f
Shakespeare should enter the room we should rise and greet him
uncovered, but kneeling meet the Nazarene." His gift cannot be bought
nor commanded; but his secret and charm may be ours. Acceptance,
obedience, companionship with him--these are the keys of power. The
legend is, that so long as the Grecian hero touched the ground, he was
strong; and measureless the influence of him who ever dwells in
Christ's atmosphere. Man grows like those he loves. If great men come
in groups, there is always a greater man in the midst of the company
from whom they borrowed eminence--Socrates and his disciples; Cromwell
and his friends; Coleridge and his company; Emerson and the Boston
group; high over all the twelve disciples and the Name above every
name. Perchance, in vision-hour, over against the man you are he will
show you the man he would fain have you become; thereby comes
greatness. For value is not in iron, but in the pattern that molds it;
beauty is not in the pigments, but in the ideal that blends them;
strength is not in the stone or marble, but in the plan of architect;
greatness is not in wisdom, nor wealth, nor skill, but in the divine
Christ who works up these raw materials of character. Forevermore the
secret of eminence is the secret of the Messiah.

LIFE'S GREAT HEARTS, AND THE HELPFULNESS OF THE HIGHER MANHOOD.

"Heaven doth with us as we with torches do,
Not light them for themselves, for if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike
As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touched
But to fine issues, nor Nature never lends
The smallest scruple of her excellence,
But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines
Herself the glory of a creditor--
Both thanks and use."--_Measure for Measure_.

"A man was born, not for prosperity, but to suffer for the benefit of
others, like the noble rock maple, which, all round our villages,
bleeds for the service of man."--_Emerson_.

"Everything cries out to us that we must renounce. Thou must go
without, go without! That is the everlasting song which every hour,
all our life through, hoarsely sings to us: Die, and come to life; for
so long as this is not accomplished thou art but a troubled guest upon
an earth of gloom."--_Goethe_.

CHAPTER II.

LIFE'S GREAT HEARTS, AND THE HELPFULNESS OF THE HIGHER MANHOOD.

The oases in the Arabian desert lie under the lee of long ridges of
rock. The high cliffs extendi