The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-06-04
TO BE HAPPY.
az Ought, 1 Can, WILL" the Order f.
which to Proceed to Find
Peace.

thought. More faith in men greatly
helps more love; and so does more
piety. Where we can hardly respect
we have compassion. Where compla-
oency is impossible benevolence may
strive. Devotion to God and ones fell
lows secures bliss. Hence 1t Is right for
a person TO say; 81 will strive to have
the very happiest life that any man ever
lived"
How rare Is an indispensable thirst
for the improvement of personal char
acteri II one has enthusiasm for any
thing it should certainly be for reli-
gion. Unconscious selfshness must
be continually guarded against AL
most all have n share of IL; dormant in
many, dominant In some. utterly absent
in very few, IL any. We should be quick
TO detect its tokens and vigorous in
ejecting it. Each of the providential
events of every day. however small, has
a message from God TO us. II we read
| Alright its meaning we may keep our
selves in constant communication with
the Father, do naught that shall dis
please Him and make our whole lives
sublime. 1t is taking in vain the holy
name of Christ when we allow our
selves to be called a Christian, assume
to represent Him, and yet utterly fail
TO exhibit His spirit. This form of
profanity is worse than that heard from
the lips of the vulgar.
To pray well, study well; TO study
| well, pray well. Prayer clarifies the
II
ifies petition. AS the lamp burns not
without OIL, so there is no profitable
devotion without thought To NC
quiesce in things disagrceable TO pocket
affronts; to be smilingly unconscious
of Sights, TO be blind of one eye and
deaf of one ear is the only path TO per-
manent peace in this wearisome world.
Precipitation and agitation, disquict
and disturbance do not sit well on the
child of God; they suggest an over
fondness for ones own way; they
smack OF artfulness. A sweet tran
quillity, an atmosphere of patience and
gentleness is much more becoming.
The Christian must be a pipe, open at
both ends, to receive from Christ and to
give forth to the world. IL Is his bust
ness TO pass on the quickening draught
10 the thirsty lips that wait for II; In
other words, TO run and tell every good
( thing that he hears from God. Better
occasionally be deceived than go
through the world without trust.
1t is good for US TO love freely and
have confidence In men. Too much eau
ton cripples the noblest qualities and
robs us of the best part Of life's enjoy
ment. 1t is not true that any flower
is born to blush unseen" or waste it's
sweetness" for God is in the desert as
truly as in the garden, and rejoices IN
the beauty and the fragrance. II is the
same with human actions. God notes
every effort put forth for Him. however
small and hidden from observation, and
it shall have recognition In due time.
BE not simply good in n hesitating, neg
atiye, neutral, namby-pamby sort of
way. Be good for something In a posi-
tive fashion that fears neither man nor
devil, and let everybody know that you
stand for right.
| 1 ought, can, will! This Is the or
der, and he who has said the first must
straightway proceed to the other two.
or he shall have no peace. The soul
that is determined on the complete de-
struction of self finds that IL can af-
ford to overlook nothing which prom
Uses even the smallest amount OF help
In the great undertaking. What others
call Improbable niceties and punctil-
| ious scrupulosities become essential ne
| cessities to such an one. While 10 "a
in n measure true that our deeds de-
termine us, and we are fashioned by our
feelings, still more effectively are we
nodded by our thoughts. grow holy
or sinful, as we think about holy or sin
full subjects. How important, then. that
we give our minds habitually right d.
rectionl He who Is full Of God will
see Him everywhere, take all things
from Him, do all things for Him and
lead a truly sacred life. To connect
| spiritual thoughts with all things
around us, SO as to make them suggcst
God, Is a habit well worth cultivating.
To lay out ingenuity and perseverance
in this direction for the achievement OF
this purpose yields the richest returns
There Is no conflict between content
ment and aspiration. The former does
not mean Incidence or indifference. Tho
latter does not mean worry or fdgct or
fuss. The former has reference chiefly
TO what we have. the latter to what we
are. John was the disciple whom Jesus
loved; Peter the disciple who loved
Jesus. A consciousness OF our love to
Christ Is good; consciousness OK
Christ's love TO us IS better. Sobriety I'M
the Bible sense does not mean stupidity
or dullness. IL Is opposed TO levity
rather than yivacity. There Is nothing
incompatible between sobermindedness
and cheerfulness or rejoicing evermore-
N. w. Christian Advocate.
| The Happfest PeopIe.