I count this thing to be grandly true, That a noble deed is a step toward God, Lifting the soul from the common clod
To a purer air and a broader view.
We rise by the things that are under our feet, By what we have mastered of good or gain, By the pride deposed and the passion slain,
And the vanquished ills that we hourly meet.
2. There must be a concentration of all the faculties on the great end of life. Much that is desirable in itself has to be subordi- nated to the supreme purpose. Paul said : " This one thing I do." ^ J. Thomas, Myrtle Street Pulpit, iii. 202.
PHILIPPIANS III. 13, 14 371
^ Take him for all in all, Spencer was intellectually one of the grandest and morally one of the noblest men that have ever lived. His life was devoted to a single purpose — the establishing of truth and righteousness as he understood them. The value of a life of self-sacrifice for a lofty ideal is inestimable at all times, and is especially so in the present day of advertisement, push, and getting on in the world. This will endure whatever may be the fate of his philosophical opinions. " In the whole story of the searchers for truth," said the Times, just after his death, " there is no instance of devotion to noble aims surpassing his — courage, baflfling ill- health and proof against years of discouragement, unwearied patience, wise economy of powers, and confidence in the future recognition of the value of his work." ^
jf In a letter written by Whitefield to a friend on the day of his ordination, occurs the following sublime and comprehensive yet simple expression : " I hope the good of souls will be my only principle of action. I call heaven and earth to witness, that when the bishop laid his hand upon me, I gave myself up like a martyr for Him who hung upon the cross for me."
3. Endeavour and concentration will ensure steady progress. " I press on," says Paul. There is an almost breathless ardour in the words. We could imagine a sculptor fashioning a figure suggested by this expression. It would be a form with head outstretched ; with eyes wide open, straining the sight to catch a glimpse of the distant goal ; with hands clenched ; with one foot stretched forward, while the other but lightly touched the ground ; with the muscles standing out from the flesh like ropes — such a statue is suggested by the phrase, " I press on." ^
^ " Having decided what was to be done," observes Emerson of Napoleon, " he did that with might and main. He put out all his strength. He risked everything and spared nothing — neither ammunition, nor money, nor troops, nor generals, nor himself."
One look behind ; but not for idle dreaming ;
Hope beckons on to heights that greet the sky; While voices speak of Time's brief hours redeeming,
To nerve the heart for toil and victory.
^ D. Duncan, 7'Jie Life and Letters 0/ Herbert Spencer, 511. ' H. Windross, The Life Victorious, 250.
372 PRESSING ON
One look behind; it may be one of sorrow, O'er broken vows, and duties left undone ;
But wait, my soul, on God; then, with each morrow, His strength'ning grace receive thy race to run.
One look behind; but not for vain regretting
O'er golden hours that soothed life's fret and care;
Forward! be still thy cry, the past forgetting,
Save that which bears thee up on wings of prayer.
One look behind; sweet mercy's path reviewing;
One goal ahead, one faith, one hope above; Up then, with pilgrim staff heaven's way pursuing,
To reach the radiant home of endless love!^ 1 J. P. Wood.
Citizenship in Heaven.
313
Literature.
Bersier (E.), Twelve Sermons, 255.
Butler (H. M.), University and other Sermons, 1.
Church (R. W.), Cathedral and University Sermons, 115. „ „ Village Sermons, 3rd Ser,, 139.
Darlow (T. H.), Via Sacra, 29.
Hort (F. J. A.), Village Sermons, 2nd Ser., 147.
Huntingdon (F. D.), Christ in the Christian Year, 243.
Jordan (T.), Christ the Life, 38.
Kay (J.), Pauius Christifer, 179,
Little (W. J. K.), The Perfect Life, 187,
Mackennal (A.), The Healing Touch, 246.
Manning (H. E.), Sermons, iii. 182.
Murphy (J. B. C), Homely Words for Lifers Wayfarers, 133.
Paget (F. E.), The Living and the Dead, 223.
Plumptre (E. H.), Theology and Life, 130.
Pusey (E. B.), Sermons from Advent to Wliitsuntide, 328.
Simpson (J. G.), The Spirit and the Bride, 249.
Spurgeon (C. H.), Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, viii. (1862), No. 476 ; xvii. (1871), No. 973.
Strong (A. H.), Miscellanies, ii. 159.
Wilberforce (B.), The Hope that is in Me, 80.
Cambridge Review, xi. Supplement No. 276 (Dickinson).
Christian World Pulpit, xl. 115 (Ingram); xlvi. 220 (Scott); Ixviii. 86 (Crozier).
Church of England Pulpit, xlv. 245 (Eland) ; xlvi. 193 (Jordan) ; xlvii. 51 (Creighton).
Churchmanh Pulpit ; Ascension Day, viii. 447 (Lawrence) ; Twenty- third Sunday after Trinity, xiii. 288 (Grimley).
Expositor, 2nd Ser., iii. 303 (Cox) ; 3rd Ser., i. 361 (Evans).
sri
Citizenship in Heaven.
For our citizenship is in heaven ; from whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ : who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation {A.V., our vile body), that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.— Phil. iii. 20, 21.