LITMIR.BIZ

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      Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts. Dye it then with a continuous series of such thoughts as these: for instance, that where a man can live, there he can also live well. But he must live in a palace: well, then, he can also live well in a palace.

      MARCUS ANTONINUS.

      Who is there that sets himself to the task of steadily watching his thoughts for the space of one hour, with the view of preserving his mind in a simple, humble, healthful condition, but will speedily discern in the multiform, self-reflecting, self-admiring emotions, which, like locusts, are ready to "eat up every green thing in his land," a state as much opposed to simplicity and humility as night is to day?

      M. A. KELTY.

      February 4

      If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.—JAMES iii. 2

      Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.—PS. cxli. 3.

      What! never speak one evil word,

       Or rash, or idle, or unkind!

       Oh, how shall I, most gracious Lord,

       This mark of true perfection find?

      C. WESLEY.

      When we remember our temptations to give quick indulgence to disappointment or irritation or unsympathizing weariness, and how hard a thing it is from day to day to meet our fellow-men, our neighbors, or even our own households, in all moods, in all discordances between the world without us and the frames within, in all states of health, of solicitude, of preoccupation, and show no signs of impatience, ungentleness, or unobservant self-absorption—with only kindly feeling finding expression, and ungenial feeling at least inwardly imprisoned;—we shall be ready to acknowledge that the man who has thus attained is master of himself, and in the graciousness of his power is fashioned upon the style of a Perfect Man.

      J. H. THOM.

      February 5

      Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.—PS. cvi. 3.

      Thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away.—JOB xi. 15, 16.

      In the bitter waves of woe,

       Beaten and tossed about

       By the sullen winds that blow

       From the desolate shores of doubt,

       Where the anchors that faith has cast

       Are dragging in the gale,

       I am quietly holding fast

       To the things that cannot fail.

      WASHINGTON GLADDEN.

      In the darkest hour through which a human soul can pass, whatever else is doubtful, this at least is certain. If there be no God and no future state, yet even then, it is better to be generous than selfish, better to be chaste than licentious, better to be true than false, better to be brave than to be a coward. Blessed beyond all earthly blessedness is the man who, in the tempestuous darkness of the soul, has dared to hold fast to these venerable landmarks. Thrice blessed is he, who, when all is drear and cheerless within and without, when his teachers terrify him, and his friends shrink from him, has obstinately clung to moral good. Thrice blessed, because his night shall pass into clear, bright day.

      F. W. ROBERTSON.

      February 6

      Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.—PROV. xxix. 25.

      I will cry unto God most high; unto God, that performeth all things for me.—PS. lvii. 2.

      Only thy restless heart keep still,

       And wait in cheerful hope; content

       To take whate'er His gracious will,

       His all-discerning love hath sent;

       Nor doubt our inmost wants are known

       To Him who chose us for His own.

      G. NEUMARK.

      God has brought us into this time; He, and not ourselves or some dark demon. If we are not fit to cope with that which He has prepared for us, we should have been utterly unfit for any condition that we imagine for ourselves. In this time we are to live and wrestle, and in no other. Let us humbly, tremblingly, manfully look at it, and we shall not wish that the sun could go back its ten degrees, or that we could go back with it. If easy times are departed, it is that the difficult times may make us more in earnest; that they may teach us not to depend upon ourselves. If easy belief is impossible, it is that we may learn what belief is, and in whom it is to be placed.

      F. D. MAURICE.

      February 7

      Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.—JER. vii. 23.

      And oft, when in my heart was heard

       Thy timely mandate, I deferred

       The task, in smoother walks to stray;

       But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may.

      W. WORDSWORTH.

      Pray Him to give you what Scripture calls "an honest and good heart," or "a perfect heart;" and, without waiting, begin at once to obey Him with the best heart you have. Any obedience is better than none. You have to seek His face; obedience is the only way of seeing Him. All your duties are obediences. To do what He bids is to obey Him, and to obey Him is to approach Him. Every act of obedience is an approach—an approach to Him who is not far off, though He seems so, but close behind this visible screen of things which hides Him from us.

      J. H. NEWMAN.

      As soon as we lay ourselves entirely at His feet, we have enough light given us to guide our own steps; as the foot-soldier, who hears nothing of the councils that determine the course of the great battle he is in, hears plainly enough the word of command which he must himself obey.

      GEORGE ELIOT.

      February 8

      He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.—PS. xxiii. 2, 3.

      He leads me where the waters glide,

       The waters soft and still,

       And homeward He will gently guide

       My wandering heart and will.

      J. KEBLE.

      Out of obedience and devotion arises an habitual faith, which makes Him, though unseen, a part of all our life. He will guide us in a sure path, though it be a rough one: though shadows hang upon it, yet He will be with us. He will bring us home at last. Through much trial it may be, and weariness, in much fear and fainting of heart, in much sadness and loneliness, in griefs that the world never knows, and under burdens that the nearest never suspect. Yet He will suffice for all. By His eye or by His voice He will guide us, if we be docile and gentle; by His staff and by His rod, if we wander or are wilful: any how, and by all means, He will bring us to His rest.

      H. E. MANNING.

      February

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