^ The greatest of English moralists felt this so strongly, that on the dial of his watch — ready to catch his eye whenever he looked at it — he had these words engraved in their original tongue — " For the night cometh." He thought it fit that every time he looked to see how time was going on, he might be reminded of the end of it. He thought there was something he might be the better for remembering, at the commencement of every engagement, in every company, in every place, in every occupation ; in the bustle of the street when crowds of men went by ; in the quiet chamber over his papers and his books, where the hours passed on so silently ; in the view of regal state, and youthful beauty; still something worth remembering in that most suggestive truth expressed in the simple words — " For the night cometh ! " ^
^ " Work while you have light," especially while you have the light of morning. There are few things more wonderful to me than that old people never tell young ones how precious their youth is. They sometimes sentimentally regret their own earlier days ; sometimes prudently forget them ; often foolishly rebuke the young, often more foolishly indulge, often most foolishly thwart and restrain ; but scarcely ever warn or watch them. Eemember, then, that I, at least, have warned you^ that the happiness of your life, and its power, and its part and rank in earth or in heaven, depend on the way you pass your days now.^
11 Bishop Whipple tells a story of an old man among the North American Indians who was confirmed late in life. His rheumatism made kneeling very painful to him. He said to the Bishop: "I put it off too long. I ought to have done it when my knees were not rheumatic." ^
1 A. K. H. Boyd, The Oraver Thoughts of a ComUry Parson, ii 256.
2 Ruskin, Sesame and Lilies ( Works, xviii. 37).
' D. Williamson, From Boyhood to Manhood, 172.
ST. JOHN IX. 4 423
Just on the Borders of Enchanted Land We linger, — culling here and there some bloom; From distant gardens sweet and rare perfume The soft breeze gently wafteth where we stand. We might have enter'd — you and I, dear Heart! Lo, the dusk falleth — and 'tis time to part.^
2. Man is immortal till his work is done. — Let us grasp this thought that no good man dies with his work half done. We may not see its last touch. It may appear to our dim vision to be sunset at noon. But He in whose hand is our time, and from whom we receive our task, sets His seal and attestation upon the work done in His name. Sometimes you will hear it said that a good man has died prematurely ; you have even heard it said that Christ died early. By what false standard do we reach such extraordinary decisions as these ? All standards are false that are not in harmony with this great utterance. " We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day."
^ Edward Thring, of Uppingham, wrote out this prayer when he was a student at Cambridge : " 0 God, give me work till the end of my life, and life till the end of my work; for Christ's sake, Amen." ^
^ Lord, I read of the two witnesses. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall over- come them, and kill them. They could not be killed whilst they were doing, but when they had done their work; during their employment they were invincible. No better armour against the darts of death than to be busied in Thy service. Why art thou so heavy, 0 my soul ? No malice of man can antedate my end a minute, whilst my Maker hath any work for me to do. And when all my daily task is ended, why should I grudge then to go to bed ? ^
Let me not pass till eve.
Till that day's fight is done; What soldier cares to leave
The field until it's won ! And I have loved my work and fain Would be deemed worthy of the ranks again.
* Una, In Life's Garden, 3. ^ Morning Watch, 1903, p. 10.
• Thomas Fuller.
424 \ TIME TO WORK
Let twilight come, then night, And when the first birds sing
Their matin songs, and light Wakens each slumbering thing,
Let some one waken me, and set
My feet to steps that lead me upward yet.
The Greatest Thing in the World.
Literature.
Abbey (C. J.), Th^ Divine Love, 211.
Albertson (C. C), The Gospel according to Christy 187.
Banks (L. A.), Hidden Wells of Comfort, 106.
Brooks (P.), The More Abundant Life, 31.
Cbadwick (W. E.), Christ and Everyday Life, 1.
Dykes (J. 0.), Plain Words on Great Tliemes, 199.
Gordon (A. J.), The Twofold Life, 1.
Hague (D.), The Life WoHh Living, 75.
Hallock (G. B. F.), The Teaching of Jesus concerning the Christian Life^ 107.
Halsey (J.), The Beauty of the Lord, 305.
King (T. S.), Cliristianity and Humanity, 90.