We Smile At The Ignorance Of The

O God, Animate Us To Cheerfulness! May We Have A Joyful Sense Of Our Blessings, Learn To Look On The Bright Circumstances Of Our Lot, And Maintain A Perpetual Contentedness

Poetry Reveals To Us The Loveliness Of Nature, Brings Back The Freshness Of Youthful Feelings, Reviews The Relish Of Simple Pleasures, Keeps Unquenched The Enthusiasm Which Warmed The Springtime Of Our Being, Refines Youthful Love, Strengthens Our Interest In Human Mature, By Vivid Delineations Of Its Tenderest And Softest Feelings, And Through The Brightness Of Its Prophetic Visions, Helps Faith To Lay Hold On The Future Life.

The Sin That Now Rises To Memory As Your Bosom Sin, Let This First Of All Be Withstood And Mastered. Oppose It Instantly By A Detestation Of It, By A Firm Will To Conquer It, By Reflection, By Reason, And By Prayer.

But The Ground Of A Man's Culture Lies In His Nature, Not In His Calling. His Powers Are To Be Unfolded On Account Of Their Inherent Dignity, Not Their Outward Direction. He Is To Be Educated, Because He Is A Man, Not Because He Is To Make Shoes, Nail, Or Pins.

Did Any Man At His Death Ever Regret His Conflicts With Himself, His Victories Over Appetite, His Scorn Of Impure Pleasure, Or His Sufferings For Righteousness' Sake?