had no one who knew us perfectly, not simply the
outside part of our life, but that inside and apparently incommunicable
part. Those who are least able to express themselves in words, or who
(if they did express themselves) fear that they would be misunderstood,
find in Him an unspeakable consolation. But I must not look at things
from the individualistic standpoint. No problem can ever be solved
until we have in some measure realised that the Life which flows
through us is larger than our own individual life. We get morbid, and
our reason becomes warped, when we think of our own future alone.
Every obstacle in our path, every interruption to the course which we
have planned for ourselves, every rough discipline, tells us that our
life and future are not our own, that they are intimately connected
with a larger life, a greater future. I have been thinking of those
words--so like Jesus Christ to have uttered them--_me merimnesete_. We
are always anxious about a set of circumstances which will soon be upon
us--engagements which we tremble to meet. Jesus Christ tells us, _me
merimnesete_. I believe that work in the {103} present world would be
far more free and effective if we would obey the command. We cannot
enter into life as it comes, because we are living in an imaginary
future. The man of God lives in the present; he leaves the future to
God, _me merimnesete_. If God has conducted us so far, He will not
leave us. It is easy to talk, hard to act. I think we gain the power
to act, we gain the calm peace of God, by compelling ourselves to
remain at certain times in His presence. Habits of prayer are slowly
formed, but when formed are hard to break. Talking may be a great
snare when it takes the place of prayer--and how easily it does! It is
easier to talk with a man than to pray for him--in many cases.

[Transcriber's note: The Greek phrases in the above paragraph were
transliterated as follows: _me_--mu, eta; _merimnesete_--mu, epsilon,
rho, iota, mu, nu, eta, sigma, eta, tau, epsilon]

_To F. S. H._

Clovelly: September 11, 1895.

I am reading 'The Newcomes': have you ever read it? I find it hard to
appreciate Thackeray as much as some people do. Occasionally he says
some very true things and shows that he is acquainted with human nature
in its brighter and darker aspects. But, on the whole, the story of
marriage and giving in marriage--selling your daughter for money or a
title--the pictur