Leaves of Life Part 62

--George Macdonald.

That they should seek G.o.d, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us; for in him we live, and move, and have our being.

--Acts 17. 27, 28.

O Lord, my gracious Father, may I not be so eager for more, that I feel I have nothing to spare. Help me to realize that if I may be on the mountain-top, or at the level of the sea, thy spirit may dwell in my soul. May I rejoice that I can always receive and share thy grace and love. Amen.

AUGUST THIRD

John Henley born 1692.

Henry Cuyler Bunner born 1855.

Eugene Sue died 1857.

Set out in the very morning of your lives with a frank and manly determination to look simply for what is right and true in all things.... This is the only way to know G.o.d's will and do it. You may not find it at once, but you have set your face in the true direction to find it.

--Jeremy Taylor.

The important thing in life is to have a great aim, and to possess the apt.i.tude and perseverance to attain it.

--Goethe.

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, That seek him with the whole heart.

--Psalm 119. 2.

Lord G.o.d, forbid that I should lose the opportunities of making my life by waiting for sudden developments. Cause me to notice that the tree that bears fruit must first grow the blossom before it may be perfected by the sun: whether thou hast made me greater or less, may I be ashamed to live in untruth and wait in idleness. Amen.

AUGUST FOURTH

Percy Bysshe Sh.e.l.ley born 1792.

Edward Irving born 1792.

Walter H. Pater born 1839.

We look before and after, And pine for what is not; Our sincerest laughter With some pain is fraught; Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.

Yet if we could scorn Hate and pride and fear, If we were things born Not to shed a tear, I know not how thy joy we ever could come near.

--Percy Bysshe Sh.e.l.ley.

It becomes no man to nurse despair, But in the teeth of clenched antagonisms To follow up the worthiest till he die.

--Alfred Tennyson.

He suffered no man to do them wrong; Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes.

--1 Chronicles 16. 21.

My Father, I bless thee for thy patience and forbearance. I pray that thou wilt forgive me for all the sorrow that I have made from rebellion and despair, and with thy forgiveness may I receive patience and cheerful courage. Amen.

AUGUST FIFTH

John Eliot born 1604.

John, Lord Wrottesley, born 1798.

Richard Lord Howe died 1799.

To live within a cave--it is most good; But if G.o.d made a day, And some one come, and say, "Lo! I have gathered f.a.ggots in the wood!"

E'en let him stay, And light a fire, and fan a temporal mood!

So sit till morning! when the light is grown That he the path can read, Then bid the man G.o.dspeed!

His morning is not thine: yet must thou own Those ashes on the stone.

They have a cheerful warmth.

--Thomas Edward Brown.

It is given to us sometimes, even in our everyday life, to witness the saving influence of a n.o.ble nature, the divine efficacy of rescue that may lie in a self-subduing act of fellows.h.i.+p.

--George Eliot.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.

--Matthew 25. 40.

Father of mankind, may I not be a barrier to the discouraged, but help them in the ways of encouragement. May I not allow pride and prejudice to keep me from acts of love and deeds of kindness, but may I be worthy of thy trust. Amen.

AUGUST SIXTH

Ben Jonson died 1637.

Francois Fenelon born 1651.

Daniel O'Connell born 1775.