Page:Selection of religious anecdotes.pdf/6

6 Master sends his chariot to the door, I may have nothing to do but to step in."

TRUE HAPPINESS.

Oxenstein, Chancellor of Sweden, observed to the English ambassador, Whitlocke, " I have seen much of this world but I never knew how to live till now : all the comfort I have, and what is more than the whole world can give, is, that I feel the good spirit in my heart, and reading this good book-tho Bible."

THALES.

When he was asked how much truth should differ from a lie, " As much," replied he was the eyes differ from the cars." Intimating that what is heard may be false, but that which is seen is certain.

THE SOUL.

Creation's ample and extensive round,

The wealth and honours of this earthly ball,

All, all are trifles, all an empty sound ;

For one immortal soul outweighs them all.

CONVERSION BY A TRACT.

Three commercial travellers engaged when at Rotherham, to spend the Sabbath at Doncaster, and set out each in his own gig. They were met by a gentleman who presented a tract to the first. It was entitled, “ Sabbath Occupations." He did not like it, and fastening the lash of his whip round it, handed it to the next ; he liked it no better, and handed it in the same manner to the third. On looking at it, the instructions of his father occurred to him, and his day's pleasure was spoiled. When they arrived at Doncaster, he separated from the other two and went to a place of worship, eventually became serious, and was afterwards a preacher of the gospel in the established church, in London ! " Who hath despised the day of small things ?" and who can calculate the amount of good produced, under God, by the circulation of one single tract ? What encouragement to distribute them !

HONESTY.

When the Prince of Condé took leave of his son, the Dne d'Enghuein, he gave him his blessing, and fixing his eyes upon him, in the most affectionate manner, said, “ In this world, my son, which I am about to quit, there is only one thing that is solid and deserves esteem, that is to have been throughout life an honest man."