Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ...way. It must be there as a definite and earnest purpose to bring just such concrete things as money and pleasure and study and politics and society and business into functional subjection to this will of God which serves the good of man. Without such a ruling purpose controlling the concrete conduct of daily life, no man can live the noble life, no man can cross the threshold of the kingdom of God, no man can enter into the glorious fellowship of brave and chivalrous men, no man can be a follower of the great and glorious Christ. These conditions are indeed hard; harder for the rich than for the poor, harder for the strong young man full of vigorous physical life than for the feeble and the weak, harder for the man of position and influence in a busy city than for the hermit. But the greater the difficulty the greater the glory. And I know not by what authority I should offer you the noble life on cheap and easy terms. To be a Christian is not easy; character is not to be bought at a bargain; and you who know the severe terms on which excellence in business or professional life must be purchased will not expect to gain Christian character without strenuous effort and serious sacrifice. I tell you frankly that to make your money, your pleasure, your politics, and all the other relations of your daily lives functional in the great purpose of God for the blessing of mankind is a very much harder and severer thing than luxury and indulgence and indolence. And it is just because it does call for this heroism and self-sacrifice that I commend it to you with confidence. Let us, then, make David's noble deed the touchstone of the worth of our wealth, the purity of our pleasures, the righteousness of our public service, and the vitality of our faith. Let...