It is thought by many that time and discipline are alone
wanted to bring out of this poor nature a perfect man. When
the good things are planted in us they may be cherished and
trained into glorious perfection, but they must be planted
first. Least of all will any mere decoration suffice. A watch
failing to keep time will not be corrected by any jeweling
of the case; painting the organ-pipes will not improve the
music; whitewashing the pump will not purify the water. Society
in various ways seeks to gild the exterior, but what we need
is beauty of life springing from truth in the inward parts.
(Text.)--W. L. WATKINSON, “The Transfigured Sackcloth.”
(3276)
=Transformation by Surgery=--See RENEWAL.