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Boston girl who was deaf and dumb and blind； was an absolute blank；
nothing could go into that mind because the ears and eyes were
closed to the outer world。 Then by that great process which has
been discovered； by which the blind see； and the deaf hear； and the
mute speak； that girl's soul became opened； and they began to put
in little bits of knowledge； and bit by bit they began to educate
her。 They reserved her religious instruction for Phillips Brooks。
After some years； when she was twelve years old； they took her to
him and he began to talk to her through the young lady who could
communicate with her by the exceedingly delicate process of touch。
He began to tell her about God and what He had done； and how He loved
men； and what He is to us。 The child listened very intelligently；
and finally said：
〃Mr。 Brooks； I knew all that before； but I didn't know His name。〃
How often we have felt something within us impelling us to do
something which we would not have conceived of by ourselves； or
enabling us to do something which we could not have done alone。
〃It is God which worketh in you。〃 This great simple fact
Explains many of the mysteries of life；
and takes away the fear which we would otherwise have in meeting
the difficulties which lie before us。
Two Americans who were crossing the Atlantic met on Sunday night
to sing hymns in the cabin。 As they sang the hymn； 〃Jesus； Lover
of my Soul；〃 one of the Americans heard an exceedingly rich and
beautiful voice behind him。 He looked around； and although he did
not know the face he thought that he recognized the voice。 So when
the music ceased he turned and asked the man if he had not been
in the Civil war。 The man replied that he had been a Confederate
soldier。 〃Were you at such a place on such a night？〃 asked the
first。 〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃and a curious thing happened that night；
this hymn recalled it to my mind。 I was on sentry duty on the
edge of the wood。 It was a dark night and very cold； and I was a
little frightened because the enemy was supposed to be very near
at hand。 I felt very homesick and miserable； and about midnight；
when everything was very still； I was beginning to feel very weary
and thought that I would comfort myself by praying and singing a
hymn。 I remember singing this hymn；
'All my trust on Thee is stayed；
All my help from Thee I bring；
Cover my defenceless head
With the shadow of Thy wing。'
After I had sung those words a strange peace came down upon me；
and through the long night I remember having felt no more fear。〃
〃Now；〃 said the other man； 〃listen to my story。 I was a Union
soldier； and was in the wood that night with a party of scouts。 I
saw you standing up； although I didn't see your face； and my men
had their rifles focused upon you waiting the word to fire； but
when you sang out；
'Cover my defenceless head
With the shadow of Thy wing。'
I said； 'Boys； put down your rifles； we will go home。' I couldn't
kill you after that。〃
God was working in each of them； in His own way carrying out His
will。 God keeps his people and guides them and without Him life
is but a living death。
III。
The third element in life about which I wish to speak is LOVE。
In this picture we notice the delicate sense of companionship；
brought out by the young man and the young woman。 It matters not
whether they are brother and sister； or lover and loved； there
you have the idea of friendship； the final ingredient in our life；
after the two I have named。 If the man or the woman had been
standing in that field alone it would have been incomplete。
Love is the divine element in life； because 〃God is love。〃 〃He
that loveth is born of God；〃 therefore； as some one has said； let
us 〃keep our friendships in repair。〃 Let us cultivate the spirit
of friendship； and let the love of Christ develop it into a great
love； not only for our friends； but for all humanity。 Wherever
you go and whatever you do； your work will be a failure unless you
have this element in your life。
These three things go far toward forming a well…rounded life。 Some
of us may not have these ingredients in their right proportion；
but if you are lacking in one or the other of them； then pray for
it and work for it that your life may be rounded and complete as
God intended it should be。
Pax Vobiscum。
I once heard a sermon by a distinguished preacher upon 〃Rest。〃
It was full of beautiful thoughts； but when I came to ask myself；
〃How does he say I can get Rest？〃 there was no answer。 The sermon
was sincerely meant to be practical； yet it contained no experience
that seemed to me to be tangible； nor any advice that I could
graspany advice； that is to say； which could help me to find the
thing itself as I went about the world。
Yet this omission of what is； after all； the only important problem；
was not the fault of the preacher。 The whole popular religion is
in the twilight here。 And when pressed for really working specifics
for the experiences with which it deals； it falters； and seems to
lose itself in mist。
The want of connection between the great words of religion and
every…day life has bewildered and discouraged all of us。 Christianity
possesses the noblest words in the language； its literature overflows
with terms expressive of the greatest and happiest moods which can
fill the soul of man。 Rest； Joy； Peace； Faith； Love； Lightthese
words occur with such persistency in hymns and prayers that an
observer might think they formed the staple of Christian experience。
But on coming to close quarters with the actual life of most of us；
how surely would he be disenchanted。 I do not think we ourselves
are aware of how much our religious life is
Made up of phrases；
how much of what we call Christian Experience is only a dialect
of the Churches； a mere religious phraseology with almost nothing
behind it in what we really feel and know。
To some of us； indeed； the Christian experiences seem further away
than when we took the first steps in the Christian life。 That life
has not opened out as we had hoped。 We do not regret our religion；
but we are disappointed with it。 There are times； perhaps； when
wandering notes form a diviner music stray into our spirits； but
these experiences come at few and fitful moments。 We have no sense
of possession in them。 When they visit us； it is as surprise。
When they leave us； it is without explanation。 When we wish their
return； we do not know how to secure it。
All of which means a religion without solid base； and a poor and
flickering life。 It means a great bankruptcy in those experiences
which give Christianity its personal solace and make it attractive
to the world； and a great uncertainty as to any remedy。 It is as
if we knew everything about healthexcept the way to get it。
I am quite s