p. 127 | Open your Eyes by Beecher

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 2, 1872

Open your Eyes.

By Beecher

THERE are men who will go down Hicks street and not be able to tell you of one shop that is there—and there are some very curious shops, and some very queer things, in Hicks street. They will cross Fulton Ferry, day in and day out, without looking at any of the horses that go over. They do not know whether they are big horses or small ones. They do not know what sort of harnesses are on them. They do not know what kind of wagons or carts they are hitched to. They do not know whether there is any thing new in the carts or not. They have eyes to see, but their idea of the use of their eyes is, that they are to count money with, or to read in books with. But the best books are out of doors. There are always two-legged books, and four-legged books, and wheeled books, that may be read. There is something to be learned from every man that you meet, and everything that you see. There is not one of those books that it is not worth your while to read. But men come to you, and you will not talk with them. There is that in the history of every man from which you may gain instruction; every man that you are thrown in contact with is sent to you as a teacher; but you will not learn from him.

Aspire to the company of those who know more than you do. If you have a great deal of vanity, in combination with certain other qualities, you will want to show off among folks who are your inferiors, and so you will always be keeping company downwards; but if you have an honest, upward-tending pride, see that you have a chance, part of the time at least, to associate with those who know more than you do. It is difficult for some to find such people! but they are to be found. There are men who know a great deal more than you do. And their conversation ought to be a part of your education.—Beecher.