The Quest of the Chief Good (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868 Excerpt: ...the hope of glory." But are these marvellous spiritual benefits "above all" else to them? Do they care for "the means of grace" as much even as they care for the state of the market, or for "the hope of glory" as much as for success in business? Which is most in their thoughts, in their lives, in their aspirations, for which will they take most pains and make most sacrifices;--for what they mean by the beautiful phrase "all the blessings of this life," or for that sacred and crowning act of Divine Mercy, "the redemption" by which men are taught to trust the fatherly forgiving love of God? What is it that makes their worship formal and insincere? It is the very cause which, as the Preacher tells us, produced the like evil effects among the Jews. They come into the Temple with pre-occupied hearts. Their thoughts are distracted by the cares of life even as they bow in worship. I do not know that I can better illustrate this point than by reminding you of an etching which appeared some years since, when the Sunday morning delivery of letters was first stopped in London. The scene was a church during morning service; in one of the pews stood a man, the prayer-book slipping from his relaxed grasp, as with clouded wistful face, he said within himself, "Now I wonder whether Messrs. So-and-So protested that bill after all " Who that saw it will ever forget the intense yet ludicrous misery of the man's face, the air of anxious pre-occupation in his whole attitude, which detached him from the worshippers around him as obviously as if he had been fenced round with brass? The whole business-world of England sniggered over that marvellous print, not, let us hope, without some saving twinges of conscience. ...