Professional Documents
Culture Documents
m^
tike
!)
C..S
TiA' (JuM,
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
"BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS"
FROM
ARRANGED BY
ELIZABETH W. DOUGALL
If I
life
of
any man or
woman,
Mac Donald.
NEW YORK
JAMES POTT
114
0Xf3yh^
Mi,
COPYEIGHT, BY
CO.
2>
cbictttcb
BY
JANUARY.
January
1st.
Does God care to paint the sky of an evening, that a few of His children might see it, and get just a hope, just an aspiration, out of its passing green and gold, and purple and red? And should I think my day's labor lost, if it Avork no visible salvation in
the earth?
January 2d.
He who
things
is
is
faithful
over
a
It
fcAV
a lord over
cities.
does
matter whether you preach in Westminster Abbey, or teacli a ragged class, so you be faithful.
not
The
faithfulness
is
all.
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
January 3d.
It
is
better
to
be trusted than to
be loved.
January
Jfi^i.
January
5th.
The
deepest,
purest
love
in
of
woman
has
its
well-spring
Our longing
haust the
of the
desires
fullness
the
treasures
January
6th.
is
Love
Nor
is
it
then
its alloy.
January
7th.
All
tridli is lovely.
January
8th.
Let us think and care ever so little about God, we do not therefore exist without Him.
January
9th.
God
has an especial
thee,
tenderness of
that thou
light.
love towards
in the dark
for
art
and hast no
January 10th.
I think,
my
it,
two
sides
to
One
Is
as this sunny and one dark round earth every day half sunny, and half
:
dark.
10
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
the dark side,
call
We, on
They,
the
mys-
tery death.
on
the
other
side,
looking
down
Wait
the
in light,
hirth^
glad
than ours.
January
Fold
in
lltli.
the
arms
of
thy
faith,
and
thy
tion:
say,
feelings, but
do thy
January 12th.
God
can
fill
Christianity does not mean what you think or what I think, concerning Christ, but, what is of Christ in us.
January
llftli.
Become
thou
alone
shalt
is
thou
see
pure
in
heart,
and
God,
whose
vision
life.
January 15th.
None
but
God
can
is.
read
in
woman what
she really
January 16th,
What we
best shape,
his
call
evil is the
only and
could
be
which
for the
person, and
condition at the
time,
12
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
January 17 th.
If you Avoulcl only ask what God would have you to do, you w^ould
January 18th.
Strive to be
you
thy
be,
care.
January 19 th.
God
thee,
be
with
thee.
He
is
is
with
thou
only
my
it.
prayer
that
may'st
know
January 20th.
It
is
the
other,
and
the
13
January
lst.
Come
And
January 22d.
The
needful
strengtli
of
woman
is
as
to
strength of
will be.
and a woman
January 23d.
No arguing will convince you of a God: but let Him once come in, and all argument will be tenfold useless to convince you that there is no
God.
14
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
January 2^th.
How
be
is
the
if
work
of
the
done,
are
we take
told
mii8t
no
not
take
world to thought?
to
We
nowhere
take
thought.
We
thought.
What
about?
What
about? one is
God's.
our
the
other
is
January 2oth.
God is in no haste and if I do what I may, in earnest, I need not mourn if I work no great work on
:
the earth.
15
my
heart
upon Thy
to
burn
And
smoke,
doubt
I
failure, foiled
endeavor.
Coldness
lack
and
have
and
palsied
Such
as
Giver,
To
trust
God changes
the atmos-
and
fear, to
one of hope.
16
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
January 28th.
If a
man
knowing enough
Him,
to
be
ca-
January 29th.
To know God
is
life.
January 30th.
God does all that can be done, for even the Avorst of men, to help them
to believe in Christ.
January
31st.
Hurt as it may, love on, love forever Love for love's sake, like the Father
above.
But
for
Known
the sor-
rowful love.
FEBRUARY.
February
1st.
Come
Come
to us
Ever shines the blue to us beyond its form Ever lies the true.
:
February 2d.
Afflictions
Jire
of
God's wings.
February 3d.
Do
holds
the lamp but make haste to uncover the light, and let it shine.
February
I find
Iftli.
God
leaves
me no
time to be
disput-
20
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
February Sth.
can never be at peace, till we performed the highest duty of have till we have risen and gone to all,
We
our Father.
February
6f7i.
God
see
sees
thee,
through
all
the
Him.
February
7th,
It
man
the
ever sank
day.
under the
burden
of
It is when to-morrow's burden added to to-day's, that the weight more than a man can bear.
is
is
21
art
pass like
the
sunrises
and
sunsets
of
the
Avorld.
The next
his care.
must be
February 10th.
All the doors
doors
that
lead
inward to
outward
smallness
out
out
of
of
self
out
of
wrong.
February 11th.
The lightning and thunder They go and they come But the stars and the stillness
Are
alwaj's at
home.
22
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
Fehriiary 12th.
What is my next duty ? No one can answer that question but yourself.
Is there
nothing you
it is
know you
neg'.'I
lect?
"Ah,
which
than
suppose
place,
dreary
me."
"It will:
if it
Aunt.
thing
to
at
you
but
to some-
more.
Your duty
will
begin
it Avill
ains
February 13th.
The performance
to
of
small
duties,
more
act
give
as
temporary
healthful
repose,
will
more
anodynes
than the
FROM GEORGE
greatest
joys
3IAC DONALD.
can
23
that
come
to
us
February 14th.
Work
on.
One
joy
will
:
day
praise,
beyond
all
thought of
A
No
sunny
its
rays
other
than
thy need,
pense.
February loth.
Because
stain
:
our
God
:
is
so
free
from
:
so
loving
so
unselfish
so
good
to be
so altogether
so holy,
declare
Him
in
can
touch
nothing but to
mould
into loveliness.
24
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
February 16th.
amid
tlie
quiet
February 17 th.
To do
God:
to
as
God
does
is
to
receive
of
do a service
is
to one
His
children
February 18th.
The man
In that
fear,
doubteth Thee.
February 19th.
Life and religion are one, or neither
is
anything.
25
Whosoever gives
water
to
a
one,
cup
of
cold
tlie
little
refreshes
February 21st.
It
is
because
God
is
perfect
that
we
February 22d.
Nothing
not
first
is
required of
man
that
is
in
God.
February 2od.
I think that
nothing made
is
lost,
my
gone
;
eyes
hath
But
to
my
soul
is
26
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHT
all
t^
That
In
this.
Thy
casket,
my dim
soul:
once, the
key apply,
shining whole.
February 2^th.
To
Lord
understand
is
the
words
life.
of
our
the business of
February 25th.
What
vice.
is
the
kingdom
truth,
is
of Christ ? rule of
rule of love, of
A
ser-
The King
the
chief
servant
in
it.
February 26th.
As soon
as ever
service
is
done
and not
is
that
moment
outside
kingdom.
FBOM GEORGE
31 AC
DONALD.
27
February
Lord,
27tli.
Thou
yet,
hast
much
still
to
make me
A
Thy
feeble infant
thoughts, Lord, in
my bosom
set.
Fulfill
me
of
Thy
will.
Feh'uary 28th.
MARCH,
March
Int.
Of
Of
noise
alone
is
borne
the
inward
springs
sense
silence
:
and from
action
alone
of
true
love
March
2(1.
The
perhaps
was
born
in
on
the
the fold at
March
Jesus
Sd.
to
us.
gives Himself
Shall
Shall
we
Him?
32
^ye
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
not give ourselves to
each
other,
wliom
He
loves.
March
4th.
do not draw back, for that we we are unworthy, nor even for that we are hard-hearted, and care not for The perfection of His rethe good. lation to us swallows up all our imperfections.
We
March
Life
is
6th.
a few
to
but
March
I think
6th.
wilt, heal
:
Thou Lord,
me
too,
The
Thou
wilt do.
And
hoping, I endure.
33
Our
truth
Lord's
arguments
of
its
are for
the the
to
presentation
carries
is
the
truth,
and
it.
own
conviction
him who
able to receive
March
Obedience
cause
is
8th.
as
divine
as
Will.
?
How
Be:
they are
March
9th.
We
are
perfect
in faith,
when
w^e
can come to God, in the utter dearth of our feelings, and our desires, without a glow or an aspiration
:
with the
weight of
"
failures, neglects,
Thou
art
my
refuge because
Thou
art
my
home."
34
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
March
10th.
Weep
if
thou
wilt,
but
weep not
all
too long.
for
work
will
March
Nothing
is
11th,
March
12th.
to
it,
To
is
:
see
a truth
know what
and
to
it
it,
to
understand
love
March
loth.
Let us have grace to serve our God with divine fear not with the fear that cringes and craves, but with the
:
bowing down
lights,
all
of all thoughts,
all deis
loves,
before
Him who
35
will
of
tliem
all
all,
and
who
have them
pure.
March 14th
It
is
grants
it
a boon
that
unwillingly;
less is
love
answers
a prayer to the
wrong and
hurt of him
who
prays.
March
15th.
God who
far
has
from
any
life
breat]i of
not
necessarily
in
his
heart,
as
we
March
16th.
da}^,
May
being
;
some
terri-
ble convulsion
36
BEAUTIFUL TnOUGTITS
nature, shake
all
tlie
may
still
tem-
March 17 th.
God
do
requires
of us
that
we should
Him
no
injustice.
March
18th.
!
Dome
up,
O Heaven
:
!
my
out
the
my
Un-
infinite
sea of
slay me,
I will trust
37
To men who
riddles.
are
March
20th.
It is the nature of
God, so
all
terriblyis
pure, that
as
it
destroys
fire,
that
not
like
pure
as
which
demands
burn
us,
we do not worship
fire
that
the
will
burn
us,
we wor-
ship thus.
March
21st.
The
sire
its
the
de-
to
know
incompleteness.
38
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
March 22d.
Whatever belonging
to
is
the
region
of thought
and feeling
of
uttered in
words,
fectly.
is
March 2Sd,
Be bounteous
misspent,
Is confidence
in
thy
faith,
for
not
lent.
Words
for
their
full
meaning
the
de-
pend upon
their
source,
person
who
speaks them.
So the words of God cannot mean just the same as tlie words of man.
March
Troubled Soul,
to feel, but thou
25th,
tliou art
not bound
to
arise.
art
bound
39
thee whether
thou feelest
or not.
MarcJi 26th.
Try not
good.
to
feel
good, wlien
thou
is
Him who
March
Every uplifting
27th.
of
the
heart
is
March
28th.
sup-
with
March
that praise
29th.
to
To be something
enough ?
God
is
not
40
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
March
30th.
cares
for,
To
cause
that
be a thing
God
and
not
life
is
3Iarch 31st.
The
Lord:'
true
self
is
that
which
can
"iHiy
APRIL.
April
1st.
Beauty doth not pass away Her form departs not, though body dies,
Secure beneath
the
earth,
her
the snow-
drop
lies.
April
2cl,
to
us
though
be indiffer-
44
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
April
If
4^.h,
we
are
what
speaks,
are
our
that
after
we may understand
we
He
at least equally bound to refuse any interpretation which seems to us unlike Him unworthy of Him.
April 5tlu
God
forgive
sense,
loves
is,
simply
lies
impossible:
April 6th,
more
as used
by God.
45
ye forgive not
neither
will
men
their
tres-
passes,
God holds the unforgiving man, with His hand, but turns His face away from him.
April 9th.
It
may
him.
be
infinitely
less
evil
to
for-
to
refuse to
In as far as
relations
we can we
between
quench
the
of life
We
One.
April 10th.
What man
46
aright,
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
him whose love makes him? Therefore we are told to love, and
save
refuse to judge
him
not to judge.
April 11th.
lied.
to
be
satis-
be satisfied
April 12tlu
The
way
to
is
worship
to
God
:
while
daylight lasts
work
April 13th.
We
ing
are
Christians,
we
look
at
ourselves,
and not
Christ.
47
God
of
does not by
Spirit,
tlie
instant gift
His
;
make ns
;
always
;
feel
as-
right
desire
pire after
Should
the
twilight
darken
anguish
nothing
into
night,
And
Thou
sorrow
art in
grow
to
be
thou strong
God, and
can
go wrong,
Which
fresh
life-pulse
cannot set
aright.
A2MI
Each
ing
of
IGtli,
us
the
has
within
him,
is
each
to
growthat
full
toward
revelation
of
secret to himself,
and so
the
48
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
according to
liis
reception,
measure,
of the Divine.
April
17tli.
We
do
not
half
appreciate
the
from
honest dullness.
April
IStli,
not choose his neighhe must take the neighbor that God sends him. Your neighbor is just the man, who is next to you, at
bor;
the
man must
moment.
Ajjril 19th.
We
and riches were the best things, for those to whom they were given; as deformity and poverty, were the best
for others.
49
first
April 21st.
The
terday?
Lord
says
"
Judge
not."
yes-
thy neighbor
to-morrow ?
April 22d.
It
is
strange
to
see,
how
even
may
by some
who
beside
them,
is
as
limestone to
marble. 4
50
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
April 23d.
Wliatever
God
but are we
sure that
we know what
He
does
April 34th.
So long as we hang back from doing w^hat conscience urges, there is no peace for us.
April 25th
The Lord
mies."
sible
!
says,
"Love
"It
your
is
ene-
Sayest
"
thou,
sayest
imposI
Thou
true,
doubt
not
who
but hast thou tried whether He made, will not increase the
Him.
51
Go
of
to
in the
His
tenderness,
human
will
pity.
"
ye
I
that labor
"A
never
strange
longing
not, nor
after
some-
thing he
knew
;
could name,
the
him
sometimes
growing even
April 28t}u
Little
did
Robert
think,
that his
soul was
52
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
unlovely
but as constantly, obscured and made by the words, without knowledge, spoken in the religious
April 29th.
The
will
of
God can
;
but
man can
the will
its
ing
goodness.
April 30th.
is one thing and a good thing, do for God's sake, that which is not His will; it is another thing, and
It
to
altogether a
better
thing,
is
to
do
for
His
will.
MAY.
May
Turn
thee
I'd,
and
for
to
thy
work;
o'er
let
God
alone;
And
wait
Him;
faint
the
To
thine
averted ears.
follow
Do
;
thou thy
slialt
follow
and
May
helps
of
to
2d,
evil,
which
human
56
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
May
Finding
best
of
3d,
unbelief of
liow the
the
the
poor
in
is
occasioned
by
the
hopelessness
sufferings
of
privation,
and
those
dear to them, he
communion
it
of friendship, could
for
make
in
possible
them
to
believe
God.
May 4tL
sult
not imagine that the redepends on you, or that a single human soul can be lost, because you
You must
may
fail.
May
God
a
tool
of,
is
5th,
tools,
can use us as
not
but to be
to
be a fellow-
worker with.
57
it
Repentance does not mean sorrow; means turning away from the sin.
Mai/
7th,
far
enough
about.
off
be
seen
and
thought
It
was clouds
rain.
now
I
no
thought how, at length, the world would float away, and we should see what it was that made it so hard for us to believe, and be at peace.
the evils
of
And
May 8th,
It
effort
is
true,
no
will
one
care
can
for
by an
this
of
the
or
where a man cares for nothing that is worth caring for, the fault must lie, not in the nature God
that;
but
58
BEAUTIFUL TnOUGHTS
man
Mai/ 9th.
When men
will that
unpleasant
terest.
duty become, at once, less to them, but life itself will immediately begin to gather in-
Mai/ 10th.
Thousands
great sacrifices
the
little
that
ai-e
are
capable
of
that are
required of them.
May
nth.
successive,
multitude
of
small
in the
sacrifices,
world,
69
mh.
human
heart,
in
The
all
cry of
the
ages,
May
poor,
13th.
Those who would do good to the must attempt it, in the way in which best they could do good to
people of their
own
standing.
14th,
May
Women
led by the
are
being
May
Christians
15th.
must be
in
the world as
60
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
in the
and in proportion as the truth radiated from them, the world would be able to believe in Him.
world
:
He was
May
16tL
Who
no more
to
shall
say
God
Himself, and
is
working
May
Our
is
17th,
fate is in
our
own
the
hands.
It
ours to determine
shall go.
direction
in
which we
May
The
be
the
foolish child
18th,
thinks
there
can
nothing, where
he sees
if,
nothing;
human
heart feels, as
is
61
God. " But as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts."
to
May
If
19th.
God cannot
gifts
;
save a
man by
his
all
His good
of
woman,
higher
nature,
but
by
that
of
refused,
herself,
the
his
woman's
giving
to
more unredeemable.
May
Wth.
May
31st.
62
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
May md.
We
God,
in-
we
May
Contempt
the
is
23d,
intellect,
as
committed by the
May
Would
it
24th.
be any kindness
not to
to
punish sin?
Not
to use all
means
us.
evil thing
from
May
God
is
25t1u
to
nearer
you
than
any
63
felt
if
my
heart
as
hard
or
as
stone
or
God
woman,
or little child, I
say to God, in
see
art
my
lieart,
how
I trust Thee,
because
I
Thou
like
perfect,
not me. I do not love Thee. Thou seest how even sorry for it. much I need Thee to come close to me, to put Thy arm around me, to say to me My Child,' for the worse
^
am
my
state,
the greater
my
need."
May
Everything
able.
is
27th.
possible;
but without
is
nothing
achiev-
May
It
is
28th.
64
is
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
really all
we have
to concern our-
selves about
what
to do next.
May 29th.
We
are,
perhaps, too
of
much
death
in the as
habit of
thinking
of
the
re-
culmination
disease,
itself,
is
which,
garded only in
a terrible evil.
But
first
death as the
old,
pulse
the
new
mouldy
it
remnants
of
earth-gar-
ments, that
the
old.
may
begin, in freedom,
new
life
that grows
out of
the
May
30th.
Some natures will endure a great amount of misery before they feel
compelled
to
look
there,
for
help,
whence
all
65
May
Never any one
self,
31st.
tried
to
be better,
JUNE.
June
1st.
Do
with
us
of
what
Thou
are
wilt,
all
glorious heart;
Thou God
them that
not
yet,
but grow
We
We,
trust
Thee
are
we
shall
be yet;
too,
ill
we
are.
June 2d.
kingdom of heaven is not when God's will is our even come, when God's will is come law; it is our will.
The
70
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
June 3d.
the
more
God
wish
it
is
your
Father whether
you
or not.
June
5th.
things look to us
near.
and
What
;
they
Him, is what they are we cannot see them so, but we see them as He meant us to see them, therefore
truly,
of the created.
Ju7ie 6tli.
can
ever
save
his
soul.
can do that.
71
is
riches,
is
be
able
to
do
without
power.
June 8th.
who
he
That man has begun to be strong has begun to know that separated from life essential, that is God,
is
weakness
itself;
if
inexhaustible,
origin.
June 9th.
ing
is
is
goherre-
self
hill,
turning
through
age
to
the
second
and
better
childhood
which
away.
72
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
June 10th.
On
earth
the
far
to
horizon
heaven
old
and
seemed
meet
as
friends,
Ju7ie 11th.
The
joicing,
earth
like
the
if
not
over a sinner
over a
a
man
of
lower
life
into
a
its
out
earth into
air.
June
12th.
to
life.
To make
things real
us
is
the
We
often
think
we
believe
what
73
inations.
The
least
faith.
Ju7ie 14th.
You cannot leave thoughts as you do books. Those you love only come
nearer
to
you when
you
go away
from them.
June loth.
Faith in
iest
its
is
form,
at the
mo-
June 16th.
God
things,
lets
men
the
have
children
to
their
tliey
playare,
like
that
they
may
learn
distinguish
possessions.
74
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
June 17th.
Enduring evil, witliout returning was the Saviour's way. I fancy there would be more Christians, and
evil,
of
a better
stamp,
in
the
Avorld,
if
that
always adopted.
June 18th,
is
able to look
down
is
more
blessed
than
he
Avho
re-
June 19th.
is,
is
no
empti-
FllOM GEOBGE
MAC BONALB.
75
June Wtlu
Religion
the Father.
is
simply the
way home
to
June
31st.
Obedience
It
is
is
the
only
way
to
grow
able
to
trust
Him.
Ju7ie 22d.
The gospel
our
is
understandings, but
our hearts:
June 33d.
hover
trees
and
there, as
their
fruit
might be
76
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
of
our Creator
June
^4^71.
God
us,
finds
it
very
hard
to
teach
but
He
is
June 25th.
Love and
sides of the
are
June 26th.
Nothing
3^our
but
Christ
very
own
not
teacher
all
and
about
brother,
the
Him,
77
One
ten him
oue^ht
not
if
to
be
miserable
forgot-
about anotlier, as
God had
only
June
i^Oth.
Do you
liver
think
Jesus
came
to
de-
sins?
The
all
and
liver
until
punishment is to help to deus from it, nor will it cease we have given up being bad.
June 30th.
To
the loving
soul
alone
does the
JULY.
July
1st.
the
grassy sod,
And
For Thou art so far, that I often doubt, As on every side I stare.
Searching within, and looking without, If Thou art anywhere.
July 2d.
God's
doctrine
mercy
of
is
infinite
is
and
the
adoption
one
of the
so-called Church,
6"
82
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
and scare
them from
Juli/ 3d.
something better and and lovelier, that Christ Only you must leave will teach you. human teachers altogether, and give
It
will
be
better, lovelier
yourself to
Him
to be taught.
Jicli/
^th.
If we do not trust God, and will not work with Him; but are always thwarting Him, in His endeavors to make us there alive, then we must be miserable
:
is
no help
for
it.
July 5th.
The thing
that
only
does
FE03f GEORGE
well
;
MAC DONALD.
83
and
is it
that he does
The doing
of things
from
dut}^,
is
July
7th.
To hold
neighbor
true
fast
that
religion
and the
way
yet to come.
July 8th,
are unaware of their and never pray against them, that must be led into temptation,
It
is
those
who
proclivities,
lest
they
sliould
forever
continue
capable of evil.
84
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
July 9th,
I
if
I could
get
head and heart into the kingdom of Heaven, I should find that everything else would come right. I believe it is God Himself I want nothing will do but Himself in me.
my
July
lOtli.
you are good, then you will know why He did not make you good at first, and will be perfectly satisfied with the reason because you will find so good, it good and just and right that it was altogether beyond the un;
When
derstanding of one
who
is
not good.
July 11th.
Peace
is
for those
who do
it.
the truth,
who
opine
85
To know God
is
to be in the secret
July 13th,
To
one
his
moment
lit
for a fellow-
July
IJ^th.
When
sky,
it
I look like
full of a
could
the
dawning
the face of
God
out
86
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
July 15 th.
It
is
for the
revelation
that
of
all
human
souls,
they
a
God may
so
to
be
beis
coming
Gospels.
like
Him, that
child
them, in
the
July 16th.
Reality,
however lapped
in
vanity,
lose its
or
even
in
falsehood, cannot
power.
July 17th.
Forgiveness
lovely.
is
July 18th.
To
brush
that struggles
toward
the
light
to
with
gentle
hand, the
earth-
87
from
the
white
of
one
snow-
drop, such be
my
ambition.
Juli/ 19th.
People
dences.
I
talk
about
special
provi-
but
not in
the
specialty.
lets the
do not
think that
affairs
God
thread of
my
go for six
seventh
moment.
Jul?/ 20tli.
Until
to
we
what He
have
disciples
tells
we have no
all
right
an ojDinion
;
us.
88
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
July 2l8t.
My
I
God,
for me.
am
And
July 22d,
is the most man, who in punishment to a dreadful the main is honest.
To
July 23d,
I would never would spend my energy in setting forth what I believe, and so leave it to work its own way.
If
had
my
way,
argue
at
all.
89
truth,
to desire
truth to
desire.
July 25th.
Love
is
is
changeless.
July 26th,
I do not think that the road to contentment lies in despising what we have not got. Let us acknowledge all good, and be content without it.
July 27th.
The world will never be right till the mind of God is the measure of
things,
of
God
the law
of things.
90
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
Juhj
9.8tli.
Remember
the
it.
Truth
depends not
on your seeing
July 29th
Show me
from
an}^, let
the person
it
ready to step
and
holier air;
and
I will
look to find, in
and
life
selfish
more
rest.
July 30th.
In giving,
to the
we
receive
is
more than
in
w^e
more
proportion
91
Well do
being ought
to be
know
not
one
it
:
human
even
were
possible
enough
for himself
each of us
soul
;
human
He
but
He
has enough
we ought each
of
what
is
having enough.
AUGUST.
August
1st.
We
believe
nay, Lord,
shall
we only
hope,
that
led
Us back
into the
bosom
of
Thy
love.
August 3d.
Our
duct, not
talk about
least
of
all,
into
what they
of the gospel.
August 3d.
If
the world
is
God's,
every true
in
it.
man ought
to feel at
home
96
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
August
^tli.
Something
the
is
wrong,
if
the cahii of
summer night
God
is
there
embodied.
August
5th.
As
fills
the light
fills
the earth, so
God
what we
call
life.
August
6th.
To do what we
gether
higher,
ought,
is
an
alto-
diviner,
more
potent,
more creative
tiful
carve
the
mightiest
97
Christian
is
just
what the Lord Jesus tells him. Neither more nor less than that makes a
Christian.
Augmt
The
Lord
as
lias
8th.
not
old
forsaken ones
His
think just
the
choose.
tell
The Lord
them, and
getting them
ready to
August
9th.
On
the borders
of her playfulness,
hang a fringe
all
its
of
thoughtfulness, as
present
if
moment owed
and
98
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
to
her,
and
to us, in
August 10th.
Everything God gives you
to
do,
you must do
that
for
is
as well
as
you
can,
and
do
the
best
possible
preparation
you
to
next.
August 11th.
It
was one
life
of
the
lessons
of
our
Lord's
power
August
12th.
We
things,
common
they be-
the will
of
God
is
in little every-
day
affairs,
and that
how
come
so irksome to us.
99
gives
man
to
do must
be in
its
nature
nobie,
est.
as certainly noble
as the high-
August
Life
will
is
IJfth.
who
listen
the
-August
15tJi.
Something
is
wrong
is
in the
man
to
whom
the sunrise
simplicity, the
August
16th.
anj^-
man
lose
100
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
of
chance
body.
doing
something
for
his
August
17th.
God
souL
is
the only
home
of the
human
August
18tli.
real
duty
is
always
a
something
right in
itself.
The duty
man makes
it
by supposing
to be
a duty,
may
in itself.
August 19 th,
Believe in the Will that with a thought can turn the shadow of death into the morning give gladness for weeping, and the garment of praise for
;
101
to share
good thing, Imt it unable alone to enjoy a good thing. It is our enjoyment that should make
us desire to share.
to be able to share.
not well to be
To
enjoy alone
is
August
21st,
Respect and graciousness from each to each, is the very essence of Christianity, independent of rank or possession or relation.
August 22d,
The man
suffering
is is
who
not wise.
it is
would
spare
due
unpleasant
ought not
to be.
102
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
sinners
ministry of pain.
August Q3d.
dering ghosts
who would
be good,
if
they might
without
life
taking
to
trouble
would
not be worth a
hold
it.
August
^Ifth.
Instead of God's truth they offer man's theory, and accuse of rebellion against God such as cannot live on the husks they call food.
August
25t7i.
He speaks against God Avho says He does things that are not good. It
103
it
make
August 26th.
The
what
right.
is
justice
of
God
is
the love of
what
is
name
of justice
August 27th,
How
How
They fought
They
suffered
pure.
104
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
August ^8th.
When
row
is
it is
neither sor-
To
Aufjust S9th.
I
know
life
in
God.
August 30th.
Our dependence
We
105
God cannot by
out, yet
is
searching be found
we
know, the one we cannot lielp knowing for His end in giving us being, is that His humblest creature shoukl at length possess Himself, and be possessed by Him.
can
best
;
SEPTEMBER.
September
1st.
Defeat thou
know'st
not,
canst
not
know
'Tis that thy aims so lofty go,
They need as long to root and grow, As infant hills to reacli the snow.
September 2d.
God
will
if
it
But you will have to go sometime and if you contrived to live after God wanted you to go, you would find 3^ourself much less ready when the time came that you must go.
110
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
September 3d.
God
is
the
and while this world is His and that world is His, there can be no inconsistency, no violent difference, between there and here.
Sejjtemher
Iftli.
All
God's.
is
man's,
only
because
it
is
Sepiemher 5th.
to
get at
what
is
Evil that is not seen to be evil by one willing and trying to do right, is not counted evil to him. It is evil,
Ill
to
be evil or
it
whether
be or not.
September
7tli.
The philosopher
the
is
is
he who lives in
;
thought of things
the
Christian
selves.
September 8th.
if I could get them and beautiful things in words, it would not only do them good, but would help them to see what is in the Bible and therefore love it more.
I thought that
to like poetry
Sei^tember 9th.
It is in
our
own
actions that
112
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
for the
up
to
right
our business
is
not
from our neighbor's wrong, but our neighbor from our wrong. This is to slay evil, the
protect ourselves
other
is
to
make
it
multiply.
September 10th.
Things are ours, that we may use sometimes that we may for all sacrifice them. God had but one precious thing and He gave that.
them
September 11th.
There
self
is
the
Christ in us.
September 12th,
Religfion
is
medicine of being.
tial.
the
life essen-
113
Depend upon
use of
its
life,
it,
we
get
our best
in learning,
Son
Man.
September
lJ{ih.
God
His
to
make and
see
September 15th.
Thanks be to Him for His north winds and His poverty, and His bitterness
errs
!
that
falls
upon the
spirit
that
Let
those
Avho
for
know Him,
thus
praise the
Lord
His goodness.
16tli.
September
"
By
8
life,
mean
being.
If there
114
BEAUTIFUL THOUGUTS
Malcolm, "
lest
worse should be
is
waiting
If there
all
me
one, so
be Avhat
He
pleases."
September 17th,
Some people are content not to do mean actions. I want to become incapable of a mean thought or feeling.
September ISth.
As we grow ready for true nobility, somewhere or other we will find Avhat
is
or best of
the
eternal
thoughts.
September
lOtli.
There
is
no strength
in
unbelief.
115
what
is
false is
no source of might. It is the truth shining from behind, that gives the
strength to disbelieve.
September ^Oth.
God may
His government
may seem
to
deny
it.
September
It is
^2 1st.
God
up
to
when the sun is shining. But if a man be miserable, if the storm is coming down on him,
Him,
in trustful bliss,
what
is
he to do?
There
is
nothing
mean in seeking God then, though it would have been nobler to seek Him
before.
116
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
September 22d.
If
if
seen the
if
Lord,
you have any vaguest suspicion that Jesus was a better man than other men, one of your first duties must be to open your ears to His words, and see whether they commend themselves to you as true; then, if they do, to obey them with your whole strength and might.
only from
September 23d,
When we
only do
ourselves.
understand
Him,
life
then
we understand our
and
September ^^th.
greatest thing
man
is
Trust in God.
117
The
is
to
the
God.
September Q6th.
its
own danger
or
September 27th.
I imagine that to
show itself the lovely and pure thing it was created for
will
;
he will see through the cloudy envelope of his battle to the living kernel below.
September 28th.
What
a joy to
know
that,
of
all
lis
tilings
BEAVTIFVL THOUGHTS
and
us
of
all
thoughts
est to
so
far
Gcni
we
is
near-
near that
infinitely.
eajinot see
Him, but
know
Him
Septemhrr i^k.
God
is
alone can
tell
what delights
tlie
it
possible for
heart,
Him
to give to
pure
in
who
shall
one
dav behold
Him.
Septemhtr
-JOth.
is
The
to see
it
for
and feel in it, what God made and the uplifting of the soul
is
by that knowledge,
havins:.
OCTOBER.
October 1st,
roses
were
to be
Do
be willing
for
Thy sorrow
enfold
the
gorgeous
June,
thou
October 2d.
into
and tlnDse who do not into the forces and facts, the slaves and fancies those who are
let
who
tilings
go,
122
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
doing
something on God's and those that are always grumbling and striving against them.
always
creative lines,
October 3d.
To
ing.
miss
is
October 5th.
One
incapable
of
drudgery cannot
The
or
is
is
deteris
what
123
I thought within myself, that if there were a God, He certainly knew that I would give myself to Him, if I could: that if I knew Jesus to be really His son, however it might seem strange to believe in Him, and hard to obey liini, and then a verse I would try to do so about the smoking flax and the bruised reed came into my head, and a great hope arose in me.
;
October 8th.
good and the bad makes good good thoughts and good desires in us but we must yield we must turn to Him we must consent to be made good.
sliows us the
God
urges
us
to
be
October 9th.
to
come
124
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
tlie
near to God,
more he
felt
that
the high-road to
God
forest of humanity.
October 10th.
It
is
Spirit
works,
He
Oetoher 11th,
Good
women,
in
their
supposed
October imh.
Until Ave
onl}^
becjin
to
learn that
the
real
way
to
serve
God, in
any
FROM GEORGE
sense
of
3IAC DONALD.
is
125
the
word,
to
serve
our
got one
foot
across
the
threshold of
the kingdom.
October 13th.
Most High
self
are
of
doors
outwards
smallness
out
out
of
out
of wrong.
October l^th.
It
is
is
summer
is
alone
His.
that
The
Avinter also
our
poverty,
sorrow
even
the
the
winter
of
winter
our
dis-
the
winter of our
content.
126
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
October IStJi.
The
all
love
of of
Gocl
all
is
the
source of
joy,
and
October 17tlu
to those
who have
it
to live.
October 18th.
is
a
the
word
un-
God
as
leal
and true
as
it
grows.
127
Perhaps the highest moral height which a man can reach, and at the same time the most difficult of attainment, is
the willingness to be notliing.
October 20tlu
We
in
the
greatest,
us,
only by the Godlike Avithin and he that loves thus the good and great has no room, no thought, no necessity for comparison and difference.
October 2l8t.
Sunshine
is
not gladness,
because
are
far
you see
Him
not.
is
The
stars
away because He
not near.
128
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
October 22d.
The
cries
it
out for
It is
something, and
crying for
its
cry.
Gocl
and
the day will world will look dull and gray, till your heart is satisfied and quieted with the presence of Him in whom we live, move, and have
And
the
our being.
October 23d.
I believe
way
must
of thinking of
will
never can
is
and
truth,
essential
October
SJftli.
129
she
was
only
the
beneficent
shadow
of joy.
October 25th.
When we
swept av/ay.
October 26th.
Love is the final atonement, oi which and for which the sacrifice of the atonement was made. And till this atonement is made in every man, sin holds its own, and God is not all in
all.
October 27th.
The
God.
goal of
all life is
the
face of
October 28th.
130
that she
thing,
tried
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
was in the world to do someand she saw that if nohody to keep things right they would
go terribly wrong. If slie could do nothing with the big things, she must be the busier with tlie
little
things.
October 29th.
Perhaps
is
she
:
had
to
learn
yet
higher lesson
of
it
fail,
would be
in
better that
we should go
this
out
blackness.
But
Will
is
our Salvation.
shall live also.
Because
He
liveth,
we
October 30th.
Is
it
true
that
all
our experiences
will one
day revive
in entire clearness
131
and
passing before
to the
the
horror-struck
soul
asserIf so,
denial
of time,
and the
for
tion
of
ever-present
eternity?
us,
then
God
be
with
we
shall
need Him.
October 31st.
The
the
Spirit
of
God
lies
all
about
sea,
spirit of
man,
in, at
like a
mighty
ready to rush
in the
his
own.
NOVEMBER.
November
Better a death
1st.
when work
Than
earth's
Than
November 2d,
That which
plentifully,
as
is is
best
He
gives most
reason
fulness
with
of
Him.
ordinary
ask
it.
November 3d.
And
then I thought
it
of
the
listeth,
wind which is
136
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
I thanked God for whose story and whose
everywhere, and
the Life of
life
November
If
J^tli.
we do evil that good may come, we looked for will never come But once evil is done, we thereby. may humbly look to Him who bringeth
the good
good out
of evil
and wait.
November 5th.
Only as we do our duty will light go up in our hearts, making us wise to understand the precious words of
our Lord.
November
6th.
What we
little
all
need
is
just to
;
become
children like
Him
to cease to be
137
about many things, and trust Him, seeking only that He slioulcl rule, and that we should be made good like Him.
in
November
7th.
We
profess
to
think
Jesus
of
the
grandest
and
most glorious
men,
and yet hardly care to be like Him and so when we are offered His Spirit
for the asking,
we
Avill
it.
JVovemher 8th.
The philosopher
occupies
himself
with what God ma}^ intend, the Christian with what God may want him to
do.
N'ovemher 9th.
It is a joy to
think that
He
will not
138
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
if you should and ask for it, as
take
such.
it
for
loaf,
N^overnher 10th.
When
people
do
not
understand
what the Lord says, when it seems to them that His advice is impracticable, instead of searching deeper for a meaning which will be evidently true and
wise, they comfort themselves by think-
ing
He
it
al-
November 11th.
Let us seek to find out what our Lord means that we may do it trying and failing, and trying again, verily what matter to be victorious at last, ivhen so long as we are trying, and so coming nearer to our end.
:
189
To
serve
is
ing in creation.
Man came
but to minister.
November 13th.
Father! we need
spring,
Thy winter
as
Thy
And Thy
Thy
great heart.
Will cease
Will
lift
vex Thee
Avith
our pee-
vish cries.
sorrowful.
pray for
Thy
help,
when pain
November l^th.
It has
man
140
BEAUTIFUL TUOUQHTS
to the
is
is added burden of to-day that the weight more than a man can bear.
November loth.
One
of the
highest benefits
that
we can way of
God with
ourselves
is,
we become
whom we
Him,
November 16th,
The
poorest
success,
provided
the
attempt has been genuine, will enable one to enter into any art ten times
better than before.
November 17th.
I think the
rest, in
heaven, as here,
God, and
if
we
141
Him
itself
be, if
November 18th.
Humble
of
God which
November 19 th.
Nothing but the love
God
revealed in Christ
November 20th.
One
battles
have
and
in one
to be
is
fought,
at once
ances.
142
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
November
21st,
tlie
Contempt
is
one of
lowest
aii}^
spirit-
being can
Our Lord
says,
"Take
heed that ye despise not one of these little ones, for their angels do always behold the face of My Father, who is
in heaven."
November 22d.
In thinking
lovingly about others,
we think
November 23d.
There
is
light out
out of wrong.
November
2^111.
When
143
dragging us into the dark mountains, we have no less to go with it, than when, like a friend with loving face, it offers to lead him along green pastures, by the river-side.
November
It
is
25tli,
a fine thing in
to be silent.
friendship
to
know when
November
Action
is
26tli.
more
powerful
than
November 27th.
Some spirit must move in that wind that haunts us with a kind of
human
sorrow.
144
BEAUTIFUL TU0UGUT8
November 28th,
Thou,
too,
hast
such
waiting
chamber,
for
thee.
quietest place,
Where
That
God What is
is
it
November 29th.
In the cold desolate garret he knelt
and cried out unto that which laybeyond the thought that cried, the unknowable infinite, after the God
who may
little
be
found,
as his
surely as
child
knows
mysterious
mother.
November 30th.
God cannot
than
be
more
your
be
Father
He
is.
You may
more His
145
you are, but not more than He meant you to be, nor more than He made you for.
than
10
DECEMBER.
December
1st.
But He said that they who did His work The truth of it should know:
do it if He be Lord, Perhaps the old spring will flow. old spirit wind will Perhaps the
I will try to
blow,
That He promised
to their prayer.
And
doing
Thy
will, I
yet shall
know
December 2d.
The winter restrains that the summer may have the needful time to do
150
its
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
work well
:
is
but
December 3d.
Shall
life
itself
its
be
less
beautiful
than one of
lieve
it.
days?
call
Do
the
not be-
shadow upon the universe, Avhere their own dusky souls come between life; and then it and the eternal sun
thrown
Men
mourn
that
it
should be
less
bright
December
All good
is
4i^i.
God. If a man love his brother whom he hath seen, the love of God, whom he hath not seen,
of
is
off.
December 5th.
Unto
every one
whom God
hath
151
work
to
Decejnber 6th.
Whatever
may
be
meant
by
it,
:
the
it
is
love only another form of love shining through the fogs of ill, and so made to look something very different.
December
7th.
tries
The
to
simplest
woman who
neighbor,
not
judge
her
is
will
better
know what
best-read
best to
bishop
without
one
the
effort
to
do the will of
Him
who
thus spoke.
152
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
December
8th.
is
His
right-
Becemher
9th.
As
me,
is
far
as
my
experience
guides
am bound
for
cient
seed.
the
growth
of
gospel
December 10th.
Aspiration
and
obedience
are
the
two mightiest
December 11th.
sure
When God
I see
That sight
will be
my
rest.
153
The
because
there
is
true
of
way
our
is
difficult
unchildlikeness,
life
enough, but
gained,
a fresh
height,
for
a purer air
more climbing.
December ISth.
not seek
December
IJfth,
The winter
year.
is
and into
this
all
the
year must
we
154
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
December 15th.
When
the
human
soul
is
God-man, God, sometimes, might I not say always ? reveals Himself, or at least gives Himself, in some human being, whose face, whose hands are tlie ministering angels of His unacknowledged presence, to keep alive the fire of love on the altar of the heart, until God hath provided the sacrifice that is, until the soul is strong enough to draw
to receive the vision of the
it
December 16th.
not good that a man should day and night at the gate of heaven. Sometimes he can do nothing else, and then nothing else is worth doing but the very noise of the siege
It
is
batter
155
still
small
December
17tli.
No human
pure benefactor.
being
has
ever
been
The
December 18 th.
as to
make own
it
eyes.
to
Him
to pray always
God, however would have He can speak for then Him, to us talk
may
be,
156
to US
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
better
than Avlien
we turn no
face to
Him.
December 20th.
God
Him.
Decemher 21st.
soul
Thy God
the
all
parable, but a
thy
Decemher 22d.
Who
Where tumult
Is never cold
FB OM GEOBGE MA C DONALD.
For
if an evil host should dare His very heart invest, God is his deeper heart, and there
157
He
December 23d.
the
true glory.
December 2^th.
A
may
body cannot
rise to the
height of
grace all at once, nor yet in ten or twenty years. Maybe if I do right, I
all
be
done.
December
25tli.
I call
In the name of the holy child, Jesus, upon you tliis Christmas Day to
158
cast
BEAUTIFUL mOUGHTS
care
:
to
God
ask
to
remember
the
one gift
Spirit
is
Holy
save in as far as
we
are fellow-laborers
with God.
We
December 27th.
If
anvthing,
would
be
enough
to
is
prove
it
must
be, in
some
if it
of
its
relations, as
mysterious as
were a hundred.
159
"What
poor?
is
a
is
man
lie
to to
do
for
the
How
work
with
God?"
them
higher
natural
and
to
therefore,
his
in
all
ways,
relations
fulfilling
endless
human
them.
December 29th.
thing
am
pretty
sure.
enjoyment of
work.
"
applies
equally to
that
lies
Do
the
is
tiling
all
next you."
That
our business.
December 30th.
Whatever you do
let 3^our
for
the
is
needy,
you, in
own
being,
relation to them,
be
that
the background,
that so you
may
be
a link
between
IGO
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS.
say,
of
December 31st,
Thou
Many a wrong, and its curing song; Many a road, and many an inn Room to roam, but only one home
For
all
INDEX
INDEX.
Action,
143.
Affliction, 19.
Against God,
103.
Aid, an, 111. All at once, 157. All his Works declare Him, 23. All that can be done, 16.
An
opportunity, 99.
88.
Battle-cause of
life, 73.
Begin to be strong,
Being, 114.
71.
Be
satisfied, 84.
Best, 135.
164
INDEX,
Best things, 48. Best use of life, 113. Be willing to be old, 121. Burdens, 20, 140.
Business of
life, 26.
Calm
of the
summer
night, 96.
Care ye
little, 9.
51, 82.
89.
Cry of Humanity,
59.
Cup
Days
of gladness, 115.
9, 10, 64, 135.
Death,
Defeat, 109.
19, 149.
INDEX,
Doubt, 24, Drudgery,
49, 63, 114,
165
144
122.
Dullness, 48.
Duty,
Failures,
15.
Feeling, 39.
Forces and Facts, 122. Forest of Humanity, 124. Forgiveness, 43, 44, 45, 86.
Free-will, 123.
Gladness
100.
God
166
INDEX.
God's patience, 76. God's school, 99, 115. God's will, 89.
God with thee, 12, 35, 62. Good to the poor, 59, 159. Good women, 124.
Gospel, 75.
Growth,
47, 61.
Here and there, 110. Higher joy, 88. Higher Life, 90. His end in giving, 105.
His north winds, His Spirit, 47. Hoping, 32.
113.
Human, we
Hurt
Husks,
102.
love, 12.
of love, 16.
If
If
INDEX.
In God,
25.
167
Inward
sense, 31.
Judge
Kindness,
62.
Kingdom
Knowledge,
Labor,
63, 158.
Life
and
religion, 24.
2, 14.
Longing, 51, 81, 84, 103, 128, Lost years, 26. Love, faith, obedience, 76. Lowest work, 98.
156.
Man's
labors, 21.
Mean
thoughts, 114.
168
Mercy,
81.
INDEX,
Ministry of pain, 102. Misery, 64, 65, 77, 82, 151. Mist and clouds, 57.
More
blessed, 74.
62.
87.
Murder,
My
ambition,
11.
Not able to receive, 154. Not understanding, 138. Not having enough, 91.
Nothing, 127.
Not
love, 8.
Obedience,
One day, 95. One providence, 32. One of the lessons, 98. One of your first duties,
Only God, 10. Only lovely thing, Only way, 3.
Opportunity,
82.
116.
11, 156.
INDEX,
Our truer
self, 112.
169
26.
Parting,
160.
PMlosopher,
111.
Playthings, 130.
Power
Providences,
87.
Punishments,
77, 88.
Purest love of a
Purity, 37, 118.
woman,
8.
Quiet heart,
153.
Real Duty,
100.
135.
57.
170
INDEX.
Sacrifice,
58, 112.
Salvation, 131.
Simple words,
37.
Smoking
Sorrow,
Still
flax, 123.
157.
Stillness
and Thunder,
21.
13.
Strength of a
Success, 140.
Sunrise, 99.
woman,
Smishine, 127.
Take thought,
Temptation,
83.
14.
That which we
"The Thing,"
122.
iyi)EX.
Thoughts,
73.
171
Thy
To
Trees of Life,
Troubled Soul, 38. True nobility, 114, True power, CI. True self, 40.
115.
True way,
Trusted,
8.
153.
Truth,
56.
Victory, Voice, A,
117.
24.
Waiting,
85.
Who is a Christian,
97.
172
Will of God,
52.
INDEX,
Women's
mistake, 59,
7.
61.
Work
Young and
Your Your Your Your
Old, 97.
enemies, 50. Father, 70. neighbor, 48. next duty, 22, 64.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS