BE PEACE THY AIM | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 3, 1876

BE PEACE THY AIM.

Crave not for wealth. There is sorrow in gold; A canker corroding the bloom of the heart; Love in its presence grows selfish and cold, While pride and display their fevers impart.

The cares that preserve it, the fears of its loss, O'ershadow the pleasures that spring in our way; A thousand temptations attend on the dross, Alluring the soul from its bright bourne away.

Enough for our comfort is all we require, How small is the portion we truly enjoy! The owner of millions does not acquire The toil of the factor whom others employ.

Seek not for power. Ambition's galling crown But racks with pain the brow of high estate. Who grasps the pageant bauble of renown Lays bare his breast to shafts of envious hate.

Seen from afar, the mountain's lofty crest, With seeming glories woos the wanderer there, Till, faint and weary, robbed of peace and rest, He finds the frozen summit bleak and bare.

Woo not with fevered pulse the world's acclaim— With puppet will the rabble shout or rave. Why crush life's flowers to win—disputed fame? Thou canst not feel thy honors in the grave.

Be peace thy aim!—that peace of heart and mind Which conscious rectitude alone can give, Thy hopes, thy joys to virtue's realm confined— Thy wealth, content—thy pride, to purely live.

Brief is our sojourn here. The haughtiest head Must, like the peasant's, own the conqueror's sway. No wealth can save thee from the narrow bed— No fame obtain a single hour's delay.

What mocking lures will pomp and power appear When earth reclaims its suffering kindred clay! What holy hope the dying soul will cheer, That, living, strove for an immortal day.

—Sel.