52

THE UNKNOWN FRIEND.

to such a pitch, that he dashed it to the ground, and broke it into a thousand pieces. He soon, however, came to himself, and said: I now see that I cannot be at peace, even in solitude, and that the fault lies not in others, but in myself. He then returned to the monastery, and, after many strenuous efforts, succeeded in subduing his passions, not by flight, but by mortification and self-denial.

XVIII.

The Unknown Friend.

NE day a person who, by the calamities of war, sickness, and other affliction, had been reduced from a state of affluence to penury, came to Gotthold in great distress. He complained that he had just met one of his former acquaintances, who was even not distantly related to him, but that he had not condescended to bow, far less to speak to him, and had turned his eyes away, and passed him as if he had been a stranger. O, Sir, he exclaimed, with a sigh, How it pained me! I felt as if a dagger had pierced my heart! Gotthold replied: Don't think it strange at all. It is the way of the world to look high, and to pass unnoticed that which is humble and lowly.

THE COPY-LINE.

3

53

I know, however, of One who, though he dwelleth on high, humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth,' and of whom the royal prophet testifies: Thou hast known my soul in adversity. Oh yes, though we have lost our rich attire, and come to him in rags; though our forms be wasted because of grief, and waxed old; though sickness and sorrow hath consumed our beauty like a moth; * though blushes, and tears, and dust overspread our faces," He still recognizes, and is not ashamed to own us. Comfort yourself with this; for what harm will it do you at last, though men disown, if God the Lord has not forgotten you ?

4

XIX.

The Copy-Line.

Na writing-school, Gotthold observed a boy eyeing attentively the line placed before him as a copy, and laboring by his penmanship to emulate its correctness and beauty. Mark, said he to the by-standers, how all perfection is

the offspring of imperfection, and how, by frequent

1 Psalm cxiii. 5, 6. 2 Psalm xxxi. 7.

3 Psalm vi. 7, Luth. ver.

5 Psalm lxix. 7.

4 Psalm xxxix. 11.

54

THE COPY-LINE.

mistakes, we learn to do well. It is not required of this boy that his writing should equal that of the line. He satisfies his master by the pains he takes, and which are a ground of hope that he will progressively improve, till at last he learns to write with rapidity and elegance. We also have a pattern to copy. It has been left us by the Lord Jesus,' and is His most perfect and holy life. And think not that He exacts from us more than the teacher does from the pupil. No, indeed; if He find us careful in studying His example, and diligent in our endeavors to imitate it, He exercises forbearance towards our faults, and strengthens us by His grace and Spirit daily, to amend. In the school of Christ they are the best scholars who continue learning to the last; I mean they who sedulously keep their Master's example in view, and are always striving to grow more and more like it, but yet are never satisfied with themselves, or with the progress which they make. We must, therefore, endeavor to avoid two faults, which are negligence and discouragement. The one becomes eventually the parent of indolence and security; the other of despondency and grief. Heaven is open, not merely to the perfect and strong, but likewise to the feeble and erring, if they will only with penitence and humility confess their faults, and seek in the grace of Christ the supply for all their wants.

O my God! despise not my inability. Remember I

11 Peter ii. 21.

am but a learner, and be satisfied with my poor performances. My good intentions often miscarry. But ought I on that account to desist? God forbid! So long as I live, I will always begin afresh, and in heaven, at Thy good time, will lay my master-piece at thy feet.

XX.

Dancing.

E are told, said Gotthold, of one of the fathers of the desert, that seeing a female of loose morals arrayed in rich apparel, he was moved to tears, and lamented that he

had never taken half so much pains to adorn his soul with faith and godliness, as she to please the world. And I, too, my God, could almost weep to think that I have been far less diligent to conform my walk and ways to Thy precepts and will, than these dancers are to make their feet keep time to the music. How infatuated are men! Mere vanities appear to us worth the greatest pains. But seldom and only with reluctance do we reflect upon eternity. Away with folly! I have so much to do, to mend my heart and prepare for death, that I have no time to think of dancing.

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THE WATCHMAKER.

XXI.

The Watchmaker.

NGAGED in conversation with a friend, who had remarked that he was often at a loss to discover any traces of the Divine government and providence in the affairs of the world, Gotthold said to him, Come, let us go to a watchmaker's. See, he has been making a valuable watch of a number of wheels, springs, pins, etc., exactly measured, jointed, and fitted to each other. There lie the parts, all different in shape, size, and construction, and all having a certain order and place to which they belong. Do you think that you could put them together, and arrange them into one? I very much doubt your ability. Make the attempt; expend upon it as much time and trouble as you please, the only result will be to convince you of the impossibility of constructing a whole from parts so dissimilar. Call an artist, however, to the task, and you will soon see what skill can do. It is the same here. God has ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight. He has adapted cause to cause, allotted to all His creatures their definite action, and finally, appended the weight of His omnipotence and