Life and Literature Part 54

755

Not every one that dances is glad.

--_French._

756

THE HOUR GLa.s.s

Is an emblem of human life. Behold! how swiftly the sands run, and how rapidly our lives are drawing to a close! We cannot, without astonishment, behold the little particles which are contained in this machine; how they pa.s.s away almost imperceptibly! And yet, to our surprise, in the short s.p.a.ce of an hour, they are all exhausted. Thus wastes man! To-day he puts forth the tender leaves of hope; to-morrow, blossoms, and bears his blushing honors thick upon him; the next day comes a frost, which nips the shoot; and when he thinks his greatness is still aspiring, he falls, like autumn leaves, to enrich our mother earth.

757

_The Greatness of G.o.d._--Said Dr. Guthrie, "If philosophy is to be believed, our world is but an outlying corner of creation; bearing, perhaps, as small a proportion to the great universe, as a single grain bears to all the sands of the seash.o.r.e, or one small quivering leaf to the foliage of a boundless forest." Yet even within this earth's narrow limits, how vast the work of Providence! How soon is the mind lost in contemplating it! How great that Being whose hand paints every flower, and shapes every leaf; who forms every bud on every tree; who feeds each crawling worm with a parent's care, and watches like a mother over the insect that sleeps away the night in the bosom of a flower; who throws open the golden gates of day, and draws around a sleeping world the dusky curtains of the night; who measures out the drops of every shower, the whirling snowflakes, and the sands of man's eventful life; who determines alike the fall of a sparrow and the fate of a kingdom; and so overrules the tide of human fortunes, that whatever befall him, come joy or sorrow, the believer says--"It is the Lord; let Him do what seemeth Him good."

758

But as it is written, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which G.o.d hath prepared for them that love him."

--_I Cor. 2, 9v._

759

Every little blade of gra.s.s declareth the presence of G.o.d.

--_From the Latin._

760

THE FATHER'S LOVE.

Rest and be still: Nought happens thee but of His blessed will.

There's not a wind that blows, There's not a lily grows Without His bidding--and His child shall He Forget and leave uncomforted? Nay, see How not a small brown sparrow (sorry thing!) Without His hand can droop or raise a wing!

And thou art better far unto thy G.o.d!

Lo! if He calls thee to a way untrod Where stones and rugged places tear thy feet, And bitter herbs alone are for thy meat, Or if He set thee high, and with a song Fill thy rejoicing mouth, and make thee strong; Yet know thou this: He loves thee just as dear When dimpling laughter lights thy face, or tear With bitter tear goes chasing down thy cheek, And thy poor heart may break but cannot speak!

Rest and be still.

G.o.d hath not good and ill.

All that He sends is good, altho' our eye For weeping scarce His rainbow can descry.

He is our Father, and His name is Love.

E'en when thy grief is greatest--look above!

Look up! look up! and thou shalt surely see A Father's loving face down-bent to thee!

--_Deborah._

761

The more a man denies himself, the more he shall obtain from G.o.d.

--_Horace._

762

THE LOVE OF G.o.d.

The following beautiful lines were composed in 1779, by a distinguished scholar--at the time partially insane.

Could we with ink the ocean fill, Were the whole earth of parchment made, Were every single stick a quill, Were every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of G.o.d alone, Would drain the ocean dry; Nor would the scroll contain the whole Though stretched from earth to sky.

763

Whoever devotes himself to the veneration of G.o.d, whatever road he may choose, will come to G.o.d, and that the means to this, is, to avoid hurting any living being.

Be true and thou shalt be free; Truth belongs to thee, and thy success to the creator.

_From the Persian._ --_By David Shea and A. Troy._

764

Who comes to G.o.d an inch, through doubtings dim, In blazing light G.o.d will Advance a mile to him.

--_Sayings of Rabia._

765

A gold key is apt to open every door.

--_Ma.s.singer._

766

THE GOLDEN RULE.

If I should see A brother languishing in sore distress, And I should turn and leave him comfortless When I might be A messenger of hope and happiness-- How could I ask to have what I denied In my own hour of bitterness supplied?

If I might share A brother's load along the dusty way, And I should turn and walk alone that day-- How could I dare, When, in the evening watch, I knelt to pray To ask for help to bear my pain and loss, If I had heeded not my brother's cross?