The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-27
BY COMPARISON.

We make ourselves happy or miserable
wise or foolish. by comparison.
young fellow and his father wero digging
ditch and had laid 10y their pantalooDs
for their work The young boy stopped
work first, and, by chance. put on the
old mans breeches. Finding himself so
much too small Tor them be concluded
that the mire and cold had withered him;
and he ran eff home wretched. Then the
old man came to put on the boys and
finding himself too big for them he con-
cluded that q snake had bitten him and
that be was swellel up. And so he was
terrified.
4 Just judgment Of the special and Of
tho everlasting fitness q things is ne
oessary for our peace and comfort. The
Almighty has made as all individuals.
We are all OF one blood. We have all
hearts and minds and souls and bodies
very closely resembling one another. IN
very close sympathy. made for perfect
harmony, and yet we are as distinct as
the divers instruments Of a great band.
And when one of US tries to play the
part that belongs TO another, We 60
WiCrg, are out Of tune, and have 10 pay
for it. And when we put on one another's
clothes. there is very great discomfort
and inconvenience. King Alfred was not
made for a cook. Though many a dis
tinsuished nan, since his day, statesman
and emperor. has suggested great posi-
bilities in that humble calling, and may
DO a misht.
Our standards come Of our special adap-
tons. fitness, and desires. We ere. all
OF us. mere or less great in something.
That is, We can 90 some things better
than others. We make idols IN our
hearts. and worship our households gods.
We cherish and magnify our ideals.
When we approach them we are happy;
when We miss them We are miserable.
From the mere animal. who knows only
Of appetites and instincts; whose god is
his stomach. and who minds earthly
things. to the highest being whose life
Is obedience and worship OF the Supreme.
/ standards. idols. and ideals vary in de-
gree and character Our lives are deter
mined by he standards that we set be-
fore us, and the character OF the god that
we worship. II Is a strange thing, how.
separated from the great God, We set our
selves TO make i5ols and standards after
our own hearts, the work CT our own
hands; rather. in our day. out OF our
own lmagiraticns and adapted theology
than out Of stocks and stones. and worse
than senseless things as the Acknowledged
| heather do. And II is a stranger thing
/ how, leaving our own adaptations, igno-
rant or thoughucss Of what We are fit
for or meant for. we compare ourselves
with people Of an entirely dineent make
and nature-mark ourselves down zero. OF
10 acccunt-anG our lives not worth Iiv-
ine.
Every human being has a divine dignity
OF his own. That is the first great truth
Of our holy religion. And warning upon
that Is the beginning OF sin What we
are by nature and what we are willing
to make ourselves presents a fearful con-
trast. We approximate Deity or Devil.
We owe ourselves justice and truth.
And It is as great a crime TO bear false
witness against ourselves as against our
neighbor. And st is a kind Of false Wit
ness TO compare ourselves with Others TO
whom We are not TO be compared; 10
whom we are altogether unlike.
1t is an honorable maxim OF the law
that no man shall be held to accuse him
self except before God, A comparison OF