Chapter I: Front Matter

Making the Most of Life

BY

J. R. MILLER, D.D.

AUTHOR OF "SILENT TIMES," "THINGS TO LIVE FOR," "BUILDING OF CHARACTER," "THE GOLDEN GATE OF PRAYER," ETC.

"I am the Lord thy God
Which teacheth to profit."
ISAIAH.

New York

THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO.

PUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1891, by T. Y. CROWELL & Co.

A WORD OF INTRODUCTION.

Alexander was accustomed to say; "Philip of Macedon gave me life, but it was Aristotle who taught me how to make the most of life."

To have the gift of life is a solemn thing. Life is God's most sacred trust. It is not ours to do with as we please; it must be accounted for, every particle, every power, every possibility of it.

These chapters are written with the purpose and hope of stimulating those who may read them to earnest and worthy living. If they seem urgent, if they present continually motives of thoughtfulness, if they dwell almost exclusively on the side of obligation and responsibility, if they make duty ever prominent and call to self-renunciation and self-sacrifice, leaving small space for play, it is because life itself is really most serious, and because we must meet it seriously, recognizing its sacred meaning and girding ourselves for it with all earnestness and energy.

If this book shall teach any how to make the most of the life God has entrusted to them, that will be reward enough for the work of its preparation. To this service it is affectionately dedicated, in the name of Him who made the most of his blessed life by losing it in love's sacrifice, and who calls us also to die to self that we may live unto God.

J. R. M.

PHILADELPHIA.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I. MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE
II. LAID ON GOD'S ALTAR
III. CHRIST'S INTEREST IN OUR COMMON LIFE
IV. THE POSSIBILITIES OF PRAYER
V. GETTING CHRIST'S TOUCH
VI. THE BLESSING OF A BURDEN
VII. HEART-PEACE BEFORE MINISTRY
VIII. MORAL CURVATURES
IX. TRANSFIGURED LIVES
X. THE INTERPRETATION OF SORROW
XI. OTHER PEOPLE
XII. THE BLESSING OF FAITHFULNESS
XIII. WITHOUT AXE OR HAMMER
XIV. DOING THINGS FOR CHRIST
XV. HELPING AND OVER-HELPING
XVI. THE ONLY ONE
XVII. SWIFTNESS IN DUTY
XVIII. THE SHADOWS WE CAST
XIX. THE MEANING OF OPPORTUNITIES
XX. THE SIN OF INGRATITUDE
XXI. SOME SECRETS OF HAPPY HOME LIFE
XXII. GOD'S WINTER PLANTS
XXIII. UNFINISHED LIFE-BUILDING
XXIV. IRON SHOES FOR ROUGH ROADS
XXV. THE SHUTTING OF DOCKS

MAKING THE MOST OF LIFE.