then will he understand who
God is. This will not only then be not terrible, but on the contrary
most attractive and comforting. Guard yourself, my dear Veit, from the
proud thought of climbing into heaven without this ladder, apart from
the Lord Jesus Christ in His humanity. As the Word simple describes Him,
stick to this, and do not permit reason to divert you from it; then will
you apprehend God aright! I wish to know of no other God than the God
who hung upon the cross, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and of the Virgin
Mary."

1193

Luther was remarkable for his contempt of riches, though few men had a
greater opportunity of obtaining them. The Elector of Saxony offered him
the produce of a mine at Sneberg, but he nobly refused it, lest it
should prove an injury to him.

--_Buck._

1194

LUXURY.

_Dr. Johnson_:--"A man gives half a guinea for a dish of green peas. How
much gardening does this occasion? How many laborers must the
competition, to have such things early in the market, keep in
employment? You will hear it said very gravely, 'Why was not the
half-guinea, thus spent in luxury, given to the poor? To how many might
it have afforded a good meal? Alas! has it not gone to the _industrious_
poor, whom it is better to support, than the _idle_ poor? You are much
surer that you are doing good when you _pay_ money to those who work, as
the recompense of their labor, than when you _give_ money merely in
charity."

M

1195

He who is too much afraid of being duped has lost the power of being
magnanimous.

--_Amiel._

1196

A MAIDEN'S LAMENT.

Full oft he sware with accents true and tender,
"Though years roll by, my love shall ne'er wax old!"
And so to him my heart I did surrender,
Clear as a mirror of pure burnished gold;

And from that day, unlike the seawood bending
To every wave raised by the autumn gust,
Firm stood my heart, on him alone depending,
As the bold seaman in his ship doth trust.

Is it some cruel evil one that hath bereft me?
Or hath some mortal stolen away his heart?
No word, no letter since the day he left me;
Nor more he cometh, ne'er again to part!

In vain I weep, in helpless, hopeless sorrow,
From earliest morn until the close of day;
In vain, till radiant dawn brings b