GRAINS OF GOLD

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9, 4 March 1909, Page 323

GRAINS OF GOLD

WHEN", WHERE, AND HOW. Dear .Lord, in some dim fnture^year, In some dim future month and day. Abides the hour, the solemn hour, When Thou shalt" call my soul away. That year, that month, that day of days, Come soon, come late, I know not when, Oh, Thou, Wjqo rulest all my ways ! Master of Life, Whom Death obeys, Be with me then, be with me then Somewhere upon this globe of ours Is hid the spot where I must die, Where 'mid tlie snows, or 'mid the flowers " My shrouded form shall coffined lie; If North or South; if East or West? At home? abroad — I know not where, O tender Father, Lord of Grace, Whose presence fills the realms of space, Be with me there, be with me there ! By fire? by flood? by famine sore? By sudden stroke? by slow decay? — When Death's dark angel opens my door, How shall it call my soul away. God only knows; He bends the bow, And He alone can fix the dart; Yet care I mot, when, where, or how, The end may come, sweet Lord! If Thou Wilt then but shield me in Thy Heart.

How many prodigals are kept out of the Kingdom of God by the unlovely character of those who profess to be inside. — Henry Drummond. The habit of holding the good will attitude of mind, towards everybody has a powerful influence upon r the-' char- . acter. It lifts the mind~~above the petty jealousies and" meannesses; it enriches and enlarges the whole life,: Wher- ' ever we meet people, no matter if they were strangers, we feel a certain kinship with and friendliness for them,greater interest in. 'them, if we have formed' the gopcl will habit. We feel that if we only had the • bpporjanity, of - knowing them we should like them. In other words^ the kindly habit, the good will habit, makes us feel more sympathy for everybody. And if we radiate this" helpful friendly feeling, others will reflect it back to us. On the other hand, if we go through life with a cold, selfish mental attitude, caring only for our own, always looking for the main chance, only thinking of what will further our own interests, our own comforts, totally indifferent to others, this attitude will" after a while harden the feelings and the affections, and we shall become dry, pessimistic, and uninteresting.