^ After much consideration we settled the question where to spend the winter by taking a house at Brighton. There was the advantage of a well-lighted studio, built for a picture-gallery, large enough to take in his big painting of the " Court of Death," and as many others as he wished to have there. His doctor knew and recommended this house, and to 31 Sussex Square we went on November 1. A big platform was built up in this studio to make it possible for him to work upon the " Court of Death." When he went into that room to find that these preparations had been made, his feeling seemed to be a sort of despair at the amount of work that still remained undone. But before an hour had passed he had pulled himself together, saying, " Come, this won't do " ; and the frail little figure stood drawn up erect and full of unconquerable spirit. He had worked hard the last day
* Jane Barlow. '^ N. D. Hillis, The Investment of Influence, 222.
264 THE PURCHASE OF OPPORTUNITY
before leaving Little Holland House, upon the " Physical Energy." There were some roughened bits and deep scores he was anxious to fill up. " The idea of its being left in that state was dreadful to me," he said, adding, " in case anything should happen to me." He lived always as a good pilgrim, girt and ready for the long journey whenever the summons should come. The tick of the clock had in it for him the sound of Time's footstep. " I know it," he said, " and remember that each line that I draw is one less, one nearer the last." ^
^ In a letter from Uganda during the days of fierce persecutions in which that Church was cradled, the following phrase occurs — " Times of persecution are busy printing times." The undaunted men who planted the standard of the cross in Uganda had already reduced the language to writing, and translated portions of Scrip- ture, with prayers and hymns, for the use of the Baganda. And during those dark days, when active and aggressive work was unwise, if not impossible, they plied the printing-press and issued from it the first literature of that wonderful race, which Mr. Stanley found them studying when he visited them on one of his journeys.*
^ Sometimes Bonaparte forgot his part, and displayed the shrewd, calculating, hard-working man behind the mask, who was less a fatalist than a personified fate, less a child of fortune than its maker. " Great events," he wrote from Italy, " ever depend but upon a single hair. The adroit man profits by everything, neglects nothing which can increase his chances ; the less adroit, by sometimes disregarding a single chance, fails in everything." Here is the whole philosophy of Bonaparte's life.'
Another day may bring another mind,
A mind to learn, when there is none to teach;
To follow, when no leader we can find;
To enjoy, when good is now beyond our reach:
A better mind, but not a better time,
A mind to will, but not a time to do What had been done, if we in life's bright prime,
When God was ready, had been ready too.
But what the better for his better mind
Were changing man, and God not still the same ?
When guide and light and joy we cannot find Unchanging love has sent us useful shame.
^ M. S. Watts, Oeorge Frederic Watts, ii. 135.
« T. W. Drury, The Prison- Ministry of St. Paul, 98.
' W, M, Sloane, Napoleon Bonaparte, i. 321.
EPHESIANS V. i6 265
This other mind may bring another day,
For days are given as man for days prepares;
Though many days of grace have passed away, The grace that gave them still the trifler spares;
And saddens times while Time itself may last, That unwise man may come to better thought,
Accept his future, and renounce his past, And be by sorrow into goodness brought.^ » T. T. Lynch, TIce EivuUt, 122.
St. Paul's Ruling Passion.
i
•6f
Literature.
Aiusworth (P. C), The Pilgrim Church, 97.
Campbell (R. J.), New Theology SermonSy 1.
Ghadwick (G. A.), Pilate's Gift, 139.
Clark (H. W.), Meanings and Methods of the Spiritual Life, 16.
Clifford (J.), The Dawn of Manhood, 169.
Drummond (H.), The Ideal Life, 107.
Greenhough (J. G.), The Mind of Christ in St. Paul, 259.
Henson (P. S.), The Four Faces, 202.
Ingram (A. F. W.), The Gospel in Action, 15.
Jordan (W. G.), TJie Philippian Gospel, 79.
Jowett (J. H.), The School of Calvary, 11.
Leckie (J.), Life and Religion, 52.
Lewis (J.), The Mystic Secret, 200.
Lockyer (T. F.), The Inspirations of the Christian, Life, 167.
Lonsdale (J.), Sermons, 141.
Moinet (C), The Great Alternative, 53.
Murray (W. H.), The Fruits of the Spirit, 25.
Pattison (T. H.), The South Wind, 103.
Raleigh (A.), From Dawn to the Perfect Day, 153.
Robarts (F. H.), Sunday Morning Talks, 204.
Roberts (A.), Miscellaneous Sermons, 43.
Christian World Pulpit, xxiv. 165 (Burn) ; xlii. 125 (Simon) ; xlviii. 390
(James) ; liii. 77 (Hutchison) ; liv. 390 (Williamson) ; Ixiv. 407
(Barlow) ; Ixxx. 204 (Rees). Church of England Pulpit, xxxvi. 299 (Nay lor) ; xxxvii. 280 (Bartlett) ;
xlv. 16 (Reid). Expositor, 2nd Ser., v. 40 (Matheson). Journal of Theological Studies, xiii. (1912) 415 (Brown). Sunday Magazine, 1884, p. 428 (Maclaren).