Change and the grave may part us; the wisdom that might have blessed the past may come too late. One [30] [Page 340.] backward step, one relinquishment of right in an evil [1] hour, one faithless tarrying, has torn the laurel from many a brow and repose from many a heart. Good is never the reward of evil, and _vice versa_. There is no excellence without labor; and the time to [5] work, is _now_. Only by persistent, unremitting, straight- forward toil; by turning neither to the right nor to the left, seeking no other pursuit or pleasure than that which cometh from God, can you win and wear the crown of the faithful. [10] That law-school is not at fault which sends forth a barrister who never brings out a brief. Why? Because he followed agriculture instead of litigation, forsook Blackstone for gray stone, dug into soils instead of delv- ing into suits, raised potatoes instead of pleas, and drew [15] up logs instead of leases. He has not been faithful over a few things. Is a musician made by his teacher? He makes him- self a musician by practising what he was taught. The conscientious are successful. They follow faithfully; [20] through evil or through good report, they work on to the achievement of good; by patience, they inherit the prom- ise. Be active, and, however slow, thy success is sure: toil is triumph; and—thou hast been faithful over a few things. [25] The lives of great men and women are miracles of pa- tience and perseverance. Every luminary in the constel- lation of human greatness, like the stars, comes out in the darkness to shine with the reflected light of God. Material philosophy, human ethics, scholastic theology, [30] and physics have not sufficiently enlightened mankind. Human wrong, sickness, sin, and death still appear in [Page 341.] mortal belief, and they never bring out the right action [1] of mind or body. When will the whole human race have one God,—an undivided affection that leaves the unreal material basis of things, for the spiritual foundation and superstructure that is real, right, and eternal? [5] First purify thought, then put thought into words, and words into deeds; and after much slipping and clambering, you will go up the scale of Science to the second rule, and be made ruler over many things. Fidelity finds its reward and its strength in exalted purpose. Seek- [10] ing is not sufficient whereby to arrive at the results of Science: you must strive; and the glory of the strife comes of honesty and humility. Do human hopes deceive? is joy a trembler? Then, weary pilgrim, unloose the latchet of thy sandals; for the [15] place whereon thou standest is sacred. By that, you may know you are parting with a material sense of life and happiness to win the spiritual sense of good. O learn to lose with God! and you find Life eternal: you gain all. To doubt this is implicit treason to divine decree. [20]