The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-04
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

By WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
Old Thomas Carlyle, sour and crab
bed as he was, saw deeply into human
nature and into the life of this world.
One of his sagest utterances fits the
as New Years motto by an earnest
spirit Said Carlyle, There is in man
higher than love of happiness; he can
do without happiness and instead there
OF find bIesgedness.''
They live most greatly who live for
the greatest goals.
What IS the "summum bonum," the
supreme good? That Is one of the Ques-
tions over which the wise men of the
ages have exercised their wisdom. Now,
while to state this truth is not to an
swer the question, it may be assumed
that the condition of life over which
may be inscribed blessed" has found
the highest fortune. The next step is
to ascertain what are some character
istics of the person who has attained
the state of the blessed" It Is ad-
united that the surest standards OF con-
duct are those contained in Holy Writ;
then We have only to learn whom 1T
pronounces blessed" At once our
minds recall the two famous groups OF
beneGictions, one in the First Psalm
and the other in the Sermon on the
Mount. BY the first we know that
blessed is the man" that "wa1keth
not" In the counsel of the wicked;
"standeth not'' in the way Of sinners.
and ''sitteth not" in the seat Of scoffers.
but his delight is in the law of Je-
hovah." The eight beatitudes of Jesus
are ascribed to the poor in spirit"
they that mourn" the meek" they
that hunger and thirst after righteous
heart" "the peacemakers." and the
prosecuted for Righteousness sake
These are simple and easily recognize
able Identification marks of the blessed.
Whoever wears them has the best au-
thority for believing that he has won
to HES great goal. the universally
coveted supreme good.
That is most worth while today which
will continue to be worth while mill
lion years hence.
sfwouIdst thou be wretched?
IT'S an easy way:
Think of but self. and self alone all
Think Of thy pain. thy grief. thy loss.
All that thou hast to do. or feel. or
bear; =
Think of thv good, thy pleasure and
.Think only of myself, twill not be vain.
'.Wouldst thou be happy?
Take an easy way:
Think of those around theerlive for
them each day;
Think of their pain, their loss, their
grief, their care;
All that they have to do, or feel, or
bear;
Think of their pleasure, OF their sood'
their gain;
Think of those round thee-it will not
be in vain
The Bibles blessed simply records
truth. If certain things are true OF q
man, then he is pronounced oiesseo.
or ssipramely happy. Some folk are Tor
ever trying to count up the rewards Oh
blessedness; but blessedness is its own
reward. We do not feel that something
must be added to the lot of the happy
person. to prove him happy; the happi-
ness itself is enough. What more can
one ask than the divine hand of ap-
provaI upon ones head, with Its all
compromising "BlessedE
life is blighted.
A ufe's power Is measured less by Its
height than by it's depth.
When Jesus calls a person blessed
that person has no need to listen Tor
what the world says.
Watch the Fifth avenue procession
of q fair afternoon. A. wondrous array
of f1ne clothes, brilliant turnouts, In
gerfous styles, and clever ornamental
ton IL ali is. You are glad that so
many persona seems to have what their
hearts most eovet. But are they salts
Aed7 Look closely; there is rouge a.
casions. All the dermatologist's art
long, though, it becomes impressed up
on you that here Is very little or the
outward shining of an inner light. The
peace that dwells deep Is not revealing
Itself as you have seen it on other oc-
casioua All the dermatologtst's are
cannot conceal the unrest and dfssatis-
faction with life that reveal themselves
Plainly, the secret of true b1essedness
Is not to be found on the worlds fash
ionahle highways. ~ ---4---
II Is when we go apart from the
crowd' into the school Of Christ, that
we learn what is most worth while.
with the deepened gaze of discipleship
we perceive that
TO do the will Of Jesus-that is best.
He built q house; time laid It In the
dust: -
He wrote book. It's title Is forget:
He ruled a city, but his name to not
On any tablet craven, or where rust
Can gather from disuse, or marble bust.
He took child from out wretched
cot.
Who on the state dishoner might have
brought.
And reared him to the Christians hope
and trust
The boy, to manhood grown. became a
light
10 many souls, and preached for
The wondereus love Of the 0mnipotent,
The work has multiplied like stars at
night
when darkness despens; every noble
deed
Lasts longer than a granite mountain.
Sarah K. Bolton.
SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS.