n's purpose in this world even as it was the purpose of the one who
called Himself the Son of Man? What nobler summary could any life have
than His, that He went about doing good? How quickly would that
kingdom of heaven come if this were the program of every life!

Let but a man do his duty towards this shining ideal, let him but be
lifted up, carried along in the mighty enthusiasm it ought to engender,
and his own soul, his own development, his character perfection will
take care of itself. No man ever did any great work without becoming
greater himself, and greatness never was found in any other way. This
is an unvarying law. Service is the secret of culture.

The pious hypochondriac is sure to be a sickly soul. The best thing
you can do for your soul is to forget that you have one, just as the
healthy man forgets he has a heart or liver. The self-forgetting
service is the secret of happiness, of full finding of self. Freedom
in self-giving brings fullness in living.

In the right life the hour of prayer, the quiet thought, the search for
abstract truth, may all have their place; but it is only the place that
the wise workman gives to his meals. He does not live for these
things; they are but ministrants to his work. He uses everything that
will make him a better workman; but not because he sees the workman as
his end. He forgets himself in the perfection of that he seeks to
make. The saving of the soul, the culture of the self, as an end is
shame and suicide; as a means to service it is life and peace and
perfection.

THE SATISFACTION OF SERVICE

A man always thinks more of his work than of his wages. He would never
be content to toil day in and day out but for the thought that somehow
to some one his work was worth while. Neither wages, nor salary, nor
any other cash consideration would of itself be sufficient to satisfy
him. The workman is proud of the product of his hands; his reward is
in that he has made; the good shepherd thinks more of the flock than of
their fleece or his pay.

Satisfaction in work can only come from service rendered. Whether a
man be plowing or preaching, sweeping the streets or building empires,
his work is only worthy if his motive be the good he is doing, the
value of the work itself. We call the man who preaches a minister, a
servant. There is no more honourable title, but it belongs to every
one who seeks to do any worthy work in the world.

The purpose of