Be calm in arguing: for fierceness makes Error a fault, and truth discourtesy. Why should I feel another man's mistakes More than his sicknesses or poverty? In love I should; but anger is not love, Nor wisdom, neither; therefore gently move. --George Herbert. Why fret thee, soul, For things beyond thy small control? But do thy part, and thou shalt see Heaven will have charge of them and thee. Sow then thy seed, and wait in peace The Lord's increase. What is the use of worrying And flurrying and scurrying And breaking up one's rest; When all the world is teaching us And praying and beseeching us That quiet ways are best. I feel within me A peace above all earthly dignities A still and quiet conscience. --William Shakespeare. The stormy blast is strong, but mightier still The calm that binds the storm beneath its peaceful will. --John Sterling. As running water cleanseth bodies dropped therein So heavenly truth doth cleanse the secret heart from sin. --From the Sanskrit, tr. by Frederic Rowland Marvin. From our ill-ordered hearts we oft are fain to roam, As men go forth who find unquietness at home. --Richard Chenevix Trench. A mind from every evil thought set free I count the noblest gift of Deity. --Aeschylus, tr. by Frederic Rowland Marvin. A stone makes not great rivers turbid grow; When saints are vexed their shallowness they show. --Saadi. Yes, Lord, one great eternal yes To all my Lord shall say; To what I know, or yet shall know, In all the untried way. Good striving Brings thriving. Better a dog who works Than a lion who shirks. --From the Persian. HUMILITY MEEKNESS, WEAKNESS, SELFLESSNESS A LAST PRAYER Father, I scarcely dare to pray, So clear I see, now it is done, That I have wasted half my day And left my work but just begun. So clear I see that things I thought Were right, or harmless, were a sin; So clear I see that I have sought Unconscious, selfish aims to win; So clear I see that I have hurt The souls I might have helped to save; That I have slothful been, inert, Deaf to the calls Thy leaders gave. In outskirts of thy kingdom vast, Father, the humblest spot give me; Set me the lowliest task thou hast; Let me, repentant, work for thee. --Helen Hunt Jackson. A LOWLY HEART Thy home is with the humble, Lord! The simplest are the best, Thy lodging is in childlike hearts: Thou makest there thy rest. Dear Comforter! Eternal Love! If thou wilt stay with me, Of lowly thoughts and simple ways I'll build a house for thee.