A FAMILIAR TALK, WITH QUOTATIONS FROM LETTERS.
BY
J.R. MILLER, D.D.
NEW YORK 10 EAST FOURTEENTH ST.
THOMAS V. CROWELL & CO.
BOSTON: 100 PURCHASE STREET.
GIRLS: FAULTS AND IDEALS.
"Cleanse thou me from secret faults." PSA. xix, 12. "The King's daughteris all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold."—PSA. xiv. 13.
The religion of Christ has something to say to every man, woman, andchild, in every relation, on every day, in every experience of life.It is not something for Sundays, and for prayer-meetings, and forsick-rooms, death-beds, and funerals: it is just as much for theschool-room, the play-ground, the store, the kitchen, the street.Wherever you may chance to be, if you listen you will hear a voicebehind you, whispering, "This is the way; walk ye in it." The Bible isthe Word of God, our Father's will concerning his children; and it hassomething to say each day, at every point of experience, to every one ofus. I want to help the girls and young women, if I can, to hear a littleof what Christ has to say to them.
It is good for us to see ourselves as others see us. Hence, I have askeda number of Christian young men to give me answers to certain questions,and from these I have quoted in this familiar talk. I take two of thesequestions, viz.;
1. "What are some of the most common faults in young women of youracquaintance?"
2. "What are some of the essential elements of character in your idealof true young womanhood?"
We shall think then of common faults and of ideals. The first text Ihave chosen is a prayer for for the cleansing of faults. The second is adescription of the life that pleases God.
"Cleanse thou me from secret faults." Is there one of us who does not,from deepest heart pray this prayer? I pity that man or that woman whodoes not long to be cured of faults, whatever they are, however painfulor costly their removal may be.
Some one says,—and the words are worthy of being written ingold,—"Count yourself richer that day you discover a new fault inyourself,—not richer because it is there, but richer because it is nolonger a hidden fault; and if you have not found all your faults, prayto have them revealed to you, even if the revelation must come in a waythat hurts your pride." Mr. Ruskin has this word also for young women:"Make sure that however good you may be, you have faults; that howeverdull you may be, you can find out what they are; and that however slightthey may be, you had better make some patient effort to get rid ofthem.... Therefore see that no day passes in which you do not makeyourself a somewhat better creature; and in order to do that find outfirst what you are now.... If you do not dare to do this, find outwhy you do not dare, and try to get strength of heart enough to lookyourself fairly in the face, in mind as well as in body.... Always havetwo mirrors on your toilet table, and see that with proper care youdress both the mind and body before them daily."
These words show us the importance of the prayer: "Cleanse thou me fromsecret faults." We all have our faults, which mar the beauty of ourlives in the eyes of others. Every noble soul desires to grow out of allfaults, to have them corrected. The smallest fault mars the beauty ofthe character; and one who seeks to possess only "whatsoever thingsare lovely" will be eager to be rid of whatever is faulty. Ofttimes,however, we do not know our own faults: we are unconscious of them.We cannot see ourselves as others see us. The friend does us a truekindness who tells us of the things in our charac