Page:Miscellaneous Writings.djvu/152

126 settled questions to permanence, from danger to escape, from fragmentary discourses to one eternal sermon; yea, from darkness to daylight, in physics and metaphysics.

Truly, I half wish for society again; for once, at least, to hear the soft music of our Sabbath chimes saluting the ear in tones that leap for joy, with love for God and man.

Who hath not learned that when alone he has his own thoughts to guard, and when struggling with mankind his temper, and in society his tongue? We also have gained higher heights; have learned that trials lift us to that dignity of Soul which sustains us, and finally conquers them; and that the ordeal refines while it chastens.

Perhaps our church is not yet quite sensible of what we owe to the strength, meekness, honesty, and obedience of the Christian Science Board of Directors; to the able editors of The Christian Science Journal, and to our efficient Publishing Society.

No reproof is so potent as the silent lesson of a good example. Works, more than words, should characterize Christian Scientists. Most people condemn evil-doing, evil-speaking; yet nothing circulates so rapidly: even gold is less current. Christian Scientists have a strong race to run, and foes in ambush; but bear in mind that, in the long race, honesty always defeats dishonesty.

God hath indeed smiled on my church, — this daughter of Zion: she sitteth in high places; and to deride her is to incur the penalty of which the Hebrew bard spake after this manner: “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.”