Maxims of the Wise and Good

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 edition. Excerpt: ... mountains; it flows down all the intervening tracts to the very hase. If we could make each man love his neighhour, we should make a happy world. The true method is to begin with ourselves, and so extend the circle around us. It should be perpetually in our minds. An elevated purpose is a good and ennobling thing, but we cannot begin at the top of it. We must work up to it by the often difficult path of daily duty--of daily duty always carefully performed. hat God has promised, we must pray for; we eT need not be so unreasonable as to ask more, we need not be so modest as to ask less. Fresh favours call for fresh returns of thanks; nay, we must praise God for the mercies we hope for by His promise, as well as those we have received by His providence. "I will pray the Father for you." Had such an announcement been made to the patriarchs and prophets of old, what an impulse would it have given to their devotions, what fervour and importunity to their prayers! The hope of success animates our efforts; assurance of it, secures it. It matters not how rough the way is, even though it seems as if we could never get through, our heavenly Father is leading and arranging all. "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. Teach me thy way, 0 Lord, and lead me in a plain path." If God were not more mindful of His promises than we are of His precepts, we were undone. We must hope in God's mercy, His general mercy, even when we cannot find a particular promise to stay ourselves upon. What! do you think that God will acknowledge the cup of cold water, and not acknowledge the act of forgiveness towards an offending brother? our deIfE....