The voyage of life: a journey from the cradle to the grave

Introduction

The Voyage of Life is before us ; and on this sublime voyage to the land of immortals, to the Palace Beautiful in the skies, let us start from the dear old home of childhood, that home which, though it may be desolate, is still imperishable in memory.

Let our destined port be the home of the blessed, the city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

This voyage is a solemn fact ; we have started upon it ; let us try to understand it ; let us grapple with its mysteries ; let us think much of its responsibilities ; let us ponder the thoughts of the inquiring minds of past ages ; let us prize all the light we have from man — from God, so that we may be guided aright amid its perils and changing experiences.

Above all things let us remember what life is. It is not breathing, moving, playing,

4 INTRODUCTION.

sleeping, simply. Life is a battle. All thoughtful people see it so. A battle between evil and good from childhood. Good influences, drawing us up toward the Divine ; bad influences, drawing us down towards the brute. Midway we stand between the Divine and the brute. How to cultivate the good side of the nature is the greatest lesson of life to teach. Far above physical courage — which will lead us to face the cannon's mouth — above wealth, — which would give us farms, and houses, and bank stocks, and gold — is moral courage. That courage by which we will stand fearlessly, frankly, firmly, for the right. Every man or woman who dares to stand for the right when evil has its legions, is the true moral victor in this life, and in the land beyond the stars.

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