Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-03-20
Personal Brightness OF Life.

If man has lost his faith in God, and
still holds fast his own integrity, well for
the man. Once accept the principle of du-
ty, and all life becomes an honorable dis
cipline and a steady advance. There is no
higher rank OH earth or in heaven than the
rank of personal goodness; and he who
loves it, seeks it and practices it for its
own sake, is surely moving, however slow
ly, toward the perfect life.
Here also is the cure, and the only cure,
for our restlessness and self-dissatisfacton
"No man can serve two masters" But he
who falls heartily in love with virtue is no
longer distracted by divided allegiance.
He has nothing else to do but to occupy
himself with learning and doing what is
right and reasonable. Having settled the
central principle and leading purpose of his
life, every step onward and upward makes
the next easier; and the law of habit con-
tinually operates to confirm this deep heart
ed choice. He is no longer driven by the
lash of conscience; he is no more a servant
but son, and the Fathers house is his
happy home.
Here, too, is the secret of victory over
our trials and depressions. When shall we
half realize the grandeur and glory of sim
pie rectitude? Let me again repeat tale
of real life. Years ago and far away,
knew woman of most fine and excellent
qualities whose deeply-shadowed life was
like a long crucifiXon and martyrd I'M. In
one of her letters she said, "My youth is
gone, my hope is dead, and my heart is
heavy. But l neglect no duty" In reply,
l said, eff you could ask God for Just one
blessing, and could be sure of that one and
never of another, would you dare pray that
your youth might come back, or that your
earthly hopes might be renewed, or even
that the load on your heart might be light
ened? Would you not ask for living
principle within yourself that would make
you neglect no duty? And can you not
see that in giving you the love of right
eousness, He has really given you the best
| thing in all the universe?' In her next
letter she wrote that this view of the mat.
| ter was new to her own mind, but that she
accepted it as true, and found in it strength
to take up her burden-a burden carried
as | believe, with patience, courage and
constancy to the end, which was not fal
away.
There is one more thing to be said. HI
who really loves righteousness cannot love
it for himself alone; he hungers for its tri
umph over all the earth; he longs for the
Punishment of every wrong Hence hi
zeal for justice is sweetened with good will
to men so that righteousness becomes on,
form of benevolence. The right is always
the good. Hence the ethical passion kin
died from the heart of Jesus has flamec
out in adherence of wrong and evil, an,
has lent support and vigor to every move
ment for reform and welfare at is
spurious virtue that can contentedly SCI
vice thriving by its side" The gospel i
no gospel if it does not turn the hearts o
men toward each other as well as towart
God. 1t is no gospel if it does not unit
all believers in wise, well considered anC
earnest movements for the cleansing Of tn
world and the better ordering of all humal
life. Righteousness is rightness. To hun
ger and thirst for righteousness, therefore
is all one with the prayer that Gods king
dom may come, and that his will may b.
done on earth as it is in heaven.
-Rer. Charles G. Ames.