re murmurs of our individual life； for that will be as 〃a tale that is told。〃
The whole train of thought I am now pursuing strikes us with peculiar force； in reading the biographies of men who have lived intensely； who have realized the fulness of life； who have mingled intimately with its varied experiences； and occupied a large place in it。 We see how to them life was； as it is to us； an absorbing fact；how they have planned； and thought； and acted； as though they were to live forever； and yet we have noticed the premonitions of change； the dropping away of friends； the failing of vigor； the deepening of melancholy shadows； and the coming of the end； the business closed； the active curiosity and intermeddling ceased； the familiar haunts abandoned； the home made desolate； the lights put out； the cup fallen beneath the festal board； and all the earnest existence stopped forever。 And this； too； so quick；filling so small a space in absolute time！ From their illustration let us； then； realize that our life； too； amid all these real conditions； is unfolding rapidly to an end； and is 〃as a tale that is told。〃
But life is like a tale that is told； because of its comprehensiveness。 It is a common characteristic of a narrative that it contains a great deal in a small compass。 It includes many years； and expresses many results。 Sometimes it sweeps over different lands； and exhibits the peculiarities of various personages。 In one word； it is characterized by comprehensiveness。 And this； I repeat； is also a characteristic of human life。 When the consideration of the brevity of our mortal existence excites us to diligence it is well； but when we make it an argument for indolence； disgust； and despair； we should be reminded of the fact I am now endeavoring to illustrate；the fact that even the briefest life contains a great deal； and means a great deal； and that； if we estimate things by a spiritual standard； a man's earthly being may contain more than all the cycles of the material world。 From the best point of view； life is not merely a term of years and a span of action； it is a force； a current and depth of being。 Indeed； considered in its most literal sense； as the vital spark of our animal organism； it is something more than a measurement of time； it is a mysterious； informing essence。 No man has yet been able to tell us what it is； where it resides； or how it acts。 We only know that when we gaze upon the features of the dead we see there the same organs that pertained to the living； but something has gone；something of light； power； motion； and that something we call life。
But it is chiefly in a moral sense that I make the remark that life is something more than a term of years or a span of action。 In fact； life is a sum of spiritual experiences； and thus one act； or result； often contains more than a century of time。 Who does not understand the fact to which I now refer？ Who has not felt something of it？ Has not each one of us； at times； realized that he lived a year in a single day；in a moment；in an emotion or thought？ Nay； could that experience be measured by any estimate of time？ And if we should compute the length of any life by such experiences； and not by a succession of years； would it not be a long life？ At least； would it not be a full and immeasurable life？
But； while every man's history will furnish instances of what I mean； let us； for the sake of clearer illustration； consider some of the experiences which are common to all。 Defining life to be depth and intensity of being； then；a current of spiritual power； and not a mere succession of incidents；how much we live when we acquire the knowledge of a single truth！ What an inexhaustible power！what an immeasurable experience it is！ We are made absolutely stronger by it； we receive more life with it；a new and imperishable fibre of being。 Fortune cannot pluck it from us； age cannot weaken it； death cannot set limits to it。 And now； with the fulness of this one experience as a test； just consider our whole mortal experience as filled up with such revelations of truth。 Suppose we improve all our opportunities； into what boundless life does education admit us； and the discoveries of every day； and the ordinary lessons of the world！ Tell me； is this life to be called merely a brief and worthless fact； when by a little reading； for instance； I can make the experience of other men； and lands； and ages； all mine？ When in some favored hour； I can climb the starry galaxy with Newton； and pace along the celestial coast to the great harmony of numbers and unlock the mighty secret of the universe？ When of a winter's night； I can pass through all the belts of climate； and all the grades of civilization on our globe； scan its motley races； learn its diverse customs； and hear the groaning of lonely ice…fields and the sigh of Indian palms？ When； with Bacon； I can explore the laboratory of nature； or with Locke； consult the mysteries of the soul？ When Spenser can lead me into golden visions； or Shakespeare smite me with magic inspiration； or Milton bathe me in immortal song？ When History opens for me all the gates of the past；Thebes and Palmyra； Corinth and Carthage； Athens with its peerless glory； and Rome with its majestic pomp？when kings and statesmen； authors and priests； with their public deeds and secret thoughts are mine？ When the plans of cabinets； and the debates of parliaments； and the course of revolutions； and the results of battle； are all before my eyes and in my mind？ When I can enter the inner chamber of sainted souls； and conspire with the efforts of moral heroes； and understand the sufferings of martyrs？ Say； when all these deep experiences…these comprehensive truths…may be acquired through merely one privilege； is life but a dream； or a breath of air？ Thus； too； do immeasurable experiences flow in to me from nature；from planet； flower； and ocean。 Thus； too； does more life come to me from contacts in the common round of action。 And； I repeat； every truth thus gained expands a moment of time into illimitable being；positively enlarges my existence； and endows me with a quality which time cannot weaken or destroy。
Consider； again； how much we really live in cherishing good affections； and in performing noble deeds。 We have the familiar lines of the poet； to this point：
〃One self…approving hour whole years outweighs Of stupid starers and of loud huzzas。〃
It is true。 There is more life in one 〃self…approving hour；〃…one act of benevolence； one work of self… discipline；than in threescore years and ten of mere sensual existence。 Go out among the homes of the poor； lift up the disconsolate； administer comfort to the forlorn； in some way； as it may come across your path； or lie in the sphere of your duty； do a deed of kindness； and in that one act you shall live more than in a year of selfish indulgence and indolent ease；yea； more than in a lifetime of such。 The poet； with his burning； immortal lines； while doing his work； lives all the coming ages of his fame。 From every marble feature he chisels； the sculptor draws an intensity of being that cannot be imparted by a mere extension of years。 The philanthropist； in his walks of mercy and his ministrations of love； lives more comprehensively than another may in a century。 His is the fathomless bliss of benevolence；the experience of God。 The martyr； in his dying hour； with his face shining like an angel's； does not live longer； but he lives more than all his persecutors。
Consider； too； the experiences of religion； of worship； of prayer。 In the act of communion with God； in the realization of immortality； in the aspirations and the idea of perfection； there is a depth and scope of being from which all sensual estimates of time drop away。
Our mortal life； then； is very comprehensive。 If we measure it； not by its length of years； but by its spiritual results； be they good or evil； it is a full and large life。 It then appears； like the immortal state； not as a fact of succession； but of experience。 Christ has defined eternal life as such a fact。 〃Eternal life；〃 he says； 〃is to know thee； the only true God； and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent。〃 The life of the blessed in heaven is not marked by years and cycles； it is not so much protracted being； as a power of knowledge；a depth of glad and holy consciousness；… …a constant pulsation of harmony with God。
Again； every life may be compared to 〃a tale that is told；〃 because it has a plot。 In the narrative there is a combination of agencies working to a crisis。 There is a main…point with which all the action is involved。 And so every human life has its main…point。。 I will not now take up time to carry out this illustration minutely。 The mere suggestion that each one is working out a peculiar destiny invests even the meanest life with a solemn dignity； and counteracts any disparaging argument drawn from its brevity。
But still I would urge； that the propriety of this comparison between the peculiar tendency of an individual life and the plot of a story； is seen in the fact that every man is accomplishing a certain moral result in and for himself。 This is inevitable。 We may be inactive； but that result is forming； the mould of habit is growing； and the inward life is unfolding itself； after its kind。 We may think our career is aimless； but all things give a shape to our character。 And does not this consideration make our mortal life of deep consequence to us？
All circumstances and experiences are chiefly important as affecting this result。 One of the highest views we can take of the universe is that of a theatre for the soul's education。 We are placed upon this earth not to be absorbed by it； but to use it for the highest spiritual occasions。 We are placed among the joys and sorrows of our daily lives to be trained for immortal issues。 Our business； our domestic duties； and all our various relations； constitute a school for our souls。 Here our affections and our powers are acted upon for good or for evil。 Grief strengthens our faith and elevates our thoughts； joy quickens our gratitude； our obedience； and our trust； temptation forms in us an exalted and spontaneous virtue； or enfeebles and enslaves us。 Chiefly； then； s