Part 77

OCTOBER 31

"Plutarch records that when Simonides offered to teach Themistocles the art of memory the latter said: 'Teach me rather the art of forgetting.' How much the world needs to learn that art. Paul spoke of forgetting the things that are behind. We should forget our mistakes and failures, so far as these cause discouragement. We should forget our successes if they cause pride or preoccupy the mind. We should forget the slights that have been put upon us or the insults that have been given us. To remember these is to be weak and miserable, if not worse. He who says he can forgive but he cannot forget is deceived by the sound of words. Forgiveness that is genuine involves forgetfulness of the injury. True forgiveness means a putting away of the wrong behind the back and remembering it no more. That is what God does when He forgives, and that is what we all must do if we truly forgive."

"... It is wise to forget past errors. There is a kind of temperament which, when indulged, greatly hinders growth in real godliness. It is that rueful, repentant, self-accusing temper, which is always looking back, and microscopically observing how that which is done might have been better done. Something of this we ought to have. A Christian ought to feel always that he has partially failed, but that ought not to be the only feeling. Faith ought ever to be a sanguine, cheerful thing; and perhaps in practical life we could not give a better account of faith than by saying, that it is, amidst much failure, having the heart to try again. Our best deeds are marked by imperfection; but if they really were our best, 'forget the things that are behind'--we shall do better next time."

F. W. ROBERTSON.

The Evil of Brooding

NOVEMBER 1

"Throughout the Gospel history we discern our Lord's care to keep men in a fit condition to serve God by active work. All that would impair their efficiency is to be shunned. Now, to repine and brood over some past error cuts the sinews of action; from this the Apostles therefore are always diverted, and they are to be watchful to prevent others from sinking into dejection and folding their hands in despair. A man who is hopeless has no heart for work, but when he is so far encouraged as to be able to exert himself his despondency soon disappears."

Pastor Pastorum, HENRY LATHAM.

"Disappointment should always be taken as a stimulant, and never viewed as a discouragement."

C. B. NEWCOMB.

"I always loved 'At evening time it shall be light,' and I am sure it comes true to many a young troubled soul, which in its youthful zeal and impatience cannot help eating its heart out over its own and other people's failings and imperfections, and has not yet learnt the patience which comes from realising that in this world we see but the beginning of things."

Aspiration

NOVEMBER 2

"If a man constantly aspires, is he not elevated?"

THOREAU.

"The thing we long for,--That we are For one transcendent moment! Before the Present, poor and bare, Can make its sneering comment!

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Longing is God's fresh heavenward will With our poor earthward striving; We quench it that we may be still Content with merely living; But would we learn that heart's full scope Which we are hourly wronging, Our lives must climb from hope to hope And realise our longing!

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Ah! let us hope that to our praise Good God not only reckons The moments when we tread His ways, But when the spirit beckons-- That some slight good is also wrought Beyond self-satisfaction, When we are simply good in thought, Howe'er we fail in action."

LOWELL.

There shall never be one Lost Good

NOVEMBER 3

"Therefore to whom turn I but to Thee, the ineffable Name? Builder and Maker, Thou, of houses not made with hands! What, have fear of change from Thee Who art ever the same? Doubt that Thy power can fill the heart that Thy power expands? There shall never be one lost good! What was shall live as before; The evil is null, is nought, is silence implying sound; What was good, shall be good, with, for evil, so much good more; On the earth the broken arcs; in the heaven a perfect round.

All we have willed or hoped or dreamed of good, shall exist, Not its semblance, but itself; no beauty, nor good, nor power Whose voice has gone forth, but each survives for the melodist, When eternity confirms the conception of an hour. The high that proved too high, the heroic for earth too hard, The passion that left the ground to lose itself in the sky, Are music sent up to God by the lover and the bard; Enough that He heard it once; we shall hear it by-and-bye."

Abt Vogler, ROBERT BROWNING.

Struggling

NOVEMBER 4