Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

NO. VIII.

Our Daily Life.

Each individual plays his particular part in the drama of Life, and it is not until we peep behind the scenes that we discover its hollowness and superficialness. Society may be compared to a grave-yard after a night of snow, with the morning sun shining upon it; it presents a beautiful appearance, but the passer by knows not of the corruption concealed beneath. So with men and things,men seem to be what they are not, and things around us are not what they appear to be; we see shams everywhere, and to find things as they profess to be is rather the exception than the rule.

Owing to this phase of our daily life, the man that will be true and genuine has to

combat with a power mighty in its influencefor pride and mammon defy the progress of truth and holiness.

If we wish to be successful in this struggle, we must be true ourselves; we must be real in our transactions with each other, and sincere in our conduct towards God, remembering that "man looketh at the outward appearance, but God looketh at the heart." In our daily life, we either sow the seeds of deception or the seeds of truth. God is not mocked; what a man soweth that shall he also reap, and nothing is covered but what shall be revealed; only that which is real will stand the test and scrutiny of divine justice.

Our religion, then, should regulate our daily conduct; if it does not, it is nominal, and not real; it is spurious, and not genuine. One genuine Christian is worth a thousand hypocrites. Religion, then, is not merely a phrase, but a living power that acts and moulds

life; not so much a joyous feeling as constant devotedness to God and His work,-duty to God and duty to our fellow-men. The foundation of true religion is true repentance towards God, and living faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, this religion gives life a dignity and a responsibility, teaching us that our living on earth is to fit us for a better and a higher life beyond the grave.

"High in the world, see where Religion stands,
And bears the open Bible in her hands;
With eyes upraised, she seeks the heavenly light,
To know its doctrines and its laws aright:
The cross of Christ she bears, and walks abroad,
And holds communion with her Father, God.
Thus with the Christian, filled with love divine,
Above the world he soars, in heavenly clime,
The sacred cross his only hope and stay,
The Book of Truth his guide from day to day."

F

NO. IX.

Temper.

No one has a temper so good that it does not need attention, or a temper so bad that it cannot be improved. It is the mark of a sensible and Christian man not to allow temper to become his master; and half the study of our lives is to bear with each other, and to carefully guard against those things which have a tendency to ruffle us. We all have our tempers, but they vary according to our temperaments.

Some have Quarrelsome tempers, ever ready to quarrel with everybody, like John Lilburn, who, if he could not find anyone else to quarrel with, would quarrel with himself, John would quarrel with Lilburn, and Lilburn with John.

Such persons often tyrannise over the weak and helpless, in order to give vent to pent-up passion.

Others have Irritable tempers. An irritable temper has been compared to a hedge-hog rolled up the wrong way, tormenting himself with his own prickles.

Restlessness of temper is an anxious restlessness, that makes one meet care on its way -that runs after pleasure like an absent man hunting for his hat while it is on his head, or in his hand. The great secret of comfort lies in not allowing troubles to vex us, and in cultivating an undergrowth of small pleasures.

Then there are Whining tempers. Some whine because they are poor, and others, if they are rich, because they have no health to enjoy their riches; they whine because it is too fine; they whine because it is too rainy; and they whine no one can tell why.

A Cheerful temper should be earnestly cultivated, for it lightens sickness, poverty, and subdues all the trials of life.

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »