Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-06-30
Purpose.

1t has been we'll said that there comes a
time in the life of every person. when it is
necessary for him to decide whether he
will drift down the tide, or take the oars
and shape the direction of his course. And
in true sense the present moment is
always the time when this duty exists.
Though change of purpose becomes more
and more difficult as the years go by, and
The tide of habit becomes stronger, and the
arm becomes feebler and less competent
TO do its rightful work, yet no rational
being is too Young to be able to try to act
with reason for his actions, or too old to
be bcunden to an ever present plan of
conduct.
Notwithstanding all that is said and
written about having purpose in life,
one can scarcely engage in more sadden-
ing, and yet more stimulating, line of
thought than to reflect upon the aimless
way in which so many lives, of those in
his circle of knowledge, are spent. And
very self-confdent must be the person
who does not find in his own life ample
material for correction in this same line of
duty. 1t is far too seldom that one looks
at his life in the sight of a full purpose to
make it what it ought to be-a life with a
plant is still rarer that there exists in
the soul constant determination to make
the smallest actions of daily life conform
to some determined purpose and some
patient following of II clearly perceived
idea. 1t is easy enough to form vague
intention TO accomplish great things some
time, q to rely on the thought that good
deal Of life remains to us in which much
can b. done. Nor is it much harder to set
before US definite object toward which
we nay strive. or to form general reso-
luton of fidelity and devotion to the high
est IDEAL. But it is quite another matter
to keep that object or that ideal constantly
in s1ch way that it shall exercise pres
ant and unceasing influence upon to-day's
thoughts. words and deeds. Tomorrow,
Sometime" ''in the course of life"-these
are expressions which are far pleasanter
than such hard, blunt words as "now,"
"this very day." always" And so it
comes to pass that the man who is going
to do something, somehow, practically
Joins hands with him who frankly con-
fesscs that he is never going to do any
thing, anyhow; and both come to a time
when they are made to realize with all the
bitterness of utter disappointment, that
he midnight hour had struck, or that, at
best but few poor minutes OF available
time remained.
at is of unspeakable advantage" says
1 wholesome and wise writer, ITO possess
our minds with an habtual good inten-
ton, and to aim all our thoughts, words
and actions at some laudable end, whether
it be the glory of our Maker, the good oi
mankind, or the benefit of our own souls
This is a sort of thrift or good husbandry
in moral life, which does not throw away
any single action, but makes every one &C
as far as it can. 1t multipies the means O
salvation, increases the number of oul
virtues, and diminishes that of our vices.
1t is the habit1aL good intention on which
alone we can rely for progress in the
| Christian life as a whole, and in any one
of its departments. A thing done with
right purpose is better than Thousand
apparently right things done with no pur
pose at all; and this fact we cannot pres
too closely upon our minds and souls
We should ask ourselves what is the wh.
and wherefore of our lives and thei
smallest parts. Why do we live where W
do, or pursue the avocation in life whicl
we profess to follow? What is the reasol
that we call ourselves Christians. or tina
we absent ourselves from church going
and from religious thoughts and beliefs
Is their any particular cause for spendin
this very day in the way in which we ar
spending it? Is their any special reaso
why we should be doing what we ar
doing at this moment, instead of some on
among ten thousand other things? Unit
we can answer such questions as these
we are not living foolishly, but wickedly
we are not only builders, we are recl
less destroyers, 1t is the ever preser
sense Of devotion to reason for on
actions that alone makes them good fc
anything--a reason strong and clea
enough to make itself evident in beneficel
results, and yet at last so closely interwoV
en- with the whole spiritual fabric of OF
lives tnat we hardly stop to think of i
existence.-Sundau School Times.