t, that it was almost impossible to enumerate their
different sentiments. So it came to pass that exertions for benevolent
ends were seldom, if ever, put forth by pagans in pagan lands--they knew
nothing of the happiness springing from such a source.

Great efforts from great motives are the glory and blessedness of our
nature. In the Bible only men have learned what great motives and
efforts are. There we find food to sustain them and wisdom to guide
them. Nowhere in the pages of infidel philosophy can we find such an
injunction as this: "Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, do all to the
glory of God." Where else do we find this Christian maxim: "None of us
liveth to himself, and none of us dieth to himself; but whether we live,
we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord." He or
she alone is the happy one who is taught to consider the nature and
tendencies of human conduct, and whether it will stand the test before
God, and advance the ends of his truth and love in the world; who makes
the Lord's will the ends of his or her life and lives to please God and
show forth his praise. Such a life is necessarily a happy one, because
it is one _full_ of goodness. There is daily joy in such daily activity.
No man can be wretched while acting from the principle of communicative
goodness. Such are happy whatever their sphere or occupation may be.
Their aims are high. Their objects sustain them and their impulses
encourage or strengthen them. Their anticipations are joyous and their
reflections are tranquil. They look backward with delight and forward
with hope. Their conscience approves them. They have not buried their
talents. They are not encumberers of the ground.

They live to bless the children of men. When they die they will to them
their counsel, their example and prayers. Benevolent habits are a great
source of happiness, for which we are indebted to the religion of
Christ.

It is vain to attempt to persuade ourselves that human misery does not
exist. We can not get away from it by arming ourselves with stoical
insensibility. Evils lie all about us; we ourselves are made to feel
them. If we open our eyes upon the pages of time we see a continuous
series of beings who appear for a short time and then pass away. Their
beds are bedewed with tears, and soon the emblems of death are hung
about their doors. O, what wonderful scenes lie between the cradle and
the grave! What hours of sadness and gloom! He