XV. Coilers of the Spirit. The blessing of him that was nigh to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.-Job xxix. 13, 15. He that openly correcteth a man shall in the end find more favor than he that flattereth with his tongue.-Proverb xxviii. 23. SECOND man I honor, and still more highly; him who is seen toiling for the spiritually indispensable; not daily bread, but the bread of life. Is not he, too, in his duty? endeavoring toward inward harmony; revealing this, by act or by word, through all his outward endeavors, be they high or low? Highest of all, when his outward and his inward endeavor are one; when we can name him artist; not earthly craftsman only, but inspired thinker, who, with heaven-made implements, conquers heaven for us. If the poor and humble toil that we have food, need not the high and glorious toil for him in return, that we have light, have guidance, freedom, immortality? THOMAS CARLYLE. HOSE mighty men of old, Their words were vital breath; Bestowing faithfulness in life And fearlessness in death. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.—Psalm xix. 7, 8. UR laws do not call men to misanthropy, but encourage people to share what they have with one another freely, to be enemies to injustice and eager for righteousness, to banish idleness and expensive living. They forbid making war from a desire of lucre; but bid us to be brave in defending our laws and inexorable in punishing malefactors. And I make bold to say that we are become the teachers of men in the greatest number of things, and those the most excellent. For what is more excellent than inviolable piety? What is more just than obedience to the laws? And what is more advantageous than mutual love and concord, and neither to be divided by calamities, nor to become injurious and seditious in prosperity; to despise death when we are in war, and in peace to apply ourselves to trade and agriculture; while we are persuaded that God surveys and directs everything everywhere. 'HE light pours down from heaven And enters where it may; The eyes of all earth's children Are cheered with one bright ray. FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS. So let the mind's true sunshine Be spread o'er earth as free, And fill men's waiting spirits, As the waters fill the sea. XVII. The Blessings of Love. Better is a dry morsel and quiet therewith, than a house full of feastings and strife therewith.-Prov. xvii. 1. "POVE thy neighbor as thyself" is one of the chief commandments of God; yet, more weighty than this is the principle contained in the sentence of Scripture: "These are the generations of Adam," preceding the first genealogy of man; for then only will the law of love obtain its full scope, when we believe that all men are members of the same human family." BEN ASAI, II. CENTURY. The spirit of love wherever it is, is its own blessing and happiness, because it is the truth and reality of God in the soul; and therefore is in the same joy of life, and is the same good to itself everywhere and on every occasion. Would you know the blessings of all blessings? It is this God of Love dwelling in your soul, and killing every root of bitterness, which is the pain and torment of every earthly, selfish love. For all wants are satisfied, all disorders of nature are removed, no life is any longer a burden, every day is a day of peace, everything you meet becomes a help to you, because everything you see or do is all done in the sweet, gentle element of Love. WILLIAM LAW. A poor man with a single handful of flowers heaped the almsbowl of Buddha, which the rich could not fill with a thousand bushels of corn! CHINESE. XVIII. The Way of the God-fearing. And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times and the strength of thy safety; and the fear of God thy treasure.-Isaiah xxxiii. 6. HE thread on which the different good qualities of human beings are strung, as pearls, is the Fear of God. When the fastenings of this fear are unloosed, the pearls roll in all directions, and are lost one by one. A single moral fault, even if small, may be the ruin of many virtues, just as the best of wine may escape from a vessel through one little hole overlooked. The human heart is like a tablet as yet unwritten; fools scratch it all over and ruin it; only the wise know how to fill it with suitable matter. Never be ashamed to learn even from less men than thyself. When thou seest that men are not what they should be, do not rejoice over the fact, but grieve and pray, even on thy enemies' behalf, that they may all learn to forsake evil, to do good, and to serve God. God often helps thee in small matters which thou dost not think worth thanking for, only to lead thee towards a much greater good. JEWISH BOOK OF MORALS, ETWEEN us and Thyself remove XIX. Y Godliness. He judged the cause of the needy and the poor; then it was well with him: was not this to know?— Jeremiah xxii. 16. My son, give God all honor and the gratitude which m is His due. Thou hast need of Him, but he needs thee not. Fear the Lord, the God of thy fathers. See that thou guard thy soul's holiness, and when thou prayest, think well before whom it is thou standest. Visit the sick and suffering man and let thy countenance be cheerful when he sees it, but not so that thou oppress the helpless one with gaiety. Respect the poor |