A WORD OF INTRODUCTION.

Alexander was accustomed to say; "Philip of Macedon gave me life, but it was Aristotle who taught me how to make the most of life."

To have the gift of life is a solemn thing. Life is God's most sacred trust. It is not ours to do with as we please; it must be accounted for, every particle, every power, every possibility of it.

These chapters are written with the purpose and hope of stimulating those who may read them to earnest and worthy living. If they seem urgent, if they present continually motives of thoughtfulness, if they dwell almost exclusively on the side of obligation and responsibility, if they make duty ever prominent and call to self-renunciation and self-sacrifice, leaving small space for play, it is because life itself is really most serious, and because we must meet it seriously, recognizing its sacred meaning and girding ourselves for it with all earnestness and energy.

If this book shall teach any how to make the most of the life God has entrusted to them, that will be reward enough for the work of its preparation. To this service it is affectionately dedicated, in the name of Him who made the most of his blessed life by losing it in love's sacrifice, and who calls us also to die to self that we may live unto God.

J. R. M.
PHILADELPHIA.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I. MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE II. LAID ON GOD'S ALTAR III. CHRIST'S INTEREST IN OUR COMMON LIFE IV. THE POSSIBILITIES OF PRAYER V. GETTING CHRIST'S TOUCH VI. THE BLESSING OF A BURDEN VII. HEART-PEACE BEFORE MINISTRY VIII. MORAL CURVATURES IX. TRANSFIGURED LIVES X. THE INTERPRETATION OF SORROW XI. OTHER PEOPLE XII. THE BLESSING OF FAITHFULNESS XIII. WITHOUT AXE OR HAMMER XIV. DOING THINGS FOR CHRIST XV. HELPING AND OVER-HELPING XVI. THE ONLY ONE XVII. SWIFTNESS IN DUTY XVIII. THE SHADOWS WE CAST XIX. THE MEANING OF OPPORTUNITIES XX. THE SIN OF INGRATITUDE XXI. SOME SECRETS OF HAPPY HOME LIFE XXII. GOD'S WINTER PLANTS XXIII. UNFINISHED LIFE-BUILDING XXIV. IRON SHOES FOR ROUGH ROADS XXV. THE SHUTTING OF DOCKS