Gatherings of the Month [pp. 309-311]

GATHERINGS OF THE MONTH.
roof which shelters him was reared by those to whom
he owes his being. Some interesting domestic tradition is connected with every inclosure. The favorite
tree was planted by his father's hand. He sported
in boyhood by the brook which still winds through
the meadows. Through the field lies the path to the
village school of early days. He still hears from his
window the voice of the Sabbath bell which called
his father to the house of God; and near at hand is
the spot where his parents are laid down to rest, and
where, when his time has come, he shall be laid by
his children. These are the feelings of the owners
of the soil. Words can not buy them; they flow out
of the deepest fountains of the heart; they are lifesprings of a fresh, healthy, and generous national
cl ha racter.-Edwaz d Everett.
THE CHRISTIAN'S RETROSPECr.-Whoever has
entered into the venerable rank of the men of sixty
years of age, and looks back on the two generations
over which his life has extended, may well regard
himself as having now reached the last stage of his
journey. He will hardly commence any new enterprise, or enter on any fresh undertaking. Living
only on that it has already gained, the soul will
scarcely reckon on any farther real increase of its
spiritual capital. It will rather live in the memories
of the past, than dream away the brief time now
remaining in hopes for which at least here, on this
side, there is no longer any anchor-ground. Well is
it for him who is able, with the peace of old Simeona peace altogether different firom that which the world
knows, and which seeks to build on the deceitful
foundation of a consciousness of personal merit-to
look forward into the future, as well as back into the
past! Perhaps this retrospect will not fill his soul
only with songs of joy, but will also hold him fast at
many places which he will be constrained anew to
wfater with the hot tears of repentance. But he will
always raise himself up and take courage, again, and
feel his just sorrow give place to equally wxell-founded
joy over the everlasting truth, that "if our heart
condecmn us, God is greater than our heart, and
knoweth all things."-I1D-ummzacher.
KIND WORDS.-They never blister the tongue nor
lips. And we have never heard of any mental trouble
arising from this quarter. Though they do not cost
much, yet they accomplish much. They help one's
own good-nature and good-will. Soft words soften
our soul. Angry words are fuel to the flames of
wrath, and make it blaze more fiercely. Kind words
make other people good-natured. Cold words fireeze
people, and hot words scorch them, and bitter words
make them bitter, and wrathful words make them
wrathful. There is such a rush of all other kinds of
words in our days, that it seems desirable to give
kind wvords a chance among them. There are vain
xwords, and idle xvords, and hasty fiords, and spiteful
words, and silly words, and empty words, and boisterous words, and warlike words. Kind words also
produce their own image in men's souls. And a
beautiful image it is. They soothe, and quiet, and
comfort the hearer. They shame him out of his
sour, morose, unkind feelings. We have not yet
begun to use kind words in such abundance as they
ought to be used.-Aznon.
"THE WAY OF CAIN."-This is a comprehensive
title. Under it may be ranged all the false, though
sometimes plausible, theories about God and man,
which owe their common origin to the substitution of
huiman thoug his f,,r divinze revelation, and the admitting the presumltuous idea that a fallen being may
have a wHill in the matter of religion. It is not pure,
unmixed error; nor is it only the grosser violation
of divine precept and human morals; it is a name
which may be inscribed on the long catalogue of
Papal errors, which Mohamrnedanism bears on its
front, which the Vedas and Shastas of India, in short,
the text-book of every false religious system, ancient
and modern, and every nation tinder heaven, carries
on its title-page. In our owvn land, "the way of Cain"
is thronged by myriads both of deceivers and of deceived. The Socinian despiser of the blood of Jesus;
the despiser of dominion, "speaking evil of dignities," and carrying the infidel spirit of democracy
into things spiritual and temporal; who, in bringing
a "railing accusation" against divinely constituted
powers, does that against "the ministers of God,"
which Michael, the archangel, durst not, even against
Satan; the antinomian perverter of the grace of
God, living in open sin and uncleanness, and talking
of "electing love;" the mocker at holy things, " walking after his own ungodly lust;" these are some of
Cain's modern brethren.
BLESSINGS OF CHRISTIANITY —We live in the
midst of blessings till we are utterly insensible to
their greatness, and of the source from whence they
flow. We speak of our civilization, our arts, our
freedom, our laws, and forget how large a portion is
due to Christianity. Blot Christianity out of the
pages of man's history, and what would his laws
have been? what his civilization? Christianity is
mixed tip with our very being and our daily life; there
is not a familiar object around us which does not
wear a different aspect because the light of Christian
love is on it-not a law which does not owe its truth
and gentleness to Christianity-not a custom which
can not be traced, in all its holy, healthful parts, to
the Gospel.-Sedge Park.
How TO RECEIVE BLAME.-" If any one speaks
ill of thee," says Epictetus, "consider whether he
hath truth on his side, and if so, reform thyself, that
his censures may not affect thee." When Anaximan(ler was told that the very boys laughed at his
singing, "Ah!" said he, "then I must learn to sing
better." Plato, being told that he had many enemies
who spoke ill of him, said, "It is no matter; I shall
live so that none will believe them." Hearing at
another time that an intimate friend of his had spoken
detractingly of him, he said, "I am sure he would
not do it if he had not some reason for it." This is
the surest as well as the noblest way of drawing the
sting out of a reproach, and the true method of preparing a man for the great and only relief against the
pains of calumny.
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