Now the same buying and selling goes on in the moral and spiritual realm. Here again exchange is a principle of life and growth. And in this all important realm where success is so vitally and eternally necessary, only those will be victori-Ous who are prepared to spend the same time and energy, the same care and forethought, and preparation, as they do in the realm of secular things. In business the man is counted, a fool "who parts with good and valuable possessions in exchange for useless and worthless things. Something of permanent value, for another thing that will last but a short while. As children who will give precious stones in exchange for coloured glass baubles, or the poor savage who barters his priceless furs and feathers for bright beads and calicos. But. is not the man infinitely more foolish who makes such bargains in the moral and spiritual realm? He, for instance, who purchases the satisfaction of momentary desire, in eating or drinking, or lusting, as the price of a weakened will, the loss of his self-respect, and often the respect of his fellow-men. Or he who purchases power or wealth, or worldly preferment, or popularity, at the cost of a good conscience, and a'mind forever tainted with unclean thoughts, a heart defiled,—who purchases the satisfaction of the fickle fancies of the passing day-at the cost of eternal life and happiness.—A life of ease at the cost of a crown of victory.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.