Abram Herbert Lewis - Spiritual Sabbathism

194 SPIRITUAL SABBATHISM
termined effort to be spiritually minded is better than
wishing the world were less wicked.
Realizing that we are always in Eternity and in
the presence of God promotes spiritual energy.
This certainly does not mean living in the fear of
death, or as if each day were to be your last. To
Spiritual Sabbathism a man's last day on earth is
only one day in eternal life, and death is a mere incident.
But realizing that one is living in eternity
does make one stop and consider whether he is
living
right. It compels frequent self-examination.
It takes us out of the grooves of habit, and helps
us to transfer our criticisms of others to ourselves.
It helps us to stand on the shore of time and note
the quality of our character as it flows by. It gives
us higher views of our responsibilities. It demands
sabbatic hours and days, times when we are much
alone with God. It requires of us personal and
private sabbathism with God. The facing of death
sifts out true values and shows what is of eternal
worth. But the calm and fearless facing of life as
a whole is yet more valuable ; sabbathism helps us to
distinguish,
amid our aims and purposes, what are
golden and what are dross.
§27. Protestants must lead.—Any essential improvement
in the religious condition of America
must come, first, through improvement of personal