"Christ
is ... . the true, the living way of access to God. Give up yourselves
therefore to Him with a cordial confidence and the great work of life is done." Timothy Dwight, Baccalaureate Sermon, at Yale in
1814.
Excerpt
1:
The Paradox of the Touchstone—an Absolutely Rigid Touchstone to Which
no Exception may be Made and yet an Infinite Variety of Results, Some Exactly
Opposite
Luke 7 31-35
This touchstone helps young men to reach a decision in the most
perplexing question as to what to do in regard to the so-called doubtful
pleasures—smoking, drinking, theatre, dancing, etc. Let a young man ask
himself. Can I do these things and remain pure, honest, unselfish and loving? A
man must be absolutely honest with himself, however, in deciding whether he is
pure, honest, unselfish and loving. Let us take a practical example, e. g.
smoking.
Shall I smoke? 1. Does it affect
my purity—excite
the sensual.'' If it does it must go—the alternative is given in Jesus' own
words (Matt. 5 29, 30).
2. Does it affect my honesty? Granted that I can remain pure, am I deceiving some parents or
relatives who hold narrower views about it.'' If so, I must stop—a lie is
damning.
3. Does it affect my unselfishness? Granted that I am pure and honest in it, do I forget the
rights of others in my own personal self-gratification.^ am I selfish or
irritable without it? If so I must stop—selfishness is the death of the soul.
4. Does it affect my active service of others? Granted that I am pure and honest and unselfish in
it, does it take ray time and energy? Life is short—one must use all the motive
power. Waste is a crime and lovelessness is death.
Excerpt
2:
"One of the most beautiful examples of Mr. Lincoln's rigid
honesty occurred in connection with the settlement of his accounts with the
post office department several years afterwards. It was after he had become a
lawyer and had been a legislator. He had passed through a period of great
poverty, had acquired his education in the law in the midst of many perplexities,
inconveniences and hardships, and had met with temptations such as few men
could resist, to make a temporary use of any money he might have in his hands.
One day, seated in the law office of his partner, the agent of the post office department
entered and enquired if Abraham Lincoln was within. Mr. Lincoln responded to
his name, and was informed that the agent had called to collect a balance due
to the department since the discontinuance of the New Salem office. A shade of
perplexity passed over Mr. Lincoln's face which did not escape the notice of
friends who were present. One of them said at once: 'Lincoln, if you are in
want of money, let us help you.' He made no reply, but suddenly rose, and
pulled out from a pile of books a little old trunk, and, returning to the
table, asked the agent how much the amount of his debt was. The sum was named,
and then Mr. Lincoln opened the trunk, pulled out a little package of coin
wrapped in a cotton rag, and counted out the exact sum, amounting to something more
than seventeen dollars. After the agent had left the room, he remarked quietly
that he never used any man's money but his own. Although the sum had been in
his hands during all these years, he had never regarded it as available even
for any temporary purpose of his own." Holland:
Life of Abraham Lincoln, pages 55, 56.
Henry B(urt) Wright( 1877-1923
) ~ The WILL OF GOD and A MANs LIFEWORK (1917)
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