Praise is sunshine; it warms, it inspires, it promotes growth: blame and rebuke are rain and hail; they beat down and bedraggle, even though they may at times be necessary. * * * * * [Sidenote: God working through man.] The invisible Christ must be made known through human eyes; He must speak though a voice of earthly love, and a human hand inspired by his spirit must be reached forth to save. * * * * * [Sidenote: Inner life.] The external life is positive, visible, definable; easily made the subject of conversation. The inner life is shy, retiring, most difficult to be expressed in words, often inexplicable, even to the subject of it, yet no less a positive reality than the outward. RELIGIOUS POEMS. [Sidenote: Peace through suffering.] For not alone in those old Eastern regions Are Christ’s beloved ones tried by cross and chain; In many a house are his elect ones hidden, His martyrs suffering in their patient pain. The rack, the cross, life’s weary wrench of woe, The world sees not, as slow, from day to day, In calm, unspoken patience, sadly still, The loving spirit bleeds itself away; But there are hours, when from the heavens unfolding Come down the angels with the glad release, And we look upward, to behold in glory Our suffering loved ones borne away to peace. * * * * * [Sidenote: The spirit within.] As some rare perfume in a vase of clay Pervades it with a fragrance not its own, So, when Thou dwellest in a mortal soul, All heaven’s own sweetness seems around it thrown. * * * * * [Sidenote: The calm of God’s love.] When winds are raging o’er the upper ocean, And billows wild contend with angry roar, ’Tis said, far down beneath the wild commotion, That peaceful stillness reigneth evermore. Far, far beneath, the noise of tempest dieth, And silver waves chime ever peacefully; And no rude storm, how fierce soe’er he flieth, Disturbs the Sabbath of that deeper sea. So to the soul that knows thy love, O Purest, There is a temple peaceful evermore! And all the babble of life’s angry voices Die in hushed stillness at its sacred door. * * * * * [Sidenote: God’s comfort.] Think not, when the wailing winds of autumn Drive the shivering leaflets from the trees,— Think not all is over: spring returneth; Buds and leaves and blossoms thou shalt see. Think not, when thy heart is waste and dreary, When thy cherished hopes lie chill and sere,— Think not all is over: God still loveth; He will wipe away thy every tear. CHAPTER II. HUMAN NATURE. THE MINISTER’S WOOING. [Sidenote: Ignorant selfishness.]