E-text prepared by Al Haines LEVELS OF LIVING Essays on Everyday Ideals by HENRY FREDERICK COPE Author of "The Modern Sunday-School in Principle and Practice" New York ---- Chicago ---- Toronto Fleming H. Revell Company London And Edinburgh Copyright, 1908, by Fleming H. Revell Company New York: 158 Fifth Avenue Chicago: 80 Wabash Avenue Toronto: 25 Richmond Street, W. London: 21 Paternoster Square Edinburgh: 100 Princes Street To My Wife Not in the sentiment of dedication alone, offering to you what I may have done, but in simple acknowledgment of obligation to you Elizabeth best gift of God and inspiration of man Under the title of "A Sermon For To-day" these short essays, on the art of every-day living in the light of eternal life, were published by _The Chicago Sunday Tribune_, through a series of years, and were regularly printed in the Sunday editions of a group of the great dailies. The short sentences were also published with the Sermons under the head of "Sentence Sermons." The courtesy of _The Chicago Daily Tribune_ in permitting the publication of these "sermons," with such changes as have seemed best, is gratefully acknowledged. CONTENTS I. THE HIGHER LEVELS The Real and the Ideal--The Bread of Life--Life's Unvarying Values. II. INVISIBLE ALLIES More than a Fighting Chance--The Unseen Hand--The One in the Midst. III. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF SERVICE Self and Service--My Soul or My Service?--The Satisfaction of Service. IV. THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS The Power of Happiness--The Secret of Happiness--The Folly of Anxiety. V. THE CURRICULUM OF CHARACTER The Great School--The Purpose of the Course--The Price of Perfection. VI. THE AGE-LONG MIRACLE The Sufficient Sign--Behold the Man--The Life that Lifts. VII. SEEING THE UNSEEN The Sense of the Unseen--The Brook in the Way--That Which Is High. VIII. SOURCES OF STRENGTH AND INSPIRATION Strength for the Daily Task--The Sense of the Infinite--The Great Inspiration. IX. FINDING FOUNDATIONS The Passing and Permanent--Facing the Facts--The Real Foundation. X. THE PASSION FOR PERFECTION The Great Search--The Hunger of the Ages--The Sole Satisfaction. XI. THE PRICE OF SUCCESS The Law of Selection--The Fallacy of Negation--The Secret of All. XII. DIVINE SERVICE The Ideal Service--The Orthodox Service--The Heavenly Service. XIII. OUR FATHER AND OUR FELLOWS The Primary Reconciliation--Faith in Our Fellows--The Law of Forgiveness. XIV. MEN AND MAMMON Riches and Righteousness--Religion and Business--The Moral End of Money-Making.