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g to admire and love； how be develops to our later thought！ how solemnly tender； how greatly real； he becomes to us； when we cling to him in the agony of our sorrow； and he goes down to walk with us on the waters of the sea of death！ As traditional sentiment； as a wholesome subject for school…composition； we have spoken and written of the weariness of the world…worn heart； and the frailty of earthly things。 But； O！ when our hearts have actually become worn； and tried； when we begin to learn that the things of this life are evanescent； are dropping away from us； and we slipping from them； what inspiration of reality comes to us in the oft…heard invitation； 〃 Come unto me； all ye that labor and are heavy…laden； and I will give you rest〃！ What a depth of meaning flowing from the eternal world； in the precept we have read so carelessly； 〃Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth； where moth and rust doth corrupt； and thieves break through and steal〃！ Thus the best results of life come from the defeats and the limitations that are involved with it。
And； in all this； observe how disappointment is the instrument of higher blessings。 See how thus life itself suggests a higher good than life itself can yield。 And so the attitude of the disciples； after the crucifixion； illustrates many experiences of our earthly lot。 Those incidents which perplexed and grieved them were securing the very results they seemed to prevent。 So； in our ordinary life； the things that appear most adverse to。 us are often the most favorable。
I may say； indeed； that to any man who is rightly exercised by it； disappointment always brings a better result。 But this statement requires that I should say； likewise； that the result of disappointment depends upon the level and quality of a man's spirit。 〃One thing happens alike to the wise man and the fool。〃 But how different in texture and substance is the final result of the event！ Disappointment breaks down a feeble and shallow man。 There are those； again； whom it does not make better； in fact； whom nothing； as we can see； makes better。 Everything glides easily off from them。 Now； it is a noble thing to see a man rise above misfortune； … a moral Prometheus； submissive to the actual will of God； but defying fate。 But there are men whose very elasticity indicates the superficiality of their nature。 For it is good sometimes to be sad； good to have depth of being sufficient for misfortune to sink into； and； accomplish its proper work。 But the man who rightly receives the lesson of disappointment； and improves by its discipline； bent as he is on some great or good work； is impelled by it only to a change of method； never to a change of purpose； and the disappointment effectually serves the purpose。 But the fact before us is most clearly seen when we contemplate the results of disappointment upon a religious and un…religious spirit。 A man is not made better by disappointment to whom this world is virtually everything；to whom spiritual things are not realities。 To him life is a narrow stream between jutting crags； and its substance flows away with the objects before his eyes。 Nay； some men of this sort are made worse by the failure of earthly hopes； and their natures are compressed and hammered by misfortune into a sullen and granitic defiance。 But he who sees beyond these material limits； looking to the great end and final relations of our being； always extracts from mortal disappointment a better result。 In the wreck of external things he gathers that spiritual good which is the substance of all life； that faith； and patience； and holy love； which； when all that is mortal and incidental in our humanity passes away； constitute the residuum of personality。
Our hopes disappointed； our plans thwarted and overthrown； but out of that disappointment a richer good evolving than we had conceived； something that tends more than all our effort to produce the real object of life。 My friends； what do we make out of this fact？ Why； surely this； that life is not our plan； but God's。 Consider what we； often； would have made out of life； and compare this with what Providence has made out of it。 Contrast the man's achievement with the boy's scheme； the dream of care with the moral glory that has sprung from toil and trouble。 Contrast the idea of the Saviour in the minds of those disciples with the actual Saviour rising victorious from the conditions of shame and death。
Life is God's plan； not ours。 We may find this out only by effort； but we do find it out。
We are responsible for the use of our materials； but the materials themselves； and the great movement of things； are furnished for us。 Let us fall into no ascetic view of life。 Out of our joy and our acknowledged good the Supreme Disposer works his spiritual ends。 But； especially； how often does he do this out of our trials； and sorrows； and so…called evils！ Once more I say life is God's plan； not ours。 For often on the ruins of visionary hope rises the kingdom of our substantial possession and our true peace； and under the shadow of earthly disappointment； all unconsciously to ourselves； our Divine Redeemer is walking by our side。
Life a Tale
We spend our years as a tale that is told。 Psalm xc。9。
We bring our years to an end like a thought； is the proper rendering of these words； according； to an eminent translator。 But as the essential idea of the Psalmist is preserved in the common version； I employ it as peculiarly illustrative and forcible。 It will be my object； in the present discourse； to show the fitness of the comparison in the text； to suggest the points of resemblance between human life and a passing narrative。
I observe； then； in the first place； that the propriety of this simile is seen in the brevity of life。 What more rapid and momentary than a story？ It is heard； and passes。 Though it beguiles us for the time； it dies away in sound； or melts from before； the eye。 And this I say； strikingly illustrates the brevity of life。 The brevity of life！ It is a trite truth； and yet how little realized！ Probably there is nothing； more common； and yet there is nothing； more pernicious； than the habit of virtual dependence upon length of days。 Thus the best ends of our mortal being are lost sight of； the solemn circumstances； the suggestive mysteries of life； are misconstrued。 The heavens； which give a myriad hints of worlds beyond the grave； are； to many； impenetrable walls； shutting them in to mere pursuits of sense； the upholstery of a workshop or bazaar； and this earth； which is but a step； a filmy platform of our immortal course； is to them the solid abiding place of all interest； and of all hope。
It is well； then； to break in upon this worldly reliance； to consider how fleeting and uncertain are the things in which we garner up so much。 Therefore； in order that we may more vividly realize the brevity of life；how like it is to a passing tale；let us consider the rapidity of its changes； even in a few short years。 We are； to some degree； made aware how fast the current of time bears us on； when we pause and remark the shores； when we observe how our position to… day has shifted from what it was yesterday； how the sunny slopes of youth have been changed for the teeming uplands of maturity； yea； perhaps； how already the stream is narrowing； and rushing more swiftly as it narrows； towards those high hills that bound our present vision； upon whose summits lingers the departing light； and around whose base thickens the solemn shadow。
This rapidity of change is most strikingly illustrated when； after a few years' absence； we return to the scenes of our youth。 We plunged into the current of the world； buoyant and vigorous； our thoughts have been occupied every hour； and we have not noticed the stealthy shadow of time。 But we come back to that early spot； and look around。 Lo！ The companions of our youth have grown into dignified men；the active and influential citizens of the place。 Care has set
〃Busy wrinkles round their eyes。〃
They meet us with formal deportment； or with an ill…concealed restlessness； as though we hindered them in their work； work！ Which； when we parted with them； would have been flung to the winds for any idle sport。 How quickly they have changed into this gravity and anxiety！ On the other hand； those who stood where they stand now；whose names occupied the signs and the records which theirs now fill；have passed away； or； here and there； come tottering along； bent and gray…headed men。 Those； too； who were mere infants…those whom we never saw…take up our old stations； and inspire them with the gladness of childhood。 And exactly thus have we changed to others。 We are a mirror to them and they to us。
From this familiar experience； then； let us realize that the stream of life does not stop； nor are we left stationary； but carried with it； though our condition may appear unchanged； until we lift up our eyes； and look for the old landmarks。 The brevity of our life！ my friends。 Amid our daily business；in the sounding tumult of the great mart； and the absorption of our thoughts；do we think of it？ Do we perceive how nearly we approach a goal which a little while ago se