October 11

Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye; but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?—LUKE vi, 41.

Search thine own heart. What paineth thee?

In others, in thyself may be;

All dust is frail, all flesh is weak;

Be thou the true man thou dost seek.

JOHN G. WHITTIER.

Think how shameful it is to get all knowledge, and not to know ourselves; and how miserable he is that encompasses all the world, and searches into all things, only neglects his own peace, or seeks it among the occasions of his trouble. Discharge thyself therefore with all speed from thy passions of rashness and hasty thoughts. Learn thy duty; do it: know God and thyself, and the world; and when thou art once humble, prudent, thankful, and heavenly-minded, then thou wilt not be displeased at what God or men do; nothing will trouble thee; or if anything do, it will be this, that thou doest these things no better. But this is the happiness of such a man's condition, that those who mourn shall be comforted, and it is a pleasure to be so aggrieved. No joys here like those of an ingenuous sorrow. No cup of blessing so sweet as that which is mingled with tears of true contrition for our ingratitude.

SIMON PATRICK.

Self-knowledge is that acquaintance with ourselves which shows us what we are, and ought to do and be, in order to our living comfortably and usefully here, and being happy hereafter. The means of it is self-examination, the end of it self-government and self-fruition. It principally consists in a knowledge of our souls; for a man's soul is properly himself. . . . The more true knowledge a man hath the more sensible is he of the wants which keep him humble.

JOHN MASON.