THE TOO HASTY REPROOF. 139 mediately did, and found to my confusion, that if he had been in the mud, I had as surely been in the mire. How it happened, I cannot tell; but certain it is that I was by no means in a fit state to call him to account in the manner I had done. However, this advantage attended the affair, that I resolved another time to give a sharp look-out for my own imperfections before I ventured to rebuke those of another. "O wad some power the giftie gie us If it were only half as easy to amend ourselves, as to reprove others; and if in giving advice we could secure the benefit we are so intent to confer on our neighbours, how often would Old Humphrey be spared the mortifying reflection that he was scattering abroad what was wanted at home. Only two days ago, while in the very act of recommending more care to a servant who had upset a saltcellar, he knocked a drinking-glass from the table with his elbow, and broke it to pieces. WHAT GOOD CAN I DO? "WHAT good can I do?" is an observation more frequently made by such as wish to excuse themselves from doing good, than by those who sincerely desire to effect it. This is much to be regretted, because it is next to an impossibility to be in, a situation wherein we can do no good. He who really wishes to do good, may do something. If by doing good we mean something unusual, something great, something that people may talk about, we certainly may not have it in our power to perform it; but to do good on a small scale, is in the power of every one. When the poor widow, mentioned in the New Testament, could not put a large sum into the treasury, she cast therein two mites: and it was said of her, that she had done more than others, because they had only given of their abundance, but she of her poverty. You must be poor indeed if you cannot spare two mites in a case of necessity. When the Lord of life and glory speaks of the recompence that shall attend acts of Christian kindness, he does not say a bag of money, or a goblet of wine shall be recompensed, but, "Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, Matt. x. 42. WHAT GOOD CAN I DO? 141 U he shall in no wise lose his reward," You must be ill provided for, indeed, of cold water! if you cannot command a cup It is the will, and not the power, that is wanting; for every human being that breathes, and possesses the use of his faculties, may do good. Look around you for opportunities of usefulness; for sometimes, if you cannot do a kind deed, yet a kind word, ay, even a kind look will be useful. A small kindness, if well timed, may be more useful than a great one performed without consideration. No sooner did the Philippian jailor in sincerity exclaim, "What must I do to be saved?" than an answer was given to him, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house," Acts xvi. 30, 31. And no sooner shall you, with equal sincerity, ask, "What good can I do?" than opportunities will present themselves on every hand, and you will be ready to acknowledge, that he who really desires to do good, may be useful. THE NATURAL CREATION. A THOUGHT to a thoughtful man is somewhat like a meal to a hungry man ; for the mind requires food as well as the body. He who can see nothing but wisdom, and power, and beauty in the natural creation, knows not half its value. Good it is to regard in the works of God the power and wisdom of God, and to gaze with delight on the transcendent beauty that decorates earth and heaven; but he who would drink deeply of that spirit of thankful delight which the true lover of nature enjoys, must be keenly susceptible to the goodness and love so universally mingled with the visible creation. A voice has gone forth that nature shall be felt as well as seen by man; that it shall harmonize with his affections, be accommodated to the moods of his mind, and blend with his very being. "To him who, in the love of nature, holds The rising sun is in unison with the energy of THE NATURAL CREATION. 143 man; the kindling skies call forth his imagination; the buds and flowers animate his hopes, and the sere leaf and the soft shadows of evening move him to salutary reflection. When he feels at ease, the motionless mead, the silent rural scene, and the still waters, are as music to his emotions. And when he walks abroad, at war with himself, fevered with wrong, wounded by calumny, or stung with selfreproach, the waving trees and murmuring rills are peacemakers; the very hues of creation are oil and balm to him; there is mercy in the cool greens of earth, and the mild blues of heaven, for they calm his troubled spirit, and soothe him to repose. As an old man, I speak feelingly and gratefully on this subject; for few have revelled more freely amid natural scenery than Old Humphrey; and none are more indebted than he to its health-giving properties and peace-restoring powers. Those who have no relish for nature's banquets will do well to endeavour to attain it; and to him who possesses it, and yet guiltily foregoes his opportunities of visiting the country, I would say, in the words of the poet : "Oh how canst thou renounce the boundless store Oh how canst thou renounce, and hope to be forgiven? |