me of sin?'
before we are fit to preach to others in such a way that our
preaching may have a practical effect upon society.

"Did all our efforts flow into realizing the teachings of the Spirit,
we should do much more good and be greater in the sight of God than
we are now by so much speaking and writing. But let us be watchful
that the pride of good works does not take the place of that of
speaking and writing.

"By our sins and many weaknesses we are prevented from entering the
Promised Land, and must die just in sight of it. Instead of being
humble, willing, and self-denying in our youth, and being led by the
Spirit of God, we keep on in the spirit of the world and give all the
substance of our being to its service. And when we are nearly worn
out we flee to God, and die, perhaps, in sight of heaven, instead of
having been among its inhabitants, living in it upon earth, in the
full bloom of our youthful joy of life. . . .

"The Lord has been good to me and my heart is filled with His warm
love. Blessed be Thou, O God! for Thou hast given me a taste of Thy
sweetness. Thou hast given me gratitude and thankfulness and an
overflowing heart of praise. I would stand still and shout and bless
God. It is God in us that believes in God. Without the light of God
we should be in total darkness, and He is the only source of light.
The more of God we have in us, the more we see beyond us.

"Thy inspiration, O God! is love and wisdom. In Thee they are one, as
light and warmth are in the fire.

"Thou art the true, eternal food of life, and he that has tasted Thee
can never be at rest until he is wholly filled with Thee. Lord, when
we are without Thee we are lost, dead, in darkness. It is in and by
Thy presence that we live and move and have our being.

"Ever more, O Lord, increase Thy Spirit in us until between as there
is no more we or Thee, but Thou, O Father, art all!

"Like the fixed light in a crystal which flashes back the light of
the sun, so does the soul of man reflect God.

"A good life consists in passive as well as active virtues.

"O Lord, so fill me that nothing shall be left but Thee, and I may be
no more."

One would be tempted to believe that none but a master in the
spiritual life could have written the sentences which immediately
follow this outburst of love and praise. Yet remember that Isaac
Hecker was not yet twenty-four, and that he knew nothing of the ways
of the Spirit except what the Spirit H