THE GREATNESS OF SMALL THINGS.
By Cuyler
A YOUNG reader of the Independent—fired, we trust, with a true spiritual ambition—writes to us for a few practical counsels on "attaining the greatest measure of success in the religious life." As this friend may represent many other readers, we will reply to him in the same columns that meet their eyes also. Growth in godliness should be the chief aim of every renewed heart. Young friend, you state that you are already hopefully converted. You have already attained a certain measure of piety; the question now is, how to attain the highest and the best. With much distrust of our own judgment, we would commend to you the very simple principle laid down by our Saviour, that whosoever shall do and teach one of the least commandments, "the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." The principle is that success and eminence only can be reached by the closest attention to small things. This principle is as true in religious as in secular matters. Napoleon was the most effective man of modern times. "The secret of his greatness was that while his plans were more vast and various than other men's, he had the talent to fill them up with promptness and precision in every minute particular of execution. Numbers—times—spaces were all distinct to his eye. He knew them all. The wheeling of every legion was mentally present to him. The tramp of every foot was in his ear. The numbers of troops were all supplied; the spaces were passed over; the times were met; and so the work was done." Equally applicable is this principle to the vital business of serving the Lord. Success depends upon details. You have, perhaps, a vague idea of some wonderful and splendid achievement in godliness that shall come upon you in a way that you can scarcely tell how. You are quite mistaken in your day dreams of sudden and supernatural attainments. Your growth, your usefulness, your eminence in godliness will be measured by your obedience to the very least and humblest commandments of your crucified Master. In this you have his divine example; for the life of Jesus on earth was a patient carrying out of heavenly religion into the minutest actions and events. His startling, overpowering displays were few. Only once he took on an appearance of dazzling glory, but every day, and every hour his countenance beamed forth the luster of a spotless holiness. It was only upon a single occasion that we hear of his treading the waves of the sea; but how often did he walk on long journeys to teach poor fishermen—to visit a humble family of Bethany—to relieve a Canaanitish woman—and to restore the child of a heart-broken ruler. The gentle reproof to Martha for her excessive absorption in household affairs, the payment of a few pence in taxes, and the message to impulsive Peter after his resurrection, all show that Christ overlooked nothing, and neglected nothing that his divine wisdom deemed worthy of his notice. Holiness in all things is the beautiful and blessed epitome of our Saviour's life and character. Great principles of godliness carried out in details is the apostolic conception of practical religion. Peter presents the only sure method of spiritual growth when he says, "Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to your virtue knowledge, &c." This implies growth by daily addition—by joining one attainment to another. It is the construction of a great spiritual temple by laying stone upon stone. A vast and imposing edifice, made up of small commandments faithfully kept—or rather of great commandments kept in the smallest particulars—is the life of every eminent saint who ever adorned and blessed the world. How do trees grow? How did that imperial elm by your father's gateway attain its colossal dimensions? By keeping all the commandments. It obeyed the laws of vegetable growth, it never despised the smallest accretion from the soil beneath, or from the reservoir of air that surrounds it. So must you grow in grace. Despise not the day of small things. Count nothing a trifle that bears on your Christian character. Excellence in the kingdom of Christ is only attainable by constant, patient, prayerful progress. This progress is to be made by conscientious attention to the least particulars of your daily life. Healthy piety overlooks no command of God; slights none; twists none out of its due place and proportion. Your mistake is that you are looking for growth by sudden leaps, by occasional tremendous efforts on extraordinary occasions. It is very probable that you will go to your grave without ever encountering a single "extraordinary occasion;" for God may never call you to such. But he will give you innumerable small every-day occasions in which to glorify him; and if you do not serve him in "that which is least," neither would your graces be found equal to great emergencies. You are shocked when you read of the stupendous defalcations in public departments at Washington. But are you just as scrupulous about cheating the government out of a postage-stamp as you would be of robbing a half million from the "department of the interior?" You are horrified when you read of exactions under the lash on a cotton plantation. But the harsh blow given to your little boy in a fit of passion, or the sharp bargains made with your poor seamstress, are sins of the same kind and color in the sight of Christ. You loathe cowardice in high places. So do I. But your Master also loathes our time-serving spirit when we connive at fashionable wickednesses, or keep our lips closed when we ought to "stand up for Jesus." You applaud the heroism of those missionaries who stood their ground during the late bloody scenes in the East. The same spirit in kind, if not in degree, is demanded of you, when you are called on to walk two miles every Sabbath, and teach a rugged class of unwashed boys in the missionary school. Peter did not deny his Master on a grand, premeditated occasion. It was when suddenly assaulted by a small person with a small taunt, that his heedless lips bolted out the contemptible falsehood. Look out for sudden temptations of Satan to commit "small sins;" they will be the little leaks to sink the ship, the little foxes to spoil the vine of your christian character. Look out for the first neglects of your closet under the pressure of business or of personal fatigue. Religious declension begins at a neglected closet door. But why go over the whole field of practical Christianity in one brief letter? We write you in order to enforce this one precept, that success in the christian life depends upon obedience to "the least of the commandments." You are right in aiming high. Your ambition is noble. Do not be satisfied with a meagre, half-developed, compromising piety. The world has had quite enough of such. Everything that ought to be done at all, ought to be done well. Never take hold of anything without determining to be in that thing successful; if possible, to be eminent. In religion, success and eminence both depend on numberless details of duty, faithfully and conscientiously carried out in the strength of God. The Master whom you serve has said, "Whosoever shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." May your strength be equal to your day!—Cuyler.