, we had a disagreement one day at luncheon. My husband left the table in anger, and went out without
had come
into our
kissing
me good-by, and
eye
fell
came up
to
my
room
and
to cry.
my
I had never
now
the ques-
[98]
BuilDing again
tion spoke right to
ti^e
!^ome
il^esst
my heart and demanded What would Jesus do ? " I began to think and to try to answer. What would Jesus really do? He surely would not do as I am doing be so impatient and iran answer, "
ritable,
so easily
I fell on
I
vexed,
so
hasty
and ex-
acting.
my
battle out.
I
and then that would never again have any angry words
settled
there
with
my
husband, that
would be patient,
I rose
from
my
knees, washed
away the
and when
at the
my
husin
door
him
He saw
We
all
about our
and promis-
The
lesson
these
two
lovers.
They
are
among
the hap-
[99]
Cl^e ate QBeautiful
plest
young people in the circle where they belong. The little card has indeed saved their
marriage and their home.
" I have told you this
little
that
it will
help you.
You
are a Christian.
To
Perhaps
3'ou
Love does not demand everything of the other person, but it does demand everytient.
thing of
'
itself.
It
'
It
beareth
all things.'
married
life.
You two
dear
may become
ize these
the sweetest,
worked out in
thought, in word, in
act, in disposition.
Do
no mat-
100
BuilDfng again
tl^e
i^omc
il^e^t
kindness. If
you
think you have been unfairly treated, or unkindly, be especially kind in return.
That
is
the
way
to
pay back an
evil
thing done to
you.
"
God
year from
me you have had the hapyou ever have had; that the nest which the storm tore down has been built again, and is more beautiful than ever it was
piest year
now you
before.
101
^f
Tdt^oih,
c^v
0iot\itv
[103]
'
When
more
I'll rest
My tired head
upon
my
mother's breast.
And feel her tender cheek against it pressed, And there, at last, I shall find perfect rest.'"
"
We
And we And
But what
us stand,
hand
that's
here?"
104
CHAPTER EIGHTH
NE
of the words
from the
thy
cross
" Behold,
was slowly piercing through her was giving her child to God
soul, as
Sim-
heart.
is
Yet she
always most
quiet.
She stood by
undying!
But what of
his mother.''
Son for
then.'*,
Did he think
of her
Or was
notice
his
did he
Jesus^
Here
is
the answer
"
When
[105]
and the
disciple
standing by
whom he loved, he saith unto his Woman, behold, thy son Then saith
She
was the
is
first
The mother
Only a few
times
We
know
that
Few
things in
tliis
The two
A sacred and
tell-
all his
her.
Joseph
is
visit
to
[106]
it is
Mary
a widow.
No
his
mother's caretaker.
He
late,
He
and
The
now
hands
but we
he was
mother never
failed.
it
the more.
less
Doing
the Father's
interested in
it
teaches us to do
It
is
all
duty
it-
self in his
full
of
love
and sympathy
saw
his
mother so
and
bereft.
Thus
near her in
all
her need
[107
One
who
will
be left
behind when we are gone. One tells of a man, a happy Christian, with wife and children in
his
sick.
The
doctors said
When
wife,
they told
him
was
so,
his
who had
who needed
a father's care.
He
is
looked into the eyes of the and said, " Ah, the outlook
woman who
sat be-
very bright, very bright, only " fare with you and the boys ?
It
how
was
will it
in the
when he saw
mother standing
close by.
He had
would be gone.
shelter for her.
He knew how
So he committed her to John, who was standing by her, asking him to be a son to her henceforth. He thought not only
[108]
She would
find love
and
all
would be a home
in
He knew
his
"
Woman,
;
most tender
care.
is
While
this picture of
it
before us,
is
When
Jesus spoke
To
be a friend of Christ
the
[109]
strings
of the
They tell us that into of some old Cremona violin, the master who has played upon it
it
the
life
for
is
as if his very
loved, heart,
held
close
to
her
no mere fancy
in the
We
is
moment
of being;
it
accumulates as the
days go on. There are the years^of iniaaPy with their sgligiiades, their broken nights and
[1101
fi
"Bel^olD,
Cl^r iHoti^ct;
the danger
is
past.
There
is
a story of an artist
who wanted to
out the lines and wrinkles, to make it look brighter and younger. " No, no," said the
son. "Leave it just as it is, lines and all." Then he explained how the Hnes and traces of
age in
his
in the picture.
They were
her children.
right.
its
decrepi-
its
bent form,
[111]
care
and
mother
is
is
and trembling, her speech uncertain; have you ever thought that these physical effects
are the results of her
denial for
toil, loss
of rest, self-
you ?
!
if
is
she
is
gone.
to
suffer
want,
so
and yet
is
concerned.
We
day
as a
mark of honor
That
is well.
But
you strew
[112]
still
do
3'ou
Do
3'ou
Do you
speak
The white flower is an emblem of her purity. That is well. A true mother is like an angel of God in the whiteness and luster of her life.
In the schoolroom of the
little
Princes of
Germany,
it
is
The
know
er.
people are
to
sinners.
The
little
if this was true of people of royal rank, or only of the lowly. " Of all," said the teach-
little
Prince, speaking
my
father
is
may
not."
be a sinner, but I
know my mother
God
lives.
Wear
you wear ought also to own life. In no other way can you honor your mother so well as by a spotless character. There are too many chilthe white flower
But
be an emblem of your
[1131
W^t
dPate Beautiful
by Hves
The mother of Jesus had poignant sorrow that day when she stood near the
of sin.
cross
in
anguish there.
But
done an unkindness.
the days of
the years.
a friend, " I
me dead." Her boy of seventeen had been brought home the night before, drunk. A boy who loves his
he had been brought home to
proud
liant
[114]
f(
OBel^olD,
Ci^r ^otf^tr
how they pray
for them,
how they
love them.
disap-
least so far as
Do
But
let
us live
is
safe rule of
One
of the great
upon her
fit
frail,
sorrowful
life.
If this
was a
it is
if
we
Then,
if
your mother
in heaven,
find some other one to whom you can show kindness for your mother's
[115]
who has no
child of her
own
to
116]
^^at
mn
%\)itib of
[117],
'
God reads and very truly reads Our motives under all our deeds
And
Yet
if,
I seek
but seem
I,
am
Judged by
law
of love/'*
[118]
CHAPTER NINTH
WW
dPoD Cl^fnSg of
NE
man men
there
the
man
sees,
and the
man one's most inman the person himself man God sees. The community'
in a general
knows us only
way,
superficially.
call
is
What
reputation
to be. It
a composite made up of
that people
know
about
acts,
us,
sions of ourselves
we give to
others.
A man
est,
another, never
tion.
in
any
financial obliga-
Men
learn to
know
[119]
They say
his
word
is
as good good as
paying
tions,
ways. One
man through
years of
life
becomes
known
table.
close,
Thus
man
is
is
only superficial. It
is
not infallible,
not complete,
is
not
final.
;
person
may
be
his
manner may do
of their
him
injustice.
power of expression,
to
appear at their
true value.
The world knows only a man's outward life, and there may be good things in him which it does not know. Then some
Their photograph
120
flatters
them.
What
w^at
reality.
mn
C]^(n60 of
tricks
eiEi
They
practice
which give a
glamour
veils
They wear
in
them,
are.
as
absolutely
and
final.
There
is
another photograph
what
our
in-
They know
us betdo.
community
They understand
love's eyes,
good things
They saw
us in
difficulty
or
little
friend, " I
thought
knew
him.
my husband
He had
per-
know
faults of
[121]
in
no conception.
did not
know
goodness I
am now
We
right to expect our close friends to deal leniently with us. "
St.
Love
is
sacred
silence
of the
home should
ap-
sister,
both of
life
full
we should
My
sister
lies in
[122]
^^at
that
mn
cijtnfejs of asi
things are of
little
fidelities in
common
my
is
see it all,
and
sisterly
God? How, then, can we have communion with this barrier between
to
is
us?"
Surely this not the best that the grace of
God and
to
ought
do with Christian
sacredness of
the home.
To
we
shall never
judge
own
good
home
relation
it is
criticise
each other. It
good and the beautiful, when defects are so manifest. But the very essence of love is to cover up mistakes and shortcomings in others, and to see everything in the light of patience
[123]
So should we
veiled
in full light.
other.''
not
final.
There
is,
a third tribunal
our
own
conscience.
St.
ourselves see.
Many
of us do
know
which
do not know.
We are conscious of
faults
When
we
[124]
aijs
overpraise they
We
are not as
good
as those
who
page
love us think
see
we
are.
Few
of us would
hke to
We
are aware of
even those
who
say
know most
On
evil
it
us,
is
we know nothing against ourselves. But there is another man in us the man God sees. And this is most important of all. We do not know all the secret things of our own
hearts.
There
is
ours.
We may
Paul
;
yet
am
me
St.
is
the Lord."
this
Paul knew
before
God
It
is
commend
But
tion of the
What
final
does
ques-
God
tion.
is
always the
that since
God
is
so holy,
impossible for us
is,
to win his
God
is
merciful, gracious
and compassionate.
itself,
He
but for
what
tion.
means
in the
way
God than
for
when him the choice of three penalties after he had seven years sinned in numbering the people
the
Lord gave
mies in war, or three days' pestilence, answered, " Let us fall now into the hand of the
Lord; for
and
let
me
[126]
^^at
not
fall
(Bod Cl^infi^ of
m
cruel.
into the
They judge
often harshly.
hands of God.
He knows
also
all
us
knows the
points as we
in
He knows when
true,
and when we
really love
him after
thou
" could make his appeal to his Master's own knowledge " Yea, Lord thou
me.'^
:
We may
safely
himself, rather
We may
flaws.
all
judgment, even
they are
all,
full
of defects and
He knows
and
will
bring to light
of the most
Many
We
[127]
know that we
will
world.
We
King comes, he
have done so
to
little
We
do not begin
things we have
We have wrought humbly, quietly, obscurely. We sometimes think our efforts have
done.
failed
see the harv^est
will
all
light
but some we do not hidden things be brought day our dreams good which have missed
these
to
of
we wanted
to do and
shown to people almost unconsciously. Not one of these things is lost. The Master will
say to this and that lowly one, in the great day of revealing, " I was hungry and ye fed
me."
St. Paul assures us of praise from God. " Then shall each man have his praise from
my
Father." "
Thou
who do not often get a word of from human lips for what they do. [128]
^l)at OoD
They
hardl}^
Cljinfijs of
m
in the
mendation.
Nobody
Nobody
world.
tells
dens lighter, and yet they rarely ever hear a " Thank you." It will be very sweet, in the
plain,
humble ones
who give out their lives in love, and scarcely know they are doing anything for Christ it
will
all
the uni-
129]
[131]
is
struggling alone
sand ;
:
Turn on
Kindle,
his darkness a
beam
of
your light;
:
to
fire bright
affright,
stand."
[132]
CHAPTER TENTH
l^attng C^ne'jS Life
ESUS
his
said, "
He that
it;
loveth
life
loseth
and he
unto
world
shall
keep
it
life
eternal." In
we
not to despise our
count.
We
are
life,
regard
it
as of
no ac-
Sometimes we hear discouraged and despairing men say, " My life is of no value.
I cannot be of
any
use. I
may
way.
God
never made a
that needs to
be useless.
may
but a
The
man
is
We
understand what
human
lives,
when he
them.
laid
down
his
own
life
to redeem
133
m^t
it
<5att 'Beautiful
it
as of
no value, to throw
life,
away.
We
it,
ought
to love our
prize
it
and keep
cherish
says,
"
He
life
loseth
it
and he that
it
unto
eternal "
He means
loving
life
more than
To
hate one's
life
is
to give
commandit up
it
in
re-
saving others.
An
The
a matter of
his
risk of
own
life,
The
child re-
He
hated his
life,
that
is,
he thought
it
not
day are
in
full of incidents in
which, in hospitals,
in mines,
and
in
134
kinds of
serv^ice,
life
in a large
way, as a theory.
Now
and then
in a
common
experiences
of every day.?
this
We
ap-
Victor
Hugo
at-
tempts
life.
lie,
it
He
speaking of the philosophy of says " Men hate, are brutes, fight,
in
:
leave their
see that
;
naked
their
feet
children
hum-
[135]
Be
in his
hand,
only
filled
with good
The keynote
is
is
self-denial,
which
much
played by a good
many
people,
for
the rela-
common
days.
Hating your life means, among other things, stooping down and considering the needs of
little
children,
It
and the
ple.
is
being patient
to be obliging to one
go out
of his
way an
['36]
you
striving to be
treats
more Christlike
ungraciously
;
to the person
who
you
of the person
things of you.
One of
of the
himself.
He
He
saved
omy
to carry him
through college
first
denying way.
friend, a
well,
In his
year he made a
young man,
also
brilliant,
and noble
as
who
had
all
the
money he
needed.
close
During
the
first
course.
to his friend
college,
go
The
137
him about
in this
have
if
fine
you have education. I have found out that I would make only a fourth-rate lawyer at best. It will be far better for you to be educated than for me. I have money enough saved to carry you through college. You must take my money and complete your course. I
inclose a draft for the amount.
I will drof)
Do
me it will be of no use. Do not refuse the money you never can return it to me." That was self-denial of the noblest
not try to find
kind.
No it is You do
;
not not
many
and agreeable, and giving yourself, to help some other one upward. In the home life, the
chance comes every hour, the chance of giving
to
ri38l
fating
!ne'j8 life
of tak-
one
may
who
cheer to one
way
wise would have been yours, of laying selfishness on the cross and nailing it there,
and
in-
is
an almost
own life, denying yourself, sacrificing your own feelings, impulses, desires, preferences, to make life easier, happier, more joyous and
more worth while to
Jackson says
// I
others.
Helen Hunt
can
live
To make some
and
to give
second luster
some tear-dimmed
eye,
Or e'en impart One throb of comfort to an aching heart, Or cheer some wayworn soid in passing by;
[139]
LIBRARY
can lend
strong
hand
to the fallen, or
defend
The
right against
My life,
Perhaps
though hare
of much that seemeth dear and fair To us on earth, will not have been in vain.
is
There
day
life.
Do
justice
Do you
how
grievously some of us
others?
fail in
being just to
We
fair, partial in
our judgment.
We
criticise
few-
others unmercifully.
We
commend very
for
What
unchristly judges
!
of the
acts of others
we are
Then do you
ever think
is
how
us,
little
among
talk
it
even
among
Christian people?
We
much
we pray
" Forgive us
every
much
No
doubt
is
[140]
fating One'0 Hife
treated us unjustly, unkindly, meanly. Forgiveness
it is
is
divine
this is
Yet
is
Not
is
to forgive to lose
it.
to love 3^our
own
life,
and that
To
forgive
is
to hate
your own
life,
not in-
sisting
good for
evil,
is
to
What
good world we Christians would make of this old earth if we would only get the law of the
cross into our lives
!
What
heart-burnings we
should cure!
heal!
What
One
is,
Lincoln
of
it
said
me by
those
who know me
thistle
ways plucked a
this world.
easy to
is
[141]
go
on with our bitter jealousies, envyings, resentments, injustices, believing evil of others,
judging
others.
little
We
"
ought to think a
that loveth
liis
of the outcome.
it."
He
hfe loseth
all.
If
we
love self,
we
shall lose
it.
we
shall
keep
voted to
God and
grow
in the
heavenly glory.
" I have
worked
all
my
life,
and
had
my
man
and
for
hand.
all
He
life
has given
been losing
to help others.
^he
who
serve
him
142
gating
)tte'ss
I
Life
my servant be." Think of being with Christ when you have finished your life of serving, self-denial and sacrifice in following him here.
Think of where you
will
"
Think Think
is
green
chair
own empty
The empty garments thou wast wont to wear. The empty room where long thy haunt hath been ;
"
Think
meadow and
the
wood
sounding shore
thyself hast
"
Amid
say
I
am
now and
Then turn, and face the petty, narrowing care Which has been gnawing thee for many a day,
And
it
a wailing
breeze,
[143]
[143]
"Tis the front toward life that matters mostThe tone, the -point of view, The conMancy that in defeat Remains untouched and true ;
^For death in patriot fight
may
be
And
high endeavor,
itself
to the
gods,
Seem in
worth while!'*
146
CHAPTER ELEVENTH
Ci^e
jWaMns
HE
of
pLm
age by
growth.
of
annual
put himself
under
motto was, "
be a
little
severer test.
His
No day
without a line."
He must
was
is
in the
is
not growing
like to
decaying.
admit
their age
they
much
We
it
to
The one
making men.
147
Paul
tells
is
which he
ascension.
He
prophets,
purpose of
ministries
we
all
attain
the
making
of meii.
Its minis-
tures.
The
before us the
of Jesus Christ,
manifestation of God. It
for
up
we are to pray. Prayer lifts us communion with God and kindles longings and aspirations in our hearts. It brings heaven down into our earthly lives and
into
thus
helps
bring us a
little
it.
is
We
have to
All heavenly virtues and graces are lessons set for us, and as
perfection.
is
We
doing good. There are human needs and sorrows about us continually and part of our
business in this world
is
to be helpers of need
and comforters of sorrow. No man is growing toward full manhood who is not becoming
tions
more sympathetic toward all human condiand more helpful toward all who are
weak or
in want. It
is
and upright,
and yet
all this
of the stature of
impressing or
[149]
ofttimes
the
things
He who
gives but
he
who
strives to
fail, is rewarded. There is a legend of a monk, Fra Bernardo. The monastery to which he be-
monks had finished Fra Bernardo. On Christmas Eve he knelt and told his Lord that he had failed he had tried to do something worthy, but he had no skill. Then he prayed once more
Christmastide.
All the
that he
heart's
might be given
skill
to
carve
his
Lord.
Bernardo
''
Dead, smiling
still,
and
prostrate as in prayer ;
While
at his side
The work
complete.*'
[150]
Cl^e jmafeins of
So
will
it
pim
to fail but
be with
all
who appear
who continue
the last
At
failfin-
it will
ure
is
full of the
beauty of Christ.
God
ishes the
work
do for
him.
Christ takes us,
first,
immature, undeveloped,
imperfect,
but
his
work
in us will
noble, full-grown
upon
his marble,
toward
for
thought.
life.
God
is
likewise
has a plan
every
It
From
in
first
to last he seeks
to
bring the
man
us
up
the grace,
hood.
is
not
all
done
in
church
in places of devotion.
all
making men
[151]
make the things carpenters usually make. But in Christ's purpose it is the making of a man. The business of the farmer is to till his soil and gather good harvests. But God's higher thought for the farmer in all his work is the making of a man. The merchant supposes he
carpenter,
we should say,
is
to
is
conducting
convenience
own
of
enriching.
meanwhile he
is
But up
not
not
in
not
quite
reaching
may be in a commercial way. The same is true of all kinds of callings and occupations. A man was not thought about
God's plans and then made, endowed with
in
gifts
and
might
be a builder, erecting so
lifetime, or a painter,
many
houses in his
ornamenting a certain
artist
shall
number of buildings, or an
[152]
putting
win him
Cl^e jHafitng of
jEen A man's
at them.
a teacher,
he
does
among men
his life
work of
acter.
growing into
ideal char-
we
and
We may
add
of
means of grace
and occupations.
principles
It is in these that
we have
we learn
in the
Holy
Scriptures,
and of putting
we are
really a
own
and character.
[153]
the
making
of
men
is
life,
and the
we do
is
up what we
St.
our own
life.
Paul has
The personal
thought of as
which
experiences of
all
life
are also to be
God
is
at
work on
us, training
and
dis-
]\Iany have
common days. Some find life very hard. may be sickness, with its pain and depression. It may be bereavement which brings It may be loss of loneliness and sorrow.
money which sweeps away
the earnings of
may
be the failure of
makSome people
why
it is
God
We may
not
[154]
is
Michael Angelo, as
mar-
under the
heavy strokes of his mallet, and would say, " As the marble wastes, the image grows." In the making of men there is much to be cut
away before the hidden beauty will appear. The marble must waste while the image
grows.
We
had a heart and could think and speak, it might complain as the sculptor's cutting and
hewing go on
of the
is
so unfeelingly, but
is
when
plain.
at last
finished, the
is
mystery
This
hammer and
artist
chisel
made
what the
was doing
in
all
the while.
his
providences are
will
no longer
In
all
God
has
us.
[155]
C^e
Knowing
fully
this,
(Kate oseauttful
we should be able to submit our
and
discipline, cheerit
and
implicitly,
however painful
may
be for us.
Many
They
making.
pose.
lence
live aimlessly,
without a pur-
We
We
should learn to
in his
purpose
come a
little
is
hood which
If
we grasp the truth that the purpose of God for us in all our experiences is^ the making of
it will
us,
life.
It will
make plain to us the meaning of many things which now trouble and perplex us. It will
give us an inspiring thought concerning the
It
will give
our experiences.
None
of
them are
accidental.
They
are not
our
lives
and harming
[156]
Ci^e ittafimg of
jmen
What-
harm or wreck
ever
may
they are taken into the hands of Christ and do their part in the making of us. Nothing
can harai us
if
we
believe
faithful to him.
"
that blows
can never
;
kill
tree
God
plants
it
bloweth east,
bloweth west
The tender leaves have little rest, But any wind that blows is best. The tree God plants
Strikes deeper root, grows higher
still,
Spreads
good wUl
Meets
[157]
Cl^rtsitfan iWanUne)3j5
[159]
''Give us
men!
Men whom
Men whom
purest honor
fires,
Men who trample self beneath them, Men who make their country wreathe
As
her iwhle sons
of their sires
!
them
Worthy
never
shame
their mothers,
Give us
men
/ say again,
Give us
men /"
160
CHAPTER TWELFTH
HEN
I
'
St.
Paul would
stir
up
men.
He meant
that
if
would be
No ideal is higher than just to be a man. What is manliness.'' There is no one exact model. No two men are preworthy Christians.
cisely alike, for every
man
Besides, no
man
at his best
is
any more
lines
We find some
do we
It has
if it
were possible
all
to gather,
through
all
human
[161]
ideal
man.
"V^Tiile
men
differ
in
there are certain great qualities which are essential in all noble
manhood.
Truth
life.
is
one
of these.
parts.
God
desires truth in
all
the inward
It is
He
wants truth in
the
man
that
What he
tells
you of another
to
do, he
He
to anyone, however
promised
may
be.
may
be counted a
thing, but
is
it is
really
a great thing.
If
onl}'
a penny
you
day you said you would. If it is only a postal card you promised to write to-morrow, w^rite it. Let your
agreed to pay, pay
the
in the smallest
mat-
Fulfill
your
lightest engagements.
Do
[162]
Honesty
also
is
essential in
manly character.
dishonest boy will
And
character
in
boyhood.
We
should
make
it
An
explorer in
box of
it
meaning
to send for
later.
He
able time.
on.
The
Yet
"
Why
where he had left it. " It was not ours," was the answer, " and we could
still
not touch
What
is
Justice
part of love.
We
should never
dic-
wrong
another.
We
should
[163]
We should
Or way
if
much
as theirs.
was the
it
to
take
justly
We
harshly.
We
do not
secret
know
in
the mood, or
in
temper, or
them.
fret,
which displeases us so
if
it
We
we knew
the facts,
may
be
if
we saw
it
a splendor of
self-sacrifice.
sister,
and
was
in
We
we
[164]
judgment
Purity
is
to
all,
and never
The
New Testament
cleanness of
life.
This
is
Yet the problem of Christian living is go through the world, keeping our garments clean. " But," some one asks, " how is it possible for anyone to do his work in this world, living amid unclean things, and never take any stain on his own life ? "
to
in this
way.
the
Just out of
writer
says,
from
his
window,
heavy current
death would
it,
come
to
tiger's leap.
Yet
day
Why
mean death to the man if he could reach out from his window and touch it, and why is it [165]
Cl^e
dSJate
^Beautiful
The
the
se-
sit
there they
if
man
form a
circuit
We may
evil
world
But
if
our own
it
and
cherishing
this
evil
it,
world.
when he sent them out to carry the gospel to men, " They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no
wise hurt them."
man who
is
given
up
and nothing
shall
harm
him.
Beauty
It
is
is
man
to be true, to live
[166]
life
whatsoever things
He
never
It
is
made
lives
There are
many
ture.
You
is
Fretting
lovely.
not beautiful.
Bad temper
is
un-
work
of grace to
make
is
lives beautiful.
All
ing of beauty
in us.
On a florist's signboard are the words, " Ugly corners made beautiful." The florist
had reference
to
He
That
is
in
our
lives,
in the world.
and
[167]
Ci^e
plete
dBiate
TScautiful
thing in his
tle.
He was
He
He was
all
firm,
but patient.
He
his indig-
against
hypocrisy,
all injustice,
but
is
his tenderness
We
should seek
we
into
We
Only thus
Our
read.
many men
Master
to the world
of him.
Love
is
There
is
not loving.
God
love,
and we grow
only as we grow in lovingness. One wT-iter says, " If we knew our brother as God knows
him, we should never dare to despise him any
more."
God
sees
ri68l
in
the world.
man
that which
made him
Men
other to
live.
into
bad
steel.
habits
and
them.
They want
Help them.
Their work
is
wrote this
pathetic sentence
to
all
my
long struggle
arguments, prophecies of
many
un-
word of
cheer.
There
is
nothing
[169]
Ci^e
that Christian
task that will
mtz
I3eautiful
Love
ness.
is
manli-
Unlovingness
it is
cause
Then It always does harm in it is also a mistake. two ways. It harms the person to whom it is done, and it also harms the person who does
always unchristlike, undivine.
Charles Kingsley says, the unloving thing. " Whenever we have failed to be loving, we
whenever we have
interests,
;
we
whenever we
more."
We do
mean
us.
lives
to others
is
who
see us
It
possible to do too
much advising or
blessed
much
beautiful living.
[170]
C^rtjStian jHanlfnejSSJ
influence
just
eloquent or brilliant
may
not be a states-
while.
Men who
We
to
Men
are
coming
is
know
love
in
way
to help others
to
them and believe in them. Aldis Dunbar, The Century, writes of what believing in
will
another
do for him:
Because
of
your strong
Whose
sharp-set stones
my
if
strength
had
well-
nigh spent.
I could not meet your eyes
I turned back
:
So on I
went.
f
171]
in me,
The
threatening
crags
that
rose,
my way
to see
to bar,
The goal
afar.
And
Or
"
it
through hard
spirit hears
The
is
to be a man, such
in his
He
need not
be a famous man, a
man
noted
among men,
streets,
is
sung on the
but a
man who
ful
is
God and
172]
iEijiundetjStooii
[173]
The
Is
life of
man
flight
an arrow^s
of darkness
Out
Into light
And
out of light
Perhaps
to pleasure,
to
Perhaps
pain.
'
arrows
Fly, and
fly ;
die.*
174 I
CHAPTER THIRTEENTH
ittijSunDersitooD
jijHERE
is
a strange story or
derstood
the builders.
finished,
and rejected by
When
it,
and this stone could not be found. There was great excitement. " Where
is
ed to complete
The
ceremonies
waited
while
search
was made
Some one "Perhaps the stone which the condemned and threw away among
the rubbish
is the one needed now for the place of honor." It was found and brought,
perfectly. The stone was misunderstood by the builders. It came nigh being missed altogether, and if it had been there
it fitted
and
[175]
life.
There
who do not seem to fit into any place among men. They do not appear
to have ability for anything worth while, to
possess qualities
which
will
make them
of
They
strong, or
skillful,
world.
men
for
whom
lards,
and
dul-
teachers
predicted
failure.
They were
not
showing
capacity.
Afterwards,
men became
at
first
distinguished.
if
children
study.
in their brain
will
and heart
power which
be
[176]
jwiisiuntiersitooti
brought out
wards
men.
fitting
duties.
is
God
knows what he
doing when he
making
life,
it
He
is
Even
if it is
it,
a broken
some work
is
This truth
tions.
is
illustrated in life's
common
rela-
There are many who are misunderstood and unappreciated, who do not get their
proper meed of praise and commendation. It
is
so in
many
self-denials
and
their
There
are
receive little
commenda-
tion,
word, but who are honored by the angels because of the genuineness of their service and
its
lowliness
and
unselfishness.
will
[177]
God
that
is
slowly
great
as
well
They have
of their
peculiarities
qualities.
good
They
are uncouth
and
good that
is
in
is
like.
them un-
not sincere,
he says.
life.
know
life
neighbors
are
many
His
good
qualities.
He
is
misunderstood.
neighbors'
opinion
about him
are unjust.
is
The
best in
re-
[178]
jttfjsuntierjStooti
in the temple.
He
is
is
thrown
aside.
that
"0
God!
men would
see
little
clearer
Or judge less harshly when they cannot see. God I that men might draw a little nearer
To one
another.
thee,
And
understood.^'
A
are
and
there
They are not taken into honored places. They are not elected to official positions, named on committees, nor called to act in conspicuous roles. They are left to work in obscurity, rejected by the
of them.
builders
many
and
cast aside.
We
can do no better
service than to
and goodness
to strive to bring
and
those
who
gotten, passed
by and
left to failure.
We
may
see people as
[179]
He
love
sees
our
possibili-
not
We
with people
its best.
till
Some fruits are not sweet until the late fall. Some people also ripen slowly, and it takes
a long time before they become sweet, beautiful, helpful.
We
life,
because
it is
does
and
it
discipline it in
Wait and let God train his own way, and some day
fill
may
be ready to
an important
place.
The
reject as unfit,
at length as
one of the
finest
his temple.
Let
Per-
faults
oifend us,
who seem
unfit
or unworthy.
only in-
which
will
prove to be elements
of strength
[180]
jHijsuntierjgtooJj
find their true recognition.
God
has a place
will be
There
life,
where.
Sometimes
it
is
God
is
misun-
and
we ask, " Is
God
really always
kind.''
Does he
If he
feel
with us in
disappointments?
lives.?
is
Has
he an interest in our
our Father and cares, why does he permit us to suffer so ? " We are in danger of misunderstanding God and not accepting
the
love
in
his
heart
for us.
is
We
seen
misunderstand
it all.
it
It
is
not just to
a picture
when the
artist's
work
all
is
not
completed.
at the
stor}^,
and
end
seems wrong.
feel
If the
that
God was
But there are other chapters yet to come, and as you read on, you learn how good came out of all that seemed hard, even
unjust. Lives are serial stories.
We may
tell
who
is
that
God
will stay
and help
work
If
see.
boy into Egypt, or when he was cast into the dungeon on a false accusation, we could not have claimed that good is the final outcome of God's care. We must finish the
of the
is
Hand which
directs
all
all
human
evil.
affairs
and
life
Many
lives as
may
some
[182]
jEijSunDeriStDoD
pending, or some painful thing that has
al-
feel
we cannot
Yet
all
it,
may
God had
say of
will
This
in
is
marvelous
my
Do
You do
your
life.
But wait
is
till
to
making
is
very good.
make men, and all his Doubt not, therefore, which to your eye and
so
thought seems so
will use to
unfit,
unsuitable
life,
for
God
Our Lord
[183]
He
God made
The
siah.
rulers
earthly king,
who would free them from their make them a great nathe sacrificial idea of
So when Jesus
They
mis-
understood him.
In the tradition, there came a day when one particular stone was needed, must [184]
usefulness.
jWitjsunDerjstooD
be had, or the building would not stand complete.
Then
spised,
and
fill
the
The teaching
is
Men
will fit
the
in
He
He
regarded him as
who
believed on him.
He sought to He thought
One day near Damascus he had a wonderful vision. He saw a divine Being shining in heavenly
in his persecutions.
he was pleasing
God
was startled, amazed, and fell to " Who a/t thou. Lord.? " he asked. the earth. " I am Jesus," was the answer. Instantly Saul
glory.
He
He
From
place
that
in
accepted him now as the Messiah. moment Jesus took the supreme Saul's life. The stone which the
[185]
glory of his
life,
They only misunderstand Christ who think he is not all they need. Your life will always be
incomplete, unfinished, until Christ
into his
is
received
own place
in
it.
186
^nUct
J^ecUneD
[187]
'/
would have gone; God bade me stay I would have ivorked ; God bade me
rest.
He broke my will from day to day, He read my yearnings unexpressed, And said them nay.
'Now
I would stay ; God bids me go : Noiu I would rest ; God bids me work.
He
breaks
my
heart, tossed to
and
fro,
Day
day
I plod
That I
may
let
alone
my
toil,
And
rest in
thee?"
[188]
CHAPTER FOURTEENTH
T seems strange to
have
God
house of
cedar.
his luxurious
One day
as he sat in
home, a shadow
feel fine
fell
over him. he
He began
himself,
to
a sense of shame as
thought of the
and then,
in contrast,
thought of the
God
was dwelling.
He
felt
and
in
We
We
God and
his
work.
There
is
But when
[189]
'
we may
house
old tat-
God
not
fit,
not.
If
the
bread of
"
'
life,
we are
living unworthily.
'
// /
have eaten
my
morsel alone
The
What would
forlorn,
am
Jew and
;
the Greek
apostle cried
to seek,*
But we
eat
[190]
^ettiicc J^eclmeli
"' Freely, as ye have received, so give/
He
all.
How
longer
live,
starving call
Lord
?
uhxs shed,
And
If
them bread,
"
we
eat
David had
out. as
God
it
"
Thou
me
a house."
Yet
God
it. it.
he approved
be done by
He
to do.
it,
may
yet
it is
commendable and
another.
place in
We
life,
We
should
set
It is
glory enough to
191
We
Whittier's
And
all
I jail of loin.
What
matter I or they,
And
Hail
life the
sweeter
made
to the
coming singers
Hail
to the
Forward I reach and share All that they sing and dare.
The Lord
also
as-
[192]
^crtitce
approved.
"
eclmeD
it
Whereas
to
my
that
it
was
in
thy heart."
God took
the
We
Our minds are As one suggests, we think in marble and build in brick. Of only one Man who ever lived could
all
it
all
that
made
his achievements
No
we
intended to do.
ion
all
to fash-
No
pen
glowing mind
his
No
is
artist puts
upon
canvas
all
in his vision.
No
one of us
good any
in
day as we meant
to
be when we bowed
our
morning prayer. But it is well the beauty is in our heart, that we mean to please God.
[193]
were
done.
''
God
finishes the
God
is
treated
No
is
sweeter
He
up
his
got
David could not build the temple but, instead, God would
his
disappointment.
build him a
house, that
is,
make him
the
head of a
the
line
Whatever disappointment he had at God's declining the sen-ice he meant to do, he is made now to rejoice at God's wonMessiah.
derful goodness.
All of us
hopes thwarted.
for
God he
quests we
^eriice J^eclineD
us.
will
The temple we
him he
But he
will
we
will
been decHned.
It
is
War
a poor
woman
sons in the
little
army might be
released to care
her.
for the
Then he spoke
of the noble
and
all
He
told her
country. So
it is
that
God
appeals to us when
[195]
relief
until
go on
in
our
Our
they
We are
we
and
way
is
better
than ours.
We may
plan of
God and
to do
for us to do.
No
life is
no one
We think
little.
The
best
little
fragments
little
piece of work,
little bit.
to start one
little
God
is
expects of any of us
just some
good purpose
[196]
in
our heart
^zttitt J^eclineD
which some other, wiser and better than we,
out.
is
This
;
is
its
vast
work
one
all
any
word of
Yet no
life is
unimportant.
its
The
smallest inIf
essential place.
little
the place
you you
you
is
then
in life
is
Have
Seek
But
if
he declines
offer, do not fret, do not be Perhaps your limitations may make it impossible for you to do the thing you long to do. One would preach, but lacks
the service
you
discouraged.
One would go
as a missionary to a heathen
is
declined.
young man
offered himself as
a volunteer
[m]
He
when
and
it
became
so his de-
He
Life
is full
tentions.
had
What
then.''
it
is
gone
And
thy task is
still
undone.
at all
fall,
thy brain
And
[198]
^ettice ccltnet)
Somewhere, in a nook
forlorn,
He
And
the
Whispered
to foresee.
goodness filHng
all
our
life,
let
us look out
us.
and
Let
us think of the
many
God our best, all we can do. Let him choose what he would have us do, and because our
particular dream of service
is
decHned,
let
us
199]
i^oiaj
Can Wt
ISnoto
[201]
"/
think
make me
was a
not for-
God
is
period in
my
gotten me, or
if
[202]
CHAPTER FIFTEENTH
I^DtD
Can Wt
ESUS
JfenotD?
had just
said,
"If ye
from henceforth ye
The words
be-
wildered
Philip.
He
them.
"
Ye
That was just what Philip was longing for to see the Father. So he inhad
said.
He
plainer.
sincere Christians
of two girls
[203]
This was
for his
showed what had been the burden of the conversation. Evidently the girls
had been
talk-
Why
God.'^
human
lives
and
and
his
tion,
of him.
How
could they
know
is
that
all
they
could
How
God? Had
How
know
letter
form
"
For
the last
month or more I have been drifting away from God and have not been able to drop anchor. The more I read and study the life
of Jesus, the farther I seem to drift. I find
'
Are
204
]potD
all
Can Wt
true?
ISnotD?
certainly
these things
They
are
How
There
'
"
nothing wrong
man
" Is
God who
me?
is
is
really love
If he does,
why must
I suffer
so ? " Christ
tions
We rememThomas
when that
He
him
doubt
was indeed
He
wants
us, also, to
will
answer them
if
sometimes we
full
[205]
UiiRAKr
b;8A, OHIO
Can you
tell
the bush
in
in
how on March
Can you
tell
how
the food
ing
man
songs?
life-
fully understand.
How
How
How
less
How
We
Why,
then, should
we question the
little
life
and death,
Why -should
You
we
human
cannot see
[206]
fotD
Can Wt MotD?
You
is
say the
a tower
of strength to you.
You cannot
travels
see these
Your
friend
abroad, and
is
to see that he
faith-
You do
is
when he
absent
that he
is true.'^
You
believe in him.
Can you
do not
whom you
the divine
lieving in it?
We
say
God
a picture of
Augus-
and
his
listening
someonly
One
is
!
is
!
saying, " If
God would
replies,
" Per-
haps he
207
Have
I been
so long time
know me,
Philip ?
He
how
thou,
him for three years. What Philip mind was some revealing of visible glory, some outshining of majesty and splenFather
in
had
in
dor, a transfiguration
that was
When
life
the
way he
Jesus said,
He
me hath
The very purpose of the Incarnation was to show God to men in a common everyday human life, which they could understand. Jesus was showing God to men when he was patient
with their dullness, gentle with their faults,
long-suffering and merciful with their sins,
We
see
God
ways.
ligious
men
are re-
faces of their
i^otp
Can Wt
Itnotu?
times infects them with doubts of immortality, drops away from them in this holy hour.
Woidd
Bid
to
its
race
me and my
thought
it is
wider
Than
People say, " If we could see miracles we would believe." But it was not miracles to which Jesus referred in his own life when he said he had been revealing the Father all the
time he had been with the disciples.
ferred to the kindnesses he
He
re-
the gentle things he had done continually in his associations with the people in the common
life
of his everydays.
Have you never seen God.? If you think of God as only burning majesty, shining glory,
you
is
will say,
But
fires
not
God
God
is
love.
You remember
Eli-
[209]
An
hills
trem-
in the earthquake.
God
small
Then came a
stillness
still,
sound of gentle
breathing
You
have
in
God
a thousand times in
love.,
peace, in goodness.
You
your home,
in
sacred
friendships,
and
in
in
Think how
blessed all
your
life
many
there
Do
not
call it chance,
or luck
no such thing.
You You
ask, "
Why
has no one
you from harm. You had a great sorrow which you thought you could not possibly endure, and there came a sweet comfort
tered
which
filled
a strange tangle of
and
it
was
You had a
[210]
i^otD
Can Wt
l^nott)?
whelm you, and lo, the loss proved a gain. You were wrongly treated by a pretended
friend,
and the
God
for
it
for
it
delivered
you
terrible misfor-
friendship,
life.
all
your
You
in
and you thought it a To-day you thank God for it, for you learned new lessons in the darkness. All your years have been full of great
sore experience.
deliverances,
remarkable
guidances,
sweet
gentle
friend-
comforts,
answered
pra3^ers,
ships, divine love and care. Yet you say you have never seen God, and you ask, " How
may
the
know
New Testament
me about
reality
Christ are
true.?"
How may
things.?
we learn the
of spiritual
Only by experience.
In one of the
[211]
in thee."
Human
friendships
formed
in
experience.
We
we
learn to
know
qualities
which
please
and coming at
In
learn to
know and
We
But we must come into personal relahim before we can know that these qualities are in him. We can learn to know
fulness.
tions with
him only
in experience.
The
story of
is
Lady Aberdeen's
indecisive,
conversion to
in
Christ
very suggestive.
doubt
wavering,
do.
knowing
what to
sat one
day under a
deep thought.
How
can I know that these things are true.'^ Is Christ real.? " She could not be sure. " Act as if I were," said a mystic voice, " and you
will find
that I am."
been more
fair or reasonable.
[
212
i^otw
can Wt
IttoH)?
illusion.
To
her
You
know
not.
am
or not.
I offer
you
life, rest,
such blessings
or
Act as
pointed.
if
there
were.
Test
my
promises.
did,
How
are
real.^
How
is
real,
God? Some one asked a devout Arab this question. The sun was just
that there
a
setting,
pouring
its
He
answered, "
How
do I
know whether
passed
it
my
footprints."
Then
flinging his
Whose
that? "
offers none.
How
do we
God? The
Bible does
not
tell
us what
it
When
Philip asked,
[213]
"
He that
hath seen
me hath
He
God
will
was
made of
see
Look
at Christ and
you
God.
liide
him-
He
and
wants
close.
his
He
He
does not
want
to be unreal to us.
He
wants us to know
friend.
He
wants
human
are real.?
mother. But do we know that these things " They are very beautiful, but are
true.f^
they
How
Christ
shall
we make them
is real,
he
is
our
How,
then,
shall we make him more real to our faith.'* Trust him, love him. Some one asked, " How
"Trust
[214]
J^otD
Can Wt
l&noMol
him more," was the answer. " How can I trust him more ? " " Love him more." Loving and trusting go together. The more you
love
will
more
you
find in
He
The
will
no human
best,
whom you
time,
in
you some
something.
[215
J^oejs (0oti
Care?
[217
''And
In
is there
day
for happiness f
fall
through,
we may
do,
He
guards us
if
we wake
or sleep
Green pastures spread before the eye ; Still waters in the sunshine sleep."
218
CHAPTER SIXTEENTH
oejs C0OD Care?
like to
think
about
You
On one
up
to
of your
your room
remember how
it
cheered you.
thinking of you.
little
You
note came in with just a verse of Scripture, or a " God bless you," and a name. It
if
was almost as
visited
Somebody
You
how
"
it
helped you.
me,
How precious also are thy thoughts unto O God " So God thinks of you, too. In
!
219
tells
us that
tells
God knows
all
he
His
not
thinks
with love.
like gold.
is,
Then they
does
number
that
he
think of us merely
tinually.
The
Bible
teaches
unmistakably that
writer
is
God
scientific
^aid to
God, and then it will be known that God does not care. It would be very sad if this should
prove to be true. But we do not need to wait
for a
Not only
as a race.
The Father
Though you
the
are,
are
cast
friend
in
sea
and no
in
you are
God's thought.
He
is
[220
'
j^oejs (15oD
Care?
Though you
is
think-
*^*
/ asked.
My soul bethought
of this
In just that very place of his Where he hath put and keepeth you, God hath no other thing to do.^^
If
you actually
your troubles
will all
will
meaning
Providence
special
is
full
of_ illustrations
of God's
In an ad-
dress
made
who survived
years since.
it
man Tay Bridge disaster, some This man left the train when
the
stopped
for
moment
[
at
Fort Street
221
Cl^e
dEfate
it
"Beautiful
started on its jouroif
it.
ney to death.
instant the train
left
and he
moved
off
and the
little
wayside sta-
tion,
He was
left
down
sole
everyone
was the
tragedy.
It
this
man's
subsequent history.
Why
was he spared?
there for
him to
do.'^
If
we
we should
of this
We
this
a special
But was
a providence any
in
our
]
lives.''
Some one
222
he believed
He
Not now
a divine
and
God
is
is
always on the
field.
Our
full of
God.
We
do not always
see his
hand, but he
never absent.
life.
There are no
accidents, no chances, in
God
all
thinks of
our move-
ments.
We
any
call it
is
a disasIs it
through with no
destination uninjured.?
and we come to our One man asked in a meeting that thanks be given because when
his horse
and
not
stumble.
deliver us in
may
are
not always be
they
ahvays
good
There
is
My
neither are
your
waj^s
my
my
thoughts."
It is
is,
wiser, bet-
ter, safer,
than ours.
life.
We
this as
a theory of
to
We
us.
you were directing your own life, you would leave out some disappointment, perhaps, some loss or sorrow. You would not have had this year's pinching times, or some
if you were changing things to But would your Hfe be better that way? Perhaps the best things will come out of the things you would omit if you
special trial,
your mind.
were planning.
[224]
?oej( (BoD
Care?
unfitted to
work
for perfect
be disjointed, hut
we may calmly
than our
is hetter
When we
say, "
ready to accept them, to yjelci^ourselves to them. Have you ever thought what a glorious thing
it is
to have
God plan
for your
life,
to know that he thought about you before you were made, and then made you according to his thought? No wonder George Mac-
God
made him
No
possible
human
life
so
beautiful,
you.
This
is
our
life
in general,
it.
We
are
225
all
we are
startled,
this
God
to withhold
loss,
from us something
some pain
which
seemed to be impending,
That which
our prayers
really hap-
What
life
our
lower
thought.
And
that
was
best.
Our
thought
slialLbe realized
and not
ours.
One was speaking of unanswered prayer. There had been the most passionate pleading
for something without which
it
seemed that
good would be
it
most incomplete.
would be nothing
thought for the
disaster.
than disaster
if
the re-
But
if it
was God's
The
disaster
[
226
j^oess cKoD
granting of
Care?
"
my
friend's request.
My
ways
your ways," that is, wiser, more glorious. One puts it thus
" 'Twas long ago.
When
I was young.
Alas
I did not
so,
know
better
way.
I said, 'It
must he
Or God cannot
Alas
!
he good.'
Alas
my
poor weak
How
differently
If I
"
And now
it
unanswered prayer.
there,
And
when, up
Where all is upon the things we longed for so, And see how little were they worth, and know
known,
We
look
How
God's thoughts for us are always good. Jeremiah, in comforting the exiles in captivity, said, " I know the thoughts that I think to-
ward you,
and not of
When you
227
]
are passing
some sore
trial,
you always is peace, good, blessing. If only we would believe_this, if only we would be
sure of
it,
God
of
toward any
child
that
was not a
thought of peace.
Christ, terrible as
He
it
The
cross of
the
Every disapif
a thought of love,
you understood
"
it.
How
!
O God
life?
"
What
is
Something beautiful,
is
God's
life
eternal
service
of
blessing glory.
and holy
not
fail
here,
and then
not disap-
Do
to be what
be.
to be and wants
you to
love,
Do
point God.
Some people
[228
do.
them
is
beauty,
obedience,
]
oesi
(Boti
Care?
They
insist
but
sin,
marring,
for
ruin.
reject
his
higher
way
them and
the end
is
on having
their own.
And
disaster, not
good
or blessing.
[229]
C^ou
231
*'
Home !
where
is
glad
and fvU
content,
And companionship of
rent
From your
than
in
before.
Oh, you will not mind the journey with such blessedness
store,
When
t'Oh,
you
will not
mind
the way,
Nor
the
day
to the left
or to the right,
coming
of the
For
232
CHAPTER SEVENTEENTH
Cl^ott ^l^alt fenotD J^ereafter
> Iv^
:
13.
ETER
drew
up
his
feet
He
feet.
Jesus
I
insisted,
however,
and
;
said,
"
What
but thou
shalt
understand hereafter."
in
There was a
purpose
he should accept
and sometime
over the mysteries of life, our sorrows and disappointments. " What I am doing you do
not
now understand.
It
and unkind.
You
caa-
You
[233]
how
it
you
this
will
But wait some day understand. Then you will find that
for you.
strange,
hard thing
is
really
full
of
love."
We
How
cannot understand
all
that
God
does.
ologians
us that
God
is
infinite, eternal,
In the
we are
itself
told that
God
is, all
Our earth
but
all
it is
that
tell
us we can see
about
five
thousand million
little
stars.
And
these be-
Truly God
is
great.
So perfect
stars, planets
No
star
a second
[234]
l^ereaftet;
or setting.
Eclipses, transits,
in
never a fraction of a
How
God
!
is,
affairs he controls
Is it
are puzzled
and always to
"
wisdom and
What
We
God
lives,
Jesus had a
was not an
thing he was
a great
smallest
is full
doing.
lesson.
Life
of God.
all
the
common
the
lives.
We
do not know
in
our everyis
in
We
fail in
may
life,
leave a
marred place
in the
or our own.
life
The
our
experience
is
are
not
mere happenings.
Happen
Chance
into
is
not a good
it
word; at
least
to
mean
inde-
something that
life
better:
"
It
chanced
by
outside of God's
[236]
treats
you
wrong or
cruelty
No God
in a single fortnight.
Her
in
husband
charge of
vided for.
widow and little children without money enough even to pay the funeral expenses.
It
is
He
was
God's child and his work was done. But can we say that the embezzlement was God's will?
Surely not in the sense that
God
directed
it
or
approved of
crime.
it.
But
the
mitted
God
took
into his
hand
" Eternal
it
God
be-
came part of
good.
he
caused
to
good
he made
it
to
work for the saving and blessing of the world. It will be the same in your case if anyone wrongs you or treats you unjustly. The wrong or the injustice is not God's act, but if you are God's child, your Father takes the evil into his hands, when it has been committed, and
of blessing;
it
it will
all
We may
purpose of God
God
is
love.
does. It brings
dren to provide for. It permits loss of property to come, leaving a family to suffer pinch-
man
work
238
Cl^ou ^l^alt
JS;notD i^eteafter
and
Nevertheis
the plan of
God
good.
it is
It
is
a plan of love.
"
What
I do "
the Master
who says
this,
must be good.
Is affliction
good? Can
shall
life
it
Some day we
best things in
of the
experiences.
The
sorrow
from
Christ.
the
and
suffering
of
Jesus
holiest
The
best blessings
and the
The
us to accept
and
of
his
Christ's purpose.
will
We
always means hard things. Some people always say, " Thy will be done," as if God's
were something
terrible.
will
But we have a
one that
in life to
[239]
Ci^e
is
(I5ate
'Btautitul
And
the
We
all
the sa-
come through
we are enriched and made more worthy only when we are suffering. We receive countless joys. The sunshine, too, is
and
full of life.
full of love
way
In
for us,
all
our
life
making us
making
In the
men
Hebrews there
suffering.
is
Let not
life's
may
you.
which he sends. Some day you will know that you have learned many of your sweetest
songs in the darkness.
[240]
new canary
bird, there
is
a description of the
way
They
are raised
in the
When
in
put
box cage, with only a small hole to give him just hght enough to see to eat and drink. These cages are then put in a room from
which
gives
all
light
is
all
nightingale
ful notes
is
brought
in to sing its
wonder-
at night.
The point
They
is
in the light.
It
with
many
There
So the great Teacher calls us apart and shuts the door, to keep out the
and exclude the world's noises and then
light
[241]
--^
^
^
m^t
life
(Kate 'Beautiful
of peace, of love.
of
of our
But all the mysteries in our lives will some day be revealed. They will not always be inexplicable to us.
"
What
see
do thou knowest
this or that
We
do not
now how
is
explained.
" All
yet afterward
it
yield-
The plow
cuts rudely
through the
field.
But afterwards
It is
there waves
all
a harvest of
first.
seemed ruin at
many
of God's
It
wrought
We
be revealed as the
see in
outcome.
We
do not
midwinter
will
[242]
"^tuattn
know
The year
is
young.
It does not
What
Waiting
June^s
Our souls are young. We do not know What power is ours for joy or woe.
We
There
is
wait.
Another
life will
show."
of Hfe will be
made
clear sometime.
Ofttimes
life's
mysteries,
never made
is
too short.
unexplained.
are immortal.
But
there
is
another
life.
We
We
shall live a
thousand
There
"
will
est mysteries to be
made
plain.
;
What
but thou
Be-
and out of
lieve
will
[243]
will
pass
will
Believe that
become wings to
you upward
little while.
244]
[245]
V To live for common ends is to be common, The highest faith makes still the highest man ! For we grow like the things our souls believe, And rise or sink as we aim high or low.
No
As faith we
mirror shows such likeness of the face live by of the heart and mind.
are in very truth that which we love,
love, like noblest deeds, is
We
And
born of
faith.''
[246]
CHAPTER EIGHTEENTH
Cl^e practice of gimmortalftr
EARLY
in
everybody believes
although
immortality,
is
not everyone
enthusiastic
Not long
when a distinguished
if he beHeved in personal immortahty, he is said to have answered " Yes, I cannot help believing
:
in
it.
Everything points to
it."
it.
But
do not
want
faith,
tal.
He
and yet he
man
is
immor-
But
He
ity,
Immortal-
however,
is
forever
lives
that alone might give no joy. Some have been so sad here that the thought
way
would be
intolerable.
There
is
a story of one
who prayed that he might never die, but forgot to pray that he might not grow old. His [247]
and he
lived
on century
feeble
blessing.
Mere prolonged life would not be a We must die to attain an immor" This corruptible must
. .
.
tality of blessedness.
put on incorruption.
Then
shall
come
is
is
written,
Death
swallowed up in victory."
But immortality ought to have a meaning for us now while we are in this world. We say we are immortal how then should an immortal
man
or
woman
The
live
here and
now?
We
have
Paul's
writer
is
speaking of Christ's
believers are
resurrection,
Then he
is." That you are risen with Christ. You have not gone to heaven with him yet. He has left you here for a while. You have a work to do in
this
is
also a
work to
[248]
But you
are to
now
resurrection
What
live
of a
life
not, "
What
you
heaven?" but
"What
When
said, "
Jesus
life
He that heareth my word, and behevhim that sent me, hath eternal life." He
He
will
have eternal
life
when
is,
it,"
is
that
believes.
He
not to
to live his eternal life. He is on the earth yet and cannot get away from his earthly relations. He must take up his tasks, he must do
his duties
having
eternal
life
lease
him from
these.
He
is
to practice eter-
nal
If
life
now and
continually.
you
God,
[249]
W^t
you
dE-ate
Beautiful
life.
will enter at
We
is,
life
loving, unselfish,
It
is
is
joyous.
con-
We
No-
a mur-
murer.
Nobody
live as
in
you
die
begin at
live.
once to
You
will find it
the heavenly
Heaven is a holy place. Nobody sins there, nobody lies, nobody gets angry, nobody does a mean thing, nobody speaks evil of another. If 3'ou die to-night and go to
habits.
heaven,
you
will
morning the heavenly life. But if you do not die to-night, but stay
world longer, Hving the eternal
that
live
in this
life will
mean
be,
you
that
live
shall rise
life
it
here,
may
if
and
you
how
[250]
in heaven.
In the
we have this remarkable statement, " Knowing that he came forth from God, and goeth unto God, he took a towel and girded
himself and began to wash the disciples' feet."
He knew
was the Son of God, divine, and yet, with this consciousness fully in his mind, he performed
the lowliest service for his disciples that any
man could do for others. You know that you are risen
you are immortal, that you have eternal life now what are fit things for one to do who
knows that there
in his life?
is
First of
life
no service of love
is
John the Baptist, in the gloom of his dungeon at Machasrus, began to wonder if after all Jesus was the Messiah, and sent some of
his disciples to ask him.
When
set
upon a
just
show
his
deity
he
went on with
[251]
go back
to their master
and
tell
him
evidences of Messiahship.
That
the
is
the
way
Son of God
his divine
For another
thing, Jesus,
knowing
man.
He
way
that would
He
among
workingmen.
He
Son
of
God
no dishonor
it
made
more radiant.
In
all his
earthly
we
see
He was
]
always praclife.
This
[252
'
how we may
not do
live the
it
heavenly
We may
in
any strained
in the sim-
will of
God
plest
way, which
tasks
will
mon
will
come
to us.
The
our com-
mon
"
Do
more than
talk.
are great
will
Conscience,
and
and courage
to
We,
too,
may
the
work or
ever we
calling.
Doing
the will of
God wher-
may be is the immortal life. The Apocryphal Gospels are a number of stories about Jesus written by men who
thought that a divine being never should do
anything natural or common.
[
So they
in-
253]
to
our
offices
We
wherever
we go.
Perhaps we ought to think more of the glory
of our lives.
We
of ourselves
It
is
there
in the most of us
not
self-conceit,
but
self-
honoring, self-reverencing.
Not many
of us
not
upon
us.
We
are not
We
little
The
vised
old
were made in the image of God. Psalm says that " Man was made
lower than the angels."
only a
The Re-
Version
it
makes
changes this, however, and read, " but little lower than God."
man
is
[256]
Now
life
this glorious
of yours?
The
we
chil-
the
first
glory.
is
That
great glory.
is
But there
more of
future
the honor. It
and
fully
in
what we
mystery
is
veiled
him "
like
that
tells
but
the
is
" we
shall
be
like
We
shall be
life.
Then
the
writer
how we should
set
if this is
to be
on him purifieth
is
pure." It
pitiful
how
their crowns.
Made
only a
appetite,
lust,
With
this
glory set
our
lives white,
and should
reach
us.
up
prepared for
[257]
Loosing anto
ttjz
i^iUjs
[259]
But yet it is thy sky. Help me to trust thee, Wait in the dark and
then, I pray.
tearfully obey.
260]
CHAPTER NINETEENTH
up.
Many
people
dwarf
their lives
their
souls
by looking
their
hills
We
grow
in the direc-
We
become
like
we look much
and
intently.^
They never
see
They never $ee the They never think of God. They do not pray. They have no place in their scheme of
that are on the earth.
stars.
life
[261]
Cl^e
the scientific
(!Eate
'Beautiful
Sir
OHver
Lodge
says
modem
science shows
quires us constantly
and consciously to be
in
ken.
is
The
it
ligion
by no means
sufficient
is
as dependent for
as
origin
we are for our daily bread upon the power and the good will of
and maintenance
a being or beings of which science has no knowledge."
The
is
world
is
This
our
it,
Father's world.
He made
it,
he sustains
he
hands.
One
of
the
Psalms
life
:
gives
us
this
devout
thought of
God
that the
[262]
loosing aJnto
God. The writer says
keeping
Psalm.
tl^e
i^illjs
also, "
My
help cometh
beautifully brought
will
out in the
"
He
may
a
result
foot.
Many
the
to the
life
among
crags.
There
beauty
another
assurance
of
exquisite
in
the Psalm.
No human
love can
The
sleeps
by her
But
there
is
an Eye that
They are kept from They are guarded when they go out and when they come in. We never can get away from the divine keeping unless we give up God and go out into sin. The greatest mistake anyone can make is to leave God out
of his faith and out of his
life.
To
those
who
live
thoughtfully
life is full
of
[263]
no promises of
is
his
so fu ll of
God
is
his existence
God
the most real Friend in all the world, though we have never seen him. We can see
his footprints everywhere.
We
find evidences
about
us.
We may
we
talk to
him
since
in prayer, but
we
Some time
They soon
discovered that
War, one
They
same
battle.
Then
this incident
came out as
[264]
iLoofiing
one side of a
soldier
river,
anto
river,
t^e
i^illjS
little
at every opportunity.
The
my
Soul," as he
hymn
on the sentry.
Just then he
my
defenseless head
dropped
he dare
His
rifle
man praying
that prayer.
my
own mother," he
whole incident?
night.?
Was
not
God
in this
Was
We
seen God.
tains
in
up your
mounwill
God
always help.
U
"
continu-
briars.
They
They
265
They
But that is not the way to go through life. Lift up your eyes and look for roses, not for thorns. Once when a voice was
speaking to Jesus, some people said
it
thun-
him. So
it is
some never
think peo-
They
They do
discords,
wolf notes.
They do not
believe in people,
all
To them
They
men
are
all
thieves, robbers.
claim that
homes bedlams, that nobody is pure, and nobody is unselfish. Can you think of any other way of making one's life miserable that equals this.^ Rather, lift up your
all
hills,
is
sweet, the
This
change
all
Of course
[266
ILooliinQ
great
about.
city
Onto
tl^e
i^(ll0
surging
all
where throngs
are
But why should we hear the discords there is so much sweet music in life to when
be heard everywhere?
We
are exhorted to
overcome
evil
up your
when you
think of your
own
circumstances.
They may
hear people
You
There
always are
difficulties,
discouragements, disap-
train
something
good,
There always
is
at least a
gleam
When
chill
and go and
If there
down
in
it.
all
your
it.
httle
and
set
your chair
in
[267]
W)t
dSate QBeautiful
Some one tells of a poor crip pled shoe maker who never could go out anywhere. His little
shop was in the heart of the great
houses on
lived,
all sides
city,
with
no sky
from
his httle
a hint of
to be seen.
He
set his
up
moment and
see the
How
it
There
in
is
some point
life
perience
your
where something
of
heaven
may
be seen.
Find
it
and
set
your
that
see
stool there.
We
we
it is
noake.
about us daily
in ourselves.
It shines out
from within
us.
We
are not to
go about de-
manding that others shine on us, on our field, and on our home. We are not to blame other people when we are peevish, fretful, discon[
268
JLoofeing
tented,
anto
tl^e
i^illjS
or
touchy.
great
teacher
said,
*^Vhen things go wrong, don't blame somebody else; blame yourself." It is usually our
V^
own
fault that
Even
if
if
We should never We
ought to resolve to keep sweet whatever the circumstances may be. That is what being a
Christian means.
That
hills.
is
wjiat itis
to^ lift
up_.
If
we are looking to
wje
cannot
lie,
we cannot be
lift
selfish,
grasping, or greedy,
may
be.
If
we truly
up our
e^'es
unto God, we
will
get some-
come imbued with God'sholiness, God' truth, God's love, and get grace enough to enable us
to live the Christlike
life.
"
The mountains
They -^
[269]
Ci^e (Bate TBeautiful
cannot be moved.
They
are stable
and
are
sure.
They
They
it
the safer
is.
power of temptation grows less and less go up nearer to Christ. Our faults, infirmities, vices, lose their power over us as we rise
they
No
will
choke
How
same
up
there!
arrow can
reach them.
is
No enemy
it,
The
far above
places of peace.
There
is
we
calm, holy
we
An
ancient leg-
St.
Mary, where
at once
[270]
(llsJ
and proved a sovereign remedy for all manner of diseases. This dew from the sacred mountain represents the love of Christ which comes
lives
of
men but
also heals
[271
00
273
'
//
we
sit
down
at set of
sun
And
One
And
That eased
That
counting, find
heard,
fell like
sunshine where
that
it
went,
day
well spent.
But,
if
through
day,
through
it all.
We've nothing done that we can trace That brought the sunshine to a face ; No act most small.
That helped some soul and nothing
cost.
Then count
that
lost."
[274]
CHAPTER TWENTIETH
jj
Xff-^
^0
^ivaclz, T5ut
i^otpet;
is
said of
tist
but that
Therefore
one
may
not be a miracle
worker,
very useful.
were miracles.
many
He
power over nature when he made showed the water wine, when he stilled the stormy sea, when he multiplied the loaves. He showed his power over
healed
all
sickness
and
disease
when he
manner of human
in
ailments.
He
cast
showed
his
whom
in
He
showed
his
he vanquished him
He
showed
his
275
W)t
(Kate Beautiful
We may
not make
little
of
An
English preacher
of a visit paid by a
Hampton
clusters.
Court. It
hung
full of
One of the party asked the keeper, " Could you not give us a few of
summer
those
grapes.'^
"
is
teously, "
There
dom,
sir,
vine."
who could give you grapes from "And who is he.'*" the visitor
quired.
King
you can
receive
his.
His
ninety-
mon
kindnesses which
it
to perform.
gracious and
inspiring.
He wrought
[276]
00
the
by the hearth, or
at
them
them
and
affection, there
in their
to them, be-
of Lazarus.
was so in
Christ's life
there were a
and undoubted way; there were countless revealings of kindness, gentleness, sympathy,
thoughtfulness,
mon
God
as the miracles.
When
me?
acles
Have
I been so
He
me hath
there was
seen the
he had wrought
quite as
much
life
his
unbroken peace,
his
never- failing
patience,
his
abounding joy,
[277]
Cl^e
(I5ate
'Beautiful
moment, as
itself
invisible glory,
common human
life,
reveahng himself in
simple, homely
we might come
we might
was in
disciples
know him
Christ's
intimately
and
familiarly. It
Mary
words
and
quietly, if glory
in his face.
are
made
in
humanest ways.
it
writer in
The
Outlook puts
thus:
eyes to thee,
who
art great
the cherubim,
who praise
eternal
278
And eagerly
Such radiant
was
/ could not
And
blinded,
eyes, I scarcely
saw
the
man
me on my way,
there
:
Who
walked beside
though close
his footsteps
staff like
mine was in
his
hand ;
his shoulders
One day
''
I turned
and saw
his face
the pitying,
hand; and
human brow ;
Brother," he said, with outstretched
I,
''Why,
this is thou!''
The same is true of others as well as Master. One may be a true witness for
of the Christ
and yet not be a worker of miracles. Or to bring it into the language of every day, one
may not be brilliant, may not be eloquent, may not do great or conspicuous things, and yet may do much worthy and blessed service
for the Master and for men.
Many
people are
hero worshipers.
obscurity,
manner
They carry benedictions into people's homes. They pray beside sick beds and comfort mourners. They
lives are full of self-denials.
They
They do no
same
in all callings.
who do
them,
them,
almost
There are
certain persons
[
who do good
280]
00
jEimcle,
They
But ^oMotv
tendthese
usual ways.
ency
miracle workers.
is
not
We
But meanwhile there is a great multitude of people who are not brilliant, not eloquent, who do no unusual or striking things, but who are among the most useful persons in the community where they live. They do no miracles,
but their
may
is
indicate
easier to
in
obscur-
A
is
One
in its willingness to
occupy a subordinate
place and to
is
work
faithfully in it."
The
story
told of a
president of
young
organization,
and who
[281]
C^e
(Bate ^Beautiful
He had
a genius
As long
happy, cheerful,
some conspicuous
man
to get
along with. One of his friends described and characterized him thus " He has plenty of
:
enough to follow."
this type.
They work
splendidly
when they
are in a con-
in It
common
little
use.
takes
than in places of prominence. In the immortal Thirteenth of First Corinthians St. Paul draws a distinction between
the miracle workers
acle.
am become And
all
and know
if
mysteries and
knowledge and
I have
aU
[282]
00
love, I
faith, so as to
am
nothing.
And
if
I bestow all
if
I give
it
my my body
profiteth
list
of miracles
men and
angels, having great knowledge, having faith, that can do impossible things, giving away
body
of
in
martyrdom.
But
all
these
miracles
attainment
and
is
lowly,
its own, and yet it is honheaven and blessed on the earth far ored in above the starthng miracles of genius and
seeking not
fitting that
lowly
who
love
was thus that Jesus himself lived and wrought. He never did anything to get peo-
[283]
W)t
pie's praise.
(Bate 'Beautiful
miracles,
He wrought many
He
but
all
His were
never adver-
He worked
quietly, without
life
meant more
that
to
them ever
after.
benediction everywhere.
live
They do no
performing
company
are not
of Chnstian
known beyond
the
in
which
they live, who have no earthly honor and who " leave no memory but a world made better
by
their li\'es."
They do no
miracles, but
their
in heaven.
Angels are
honored by
God
is
So we do not have
to do great
[
and startHng
284]
00
usual. We do not have to do miracles in order to commend Christ to others. We may not be able to do anything great or startling. We cannot give much money. We cannot speak eloquently. We cannot go as missionaries.
they
cannot
do
anything to
add
the
to
the
But
smallest
little
more glorious
men
see him.
and spoke one Sunday to the students. He talked to them of the kind of friend Christ would be to them. At the close of the sermon
he said, " I have tried to speak a good word
That
is
what we
Live
live
brilliantly.
Do
well
are.
pier.
make people better and hapShow no discontent with your quiet, obscure lot. Envy no one who does things that men praise while you are unpraised. The
of Christ and to
noblest
life is
little
glory
on the name of Christ and makes some other human being a little better, truer, more worthy. It is enough for any day if you say in
some ear a good word for Jesus Christ.
[286]
C^e ^ot6
of
tl^e
iLotJD
[287]
'Do
the work that's nearest, Though ifs dull at whiles, Helping when you meet them
Lame
dogs over
stiles,
Marks
of angels' feet,
Underneath our
feet."
[288]
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIRST
Ci^e
^or6
AST
of tl^e
tovb
summer
When
While we watched,
it
faded. While
the
in
the
heavens,
sat
on the porches
conscious
and
of
making impressions on each other by the words they were speaking. But touches were put upon lives in those conversations which
never shall fade out.
We
ing other
lives.
The touches
of beauty which
life
in her
home
never fade.
of friendship
work which we do
upon each
In one sense
all
the
do
is
the
affairs of busi-
labors.
common tasks of home and worked in the carpenter's a boy at shop. All this lowly, common work was his
for eighteen years he did the
Father's business.
what we do
in the church,
church.
fellow church-mem-
and is assigned to some particular place and duty. The young woman who becomes a Christian enters the kingdom of Christ and
has her part to do in the Father's business.
She
is
she
is
one of
the family,
and there
is
hold of
God
[290]
Cl^e
The
Wotb
are to do
of tl^e
is
lotD
to
save the
in
world.
We
good
to
men
every
possible way.
When
home of
want
to be
for their
if
they love
and purpose
spot
they want
blessing.
better,
in
home
to
to
become a center of
little
They want
every
is
make one
Each
is
of us
cle in
which he
lives better
of us
bound
good may
flow."
The home
you build only for yourself, to shut out the cold and roughness only from you and your household, to shelter you and yours alone
from the storm, to be a
little
refuge for
self-
who
lack.
[291]
principle
life.
runs through
all
phases of
Christian
attractive.
We are to
in every
seek the
way.
ways be a public-spirited
house
He who
will
be a
has her
or
little
if
feet square,
filled
with
flowers,
brighter. Re-
and seeks to
make
It
is
sweeter.
we must
cause, of
also
first,
that we are
good
from the community. Whatever concerns the good of men, the safeguarding and sweetevil
[292]
kingdom
itself
of
God among
Lord.
"
us
is
impure
politics,
It
is
armor and
and God."
It
form.
To
also, that
in
What was Jesus Christ in the place he lived ? What was his attitude toward the needs of the people.? What did he think
practical ways.
do to
relieve it?
Where
Did he
spised, the
care when he saw the poor deweak crushed, the laborer robbed
of his wages.?
indifference
[293]
m^t
of man's greed
(Siatt
Beautiful
The
these questions.
The
church stands.
of the
To
Lord
is
of the tempted.
"
But fare ye
" Quit
forth with
a song.
you
like
men, he strong
There's a battle to
fight.
There's a
God who
blesses the
So
a song."
There
is
call
[294]
Cl^e
Woth
of ti^e iLorD
conception of the duties of church-membership than has ever yet been realized.
The
Such
world
is
now
Re-
marked
Bad
as
much
in
our
politics
undoubtedly
there are
commerciahsm
captains
of
is
being
bom
and
again.
railroad
This
is
kings,
statesmen and
saints
;
it is
of Christ
is
resistless
energy in
all
the world's
new
righteousness
is
coming.
as to-day.
now
We
life
must
is
that
[295]
W)t
worthy and
profession.
(Bate istantilnl
It
is
true.
life itself
that makes
Our unconscious
in
a tre-
mendous factor
himself alone.
our
life.
No
one
lives to
Have you ever thought of what lives mean to you, how they impress you, how you are sometimes kept from giving up by the example of another man who does not give up, how you are saved
other people's
A
:
young man
day, referring to the young woman he expected to marry " I would not dare do a
unworthy thing, while I call her my friend. She never preaches to me, she never says a word about what I do, but her
thing, an
life
is
mean
belief in
me compels me
I
am."
is
There
fierce
many
man
life
(
struggles of
who
]
is
holding firmly
^96
C]^e
to the true
Wovb
of t^e
lotD
his feet
in the clean
He
friend
he failed or faltered.
When
others
believe that
we
will
When worthy
in.
We We
are
do not begin to
realize
how
it
weakens the
who
Nor can we
If
ever
know how
you have a
waging
hard battle and growing faint and discouraged, you must be careful
do, or
lest
something you
shall cause
him
to
[297]
LIBHARV
uLyii-ttiig[
BEREA,
OiiiO
mm
up and
sink down.
Do
courageously, inspiringly,
your
To
Turn
There
to the is
is
the
is
Of course
this
young lives But it is true also widest way. When we have a friend,
life is in
our keeping,
in a
deeper
than we dream.
We
friend's life,
or in any
way
misdirect him.
We must be
sure
life
committed to
us.
[298]
C^e Wov^
A
of
tl^e
tovn
business man who employs a number of young persons has a responsibility for them
far
and the providing of physical safety and comfort for them while they are at work for
him.
He
is
vironment he
who become
in
of others.
We
tection
who
" Keep
this
if
by any
shall
Later, the
man
thy
servant was
gone."
It
is
God
is
continually
Are we
faithful to our
trust.''
There
is
not
God
is
[299]
to us,
influence.
to
why they pass within the range of our But in whatever way they are sent us we have some errand to them. They may
Let us be careful
lest
while
we
God
intended us to give
Ihem.
300
This book
may
be kept
Fourteen Days
A
will
fine of
248
Miller
The gate beautiful
M648g cop.l
Miller
The gate beautiful
248
Mo46g cop.l
LOANED
BORROWER'S NAME
'H"
Mr
i.
^^-,Z>/^
^-^:^i^^tA^_^^:^