“Oh!  I am dumb; my soul is inarticulate.  There is that in me which I would pour out.  Oh! why is it that the noblest actions of humanity speak not to my soul?  All life is inadequate—­but not in the sense of the world.  I would joyfully be silent, obscure, dead to all the world, if this alone which is in me had life.  I ask not for name, riches, external conditions of delight or splendor.  No; the meanest of all would be heaven to me, if this inward impulse had action, lived itself out.  But no; I am imprisoned in spirit.  What imprisons?  What is imprisoned?  Who can tell?

“You say, good adviser, ’You must accept things as they are—­be content to be; have faith in God; do that work which your hands find to do.’  Good; but it is taken for granted we know what things are—­which is the question.  ‘Be content to be.’  Be what?  ’Have faith in God.’  Yes.  ‘Work?’ Yes; but how?  Like others.  But this is not work to me; it is death; nay, worse—­it is sin; hence, damnation—­and I am not ready to go to hell yet.  Your work gives me no activity; and to starve, if I must, is better than to do the profane, the sacrilegious labor you place before me.  I want God’s living work to do.  My labor must be a sermon, every motion of my body a word, every act a sentence.  My work must be devotional.  I must feel that I am worshipping.  It must be music, love, prayer.  My field must be the kingdom of God.  Christ must reign in all.  It must be Christ doing in me, and not me.  My life must be poetical, divine.  Head, heart, and hands must be a trinity in unity; they must tone in one accord.  My work must be work of inspiration and aspiration.  My heart cannot be in heaven when my head and hands are in hell.  I must feel that I am building up Christ’s kingdom in all that I do.  To give Christ room for action in my heart, soul, and body is my desire, my aim, purpose, being. . . .

“It is not he who goes to church, says his prayers, sings psalms, says ‘Lord, Lord,’ who is in God and establishing His kingdom.  No; it is he who is doing it.  The earth is to be His kingdom, and your prayers must be deeds, your actions music ascending to heaven.  The Church must be the kingdom of God in its fulness. . . .

“Are we Christians if we act not in the spirit in which Christ acted?  Shall we say:  ‘What shall we do?’ Follow the spirit of Christ which is in you.  ‘Unless ye are reprobates, ye have it in you.’  ’Be ye faithful, as I am,’ said Jesus.  ’Love one another as I have loved you.’  Take up your cross and follow Him.  Leave all, if the Spirit leads you to leave all.  Do whatever it commands you.  There will be no lack of action.  Care not for the world; give up wealth, friends, those that you love, the opinions of all.  Be willing to be despised, spit upon, crucified.  Be silent, and let your silence speak for you.”