EARLY STUDIES. xv 



truly great man. On the other hand, the idle unprincipled 

 student, who for years may have wasted his precious intel- 

 lectual substance in riotous living; who deserves not the 

 name of Student, but who has spurned the high gifts of 

 talent, teaching, and opportunity, as being of nothing worth ; 

 and who, as a consequence, begins when too late to feel 

 within himself the degrading impotency of a blighted mind, 

 together with the dark forebodings of a soul unblest — such 

 an one must feel miserable and condemned, in pondering 

 the noble issue of an early struggle such as this — an issue 

 which compresses the ordinary doings of an age isolated by 

 long periods before, and possibly by wider aeras, after its 

 dawn, into the short life of one self-denying, self-dependent, 

 God-fearing man. 



The dictionary part of his labours he pursued till 12 or 

 later at night, returning to the factory at 6 a. m., and staying 

 till 8 p. m. 



Like many others of his mould, he was a great reader 

 in his youthful days. Scientific works and books of travel 

 were his especial delight. After much anxious inquiry he 

 found comfort in ascertaining the fact that true Science and 

 philosophy are not the foes, but the handmaids of religion. 

 We have now to dwell on the greatest personal event which 

 can happen in his, and in every other mans life, viz. The true 

 conversion of the soul to God. What this is, we are 

 told in that memorable conversation held at night by 

 Christ with Nicodemus. By it we have new hearts, new 

 desires and affections, and renewed souls, given us. The 

 Holy Ghost makes us new creatures ; old things have passed 

 away, and behold all things have become new. Although 



