CONSCIENCE A DIVINER.
The following, written in the summer of 1840, explains itself and a great
deal besides:—
“It ought to be the serious inquiry of every true disciple of Christ,
‘Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?’ or, in other words, ‘How shall I
spend the present life?’ And it may be profitable to notice two ways in
which I should spend mine.
“1. I must strive to become an eminent Christian. If I do this, I shall
spend this life well, and I shall be happy, meet with what afflictions I
may. I must not be a half-way Christian, but a thorough one. Neither must
I be satisfied with my present attainments in piety, but press forward. I
must strive to grow in grace every day; and if at night I look back and
see no progress in divine things during the day, or if I can see that I
have let Satan have any of the ground I have gained before, I must not
be satisfied. I have found that just in proportion as I deny myself, and
take up my cross and fight with my sins, I am happy. Thus has God wisely
connected duty and happiness. Let me strive, then, every day to become
more holy, to cast down every imagination and everything that exalteth
itself in my heart, and thus become a tabernacle for the indwelling of
the Holy Spirit.
“2. I must _do_ good as well as _be_ good; and I must labor to have those
around me enjoy the same spiritual blessings that I do. It may never be
my privilege to give myself to the heathen and labor for their conversion
to God, though I sincerely wish it might; but there are other ways in
which I can help to do the work. I can contribute of my substance to
help the cause, and, by my influence and example, I may be the means of
promoting Christ’s kingdom on earth. Besides, there are those in our own
country, yea, in our own houses, whose situation is as bad as that of the
heathen, on some accounts; for, though nominally Christians, they have
not the love of God shed abroad in their hearts, and unless brought to
repentance, they must meet a fate worse than that of the poor untutored
savage who has never heard of the name of Jesus.
“There are ways in which I may glorify God on earth; and these are the
best ways in which I can spend this life. If I persevere in thus spending
it, and if I fight the good fight of faith, I shall have a crown of
life laid up for me in heaven. What an encouragement is this! Even if
this were taken away, it would be my duty thus to live, for it is what I
owe to Christ. How much more, then, seeing that every encouragement is
offered to me by God and Jesus Christ.
‘So live, that, sinking in thy last long sleep,
Calm thou mayst smile while all around thee weep.’”
Here is another article, dated January, 1842, which also explains itself:—
“As I have lately engaged in rather an aspiring undertaking for one of
my age and standing in society, namely, writing and publishing a book, I
have thought it might be well to preserve a brief history of this affair,
which is as follows:—
“At the beginning of the year 1841, as I had made considerable progress
in writing, and had found much amusement and mental profit in thus
employing my leisure time, I began to inquire whether I was not capable
of writing a book,—at least a Sabbath-school book for children. I did not
know, nor could I know, until I had made the experiment. For some time I
could think of no subject on which to make the trial. But one day, while
engaged at work, I had occasion to ‘set up’ an extract from the Revised
Statutes of this State, of which the following was a part: ‘It shall
be the duty of the President, professors, and tutors of the University
at Cambridge, and of the several colleges, and of all preceptors and
teachers of academies, and all other instructors of youth, to exert their
best endeavors to impress on the minds of children and youth committed
to their care and instruction, the principles of piety, justice, and a
sacred regard to truth, love to their country, humanity, and universal
benevolence, sobriety, industry,’ etc.
“It immediately occurred to my mind that here was a subject for a
Sabbath-school book; and a day or two after this, on January 26th, 1841,
I commenced writing the ‘Pleasant Way,’ with the intention of submitting
it to the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society for publication. I
persevered in this effort, and devoted the larger part of my leisure
time, for five months, to its accomplishment. After completing it, I
revised it, and entirely rewrote it for the press. This I finished June
25th, 1841; and the next day I sent it, by a Charlestown omnibus, to Rev.
Mr. Hoadley, who resided in that town. I thought best to withhold from
him my name; and, therefore, in the letter accompanying the manuscript, I
requested him to address me by a name which I assumed for the occasion.
“I heard nothing of the fate of my book until the first of August, when I
received a letter from Rev. Mr. Hoadley. I opened it with trembling hands
and with feelings of indescribable anxiety, and found that the committee
had not yet met to decide upon it; but as the letter hinted that there
was little doubt of its acceptance, my joy may be imagined.
“Shortly after this, my fondest hopes were realized; for I received a
letter from Mr. Hoadley, dated August 18th, 1841, informing me that the
manuscript was accepted, and adding that it was ‘very well prepared in
the main.’
“I cannot describe the joy which this news gave me, as I cannot the
suspense from which it relieved me. I answered these two letters on the
last day of August, still keeping back my name, and everything that would
lead to its discovery.
“One month after this, I received a letter from Mr. C. C. Dean, treasurer
of the Society, informing me that ‘The Pleasant Way’ was in his hands and
would soon go to press. I returned an answer to this letter, expressing
my desire in regard to a frontispiece, etc.
“On the 12th of October, ‘The Pleasant Way’ was brought into the printing
office of Mr. Damrell (the one in which I work), as copy. I had the
pleasure of working on it myself, and set up about sixty pages of it.
“Having gone thus far without being discovered by any one, I could keep
the secret no longer, but revealed it to my brother H—— (who was at
the time my room-mate and my most intimate companion) after making him
promise faithfully to inform no one of it.
“During the time ‘The Pleasant Way’ was in the office, there was
considerable talk about it; and it was not long before I was told all
the particulars about it,—the mysterious author, correspondence under
an assumed name, etc. At one time, the foreman of the office gravely
informed me that he rather suspected that Dea. Julius A. Palmer was the
author. He also remarked to me, and afterward repeated the remark in
my hearing, that it was a ‘very excellent book,—one of the best ones
the Society has published.’ Of course, these little events afforded
indescribable amusement to me.
“During the first week in November, the printing was completed; and
in the second week, ‘The Pleasant Way’ was published. The expense of
printing, not including paper, binding, etc., was seventy-six dollars and
eighty cents.
“After it was published, I received a letter from Mr. Dean, informing me
that, according to their standard price, the copyright of the ‘Pleasant
Way’ would come to sixty dollars; but, as I agreed to defray half the
expenses of a frontispiece, this sum would be reduced somewhat.
“The manner in which ‘The Pleasant Way’ was received exceeded my utmost
expectations and surprised me not a little. The following notices of it
I have thought best to preserve, by way of encouragement. There were
probably a few others which I have never seen.
“The following appeared in the ‘Sabbath-School Visiter’ for December,
1841; it was written by Mr. Hoadley, and I myself had the pleasure of
setting it up:—
“‘The object of this book, as stated by the author, is to illustrate, in
a familiar and interesting manner, some of those virtues which constitute
the character of the Pilgrim in the Pleasant Way. The principal subjects
introduced are Justice, Industry, Filial Duties, Governing the Tongue,
Temperance, Benevolence, Humanity, and Piety. These are treated in a
manly and dignified manner, with frequent illustrations from history and
biography, and sometimes from science, and a happy adaptation throughout
to the young. Some stories may be more taking, perhaps, to some; but the
Pleasant Way, we think, can but be well received. And for all who desire
solid improvement of the more substantial points of intellectual and
moral excellence, it must be, beyond doubt, a lasting, good book; and,
though designed more especially for the young, it may be read with profit
by all of every age.’
“The ‘Boston Recorder’ thus notices it:—
“‘A very pleasant book, and as useful as pleasant. Gladly would we
persuade all our young friends to procure it, read it, remember it, and
obey it.... It is a serious hook, but a sprightly one. Its teachings are
all solid and pure, but illustrated by _facts_ which at once amuse and
enlighten the mind, correct the judgment, improve the heart, and guide
the feet in the narrow way to heaven.’”
The following notice was written by a gentleman, distinguished at the
time for his ability, and who has since occupied positions of honor.
“‘We have received a volume of one hundred and seventy-three pages,
published by the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, and have looked it
over with the greatest pleasure. Of all the good books for the young,
which this Society has printed, we have not seen a better. It treats
of Justice, Industry, Governing the Tongue, Benevolence, Humanity, and
Piety, in a very _pleasant way_, and we hope the author will write more
books.’”
He has copied several other remarks from various papers equally
complimentary, but it is unnecessary to repeat them here. These are given
to indicate his success, and also his feelings, as well as to show some
reasons why he was confirmed in his suddenly-formed intention to write
for the public according as other duties gave opportunity.
On the fourth day of May, through the foreman of the printing office, he
received forty-five dollars and six copies of the book, that being the
amount due him from the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society.
With one more quotation from his book of “Sunday Reading,” this chapter
shall be closed.
“The self-abhorrence and humility of good men often appear strange to the
self-righteous; and when they see the Christian mourning over his sins,
and reproaching himself for his coldness of heart, they too often look
upon him as a fanatic or an insane man. Why is this? Why is it that men
often pride themselves on their goodness, while the sincere Christian
thinks himself the worst of all men? I think the principal reason is
this: the Christian judges himself by the law of God, without any regard
to the conduct of others; the worldly man takes a directly opposite
course.
“See the Christian. He takes the Word of God and examines his heart. He
finds that law requires perfect obedience. But, ah! he sees he has not
begun to obey it. And he is ready to cry out with righteous Job, ‘Behold,
I am vile. I will lay my hand upon my mouth;’ or, with David, ‘Behold,
I was shapen in iniquity;’ or, with Daniel, ‘O Lord, to us belongeth
confusion of face;’ or with Paul, ‘Oh, wretched man that I am! who shall
deliver me from this body of death?’ or, with Payson of modern days, ‘I
know that I am everything that is bad summed up in one.’
“Now all this is the language of penitence. It shows that those who
uttered it knew their own hearts.... Had Job or David or Daniel or Paul
or Payson compared himself with other men, without reference to the law
of God, probably he would have seen that he was better than any around
him. But they did not do this. They went directly to the Law, and by that
examined their hearts.
“Now look at the self-righteous man. He looks at those around him,
and sees in them many failings. He looks at his own outward conduct,
and finds, perhaps, that he is honest, kind, amiable. He immediately
concludes that he is going to heaven. His language is, ‘Surely God will
not cast me off. I am as good, and perhaps better, than the majority
of men. And I do not see but I am as good as those men who make great
professions of piety. To be sure, I have some faults, and so have they,
too. But God will overlook these little failings.’ And if he sees a
man who appears to abhor himself, and repent in dust and ashes, he
immediately sets him down as a fanatic.
“But, oh, when the Spirit reaches that heart, what a change! How quickly
does his righteousness disappear, or become as filthy rags. When the
commandment comes, then he says with Paul, ‘Sin revived and I died.’”