Life and Literature Part 14

184

Say not always what you know, but always know what you say.

185

Never sign a paper you have not read, nor drink water you have not examined.

186

No two persons are ever more confidential and cordial than when they are censuring a third.

187

There are ceremonious bows that repel one like a cudgel.

--_Bovee._

188

Excess of ceremony shows want of breeding--that civility is best which excludes all superfluous formality.

189

The only sure things are those that have already happened.

190

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Dr. Chalmers of Scotland, arrived in London, on the 13th of May, 1817, and on the following day preached in Surrey Chapel, the anniversary sermon for the London Missionary Society. Although the service did not commence till eleven o'clock, at seven in the morning the chapel was crowded to excess, and many thousands went off for want of room. He rose and gave out his text from 1 Cor. xiv, 22-25. He had not proceeded many minutes till his voice gradually expanded in strength and compa.s.s, reaching every part of the house and commanding universal attention.

His sermon occupied about an hour and a half in the delivery. A gentleman wrote to a friend: "I have just heard and witnessed the most astonis.h.i.+ng display of human talent that perhaps ever commanded hearing; all my expectations were overwhelmed in the triumph of it."

At an afternoon service he preached in the Scotch Church, in Swallow Street. On approaching the church, Dr. Chalmers and a friend found so dense a ma.s.s within, and before the building, as to give no hope of effecting an entrance by the mere force of ordinary pressure. Lifting his cane and gently tapping the heads of those who were in advance, Dr.

Chalmers' friend exclaimed, "Make way there, make way please, for Dr.

Chalmers." The st.u.r.dy Londoners refused to move, believing it was a ruse. Forced to retire, Dr. Chalmers retreated from the outskirts of the crowd, crossed the street, stood for a few moments gazing on the growing tumult, and had almost resolved altogether to withdraw, as access by any of the ordinary entrances was impossible. At last a plank was projected from one of the windows very near the pulpit, till it rested on an iron palisade, and the Doctor and others gained entrance. The impression produced by the service which followed, when all had at last settled down into stillness, was deeper than that made by any of those which preceded it.

--_From Memoirs of Thomas Chalmers, LL.D._ By Rev. Wm. Hanna, LL.D.

191

What can be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of Heaven and earth could come by chance, when all the skill of art is not able to make an oyster!

192

Times change, and we change with them.

193

When you seek to change your condition, be sure that you can better it.

194

BROTHER AND SISTER.

In a village churchyard in England, there is the following epitaph. It is there applied to a husband; but, by altering a single word, it can be made to apply to brother, sister, or comrade; and the one who fulfils all that is implied in the praise, is surely a most admirable character:

"He was-- But words are wanting to say what; Think what a husband should be.

He was that."

195

The sun has some spots on his surface, and the best and brightest characters are not without their faults and frailties.

196

The crown jewel of character is sincerity.

197

An appearance of delicacy is inseparable from sweetness and gentleness of character.

--_Mrs. Sigourney._

198

THE UPRIGHT CHARACTER.

He is not just who doth no wrong, but he Who will not when he may; not he who, lured By some poor petty prize, abstains, but he Who with some mighty treasure in his grasp May sin securely, yet abhors the sin.

Not he who closely skirts the pale of law, But he whose generous nature, void of guile-- Would be, Not seem to be, The upright man.

--_Philemon, a Greek._ Translated by Millman.