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. 1870 edition. Excerpt: ... III.--THE GEEAT SUCCESS. E have considered at some length man's brief sojourn on earth, and its end or purpose, and are now prepared to dwell, in further prosecution of our theme, on The Accomplishing of the Purpose of This Transitory Life. This is a matter which imperatively demands the attention of ...
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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. 1870 edition. Excerpt: ... III.--THE GEEAT SUCCESS. E have considered at some length man's brief sojourn on earth, and its end or purpose, and are now prepared to dwell, in further prosecution of our theme, on The Accomplishing of the Purpose of This Transitory Life. This is a matter which imperatively demands the attention of all. No one can say it belongs to his neighbour rather than to himself. If that view of the purpose of life which has already been presented is correct, every one ought to be self-prompted to consider the conditions, the means, and the process of its fulfilment. Ere long, my brethren, we shall look back upon our present life as a thing completely and for ever past. It may do us good to imagine how we might have to survey it, if we should leave it in our present states; and assistance in considering this point may be found in the thoughts and feelings naturally occasioned by contemplating that portion of our career through which we have already run. We stand not yet upon anything like the intellectual and moral heights of the eternal state; but we are able to look back into a past, which, though short, is of great importance to us. Does the retrospect bring pleasure or pain? A true reply to his inquiry must also answer, or at least show the way to answer, this other question, Am I accomplishing the purpose for which I now live? The reason why the answers to these two questions are much the same, is to be found in the preceding lectures.-Can we find an example that will help us in the study of this topic? I believe we can. But when we consider what we want in the way of an example, a difficulty is suggested by the question, To what quarter shall I look? Mr. Cecil says, "Every man has his favourite notions; and, therefore, no one is a...
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