Page:Address to the Mary Adelaide Nurses.djvu/11

 you who give and them who receive. You know that every profession or occupation, if it is innocent, may and should be sanctified: "whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do," we may do all to God's glory: as is so beautifully said by Mr. Keble in one of the hymns in the "Christian Year"—

But, under some circumstances, for instance amidst the bustle and distraction of shop life, or the homely details of housework, it may be difficult at times to realise this, and to lift the mind to the lighter aspect of these uninteresting and monotonous duties. Surely, then, it is a special privilege and blessing when, as in your case, this is made natural and easy, when it is not the employment that should be sanctified, but the employment that should sanctify. I think no one can dwell on the thoughts suggested by those wonderful words out of Saint Matthew's Gospel, which I quoted just now, without feeling that a nurse should be holy—holy in all manner of life and conversation—spreading a holy influence around her—made and kept holy by her daily work. That daily work is in itself one of what have been called the "Seven Works of Mercy:" it brings her continually near, not only to suffering and disease, but to death itself: she lives, as it were, under the shadow of that Hand which alone can cast down or raise up, can smite or make whole. Should she not therefore realize also, very specially, the continued presence of Him "Who giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might increaseth strength"—Who pities us "like as a father pitieth his own children," because "He knoweth our infirmities and remembereth whereof we are made?" Should she not look, very specially, to the Cross which our blessed Master bore for us, "leaving us an example that we should follow His steps," and "arm ourselves likewise with the same mind?" Should she not cherish, very specially, the "fellowship" of the Comforter Whose