For sloth yieldeth not happiness; the bliss of a spirit is action. Rest dwelleth only on an island in the midst of the ocean of existence,

Where the world-weary soul for a while may fold its tired wings, Until, after short sufficient slumber, it is quickened unto deathless energy,

And speedeth in eagle flight to the Sun of unapproachable perfection.

OF HUMILITY.

VICE is grown aweary of her gawds, and donneth russet garments,
Loving for change to walk as a nun, beneath a modest veil;
For Pride hath noted how all admire the fairness of Humility,
And to clutch the praise he coveteth, is content to be dressed in
hair-cloth;

And wily Lust tempteth the young heart, that is proof against the bravery of harlots,

With timid tears and retiring looks of an artless seeming maid;
And indolent Apathy, sleepily ashamed of his dull, lack-lustre face,
Is glad of the livery of meekness, that charitable cloak and cowl;
And Hatred hideth his demon frown beneath a gentle mask;
And Slander, snake-like, creepeth in the dust, thinking to escape
recrimination.

But the world hath gained somewhat from its years, and is quick to penetrate disguises.

Neither in all these is it easily deceived, but rightly divideth the true from the false.

YET there is a meanness of spirit that is fair in the eyes of most

men,

Yea, and seemeth fair unto itself, loving to be thought Humility. Its choler is not roused by insolence, neither do injuries disturb it; Honest indignation is strange unto its breast, and just reproof unto

its lip.

It shrinketh, looking fearfully on men, fawning at the feet of the

great;

The breath of calumny is sweet unto its ear, and it courteth the rod

of persecution.

But what! art thou not a man, deputed chief of the creation?

Art thou not a soldier of the right, militant for God and good? Shall virtue and truth be degraded, because thou art too base to uphold them?

Or Goliath be bolder in blaspheming for want of a David in the camp?

I say not, avenge injuries; for the ministry of vengeance is not

thine;

But wherefore rebuke not a liar? wherefore do dishonor to thyself? Wherefore let the evil triumph, when the just and the right are on thy side?

Such Humility is abject, it lacketh the life of sensibility,

And that resignation is but mock, where the burden is not felt; Suspect thyself and thy meekness; thou art mean and indifferent

to sin;

And the heart that should grieve and forgive is case-hardened and forgetteth.

HUMILITY mainly becometh the converse of man with his Maker, But oftentimes it seemeth out of place in the intercourse of man

with man:

Yea, it is the cringer to his equal, that is chiefly seen bold to his

God,

While a martyr, whom a world cannot browbeat, is humble as a child before Him.

Render unto all men their due, but remember thou also art a man, And cheat not thyself of the reverence which is owing to thy reasonable being.

Be courteous, and listen, and learn; but teach and answer if thou

canst:

Serve thee of thy neighbor's wisdom, but be not enslaved as to a

master.

Where thou perceivest knowledge, bend the ear of attention and

respect;

But yield not further to the teaching, than as thy mind is warranted

by reasons.

Better is an obstinate disputant, that yieldeth inch by inch,

Than the shallow traitor to himself, who surrendereth to half an argument.

MODESTY Winneth good report, but scorn cometh close upon ser

vility;

Therefore use meekness with discretion, casting not pearls before swine,

For a fool will tread upon thy neck, if he seeth thee lying in the dust; And there be companies and seasons where resolute bearing is but duty.

If a good man discloseth his secret failings unto the view of the profane,

What doeth he but harm unto his brother, confirming him in his sin? There is a concealment that is right, and an open-mouthed humility that erreth:

There is a candor near akin to folly, and a meekness looking like shame.

Masculine sentiments, vigorously holden, well become a man; But a weak mind hath a timorous grasp, and mistaketh it for tenderness of conscience.

Many are despised for their folly, who put it to the account of their religion,

And because men treat them with contempt, they look to their God for glory;

But contempt shall still be their reward, who betrayed their Master unto ridicule,

Reflecting on Him in themselves, meanness and ignorance and

cowardice.

A Christian hath a royal spirit, and need not be ashamed but unto One.

Among just men walketh he softly, but the world should see him as a champion.

His humbleness is far unlike the shame that covereth the profligate and weak,

When the sober reproof of virtue hath touched their tingling ears; It is born of love and wisdom, and is worthy of all honor,

And the sweet persuasion of its smile changeth contempt into rev

erence.

A MAN of a haughty spirit is daily adding to his enemies :

He standeth as the Arab in the desert, and the hands of all men are against him:

A man of a base mind daily subtracteth from his friends,
For he holdeth himself so cheaply, that others learn to despise him.
But where the meekness of self-knowledge veileth the front of self-

respect,

There look thou for the man, whom none can know but they will honor.

Humility is the softening shadow before the stature of Excellence,
And lieth lowly on the ground, beloved and lovely as the violet;
Humility is the fair-haired maid, that calleth Worth her brother,
The gentle, silent nurse, that fostereth infant virtues:

Humility bringeth no excuse; she is welcome to God and man;
Her countenance is needful unto all, who would prosper in either

world;

And the mild light of her sweet face is mirrored in the eyes of her companions.

And straightway stand they accepted, children of penitence and love. As when the blind man is nigh unto a rose, its sweetness is the herald of its beauty,

So when thou savorest humility, be sure thou art nigh unto merit. A gift rejoiceth the covetous, and praise fatteneth the vain,

And the pride of man delighteth in the humble bearing of his fellow; But to the tender benevolence of the unthanked Almoner of good, Humility is queen among the graces, for she giveth Him occasion to bestow.

OF PRIDE.

DEEP is the sea, and deep is hell, but Pride mineth deeper;
It is coiled as a poisonous worm about the foundations of the soul.
If thou expose it in thy motives, and track it in thy springs of
thought,

Complacent in its own detection, it will seem indignant virtue;
Smoothly will it gratulate thy skill, O subtle anatomist of self,
And spurn at its very being, while it nestleth the deeper in thy

bosom.

Pride is a double traitor, and betrayeth itself to entrap thee,

Making thee vain of thy self-knowledge; proud of thy discoveries

of pride.

Fruitlessly thou strainest for humility by darkly diving into self; Rather look away from innate evil, and gaze upon extraneous good: For in sounding the deep things of the heart, thou shaft learn to bę vain of its capacities,

But in viewing the heights above thee, thou shalt be taught thy littleness:

Could an emmet pry into itself, it might marvel at its own anatomy; But let it look on eagles, to discern how mean a thing it is.

And all things hang upon comparison; to the greater, great is small.

Neither is there any thing so vile, but somewhat yet is viler:

On all sides is there an infinity: the culprit at the gallows hath his

worse,

And the virgin martyr at the stake need not look far for a better. Therefore see thou that thine aim reacheth unto higher than

thyself:

Beware that the standard of thy soul wave from the loftiest battle

ment:

For pride is a pestilent meteor, flitting on the marshes of corrup

tion,

That will lure thee forward to thy death, if thou seek to track it to

its source:

Pride is a gloomy bow, arching the infernal firmament,

That will lead thee on, if thou wilt hunt it, even to the dwelling of

despair.

Deep calleth unto deep, and mountain overtoppeth mountain,

And still shalt thou fathom to no end the depth and the height of

pride:

For it is the vast ambition of the soul, warped to an idol object,
And nothing but a Deity in Self can quench its insatiable thirst.

Be aware of the smiling enemy, that openly sheatheth his weapon, But mingleth poison in secret with the sacred salt of hospitality: For pride will lie dormant in thy heart, to snatch its secret opportunity,

Watching, as a lion-ant, in the bottom of its toils.

Stay not to parley with thy foe, for his tongue is more potent than

his arm,

But be wiser, fighting against pride in the simple panoply of prayer.