Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

that these are tears of rich enjoyment. I have also felt the tone of my sentiments towards my fellow-men to alter. I feel a deeper interest in them, and those statements of our Saviour's strong affection for men, and he had compassion on the multitude,' &c., much affect me. I blame myself for not preaching in the villages, and am purposing to labour more in this way. These are gratifying symptoms; and though I feel great pleasure in mentioning them to you, I write with fear and trembling lest the future should evince that this is but a momentary excitement. I can tell these things to you. No being beside yourself, save one, must know them. And that one has more to do with my present state of mind than perhaps you are aware. A short time ago I stated to my dear Cprincipal sins, temptations, and wants, and make them the subject of special prayer. think our united petitions have been heard.

some of my begged her to

I cannot but

"By observation and experience I think I have formed something like a plan of study. It recognises what in most systems of education appears to be overlooked, that the organs of mind are subject to the same general law with every other part of the physical system. In developing my mental faculties I seek variety, harmony, and naturalness of operation. I propose pursuits which the mind has the fullest conviction will repay its efforts, and it wants no other stimulus. I follow one employment until I am tired, and then exchange it; taking care to do every thing well however small the quantity, for I am convinced that it is only what the mind fairly grasps and fully enjoys which will be of ultimate value."-It was wise in Mr. Hessel, with his disciplined mind, to "follow one employment until tired and then exchange it," but it would be very unwise for an undisciplined youth to imitate him. Such a mind soon wearies of application, and to humour is to ruin it.

ÆTAT. 21] A CHARACTERISTIC SENTIMENT.

113

"In general I rise between five and six," he proceeds: "I first read a chapter in the Bible, and afterwards pray; then a portion of the Hebrew Bible and Greek Testament alternately. Until breakfast I read some book of Biblical criticism or that class of writings, such as Horne; at present I have Pye Smith. After breakfast one of the old divines; then I take a walk; then read a portion of History, Science, or Philosophy, &c. At present I have Mackintosh's England and Good's Book of Nature on the way. I spend a short time in devotion before dinner, which I think of great use in restoring the mind to a right tone. After dinner some work in general literature; then biography. I have been reading Baxter's life. I take a walk again; a Greek or Latin author; then tea. My evenings are so various that I can give no account of them, although I both write and read a great deal after tea."

The following characteristic passage will prove valuable to the plodder, who is too often wanting in enterprise. It is far from suitable to the volatile, and especially to him who, in spite of friends and foes, believes himself a genius. "Always think it possible to find out something new. Never suppose there is not a more excellent way. When the mind is extremely satisfied regard it with suspicion. Rather think it has brought the standard down than risen up to it. Take it for granted that some of the best things are yet undiscovered."

April 5th. "One thing in the writings of the Apostle Paul has peculiarly struck me. He seemed to think little about places where he might labour. He was not anxious to fix his residence here or there, but wherever he went he preached the Gospel. This is just the spirit I want."

"Action is the great means of moral improvement. This is the medium through which the Holy Spirit operates."—

No sentence in this volume is more pregnant with important truth to the church of Christ than the former of these. Would that every Christian professor would test its truth for himself! From what numerous lamentations of unfruitfulness, from what oppressive hours of doubt and sadness, would he be saved! And what an influx of joyous emotion would often be experienced! How much more favourably would religion appear in the eyes of the world! And how much greater progress would it make!

"Wake, thou that sleepest in enchanted bowers,

Lest those lost years should haunt thee on the night
When death is waiting for thy numbered hours
To take their swift and everlasting flight;
Wake, ere the earth-born charm unnerve thee quite,
And be thy thoughts to work divine addressed ;
Do something-do it soon-with all thy might ;
An angel's wing would droop if long at rest,
And God Himself, inactive, were no longer blessed.
"Rouse to some work of high and holy love,
And thou an angel's happiness shalt know,-
Shalt bless the earth while in the world above;
The good begun by thee shall onward flow
In many a branching stream, and wider grow;
The seed, that, in these few and fleeting hours,
Thy hands unsparing and unwearied sow,
Shall deck thy grave with amaranthine flowers,
And yield thee fruits divine in heaven's immortal bowers."

9th. "I have felt the importance of giving to life the character of business, and of making the varied pursuits of each day a matter of obligation. Let me live with this impression, that there is some one thing I ought now to be doing, and that if I omit it, it never can be done, and that consequently not only it, but all the good consequences which might result from it will be lost for ever. In deciding what I am to do in any given case, always make a deliberate appeal to reason and conscience. Consult my own interests in relation to the whole duration of my being.

ÆTAT. 21] THE HONOUR AWAITING TRUTH.

115

Seriously ask myself the question: What, upon the whole, is best to be done in this case? I think I shall not often find difficulty in answering it. The difficulty often arises from a moral cause—a reluctance to act according to the verdict pronounced."

"In order to detect error it is necessary to be thoroughly grounded in the truth. It is not well for young minds to busy themselves with controverted points. They are not qualified for this until they have made themselves masters of a pretty large field of certain truth. To call judgment into such exercise before it has attained strength and maturity, is the direct way to weaken it. Besides, matters of controversy are much more easily decided afterwards. A matured judgment will often detect by a single glance what else would have required long study."

"Truth, in this world, is a poor dejected maiden-pure, indeed, as the lily. But she will not always wear this dejected mien. She is destined to shine in majesty upon a radiant throne before which all shall bow, and render a willing or unwilling homage. Those who have protected and defended her in her low estate shall have an exalted place in her court, and share her immortal honours."

14th. "A rainy afternoon, but still the scene before me is refreshing to the soul-the trees just bursting into leaf and dripping with rain; the grass plot green, fresh, luxuriant, and glistening with moisture, which in countless drops trembles upon the delicate spires. At the far end, a long row of daisies bow their heads in thankfulness for the bounty of heaven."

17th. "Had more than usual enjoyment in prayer this morning. Our Saviour's 'Sermon on the Mount' interested me much. How forgetful I am of that which ought to be constantly remembered. I have a perverse

inclination to walk in any direction but the straight-forward path of duty. What need for watchfulness and prayer!"

23rd. "I have not cultivated the eloquence of the parlour. There is an easy, affable mode of address which I greatly lack. There is a tact of speaking a word in season, and giving a tone and direction to the thoughts of others without their perceiving it, more valuable than the most splendid attainments."

"I think I never saw so clearly as now the vast importance of early rising. I am certain it is the only sure ground of my success in study. I find that if the faculties are vigorously exerted in the morning they are in better condition through the day. Had I only from five to eight every morning for study, a respectable standing in the ministry might be maintained."-It is scarcely possible to attach too much importance to this habit. I once heard an intelligent person say that he never knew a greatly good man that was not an early riser. It is certain that the habit is highly favourable to health, to mental vigour, and to spiritual advancement, and no one therefore wishing largely to secure these benefits will live in its wilful neglect. It has been estimated that "the difference between rising every morning at six and at eight, in the course of forty years, supposing a man to go to bed at the same time he otherwise would, amounts to 29,000 hours, or three years 121 days and 16 hours, which will afford eight hours a day for exactly ten years." What a large portion of time for an accountable creature to waste! But it is worse than wasted; for, says the celebrated Dr. Cheyne : "nothing can be more prejudicial to tender constitutions, studious and contemplative persons, than lying long in bed, lolling and soaking in sheets after one is distinctly awake, or has slept a due and reasonable time. It necessarily thickens the juices, enervates the solids, and weakens the constitution. A free open air is a kind of cold bath,

« PředchozíPokračovat »