mutual duties binding parents and
children together. From the households that followed this way have come
men that could rule themselves as well as their fellows, women that
could be trusted as well as loved. Read the history of such families,
and you will understand the truth of the poet's words:--

"Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control,--
These three alone lead life to sovereign power."

Look around you in the world and see what way it is that has brought
your fellow-men to peace and quietness of heart, to security and honour
of life. Is it the way of unbridled self-indulgence, of unscrupulous
greed, of aimless indolence? Or is it the way of self-denial, of
cheerful industry, of fair dealing, of faithful service? If true honour
lies in the respect and grateful love of one's fellow-men, if true
success lies in a contented heart and a peaceful conscience, then the
men who have reached the highest goal of life are those who have
followed most closely the way to which Jesus Christ points us and in
which He goes before us.

III. Walk therein and ye shall find rest for your souls. Right action
brings rest.

Rest! Rest! How that word rings like a sweet bell through the turmoil
of our age. We are rushing to and fro, destroying rest in our search for
it. We drive our automobiles from one place to another, at furious
speed, not knowing what we shall do when we get there. We make haste to
acquire new possessions, not knowing how we shall use them when they are
ours. We are in a fever of new discoveries and theories, not knowing how
to apply them when they are made. We feed ourselves upon novel
speculations until our heads swim with the vertigo of universal
knowledge which changes into the paresis of universal doubt.

But in the hours of silence, the Spirit of Wisdom whispers a secret to
our hearts. Rest depends upon conduct. The result of your life depends
upon your choosing the good way and walking in it.

And to you I say, my brother-men, choose Christ, for He is the Way. All
the strength and sweetness of the best possible human life are embodied
in Him. All the truth that is needed to inspire and guide man to noble
action and fine character is revealed in Him. He is the one Master
altogether worthy to be served and followed. Take His yoke upon you and
learn of Him, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Joy & Power, by Henry van Dyke

*** END OF THIS PROJECT