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Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-Two, by D. L. Palmek, at the Department of Agriculture. PREFACE. The prelude to this work, Emerson on Compensation, is the key note to the whole of the Scriptures. Whether Emerson got his knowledge from the 3rd Chapter of John, or the writings of Paul, I know not ; but it is evident he believed in the science of extension and growth. King Romulus wrote a book to shew that man grew as reeds grow. He could hardly have written it from reason, and though it must have looked silly, even to himself, yet his instincts overcame his prejudice. But silly and all as his book seemed to me, when I read it some ;^:i years ago, I was reminded of it when I read in the Bible, Mark, Chap. 8 : And he cometn to Bethsaida ; and they bring a blind' man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town ; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men, as trees, walking. After that he put /lis hands again upon his eyes, and ruade him look up ; and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. The prophetess of classic fable, who wrote the burden of her prophecy on forest-leaves, and then committed the precious pages to the winds, left it to others to find the inspiration of her song and the wit to rearrange. The same applies to the Scriptures, whose voice of language is scattered in chapter and verse. He who would rearrange them to their proper intent and meaning, has solved the burden of its song. " It is the tomb that speaks and delivers up its secret." That I may not be misunderstood in regard to gro .tli I here present a few facts worth recording, taken from Hayden on Spiritualism. If we take the bony structure of IT PREFACE. the human frame, it will present to the eye of man his rude image. Take nov the tissues, and we have a more perfect resemblance. Treat the arterial or venous system in like manner, and you approach to a nearer completeness. And now examine the cerebro-spinal axis, that is, the brain and nervous system ; and, without the others, you have au almost perfect man before you. We are a series of human forms, and are being clothed upon. We renew ourselves day unto day, and die daily. David sang : •' For I am fear- fully and wonderfully made. But John spoke the greater truth : " For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost ; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood ; and these three agree in one." I would like to quote many strange sayings in Shak- spcre, and much valuable chat in Bacon ; but, as I con- template writing another book, I shall conclude my pre- face with a quotation from Pericles, and part of an essay on death, by Bacon, Per. O Helicanus, strike me, honor'd sir : Give me a gash, put me to present pain ; Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me, O'erbear the shores of my mortality. And drown me with their sweetness. O come hither Thou that begeit'st him that did thee beget ; Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tharsus, And found at sea again ! — Pericles. But were we servants of the precept given, and obseri vers of the heathen's rule, " memento mori," and not be' come benighted with this seeming felicity, we should enjoy it as men prepared to lose, and not wind up our thoughts upon so ])er shing a fortune ; he that is not slackly strong, as the servants of pleasure, how can he be found unready to quit the veil and false visage of his perfection ? The soul, having shaken off her tiesh, dotli then set up for herself, and contemning things that are under, shows what finger hath enforced her ; for the souls of idiots are of the same piece with those of statesmen, but now and then nature is at a fault, and this good guest of ours takes soil in an imper- fect body, and so is slackened from showing her wonders ; like an excellent musician, which cannot utter himself upon a defective instrument. PREFACE. If , But see how I am swerved, and lose my course touch- ing at the soul, that doth least hold action with death who A c ^^T^} properly in this frail act; his stile is the end of al flesh, and the beginning of incorruption riiis ruler o monuments leads men for the most part out of this wor Id with their heels forward ; in token tha he IS contrary to life; which, being obtained, sends niin head- long mto this wretched theatre! where, ba'ng arrive Sr first language is that of mourning. Nor in m v own thoughts can I compare men more ^tly to anvf 'i^^l^ t lu o the Indian hg-tree, which, being rinened to his full height, IS said to decline his branches down to the earth • So man having derired iiis being from the earth firsf lives the hte of a tree, drawing his n'ourishment a a plant and made npe for death he tends downwards, and is sowed again in his mother the earth, where he peri'sheth noT bu expects a quickening.— Bacon. ' PRELUDE. "J'he wings of Time are black and white, Pied with morning and with night, Mountain tall and ocean deep Trembling balance duly keep. In changing moon, in tidal wave, (ilows the feud of Want and Have, (lauge of more and less through space J'ilectric star and pencil plays. The lonely Earth amid the balls 'J'hat hurry through the eternal halls, A make-weight flying to the void, Supplemental asteroid. Or comi)ensatory spark. Shoots across the neutral Dark. Man's the elm, and wealth the vine ; .Staunch and strong the tendrils twine : Though the frail ringlets thee deceive. None from its stock that vine can reave. Fear not, then, thou child infirm. There's no god dare wrong a worm. J.aurel crowns cleave to deserts. And power to him who power exerts; Hast not thy share? On winged feet, Lo ! it rushes thee to meet ; And all that Nature made thy own. Floating in air or ])ent in stone, AN'ill rive the hills and swim the sea, And, like thy shadow, follow thee. J* Ever since I was a boy I have wished to write a dis" course on Comjxnsation ; for it seemed to me, when very young, that on this subject life was ahead of theology, and he people knew more than the preachers taught. The documents, too, from which the doctrine is to be drawn, charmed my fancy by their endless variety, and lay always PRELUDE. J before me, even in sleep, for they are the tools in our hands, the bread in our basket, the transaction of the street, the farm, and the dwelling-house, greetings, relations, debts and credits, the influence of character, the nature and en- dowment of all men. It seemed to me, also, that in it might be shown men a ray of divinity, the present action of the soul of this world, clean from al' vestige of tradition, and so the heart of man might be bathed by an inundation of eternal love, conver- sing with that which he knows was always and always must be, because it really is now. It appeared, moreover, that, if this doctrine could be stated in terms with any resem- blance to those bright intuitions in which this truth is sometimes revealed to us, it would be a star in many dark hours and crooked passages in our journey that would not suffer us to lose our way. I was lately confirmed in these desires by hearing a ser- mon at church. The preacher, a man esteemed for his orthodoxy, unfolded in the ordinary manner the doctrine of the last Judgment. He assumed that judgment is not executed in this world ; that the wicked are successful ; that the good are miserable ; and then urged, from reason and from Scripture, a compensation to be made to both parties in the next life. No offence appeared to be taken by the Congregation at this doctrine. As far as I could observe, when the meeting broke up, they separated without remark on the sermon. Yet what was the import of this teaching ? What did the preacher mean by saying that the good are miserable in the present life ? VVas it that houses and lands, offices, wine, horses, dress, luxury, are had by unprincipled men ; whilst the saints are poor and despised ; and that a compensation is to be made to these last hereafter, by giving them the like gratifications another day, — bank-stock and doubloons, venison and champagne? This must be the compensation intended ; for what else ? Is it that they are to have leave to pray and praise ? to love and serve men ? Why, that they can do now. The legitimate inference the disciple would draw was : *' We are to have such a good time as the sinners have now ; " or, to push it to its extreme import ; "You sin now, we shall sin by-and-by; we would sin now, if we could ; not being successful, we expect our revenge to-morrow." • PRELUDE. The fallacy lay in the immense concession that the bad are successful \ that justice is not done now. The blind- ness of the preacher consisted in deferring to the base estimate of the market of what constitutes a manly success, instead of confronting and convicting the world from the truth ; announcing the presence of the soul, the omnipo- tence of the will, and so establishing the standard of good and ill, of success and fiilschood. I find a similar base tone in the popular religious works of the day, and the same doctrines assumed by the literary men, when occasionally they treat the related topics. I think that our popular theology has gained in decorum, and not in principle, over the superstitions it has displaced. But men are better than this theology. Their daily life gives it the lie. Every ingenuous and inspiring soul leaves the doctrine behind him in his own experience ; and all men feel sometimes the falsehood which they cannot demonstrate. For men are wiser than they know. That which they hear in schools and pulpits without afterthought, if said in conversation, would probably be questioned in silence. If a man dogmatize in a mixed company on Pro- vidence and the divine laws, he is answered by a silence which conveys well enough to an observer the dissatisfac- tion of the hearer, but his incapacity to make his own statement. I shall attempt, in this and the following chapter, to record some facts that indicate the path of the law of Compensation ; happy beyond my expectation, if I shall truly draw the smallest arc of this circle. Polarity, or action and reaction, we meet in every part of nature ; in darkness and light ; in heat and cold ; in the ebb and flow of waters ; in male and female ; in the inspi- ration and expiration of plants and animals \ in the equation of quantity and quality in the fluids of the animal body ; in the systole and diastole of the heart ; in the undulations of .fluids and of sound; in the centrifugal and centripetal gravity ; in electricity, galvanism, and chemical affinity. Superinduce magnetism at the end of a needle ; the opposite magnetism takes place at the other end. If the South attracts, the North repels. To empty here, you must condense there. An inevitable dualism bisects nature, so that each thing is a half, and suggests another thing to make it whole; as spirit, matter; man, woman; ocd, even; rKELUDE. life subjective, objective ; in, out ; upper, under ; motion, rest ; yea, nay. Whilst the work is thus dual, so is every one of its parts. The entire system of things gets represented in every part- icle. There is somewhat that rcsenil)les the ebb and flow of the sea, day and night, man and woman, in a single needle of the jiinc, in a kernel of corn, in each individual of every animal tribe. 'J'he reaction, so grand in the lie- ments, is repeated within these small boundaries. For examjjle, in the animal kingdom the piiysiologisl has observed that no creatures are favorites, but a certain compensation balances every gift and evcrv defect. A surplusage given to one part is p.iid out oi ■: reduction from another part of the same creature. If the .lead and neck are enlarged, the trunk and extremities aie cut short. The theory of the mech.mic forces is n < ther e.Kamplc. What we gain in power is lost in time and the '."on>erse. The j^ci'' die or comi)ensaling errors of the p' ''lets are another instance. The influences of climai-j ;rid soil in political history are another. The cold climate invigor- ates. The barren soil does not breed fevers, crocodiles* tigers, or scorpions. The same dualism underlies the nati;re and rondition of man. Every excess causes a defect ; every defect, an excess. Every sweet hath its sour ; every evil its good. Every faculty, which is a receiver of pleasure, has an equal penalty put on its abuse. It is to answer for its modera- tion with its life. For every grain of wit there is a grain of folly. For everything you have missed, you have gained something else ; and for everything you gain, you lose something. If riches increase, they are increased that use them. If the gatherer gathers too much, Nature takes out of the man what she puts into his chest; swells the estate, but kills the owner. Nature hates monoi)olies and excep- tions. The waves of the sea do not more speedily seek a level from their loftiest tossing, than the varieties of condi- tion tend to equalize themselves. There is always some levelling circumstance that puts down the overbearing, the strong, the rich, the fortunate, substantially on the same ground with all others. Is a man too strong and fierce for society, and by temper and position a bad citizen, a morose ruffian, with a dash of the pirate in him, nature sends him a troop of pretty sons and daughters, who are -lo PRELUDE. getting along in the dame's classes at the village school, and love and fear for them smoothes his grim scowl to •courtesy. Thus she contrives to intenerate the granite and felspar, takes the boar out and put? the lamb in, and keeps her balance true. The farmer imagines power and place are fine things. But the President has paid dear for his White House. It has commonly cost him all his peace, and the best of his manly attributes. To preserve for a short time so conspi- cuous an appearance before the world, he is content to •eat dust before the real masters who stand erect behind the throne. Or, do men desire the more substantial and permanent grandeur of genuis? Neither has this an im- munity. He who, by force of will or of thought, is great, and overlooks thousands, has the charges of that eminence. With every influence of light comes new danger. Has he light? He must bear witness to the light, and alway out- run that sympathy which gives him such keen satisfaction, by his fidelity to new revelations of the incessant soul. He must hate father and mother, wife and child. Has he all that the world loves and admires and covets? He must cast behind him their admiration, and afflict them by faith- fulness to his truth, and become a by-word and a hissing. This law writes the laws of cities and nations. It is in vain to build or plot or combine against it. Things re- fuse to be mismanaged long. Res nolunt din male admiu" istrari. Though no checks to a new evil appear, the checks exist, and will appear. If the government is cruel, the governor's life is not safe. If you tax too high, the revenue will yield nothing. If you make the criminal code sanguin- ary, juries will not convict. If the law is too mild, pri- vate vengeance comes in. \{ the government is a terrific democracy, the pressure is resisted by an overcharge of energy in the citizen, and life glows with a fiercer flame. The true life and satisfactions of man seem to elude the utmost ligors or felicities of condition, and to establish themselves with great indifference under all varieties of circumstance. Under all governments the influence of character remains the same, — in Turkey and in New Eng- land about alike. Under the primeval despots of Egypt, his- tory honestly confesses that man must have been as free as •culture could make him. These appearances indicate the fact that the universe I rRELUDE. II is represented in every one of its particles. Everything in nature contains all the powers of nature. Everything is made of one hidden stuff; as the naturalist sees one type under every metamorphosis, and regards a horse as a run- ning man, a fish as a swimming man, a bird as a flying man, a tree as a rooted man. Each new form repeats not only the main character of the type, but part for part all the details, ail the aims, furtherances, hindrances, energies, and whole system of every other. Every occupation, trade, art, transaction, is a compend of the world, and a correlative of every other. Each one is an entire emblem of human life, of its good and ill, its trials, its enemies, its course, and its end. And each one must somehow accom- modate the whole man, and recite all his destiny. The world globes itself in a drop of dew. The microscope canrot find the animalcule which is best perfect for being little. Eyes, ears, taste, smell, mo- tion, resistance, appetite, and organs of reproduction that take hold on eternity, — all find room to consist in the small creature. So do we put our life into every act. The true doctrine of omnipresence is that God reappears with al) his parts in every moss and cobweb. The value of the universe contrives to throw itself into every point. If the good is there, so is the evil ; if the affinity, so the repulsion ; if the force, so the limitation. Thus is the universe alive. All things are moral. That soul, which within us is a sentiment, outside of us is a law. We feel its inspiration ; out there, in history, we can see its fatal strength. " It is in the world, and the world was made by it." Justice is not i)ostponed. A perfect equity adjusts its balance in all parts of life. The dice of God are always loaded. The world looks like a multipli- cation table, or a mathematical equation, which, turn it how you will, balances itself. Take what figure you will, its exact value, nor more, nor loss, still returns to you. Every secret is told, every crime is punished, every virtue rewarded, every wrong redressed, in silence and certainty. What we call retribution is the universal necessity by which the whole appears wherever a part appears. If you see fmoke, there must be fire. If you see a hand or a limb, you know that the trunk to which it belongs is there behind. Every act rewards itself, or, in other words, integrates I 12 PRELUDE. ;i'l 1 >• itself in a twofold manner, first, in the thing, or in real na- ture ; and, secondly, in the circumstance, or in apparent nature. Men call the circumstance the retribution. The causal retribution is in the thing, and is seen by the soul, l^he retribution in the circumstance is seen by the under- standing ; it is inseparable from the thing, but is often spread over a long time, and so does not become distinct until after many years. The specific stripes may follow late after the offence, but they follow because they accompany it. Crime and punishment grow out of one stem. Pun- ishment is a fruit that, unsuspected, ripens within the flow- er of the pleasure which concealed it. Cause and effect, means and ends, seed and fruit, cannot be severed ; for the effect already blooms in the cause, the end pre-exists in the means, the fruit in the seed. Whilst thus the world will be whole, and refuses to be disparted, we seek to act partially, to sunder, to appro- priate ; for example, — to gratify the senses, we sever the pleasure of the senses from the needs of the character. The ingenuity of man has always been dedicated to the solution of one problem, — how to detach the sensual sweet, the sensual strong, the sensual bright, etc., from the moral sweet, the moral deep, the moral fair ; that is, again, to contrive to cut clean off this upper surface so thin as to leave it bottomless ; to get a one end^ without an other end. The soul says, eat j the body would feast. The soul says, The man and woman shall be one flesh and one soul ; the body would join the flesh only. The soul says. Have do- minion over a'.l things to the end of virtue ; the body would have the power over things to its own ends. The soul strives amain to live and work through all things. It would be the only fact. All things shall be added unto it, — power, pleasure, knowledge, beauty. The particular man aims to be somebody; to set up for himself; to truck and higgle for a private good ; and, in particulars, to ride, that he may ride ; to dress, that he may be dressed ; to eat, that he may eat ; and to govern, that he may be seen. Men seek to be great ; they would have offices, wealth, power and fame. They think that to be great is to possess one side of nature, the sweet, without the other side — the bitter. This dividing and detaching is steadily counteracted. Up to this day, it must be owned, no projector has had the PRELUDE. »3 \l smallest success. The parted water reunites behind our hand. Ple.isure is taken out of pleasant things, profit out of profitable things, power out of strong things, as soon as we seek to separate them from the whole. We can no more halve things and get the sensual good, by itself, than we can get an inside that shall have no outside, or a light without a shadow. " Drive out Nature with a fork, she comes running back." Life invests itself with inevitable conditions, which the unwise seek to dodge, which one and another brags that he does not know ; that tliey do not touch him ; but the brag is on his lips, the conditions are in his soul. If he escapes them in one part, they attack in another more vital part. If he has escaped them in form, anri in the ap- pearance, it is because he has resisted his life and fled from himself, and the retribution is so much death. So signal is the failure of all attempts to make this separation of the good from the tax, that the experiment would n ot be tried, — since to try is to be mad, — but for the circum- stance, that when the disease began in the will, of rebellion and separation, the intellect is at once infected, so that the man ceases to see God whole in each object, but is able to see sensual allurement of an object, and not see the sensual hurt ; he sees the mermaid's head, but not the dra- gon's tail ; and thinks he can cut off that which he would have from that which he would not have. " How secret art thou who dwellest in the Highest Heavens in silence. O thou only great God, sprinkling with an unwearied Providence certain penal blindnesses upon such as have unbridled desires ! " * The human soul is true to these facts in the painting of fable, of history, of law, of proverbs, of conversation. It finds a tongue in literature unawuics. Thus the Greeks call Jupiter — Supreme Mind ; but, having traditionally ascribed to him many base actions, they involuntarily made amends to reason, by tying up the hand of so bad a god. He is made as helpless as a King of P^ngland. Pro- metheus knows one secret which Jove must bargain for ; Minerva, another. He cannot get iiis own thunders; Minerva keeps the key of them. %\ ;?:»; * St. Augustine, Confessions, B. L. 14 PRELUDE. Hi Ml I'- ll I 1'. I " Of all the gods, I only know the keys That ope the solid doors within whose vaults His thunders sleep." A plain confession of the inworking of the All, and of its moral aim. The Indian mythology ends in the same ethics j and it would seem impossible for any fable to be invented and get any currency which was not moral, Aurora for- got to ask youth for her lover, and though Tithonus is im- mortal, he is old. Achilles is not quite invulnerable ; the sacred waters did not wash the heel by which Thetis held him. Siegfried, in the Nibelungen, is not quite immortal, for a leaf fell on his back whilst he was bathing in the dra- gon's blood, and that spot which it covered is mortal. And so it must be. There is a crack in everything God has made. It would seem there is always this vindictive circumstance stealing in at unawares, even unto the wild poesy in which the human fancy attempted to make bold holiday, and to shake itself free of the old laws, — this back- stroke, this kick of the gun, certifying that the law is fatal ; that in nature nothing can be given, all things are sold. This is that ancient doctrine of Nemesis, who keeps watch in the universe, and lets no offence go unchastized. The Furies, they said, are attendants on justice, and, if the sun in Heaven should transgress his path, they would punish him. The poets related that stone walls, and iron swords, and leathern thongs, had an occult sympathy with the wrongs of their owners ; that the belt which Ajax gave Hector dragged the Trojan hero over the field at the wheels of the car of Achilles, and the sword which Hector gave Ajax was that on whose ])oint Ajax fell. They recorded, that when the Thasians erected a statue to Theagenes, a victor in the games, one of his rivals went to it by night, and endeavored to throw it down by repeated blows, until at last he moved it from its pedestal, and was crushed to death beneath its fall. This voice of fable has in it somewhat divine. It came from thought above the will of the writer. That is the best part of each writer, which has nothing private in it j that which he does not know ; that which flowed out of his constitution, and not from his too active invention ; that which, in the study of a single artist, you might not easily find, but in the study of many, yon would abstract as the sp in nj PRELUDE. »5 spirit of them all, Phidias it is not, but the work of man in that early Hellenic world, that I would know. The name and circumstance of Phidias, however convenient for history, embarrass when we come to the highest criti- cism. We are to see that which man was tending to do in a given period, and was hindered, or, if you will, modified in doing, by the interfeting volitions of Phidias, of Dante, of Shakspeare, the organ whereby man at the moment wrought. Still more striking is the expression of this fact in the pro- verbs of all nations, which are always the literature of reason, or the statements of an absolute truth, without qualification. Proverbs, like the sacred books of each na- tion, are the sanctury of the intuitions. That which the droning world, chained to appearances, will not allow the realist to say in his own words, it will suffer him to say in proverbs without contradiction. And this law of laws, which the pulpit, the senate, and the college deny, is hourly preached in all markets and workshops by flights of pro- verbs, whose teaching is as true and as omnipresent as that of birds and flies. All things are double, one against another. Tit for tat ; an eye for an eye ; a tooth for a tooth ; blood for blood ; measure for measure ; love for love. Give, and it sha'l be given you. He that watereth shall be watered himseh. What will you have? quoth God; pay for it and take it. Nothing venture, nothing have. Thou shalt be paid exactly for what thou hast done, no more, no less. Who doth not work shall not eat. Harm watch, harm catch.. Curses always recoil on the head of him who imprecates them. If you put a chain round the neck of a slave, ilie other end fastens itself around your own. Bad counsel confounds the adviser. The Devil is an ass. It is thus written, because it is thus in life. O. action is overmastered and characterized above our will by the law of nature. We aim at a petty end, quite aside from the public good, but our act arranges itself by irresistible magnetism m a line with the poles of the world. A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will, or against his will, he draws his portrait to the ^ of his companions by every word. Every opinion rea^.i on him who utters it. It is a thread-ball thrown at a mark, but the other end remains in the thrower's bag. Or, rather,. it is a harpoon hurled at the whale, unwinding, as it flies,. i I,... i, Id 'I ttf PRELUDE. a coil of cord in the boat, and, if the harpoon is not good, or not well thrown, it will go righ to cut the steersman in twain, or to sink the boat. You cannot do wrong without suffering wrong. *' No man had ever a point of pride that was not injurious to him," said Burke. The exclusive in fasliionable life does not see that he excludes himself from enjoyment, in the attempt to appropriate it. The exclusionist in religion does not see that he shuts the door of heaven on himself in striving to shut out others. Treat men as pawns and ninepins, and you shall suffer as well as they. If you leave out their heart, you shall loose your own. The senses would make things of all persons, — of women, of ■children, of the poor. The vulgar proverb, " I will get it from his purse or get it from his skin," is sound phi- losophy. All infractions of love and equity in our social relations are speedily punished. They are punished by fear. Whilst I stand in simple relations to my fellow-man, I have no displeasure in meeting him. " We meet as wal-r meets water, or as two currents of air mix, with perfect diffusion and interpenetration of nature. But as soon as there is any departure from simplicity, and attempt at halfness, or good for me that is not good for him, my neighbor feels the wrong; he shrinks from me as far as 1 have shrunk from him ; his eyes no longer seek mine ; there is war between us ; there is hate in him and fear in me. All the old abuses in society, universal and particular, all unjust accumulations of property and power, are avenged in the same manner. Fear is an instructor of great sagacity, and the herald of all revolutions. One thing he teaches, that there is rottenness where he appears. He is a carrion crow, and, though you see not well what he hovers for, there is death somewhere. Our property is timid, our laws are timid, our cultivated classes are timid. Fear for ages has boded and mowed and gibbered over government and property. That obscene bird is not t' ere for nothing. He indicates great wrongs which mu be revised. Of the like nature is that expectation of change which instantly follows the suspension of our voluntary activity. The terror of cloudless noon, the emerald of Polycrates, the awe of prosperity, the instinct which leads every gen- I PRELUDE. 17 (( No erous soul to impose on itself tasks of a noble asceticism and vicarious virtue, are the tremblings of the balance of justice through the heart and mind of man. Experienced men of the world know very well that it is best to pay srot and lot as they go along, and that a man often pays dear for a small frugality. The borrower runs in his own debt. Has a man gained anything who has received a hundred favors and rencered none ? Has he gained by borrowing, through indolence or cunning, his neighbors' wares, or horses, or money ? There arises on the deed the instant acknowledgment of benefit on the one part, and of debt on the other; that is, of superiority and inferiority. The transaction remains in the memory of himself and his neighbor; and every new transaction alters, according to its nature, their relation to each other. He may soon come to see that he had better have broken his own bones than to have ridden in his neighbor's coach, and that " the highest price he can pay for a thing is to ask lor it." A wise man will extend this lesson to all parts of life, and know that it is the part of prudence to face every claimant, and pay every just demand on your time, your talents, or your heart. Always pay ; for, first or last, you must pay your entire debt. Persons and events may stand for a time between you and justice, but it is only a post- ponement. You must pay at last your own debt. If you are wise, you will dread a prosperity which only loads you with more. Benefit is the end of nature. But, for every benefit which you receive, a tax is levied. He is great who confers the most benefits. He is base — and that is the one base thing in the universe — to receive favors and render none. In the order of nature we cannot render benefits to those from whom we receive them, or only seldom. But the benefit we receive must be rendered again, line for line, deed for deed, cent for cent, to some- body. Beware of too much good staying in your hand. It will fast corrupt and worm worms. Pay it away quickly in some sort. Labor is watched over by the same pitiless laws. Cheapest, say the prudent, is the dearest labor. What we buy in a broom, a mat, a wagon, a knife, is some applica- tion of good sense to a common want. It is best to pay in your land a skilful gardener, or to buy good sense ap- 2 I. i8 PRELUDE. I (liii. plied to gardening ; in your sailor, good sense applied to navigation ; in the house, good sense applied to cooking, sewing, serving ; in your agent, good sense applied to accounts and affairs. So do you multiply your presence, or spread yourself throughout your estate. But, because of the dual constitution of things, in labor as in life there can be no cheating. The thief steals from himself. The swind- ler swindles himself. For the real price of labor is know- ledge and virtue, whereof wealth and credit are signs. These signs, like paper money, may be counterfeited or stolen, but that which they represent, namely, knowledge and virtue, cannot be counterfeited or stolen. These ends of labor cannot be answered but by real exertions of the mind, and in obedience to pure motives. The cheat, the defaulter, the gambler, cannot extort the knowledge of material and moral nature which his honest care and pains yield to the operative. Tht^ law of nature is : Do the thing, and you shall have the power ; but they who do not the thing have not the power. Human labor, through all its forms, from the sharpening of a stake to the construction of a city of an epic, is one immense illustration of the perfect compensation of the universe. The absolute balance of Give and Take, the doctrine that everything has its price, and, if that price is not paid, not that thing, but something else is obtained, and that it is impossible to get anything without its price, is not less sublime in the columns of a ledger than in the budgets of states, in the laws of light and darkness, in all the action and reaction of nature. I cannot doubt tha* the high laws, which each man sees implicated in those pro- cesses with which he is conversant, the stern ethics which sparkle on his chis<,'l-edge, which are measured out by his plumb and foot-rule, which stand as manifest in the footing of the shopbill as in the history of a state, do recommend to him his trade, and, though seldom named, exalt his business to his imagination. The league between virtue and nature engages all things to assume a hostile front to vice. The beautiful laws and substances of the world persecute and whip the traitor. \ le finds that things aie arranged for truth and benefit, but there is no den in the wide world to hide a rogue. Commit a crime, and the earth is made of glass ; commit a crime, and it seems as if a coat of snow fell on the ground, such )plied to cooking, iplied to jresence, :cause of here can le swind- is know- e signs, feited or low ledge ese ends ns of the leat, the ledge of nd pains he thing, ) not the arpening c, is one »n of the 'ake, the price is )btained, its price, in in the ss, in all t tha* the lose pro- cs which ut by his e footing :ommend exalt his all things laws and 2 traitor, nefit, but Commit : a crime, md, such Ij: I PRELUDE. 19 as reveals in the woods the track of every partridge, and fox, and squirrel, and mole. You cannot recall the spoken word, you cannot wipe out the foot-track, you cannot draw up the ladder, so as to leave no inlet or clew. Some damning circumstance always transpires. The laws and substances of nature — water, snow, wind, gravitation — be- come penalties to the thief. On the other hand, the law holds with equal sureness for all right action. Love, and you shall be loved. All love is mathematically just, as much as the two sides of an algebraic equation. The good man has absolute good, which like fire turns everything to its own nature, so that you cannot do him any harm ; but as the royal armies sent against Napoleon, when he approached, cast down their colors and from enemies became friends, so disasters of all kinds, as sickness, offence, poverty, prove benefac- tors : — " Winds blow and waters roll Strength to the brave, and power and deit} . Yet in themselves are nothing." The good are befriended even by weakness and defeci. As no man had ever a point of pride that was not injurious to him, so no man had ever a defect that was not some- where made useful to him. The stag in the fable admired his horns and blamed his feet, but, when the hunter came, his feet saved him, and afterwards, caught in the thickei, his horns destroyed him. Every man in his lifetime needs to thank his faults. As no man thoroughly understands a truth until he has contended against it, so no man has a thorough acquaintance with the hindrances or talents of men until he has suffered from the one, and seen the triumph of the other over his own want of the same. Has he a defect of temper that unfits him to live in society ? Thereby he is driven to entertain himself alone, and acquire habits of self-help ; and thus, like the wounded oyster, he mends his shell with pearl. Our strength grows out of our weakness. The indigna- tion which arms itself with secret forces does not awaken until we are pricked and stung, and sorely assailed. A great man is always willing to be little. Whilst he sits on the cushion of advantages he goes to sleep. When he is pushed, tormented, defeated, he has a chance to learn i\ r ' :f'l 1M: I Hi 20 PRELUDE. something; he has been put on his wits, on his manhood ; he has gained facts ; learns his ignorance ; is cured of the insanity of conceit ; has got moderation and real skill. The wise man throws himself on the side of his assailants. It is more his interest than it is theirs to find his weak point. The wound cicatrizes and falls off him like a dead skin, and, when they would triumph, lo ! he has passed on invul- nerable. Blame is safer than praise. I hate to be defended in a newspaper. As long as all that is said is said against me, I feel a certain assurance of success. But, as soon as honeyed words of nraise are spoken fcr me, I feel as one that lies uni)iotected before his enemies. In general, every evil lo which we do not succumb is a benefactor. As the Sandwich Islander believes that the strength and valor of the enemy he kills passes into himself, so we gain the strength of the temptation we resist. The same guards which protect us from disaster, defect, r.nd enmity, defend us, if we will, from selfishness and fraud. Bolts and bars are not the best of our institutions, nor is shrewdness in trade a mark of wisdom. Men suffer all their life long under the foolish superstition that they can be cheated. But it is as impossible for a man to be cheated by any one but himself as for a thing to be and not to be at the same time. There is a third silent party to all our bargains. The nature and soul of things takes on itself the guaranty of the fulfilment of every contract, so that honest service cannot come to loss. If you serve an ungrateful master, serve him the more. Put God in your debt. Every stroke shall be repaid. The longer payment is withholden, the better for you ; for compound interest on compound interest is the rate and usage of this ex- chequer. The history of persecution is a history of endeavors to cheat nature, to make water run up hill, to twist a rope of sand. It makes no difference whether the actors be many or one, a tyrant or a mob. A mob is a society of bodies voluntarily bereaving themselves of reason, and traversing its work. The mob is man, voluntarily descending to the nature of the beast. Its fit hour of activity is night. Its actions are insane like its whole constitution. It persecutes a principle ; it would whip a right ; it would tar and feather justice, by inflicting fire and outrage upon the houses and persons of those who have these. It resembles the prank PRELUDE n manhood ; ired of the skill. The .Hants. It .'eak point, dead skin, d on invul- le defended aid against as soon as feel as one leral, every r. As the and valor ve gain the Iter, defect, s and fraud. ions, nor is n suffer all ;it they can be cheated 1 not to be r to all our :es on itself ct, so that serve an od in your er payment nd interest of this ex- [ideavors to t a rope of rs be many of bodies traversing ding to the night. Its persecutes and feather houses and the prank r of boys, who run with fire-engines to put out the ruddy aurora streaming to the stars. The inviolate spirit turns their spite against the wrong-doers. The martyr cannot be dishonored. Every lash inflicted is a tongue of fame ; every prison a more illustrious abode ; every burned book or house enlightens the world ; every suppressed or ex- punged word reverberates through the earth from side to side. Hours of sanity and consideratioi? are alway s arriving to communities, as to indi- iduals, when *he truth is seen, and the martyrs are justified. Thus do all things preach the indifif'.rency of circum- stances. The man is all. Everything has two sides, a good and an evil. Every advantage has its tax. I learn to be content. But the doctrine of compensation is not the doctrine of indifferency. The thoughtless say, on hearing these representations : What boots it to do well ? There is one event to good and evil ; if I gain any good, I must pay for it ; if I lose any good, I gain some other; all actions are indifferent. There is a deeper fact in the soul than compensation, to wit, its own nature. The soul is not a compensation, but a life. The soul is. Under all this running sea of circum- stance, whose waters ebb and flow with perfect balance, lies the aboriginal abyss of real Being. Essence, or God, is not a relation, or a part, but the whole. Being in the vast affirmative, excluding negation, self-balanced, and swallow- ing up all relations, parts, and times within itseK. Nature, truth, virtue, are the influx from thence. Vice is the absence or departure of the same. Nothing, Falsehood, may indeed stand as the great Night or shade, on which, as a background, the living universe paints itself forth ; but no fact is begotten by it ; it cannot work ; for it is not. It cannot work any good ; it cannot work any harm. It is harm inasmuch as it is worse not to be than to be. We feel defrauded of the retribution due to evil acts, because the criminal adheres to his vice and contumacy, and does not come to a crisis or judgment anywhere in visible nature. There is no stunning confutation of his nonsense before men and angels. Has he, therefore, out- witted the law ? Inasmuch as he carries the malignity and the lie with him, he so far deceases from nature. In <">me manner there will be a demonstration of the wrong to the understanding also j but should we not see it, this deadly m ■■«, PR ELUDE. i • deduction makes square the eternal account. Neither can it be said, on the other hand, tiiat the gain of rectitude must be bought by any loss. There is no penalty to virtue, no penalty to wisdom ; they are proper additions of being. In a virtuous action, I proj)crly Am ; in a virtuous act, I add to tlif world ; I jjlant into deserts conquered from Chaos and Nothing ; and sec the darkness receding on the h'mits of the horizon. There can be no excess to love ; none to knowledge ; none to beauty, when the attributes are considered in the purest sense. The soul refuses limits, and always affiinis an Optimism, never a Pessimism. Man's life is a progress, and not a station. His instinct is trust. Our instinct uses "more" and "less" in n])pli- cation to him, of the presence of the soul, and not of its absence ; the brave man is greater than the ( oward , the true, the benevolent, the wise, is more a man, and not less than the fool and knave. There is no tax on the good of virtue ; for that is the incoming of God himself, or abso- lute existence, without any comi)arative. Material good has its tax, and, if it came without desert or sweat, has no root in me, and the next wind will blow it away. But all the 'i'^ood of nature is the soul's, and may be had, if paid for in nature, a lawful coin, that is, by labor which the heart and the head allow. I ro longer wish to meet a good. I do not earn, for example, to find a pot of buried gold, knowing that it brings with it new burdens. I do not wish more external goods, neither possessions, nor honors, nor powers, nor persons. The gain is apparent ; the tax is certain. But there is no tax on the knowledge that the compensation ex-'sts, and that it is not desirable to dig up treasure. Herein I rejoice with a serene eternal ])eace. I contract the boundaries of i)ossible mischief. I learn the wisdom of St. Bernard, — "Nothing can work me damage except myself; the harm that I sustain I carry about with me, and never am a real sufferer, but by my own fault." In the nature of the soul is the compensation for the inequalities of condition. The radical tragedy of nature seems to be the distinction of More and Less. How can Less not feel the pain ; hew not feel indignation or male- volence towards More ? Look at those who have less faculty, and one feels sad, and knows not well what to make of it. He almost shuns their eye; he fears they will upbraid God. What should they do ? It seems a great Rpii PRELUDE. n % jithcr can rectitude to virtue, of being, tuoiis act, ercd from ng on the ■)ve ; none i)utes are sts limits, ism. is instinct ' in appli- not of its ward , the :, and not 1 the good f, or abso- erial good jat, has no . But all ad, if paid which the et a good, iricd gold, I do not or honors, the tax ge that the to dig up 1 ])eace. I '. learn the ne damage about with fault." on for the k' of nature How can in or male- have less ill what to s they will lis a great injustice. But see the facts nearly, and these mountainous inequalities vanish. Love reduces them, as the sun melts the iceber'^ in the sea. The heart and soul of all men being one, this bitterness oi I/is and Mine ceases. His is mine. I am my brother, and rny brother is me. If I feel overshadowed ami outdone by great neighbors, I can yet love ; I can still receive ; and he that loveth maketli his own the grandeur lie loves. Thereby I make the discovery that my brother is my guardian, acting for me with the friendli'jst designs, and the estate I so admired and envied is my own. It is the nature of the soul to ai)pro- priati: all things. Jesus and Shakspeare are fragments of the soul, and by love I conquer and incorporate them in my own conscious domain. His virtue, — is not that mine ? His wit, — if it cannot be made mine, it is not wit. Sucii, also, , the natural history of calamity. The chan<,'es, which break up at sh• r • ^^"^^^^' Chap. I. Definition :— part of time. To go beyond this we have only to imagine a phy- sical i)oint which has neither breadth, length or thick- ness ; consequently, God came from Nothing. Spiritual chat is geometrical truth. Nothing is the science of extension, therefore it is but natural that a man e:ro\vs. Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature ? xMatthew, Chap. 6. Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; thai I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth • and mine age is as nothing before thee ; verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Psalms, 39. And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth and was subject unto them ; but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke, Chap. 2. II I f *'''' I" I ^ II. iJM "i.i Ii jg RANDOM SHOTS ; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of tiie stature of the fulness of Christ. Ephesians, Chap. 4. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis, Chap. 2. And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died. Genesis, Chap. 5. " A day is as a thousand years with the Lord, and a thousand years as a day." LOST. And when the woman saw that the tree ivas good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took ot the fruit thereof, and did eat, also unto her husband with her ; and he did eat. Genesis, Chap. 3. FOUND. That which is born of the flesh is llesh ; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John, Chap. 3. PARADISE LOST. So he drove out the man ; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a tiaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way ot the tree of life. Genesis, Chap. 3. PARADISE REGAINED. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. Luke, Chap. 24. OK, THE IVJSDOM OF HOLY IV KIT. 27 , and of ct man, Iness of Chap. 4. md evil, )U eatest Chap. 2. hundred Chap. 5. Drd, and 'jas good :;s, and a ik ol the and with Chap. 3. ,nd that 3e born Chap. 3. the east ig sword :he tree :hap. 3. and he he was lap. 24. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis, Chap. 3. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him. Luke, Chap. 23. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. Genesis, Chap. 2. '* To whom thus Eve leply'd : O lliou for whom And from whom I was form'd, flesh of thy flesh, And without whom am to no end, my guide And head, what thou hast said is just and right. For we to him indeed all praises owe, And daily thanks ; I chiefly who enjoy So far the happier lot, enjoying thee Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou Like consort to tiiyself canst nowhere find. That day I oft remember, when from sleep I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd Under a shade on flow'rs, much wond' ring where And. what I was, whence thither brought, and how. Not distant far from thence a murm'ring sound Of waters issued from a cave, and spread Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov'd Pure as th' expanse of Heav'n ; I thither went With unexperience thought, and laid me down On the green bank, to loo k into the clear Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky. As I went down to look, just opposite, A shape within the wat'ry gleam appear'd. Bending to look on me : I, started back. It started back ; but pleased I soon return'd, Pleas'd it return'd as soon with answ'ring looks Of sympathy and love. There I had fixed Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire, Had not a voice thus warn'd me. AVhat thou seest, What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself; With thee it came and goes. But follow me, And I will bring thee wliere no shadow stays 28 RANDOM SHOTS ; Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he, Wliose image thou art ; him thou shalt enjoy. Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call'd Mother of human race. What could I do, But follow straight invisibly thus led ? Till I espy'd thee, fair, indeed, and tall, Under a platane ; yet me thought less fair, Less winning, soft, less amiably mild, Than that smooth wat'ry image. Back I turn'd ; Thou following cry'dst, aloud. Return, fair Eve, Whom fly'st thou ? Whom thy iiy'st, of him thou art, His flesh, his bone ; to give thee being I lent Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart. Substantial life, to have thee by my side Henceforth an individual solace dear; Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim My other half; With that thy gentle hand Seize'd mine ; I yielded, and from that time see How beauty is excell'd by manly grace And wisdom, which alone is truly fair." Paradise Lost. " Brothers and sisters I have none, but that man's Father is my Father's son ! " Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception ; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children ; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Genesis, Chap. 3. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in child-bearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. i Timothy, Chap. 2. And Adam called his wife's name Eve ; because she was the Mother of all living. Genesis, Chap. 3. Thus saith the Lord ; a voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping ; Rachel weeping 1 1 mi' I. (?/v', THE WISDOM OF HOLY WRIT. 29 for her children refused to be comforted for her child- ren, because they were not. Jeremiah, Chap. 31, Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceedingly wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently mquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy, the i)rophet, saying. In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mournmg, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Matthew, Chap. 2. THE DEATH OF SLEEP. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order; Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. I Corinthians, Chap. 15. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption ; it is raised in corru];lion. It is sown in dislv^nor; it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness ; it is raised in power ; It is sown a natural body ; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spirit- ual body. And so it is written, The first man, Adam, was made a living soul ; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that loas not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. i Corinthians, Chap. 15. And the earth was without form, and void ; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis, Chap. i. \;i\ : ,,' / lit! Iift. And when lie had dipped the sop, he gave il to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop, Satan entered into liim. Then said Jesus unto liim, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For ^omc of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast ; or, that he should give something to the poor. John, Chap. 13. And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, (iather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall y(!U in the last days. Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew, Chap. 19. Joseph is a fruitful bough, er^eu a fruitful bough by a well, ivhose branches run over the wall. The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him ; But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel) ; Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb. The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills ; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him tha was separate from his brethren. 42 RANDOM SHOTS ; And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielding up the ghost, and was gatliered unto his people. Genesis, Chap. 49. And did all drink the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock, that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. I Corinthians, Chap. lo. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing ; it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118. He is the Rock, his work is perfect ; all his ways are judgment; a God of truth and without iniquity, iust and ristht is he. Of the Rock, f/iaf begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. Deuteromy, Chap. 32. Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord ; look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah that bare you ; for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. Isaiah, Chap. 51. I remember the days of old ; I mediate on all thy works ; I muse on the work of thy hands. Psalm 143. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols; worship him, all ye •gods. Psalm 97. Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye OR, TI/I-: ins DOM OF HOLY WRIT. 43 set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it for I am the Lord your God. Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanc- tuary ; I am the Lord. If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my command- ments, and do them ; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield iheir fruit. And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me ; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury ; and I; even I, will chastize you seven times for your sins. But ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. Leviticus, Chap. 26. And account tliat the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation ; even as our beloved brother Paul, also ac- cording to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you ; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things ; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own des- truction. 2 Peter, Chap. 3. And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together and Balak said unto Balaam. I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed thetn these three times. Therefore, now flee thou to thy place; I thought to promote thee unto grent honor; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor. And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying. If Balak would give me his house full of silver and 44 RANDOM SHOTS ; gold, 1 cannot go beyond ihc commandmtnt of the Lord, to do cit/ier good or bad of mine own mind % but what the Lord saiih, that will I speak? And now, behold, I go unto my people ; come there- fore^ and I will advcriise theo what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. And he took up his parable, and said Balaam, the son of Beor hath said, and ilic man whose eyes are open hath said. He hath said, which lieard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, ivhicli saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having i^is eyes ojien. I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, bu. .t nigh ; there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre snail rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of .Moab,and destroy all the children of Sheth. Numbers, Chap. 24. THE BLESSINGS OF THE TWELVE TRIBES BY MOSES. And of Benjamin he said, the beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him ; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between hi& shoulders. And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath. And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and /(9r the goodwill of him that dwelt in the bush ; let the b/essing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the to[) of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns ; with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth ; and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. Deuteronomy, Chap. 33. OK, THE WISDOM OF HOL V IVKIT. 45 THE BITER BITTEN. And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice ; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech ; for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamecii seventy and sevenfold. Now Moses kej^t the flock of Jethro, his father-in" law, the priest of Midian ; and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush ; and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and, said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am L Exodus, Chap. 3. And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God 7luis, and Samuel was laid down to sleep ; That the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, Here am I. 1 Samuel, Chap. 3. HARD NUTS TO CRACK. And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see tliat thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand; but 1 will harden his heart, that he shall not lei ihe people go- And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, 'I'hus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, evcfi my firstborn. Exodus, Chap. 4. Art thou the first man that was born ? or wast thou made before the hills? Job, Chap. 15. 46 KA ND OM SHO TS ; And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep mc in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that 1 come again to my father's house in peace^ then shall the Lord be my God. Genesis, Chap. 28. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Job, Chap. 22. Before I formed thee in tlie belly I knew thee ; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee ; and I ordained thee a prophet unto the na- tions. Then said I, Ah, Lord God ! behold, I cannot speak : for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child ; for diou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever 1 command thee thou shalt sneak. Be not afraid of their faces ; for I avi ' with thee to deliver thee, saiih the Lord. IMien the Lord put fortli his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me. Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations, and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, and to destroy, and throw down, to build, and to plant. Jeremiah, Chap. i. Yet now hear, O Jacob, my servant ; and Israel, whom I have chosen. Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, ^uhich will help thee. Fear not, O Jacob, my servant ; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. Isaiah, Chap. 44. JEREMIAH BEWAILS HIS BIRTH. Cursed he the day wherein I was born ; let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed. Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my fa- ther, saying, A man child is born unto thee ; making him very glad, And let that man be as the cities which the Lord 0A\ THE WISDOM OF HOLY IIKIJ. 47 overthrew, and rcpenled not ; and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontid' ; ik'cause he slew me not from the womb ; ui that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me. Wherefore came I forth out of tlie womb to see Uibor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? Jeremiah, Chap. 20. med not, om I 44. J015 CURSES HIS BIRTH. And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said. There is a man child con- ceived. Job, Chap. 3. TO 15E OR NOT TO UE. And God said unto .^[oses, I AM THAT I AM ; and he said. Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto yon. Exodus, Chap. 3. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John, his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them ; and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Matthew, Chap. 17. And I say tmto you. That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew, Chap. 8. Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it. Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, RANDOM SHOTS ; were in ii, they should dehver but their o\v:i souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God. Ezckiel, Chap. 14. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japhei, into the Ark. Genesis, Chap. 7. And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of tiie elders of Israel ; and worship ye afar off. Exodus, ('hap. 24. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, wlien the sons of God came in unto the (laughters of men, and they bare children to them, the .same became mighty men \i\\\c\\were, of old, men of renown. Genesis, Chap. 6. And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border. I have surely heard Ejihraini bemoaning himself thus ; Thou hast chastized me, and I was chastized, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke ; turn thou me, and I shall be turned ; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh j I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Is Ephraim my dear son ? is he a pleasant child ? for, since 1 spake against him, I do earnestly remem- ber him still ; therefore my bowels are troubled for him ; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord. Jeremiah, Chap. 31. Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying. Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them ? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up ; behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. OK, THE WISDOM OF HOLY WRIT. 49 that Who ight Id, I And Jiulah said unto Simeon, his brother, Come up with mc into my lot, ihat wc may fight against the Canaaniles ; and I Hkcwisc will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with liim. judges, Chap. i. And there siood befor* tiieni seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst ot them stood Jaazaniah, the son of Sha|)han, with every man his censer in his hand ; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then said he unto »ne, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The Lord seeth us not ; the l^ord hath forsaken the e irih Ezekiel, Chap. 8. DAVID WEKPING AT THE GRAVE OF ABNER. So Joab and Abishai, his brother, slew Abner, be- cause he had slain their brother Asahel, at Gibeon, in the battle. And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him. Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself ioWow^di the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron ; and the king hfted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner ; and all the people wept. 2 Samuel, Chap. 3. JESUS WEEPING AT THE GRAVE OF LAZARUS. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said un'^o him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him ! John, Chap. 11. I have made a covenant with ray chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish forever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. Psalm 89. 4 l-iii 90 RANDOM tiUOTS; For the Lord /j our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. Then thou spakest in vision to thy iioly one, and saidst : I have laid help upon one that is mighty ; 1 have exalted o»e chosen out of the people ; I have found David niy servant*; with my holy have I anointed him ; With whom my hand shall be established ; mine arm also shall strengthen him. Psalm 89. And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy s/ta// be with him ; and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unio me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the ki:igs of the eartii. My mercy will I keep for hitn for evermore, ■ my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure forev , and his throne as the days of heaven. i salm 89. Once have I sworn by my holih ss that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, ai ,' his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established forever as the Tioon, and as a faithful witness in heaven, Selah. Psalm 89. er the Thy throne, O God, is forever and sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wick dness ; therefore God tliy God, hath anointed thee 'v th the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Psa.Ti 45. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth ; and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure ; yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment ; as a vesture shalt thou change ti'em, and they shall be changed ; OR, THE ly/snOM OF nOL Y WRIT, SI the But tliou art the same, mitl thy years shall have no end. i'salni 102. But unto the Son he saith, Fh) ihronc, O (lod, is forever and ever; a scepirc of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity ; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth ; and the heavens are the works of thine hands. They shall i)erish, but thou remainest ; and they all shall wax old as doth a garni nt ; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed ; but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. Hebrews, Chap. i. Sacrifice and offering thou didst ot desire ; mine ears hast thou opened ; burnt offering and sin offer- ing hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come ; in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God , yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great con- gregation ; lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. Psalm 40. Wherefore when he cometh into tl;e world, he saith. Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no i)leasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein ; which are offered by the law. Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. Hebrews, Chap, 10. ■■ i'f 52 RANDOM SHOTS; Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteih in the heavens shall laugh j the Lord shall have them in derision, Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree ; the Lord hath said unto me, Thou ar/mySon ; this day have 1 begotten thee. Psalm 2. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son ? Hebrews, Chap. i. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? Psalms, 22. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying : Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani ? that is to say. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? Matthew, Chap. 27. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said. Truly this man was the Son of Gcd? Mark, Chap. 15. Who told Nebuchadnezzar that the form of the fourth man was like the Son of God ? Then these men were bound in their coats their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments,, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. ■^ OR, THE li^ISDOM OF HOL Y WRIT. 53 Itinst lost, the Iheir land :e. Therefore, because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar, the king, was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsel- lers : Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire ? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered, and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt ; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Daniel,* Chap. 3. For dogs have compassed me ; the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me ; they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones ; they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots u])on my vesture. Psalm 22. An they that see me laugh me to scorn ; they shoot out the lip, tb.ey shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him ; let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. But thou art he that took me out of the womb ; thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mo- ther's breasts. Psalm 22. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was si)oken by the prophet : They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there. And set up over his head his accusation written : THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. *God of Judgment. « ■ > I fl u 54 KANLOM SHOTS ; And they thai passed by reviled him, wayging their heads, And saying, thou that destrc^ytst the temple, and buildest // in three days, save thyr^elf. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking ///;//, with tlie scril es and elders, said, He ?aved others, himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God ; let him deliver hi now, if he will have him ; for he said, I am tlie Son of God. Matthew, Chap. 27. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. But thou, O Lord, be merciful unco me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. Psalm 41. Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said : Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him. Lord, is it I ? And he answered and said. He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. Matthew, Chap. 26. ''WHEN I WAS IN THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER." If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If\ take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee ; but the nipht shineth as the day ; the darkness and the light at e both alike to thee. OR, THE WISDOM OF HOL Y WRIT. II If I ;ell in right even For thou hast possessed my reins ; thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee ; for I am fearfully and wonder- fully made; marvellous are thy works ; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unper- fect ; and in thy book all my members were written, ivhich in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it ; deliver me because of mine enemies. Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor ; mine adversaries are all before thee. Reproach hath broken my heart ; and I am full of heaviness ; and I looked for some to take pity, but there loas none ; and for comforters, but 1 found none. They gave me also gall for my meat ; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table become a snare before them ; and that which should have bee?i for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not ; and make their loins coniinually to shake. Psalm 69. And when they were come unto a place called Gol- gotha, that is to say, a place of a skull. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall ; and, when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. Matthew, Chap. 27. BORN !.N THE SPIRIT. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34. Then came the soldiers, nnd brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw thai he was dead already, they brake not his legs ; 56 RAND CM SHO TS ; But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw // bare record, and his record is true ; and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled : A bone of him shall not be bro- ken. John, Chap. 19. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God ? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Chriot ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, be- cause the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three ?re one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood ; and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the wit- ness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made him a liar ; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life ; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. I John, Chap. 5. I have set the Lord always before me ; because /le is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth ; my llesh also sliall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One 10 see coruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of lite; in thy presence is fulness of joy ; and at the right hand //icre arc plea, sv.rcs for evermore. Psalm 16 OR, THE WISDOM OF HOL V WRIT, 57 The prayer of Jonah. He is delivered from the fish. Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me ; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas ; and the floods compassed me about ; all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul ; the dei)th closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottom of the mountains ; the earth with her bars was about me for ever ; yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord, my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will ))ay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land. Jonah, Chap. 2. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship ; and lay, and was fast asleep. Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea ; so shall the sea be calm unto you ; for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring // to the land ; but they could not ; for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. Wherefore, they cried unto the Lord, and said. We beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not 58 RANDOM SHOTS ; m if|| perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us inno- cent blood ; for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased ihee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea ; and the sea ceased from her raging. Jonah, Chap, i. And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in tiie sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves ; but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, say- ing. Lord, save us, we perish. .\iatthew. Chap. 8. Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore trou" hies, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the dei)ths of the earth. Psalm 71. But he answered and said unto them : An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign ; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the i)ro- phet Jonas. For, as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly ; so shall tjie Son of man be three days and three nights in the In art of tlie earth. Matthew, Chap. 12. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave ; for lie shall receive me. Selah. Psalm 49. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion ; rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy peoi)le shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the inornmg; thou hast the dew of thy youth. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchisedec. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places wiih the dead bodies ; he shall wound the heads over many countries. OR, THE niSDOM OF HOLY WRIT. 89 He shall drink of ihc brook in ;he way ; therefore shall he lift u|> the head. Psalm iio' But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy foot- stool? Hebrews, Chap. i. MY PEACE 1 LEAVE YOU. For this Melclusedec, king of .Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him ; I'o wDom also Abraham gave a teiith ])ari of all ; first being by interpretaiion King of righteousness,' and after that also King of .Salem, whieli is King of peace ; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life ; but made like unto the Son of God ; abideih a i)riest con- ''iiii'ally. Hebrews, Chap. 7. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people ; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hatii called you out of darkness into his marvellous light ; Which in time past loere not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. i Peter, Chap. 2. For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. Isaiah, Chap. 28. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light ; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. _______ Isaiah, Chap. 9. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord ; though your sins be as scarlet'^they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah, Chap. i. What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue ; he shall not eat of the holy things until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unch.an by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him. Leviticus, Chap. 22. "I nil I * 60 RANDOM SHOTS ; And, as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth litlics, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Mclchisedec met him. Hebrews, Chap. 7. Note : — Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve Patriarchs, of which Levi was one. And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom ; and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. Matthew, Chap. 9. And as he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Al- ])haeus, sitting at the receipt of custom; and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. Mark, Chap. 2. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man 10 enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard // they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved ? But Jesus beheld them., and said unto them. With men this is impossible ; but with God all things are possible. Matthew, Chap. 19. Ham. — A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a King j and eat of the tish that hath fed of that worm. King. — What dost thou mean by this ? Ham. — Nothing but to show you how a King may go a progress through the guts of a beggar. — Shakspere. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? John, Chap. 3. " It is agreeable to see a harassed peddler gauging the symmetry of a peeled pear." So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee. OK, 'IHE IViSDOM OF HOLY WRIT. 6l born into ap. 3- LUging As he saith also in another //rttrif, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Malchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up praytrs and suppHcations with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared ; Though were He a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which he suffered ; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him ; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God ; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. Hebrews, Chap, 5. Aladdin's lamp. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Luke, Chap. 11. Complete abnegation means death. — Spencer. And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Siiimei, the son of Gera ; he came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David; and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And thus said Shimei, when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial. Samuel 2, Chap. 16. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples and said (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty) : Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have 62 KA NDOM SI/0 TS ; been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to ihem that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us. and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man i)urchased a field with the reward of Miiquiiy; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jeru- salem, insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwjll therein ; and his bishoprick let another take. Acts, Chap. i. THAY HATEU ME WITOU T A CAUSE. Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise ; For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me; they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. For my love they are my adversaries; but I i^^/z/e )iiyielf unto prayer. And they have rewarded mc evil for good, and hatred for my love. Set thou a wicked man over him ; and let Satan stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, let him be condemned; and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few, and let another take his ofifice. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children be continally vagabonds, and beg; let them seek their bread also out of their desolate ])laces. Let the extortioner catch all that he hath ; and let the strangers spoil his laoor. Let there be none to extend mercy unto him; neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children. Let his posterity be cut off; and^ in the generation following, let their name be blotted out. OK, rilE n/SDOM OF IIOL Y IVRri . ^•3 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the Lord; and let not tlie sin of his mother bebloticd out. Let them be before the Lord continually, that lie may cut off the memory of them from the earth. Because that lie remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart, As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him ; as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. Psalm 109. jration Behold my servant, wlioni I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth, 1 have put my spiiit ujinn him ; he shall bring forth judgment to tlie Gentiles. He shall not cry, lift u]>, nor cause his voice to he heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench , he shall bring forth judg- nunt unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth ; and the isles shall wait for his law. Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens and stretched them out ; he that si)read forth the earth, and that which cometii out of it ; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit 10 them that walk therein. 1, the Lord, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles ; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord ; that is my name ; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare ; before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from tlie end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, ^ RANDOM SHOTH; and all that is therein; the isles and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the tiiics thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit; let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains, Lei them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands. The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war ; he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. I have long time holden my peace ; I have been jtill, and refrained myself; }iO'w will 1 cry like a tra- vailing woman ; I will destroy and devour at once. Isaiah, Chap. 42. Therefore I will look unto ihe Lord ; I will wait for the God of my salvation ; my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy ; when I fall, I shall arise; when 1 sit in darkness, the Lord shall be. a light unto me. 1 will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me ; he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness Micah (i), Chap. 7. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and/>/^/ a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. Daniel, Chap, 5. Then the soldiers of the governor took JesiF into the common hall, and gathered unto h' i the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on . scarlet robe. Matth Chap. 27. And I will set up one shepherd over them, ai i he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. (1) Who is this ? OR, THE WISDOM OF HOL V WRIT. 6S ip. 5. larlet 27. Id he feed And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant, David, a prince among them ; I, the Lord, have spoken //. Ezekiel, Chap. 34. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna ; Bicsssd is he that cometh in the name of the Lord : Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. Mark, Chap. II. And Jesus stood before the governor; and the go- vernor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him : Thou sayest. Matthew, Chap. 27. I AM sought q{ them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not ; I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts. A people that provuketh me to anger continually to my face ; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth in- cense upon altars of brick. Isaiah, Chap. 65. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me ; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek ; he hath sent me to bind up the bro- ken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that Sivc bound ; To proclaim the acceptable year of tlie Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God ; to comfort all that mourn ; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness ; tiiat they might be called trees of righteousness, the i)lant- ing of the Lord, that he might be glorified. Isaiah, Chap. 61. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 66 RANDOM SHOTS; And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up ; and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue, on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written. Tlie spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hatli annointed me to preach the gospel to the poor j he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. y\nd the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him, Aud he began to say unto them, This day is the scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gra- cious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said. Is not this Joseph's son? And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself. Luke, Chap. 4. Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appear- ance of the likeness of a throne. Ezekiel, Chap. 10. And immediately I was in the spirit \ and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and oie sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an em.erald. Revelations, Chap. 4. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to right- eousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the OR, THE WISDOM OF HOL Y WRIT, 6f book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Then I, Daniel, looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river and the other on that side of the bank of the river. ' And one said to the man clothed in linen, which 7oas upon the We.lors of the river, How long shallit be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his light hand and his left hand imto heaven, and sware by hmi that liveth forever that it shall in for a time tmies, and an half; and when he shall have accom- plished to scatter the power of the holy people all these things shall be finished. ' And I heard, but I under.stood not; then said I Q my Lord, what shall be the end of these things ? ' And he said, Go thy way, Daniel, for the words ^zr^r closed up and sealed till time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried • but the wicked shall do wickedly ; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall under- stand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketli desolate set up, there shall be a thousand, two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thou- sand, three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be, for tiiou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. Daniel, Chap, i 2. But thoLi, son of man, liear what I say unto ihee • Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house, oi^en thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. And when 1 looked, behold, an hand 7uas sent unto me ; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein ; And he spread it before me ; and it w^zj written within and without; and there was written therein lamentations, and morning, and woe. r~- , Ezekiel (ij, Chai). 2. I. The strength or might of God. 68 RANDOM SHOTS. Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou tindest, eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me. Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill ihy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did 1 eat // ; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. Ezekiel, Chap. 3, And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud ; and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. And he had in his hand a little book open ; and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his \^i\foot on the earth. And cried with a loud voice, as ivhen a lion roareth ; and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write ; and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven. And sware by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things thai therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein ^^ re, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer. But in the days of the voice of tlie seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said. Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him. Give me the little book. And he said unto me. Take //, and eat it up ; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. OR, THE niSDOxM OF HOL Y WRIT. 69 and And I took the little book out of the angel's hand^ and ate it up ; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey : and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues and kings. Revelations, Chap. 10. And there was given me a reed like unto a road ; and the angel stood, saying. Rise, and measure tiie temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not ; for it is given unto the Gentiles ; and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty a/;row this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood can- not inherit the kingdom of God ; neither doth corrup- tion inherit incorruption. i Corinthians, Chap. 15. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not Hie communion of the blood of Christ ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body ; for we are all partakers of that one bread. 1 Corinthians, Chap. 10. Ihere is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians, Chap. 4. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. I Corinthians, Chap. 15.. ^w 9o RANDOM SHOrH; What ? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own ? i Corinthians, Chap. 6. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God :alleth Jesus accursed ; and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom ; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit ; To another faith by the same Spirit ; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit ; To another the working of miracles ; to another prophecy ; to another discerning of spirits ; to another divers kinds of tongues ; to another the interpretation of tongues ; But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Tews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free ; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body ; is it therefore not of the body ? If the whole body were an eye, where were the OR, THE WISDOM OF HOL Y WRIT. U hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling ? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee ; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary. And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely /ar/j have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need ; but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abun- dant honor to that/^zr/ which lacked ; That there should be no schism in the body ; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first, apostles secondarily, prophets, thirdly, teachers, after that, mi- racles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, di- versities of tongues, ^r^all aposdes? ar^all prophets ? ar^ all teachers? are all workers of miracles ? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with ton- gues ? do all interpret ? But covet earnestly the best gifts ; and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. i Corinthians, Chap. 12. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you ? I Corinthians, Chap. 3. 6 ^p 8a. RANDOM SHOTS ; But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ ; and the head of the woman is the man ; and the head of Ciirist is God. I Corinthians, Chap. ii. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. I Corinthians, Chap. 6. Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God ; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord ; In whom ye also are builded together for an habi- tation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians, Chap. 2. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether ive be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free ; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. I Corinthians, Chap. 12. For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy ; and if the root be holy, so are the branches. Romans, Chap. 11. And of the angels he saith. Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. Hebrews, Chap. i. MV BODY I And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh ; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. Joel, Chap. 2. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. OR, THE WISDOM OF HOL Y WRIT. 83 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that beheve on his name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. John, Chap. i. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Wore' was God. John, Chap. i. A WHEEL WITHIN A WHEEL. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father and it sufficeth us. ' Jesus saith unto him. Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip ? he that hath seen me hath seen the P'ather ; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me ; or else believe me for the very works' sake. John, Chap. 14. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt, according to the de- ceitful lusts ; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind ; And that ye put on the new man, which, after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians, Chap. 4. ONE RECOGNITION PROVES THE OTHER. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of hmi, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile \ 84 ^/iiVZJ OM SHOTS • Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me ? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and said unto him. Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel. John, Chap. i. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole ; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye cruciiied, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Acts, Chap. 4. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy ; having their conscience seared with a hot iron ; Forbidding to many, and commandin<^ to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refustd if it be received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy, Chap. 4. All things are delivered to me of my Father ; and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father ; and who the Father is. but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. Luke, Chap. 10. I I OR, rilE WISDOM OF HOLY WRIT. 85 And Jasus liimself began to be about thirty years of age, bei/ig (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, wliich was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, AVhich was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of EsH, which was the son of Naiige, Which was the son. of Maath, whicli was the son of Mattathias which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Jose|)h, which was the son of Judah, Which wns the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, Whicli was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Co«am, which was the son of Ehnodam, which was the sof of Er, Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Ehezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matlhat, which was the sot of Levi, Which was the son of Simeon, which was Me son of Jadah, which was the son of Joseph, whicii was the son of Jonan, which was the son of EHakim, Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was ///.? son of Naasson, Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Judah, Which was ///" son of Jacol), which was t/h: son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of rhara, which was tlic son of Nachor, Which was the. son of Sirurh, which was the sou of Ragau, wliich was the son of Ph. !ec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala, Which was the son of (Hainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son 86 RANDOM SHOTS; of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. Luke, Chap. 3. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies ; thou anointest my head with oil ; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life ; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 32. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city Oi our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on tiie sides of the north, the city of the great King. Psalm 48. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song ; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, sayins;, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall ye sing the Lord's song in a strange land ? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth ; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Psalm 137. And when Joseph s brethren sav/ that their father was dead, they said, Josei)h will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying. So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin ; for they did unto thee, evil ; and now, we pray thee, for- OK, THE WISDOM OF HOL Y WRIT, 87 givihe e trespass of the servants of the God of thy fa- ther. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face ; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me ; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis, Chap. 50, David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 2 Samuel, Chap. 5. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy chil- dren ? And he said, There remaineth yet the young- est, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep- And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him ; for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said. Arise, anoint him, for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren ; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. I Samuel, Chap. 16. Incline your ear, and come unto me ; hear, and your soul shall live ; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given \\vcs\for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Isaiah, Chap. 55. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise : When, as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Hoiy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, beinjj a just man, and not willing to make her a publick e\ample, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on th ,*se things, behold, the i 88 RANDOM SHO TS ; angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, say- ing, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife ; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name Jesus ; for he shall save his people from their sins. ' Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, B 'hold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring foith a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted, is God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the ange) of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife. And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son ; and he called his name Jesns. Matthew, Chap. i. Behold, he cometh with clouds ; and every eye shall sec him, and they also which pierced him ; and all k indreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so. Amen. Revelations, Chap. i. WHERE DO WE FIND HIM REJOICING? Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day ; and he saw /V, and was glad. John, Chap. 8. I CAME TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST. Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small renmant, we should have been as Sodom, ati we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Isaiah, Chap. i. For we know that if our earthly house of this tab- ernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be cloth ed upon with our house, which is from heaven. If so be, that being clothed, we shall not be found naked. OR, THE WISDOM OF HOL Y IVRH, 89 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we ar^ always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. An J such trust have we through Christ to God-ward ; Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any- thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter killcth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engrav- en in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Is- rael could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance ; which glory was to be done away. How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious ? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness ex- ceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which reraaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech. And not as Moses, which put a v^.il over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. But their minds were blinded; for until this day re- maineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even, unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. ii Corinthians, Chap. 5. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles ; else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish ; but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. Matthew, Chap. 9. 90 RANDOM SIIO TS ! I am the true Vine, and my Father is the husband- man. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away ; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word, which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you, As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine ; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit ; for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me,he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered ; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit ; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you ; continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love ; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants ; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth ; but I have called you friends ; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain ; that what- soever ye shall ask of the Father, in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one an- other. fe tl: fc T b; v< 1 OR, THE WlSDOAf OF IIOL Y WRIT. 91 lay land 'lied f my I you, forth rhat- he an- If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me be- fore // hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own ; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The ser- vant is not greater than his lord. If they have perse- cuted me, they will also persecute you ; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin ; but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be ful- filled that is written in their law, They hated me with- out a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the father, he shall testify of me; And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. John, Chap. 15. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. John, Chap. 3. In conclusion, I would advise my readers to study the harmony in nature, and learn that " All things are double one against another ; and that He hath made nothing unper- fect ; one thing establisheth the good of another." '' Nothing has been created in vain." The immensity of Nature, thanks to St. Pierre, teaches us the physical laws of conformity, order, harmony, colors, forms, movements, consonances, progression and contrasts. The elementary harmonies of plants, plants with the sun,, by the flowers, with the water, the air. We have, also, vegetable, animal and human harmonies of plants. Our IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) <^° ^J: '<'' V^^ ^ <: v.^' 1.0 I.I 2.5 fM _ ;: 1^ III 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" - ► p% ^ « :\ \ ■^ ^1} ^^ <^ .<''• X V 'ife^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80 (716) 872-4503 > >. f/i i •92 RANDOM SHOTS ; sense, too, of tasting, smelling, seeing, hearing and touch- ing, together with the moral laws of nature : weakness, reason, feeling, divinity and immortality, proves to man that he is a host within himself. Professor Gradle, in treating the germ theory of disease, fully establishes the fact that the body is many members. " The animal body may be compared to a vast colony, consisting as it does of a mass of cells, the ultimate elements of life. Each tissue, be it bone, muscle, liver, or brain, is made up of cells of its own kind, peculiar to and characteristic of the tissue. Each cell represents an element living by itself, but capable of •continuing its life only by the aid it gets from other cells. By means of the bleed vessels and the nervous system, the different cells of the body are put into a state of mutual connective dependence. The animal system resembles in this way a republic, in which each citizen depends upon others for protection, subsistence, and the supply of the requisites of daily life. Accustomed as each citizen is to this mutual interdependence, he could not exist without it." Paul understood these facts in the same light : '* For the body is not one member but many. God hath tempered the body together, that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it, or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it." [The End.] touch- iness, 3 man ile, in es the body loes of tissue, i of its Each ble of r cells, m, the nutual )les in upon of the 1 is to mtit." or the ipered in the re one ill the ;d, all