the approbation of men, and set much lighter store by their praise and
their blame, than I once did. All worldly things appear most vain and
unsatisfying to those who have tried them most. But while I feel that
this has had some hand in my distaste for man's praise, yet it is the
increasing impression on my heart of man's nothingness and God's
transcendent greatness; it is the brevity and vanity of all earthly
things, taken along with the nearness of eternity;--it is all this that
has at last lifted me above the blame and the praise of men."

To conclude; let us make up our mind and determine to pass on to God on
the spot every syllable of praise that ever comes to our eyes or our
ears--if, in this cold, selfish, envious, and grudging world, any
syllable of praise ever should come to us. Even if pure and generous and
well-deserved praise should at any time come to us, all that does not
make it ours. The best earned usury is not the steward's own money to do
with it what he likes. The principal and the interest, and the trader
too, are all his master's. And, more than that, after the wisest and the
best trader has done his best, he will remain, to himself at least, a
most unprofitable servant. Pass on then immediately, dutifully, and to
its very last syllable, to God all the praise that comes to you. Wash
your hands of it and say, Not unto us, O God, not unto us, but unto Thy
name. And then, to take the most selfish and hungry-hearted view of this
whole matter, what you thus pass on to God as not your own but His, He
will soon, and in a better and safer world, return again to the full with
usury to you, and you again to God, and He again to you, and so on, all
down the pure and true and sweet and blessed life of heaven.

ATHEIST

" . . . without God [literally, atheists] in the world."--_Paul_.

"Yonder is a man with his back toward Zion, and he is coming to meet us.
So he drew nearer and nearer, and at last came up to them. His name was
Atheist, and he asked them whither they were going? We are going to the
Mount Zion, they answered. Then Atheist fell into a very great laughter.
What is the meaning of your laughter? they asked. I laugh to see what
ignorant persons you are to take upon you so tedious a journey, and yet
are like to have nothing but your travel for your pains. Why, man? Do
you think we shall not be received? they said. Received! There is no
such place as you dream of in all