| Things to Live For |
Chapter 6 |
Page 4 |
The things we get from the church are the lasting things. Other things are but of the passing day, and have no reality in them. Nothing is emptier than the applause which men’s worldly success wins on the streets or in the newspapers. The huzzas of today may be changed to sneers tomorrow. But the blessing that comes to those who truly worship God is lasting. One writes of listening to the brawl of London streets and of Parliament houses until he grew weary and sick of the emptiness. Then he went out of the city to watch the darkening evening, and to seek the touch of the sweet airs of heaven. He writes:–
“Half a mile on, a sudden song,
Mounting above in a girl’s sweet breath,
Brought me to pause, and I caught the words,
‘Victory, victory over death!’
From a little chapel so deep in green,
The psalm was heard ere the place was seen.
‘These be the things that last,’ I said.
Shadows we are that shadows pursue,
Triumph and weep over the vanities,
Strut and fret and make much ado.
Verily, Christ, as he did say,
‘Is with two or three who meet to pray.
So, while the people sang and prayed,
‘These be the things that endure,’ I said.”
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