116 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



clared, and sincerely believed, to be conducive to true 

 happiness in every other department of life, as Mon- 

 day's conversation is sometimes at variance with the 

 good feelings or good resolutions experienced at the 

 close of Sunday's sermon. 



It is as long ago as the days of Charles II. that in 

 one of these same ' Sunday sermons' a remark was 

 made which has not only travelled down safely to our 

 own time, but enjoyed the more remarkable truth- 

 stamp of instant activity in its own, in being carried 

 away by two listeners, who the following day met each 

 other half-way to shake hands, and settle by a little 

 mutual concession, some matter that had long kept 

 them wide apart. The remark was that " Selfishnesse 

 seeking but its own sunshine is blynded, lookynge on 

 the light ; but wisdome, like a true archer, turneth his 

 own back to the sunne, and letting the light fall upon 

 the mark, taketh the steadier and surer aym : and 

 thus should he who seeketh his own happiness con- 

 sider well the posture of his neighbour, and placing 

 himself therein, look back as it were upon himselfe ; 

 and most surely, after due habit (for the tryal is at 

 first of difficult empryse), he shall find the whole 

 matter between them such as one may presently 

 know wherein the due correction lycth." 



