The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-02-27
A STUDY OF HUMAN NATURE.
And Lesson IL suggcsts-opportunit
and Achievements

and Achievements
One of the curious phases of human
nature il the contradictory qualities
that are TO be found in the characters
OF almost all of us. You have seen one
feature of miins character. and you
at once infer that he has the other
virtues or vices that would naturally
go with the quality. But little closer
acquaintance with him will probably
show you that nothing of the kind Is
true. AS matter OF fact, he is quite as
apt TO have the vice or virtue that con-
trasts the excellency or defect you have
noticed, as the traits that you would
naturally associate with IT,. Perfect
men and women do not exist outside
OF story books. and, what is more, they
have never existed. People, as rule.
are at once better and worse than we.
from our knowledge Of one or two of
their characteristics, judge that they
are. III we wished to construct an ar
gument for total depravity-which, by
the way. does not mean that men are as
bad as they can be, only that none OF
their activities are perfect--we should
simply call attention to the moral con-
tradictions that are found in human
character.
The sin of Solomon illustrates this
truth. He had undoubted excellencies
OF character. He was by no means
what would be called bad man. but
in spite of all his virtues, and the pow
erful motives he was under to be true
| to his better nature, we find him be-
coming the prey of sensuality, and be-
coming flagrantly disloyal to his re-
| llgion.
The moral aspects of the career OF
| Solomon reveal with startling vivid
ness the need OF n radical reconstruc-
ton of human nature III personal life
is to be made consistent with its best
moods. In these days when the Dig
nifty and worth of human nature are
so highly cxtolled. IL is not unwhole-
some TO remember that one swallow
does not make a summer, that strange
contradictions and perversities nestle
in human hearts, and that no praise
] OF human excellencies makes imperti-
nent the assertion of the Gospel that all
men need q birth from above TO enter
| INTO inc klnBuOm OF NOus
The fathers of the church long de-
bated whether Solomon were among
the saved or lost, and in the frescoes
on the walls OF the Campo Santo at
| Pisa Solomon is represented in the
resurrection at the last day as looking
ambguously to the right and To the
| LEFT, not knowing on which side his
lot will be cast. The question is UNI
| profitable, because we lack the data
for decision. But one thing at least is
truc-namely, that IL Solomon is saved.
IL is as by fire. and yet there was open
10 him, as to few men who have ever
lived, such opportunities OF service to
| mankind and TO God as few men have
ever enjoyed. The motives 10 right
cousness were brought TO bear upon
him with singular energy and direct
| ness. Few men have been less ex-
cusabe for the wanton waste of gifts
and opportunities. From another point
OF view this reflection reinforces our
previous conclusion Circumstances,
great gifts, splendid opportunities do
not have the power we often suppose
TO make men equal 10 their better
selves. Indeed, by strange pervcrsity,
these advantages often operate 10 bring
the worst tendencies of the heart TO
supremacy Many a man like Solomon
has found that the wealth, learning
and power that opened the gates TO n
noble career were. in themselves, the
temptations TO a self-indulgence that
poisoned life ut It's fountains. Every
line OF reflection leads us back to offer
with new emphasis the prayer OF
Solomons father: Create In me n
clean heart. o God; and renew right
spirit within me. "-Boston Waterman.