Leaves of Life Part 82

Amen.

OCTOBER TWELFTH

Columbus discovered America 1492.

Lyman Beecher born 1775.

George W. Cable born 1844.

Helena Modjeska born 1844.

One poor day!

Remember whose and how short it is!

It is G.o.d's day, it is Columbus's.

One day with life and heart is more than time enough to found a world.

--James Russell Lowell.

An illusion haunts us, that a long duration, as a year, a decade, a century, is valuable. But an old French sentence says, "G.o.d works in moments." We ask for long life, but 'tis deep life or grand moments that signify. Let the measure of Time be spiritual, not mechanical.

Life is unnecessarily long. Moments of insight, of fine personal relation, a smile, a glance--what ample borrowers of eternity they are!

--Ralph Waldo Emerson.

One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

--2 Peter 3. 8.

My Father, I pray that when the "sun sets to-day my hope may not set with it." Be with me earlier than the dawn, that I may plan with thee a new day. I pray that thou wilt release me from anything that keeps me from reaching the highest. Amen.

OCTOBER THIRTEENTH

Theodore Beza died 1605.

Murat, King of Naples, shot 1815.

Elizabeth Fry died 1845.

What stronger breast-plate than a heart untainted! Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just, And he but naked, though locked up in steel, Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.

--William Shakespeare.

A man's accusations of himself are always believed, his praises never.

--Montaigne.

Justice needs that two be heard.

--From Goethe's Autobiography.

That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live.

--Deuteronomy 16. 20.

Lord of justice, if I may be influenced this morning by doubt and am inclined to be resentful, wilt thou cause me to have a generous spirit and keep my faith. May I never descend to anything base or deceitful, but may I remember that if I lay down my life, I may have the power to take it up again. Amen.

OCTOBER FOURTEENTH

William Penn born 1644.

James Fenimore Cooper died 1851.

Duke of Wellington died 1852.

Do good with what thou hast, or it will do thee no good. If thou wouldst be happy, bring thy mind to thy condition, and have an indifferency for more than what is sufficient.

--William Penn.

The finest fruit earth holds up to its Maker is a finished man.

--Humboldt.

I considered Napoleon's presence in the field equal to forty men in the balance.

--Duke of Wellington.

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him but little lower than G.o.d, And crownest him with glory and honor.

--Psalm 8. 4, 5.

Eternal G.o.d, may I know the value of the gift of life. May I think seriously of it, and not through abuse or neglect cripple it, remembering that it is mine to sow, to grow, and to reap. I pray that I may care more for the food and raiment of my soul than I care for the food and raiment of my body. Amen.

OCTOBER FIFTEENTH

Virgil born B.C. 70.

Evangelista Torricelli born 1608.