The prayers I make will then be sweet indeed,
    If Thou the Spirit give by which I pray: 
    My unassisted heart is barren clay,
    Which of its native self can nothing feed: 
    Of good and pious works Thou art the seed,
    Which quickens only where Thou say’st it may
    Unless Thou show to us Thine own true way,
    No man can find it:  Father!  Thou must lead. 
    Do Thou, then, breathe those thoughts into my mind
    By which such virtue may in me be bred
    That in Thy holy footsteps I may tread;
    The fetters of my tongue do Thou unbind,
    That I may have the power to sing of Thee,
    And sound Thy praises everlastingly.

    —­Sonnet from Michael Angelo. Wordsworth.

VIII

THE INSEPARABLE COMPANION

As the soul moves along its upward pathway it gradually becomes conscious of many inspiring truths.  Among the most delightful and helpful of these is the fact that it is never alone, but is one of a great company all pressing toward the same goal and all passing through substantially the same experiences.  In the midst of these companionships, which are variable, and of these experiences which can seldom be predicted, it slowly becomes aware that there is one companionship which is constant, beneficent, and singularly illuminating.  The realization of this fellowship is intensely individual.  Of it others may speak, but concerning it they can give little information.  The full consciousness is always a personal one.  Having once enjoyed communion with the Over-soul it is difficult to imagine that any are ever without this supreme spiritual privilege.  Sometimes the sense of spiritual cooeperation is so vivid and continuous, so compassionate and helpful, as to be almost startling—­in those moments when it seems to beset us behind and before.  The process by which a soul becomes conscious that it is forever attended by a companion, whose one object seems to be to help it toward the spiritual heights, will repay the most careful examination.  To that delightful and difficult study we will now turn.

Before it has advanced far on its pathway the soul becomes painfully aware of the dangers by which it is surrounded and of the obstacles which it must overcome.  The road before it seems to be infested with enemies.  Its defeats are frequent and humiliating.  It learns much by experience; but the more it learns the clearer it seems to discern the difficulties which it must meet.  In the midst of the confusion and failure it slowly becomes aware that warning voices are speaking, and that they are loudest when moral peril is near.  This is one of those simple facts which may be verified by every thoughtful man, but which no thoughtful man would ever dream of trying to explain.  So simple and elemental is this truth that it may best be enforced by commonplace illustrations, and by something like a personal appeal.