September 6

Deeds live forever

“Every man shall receive according to his own labour” (1 Cor. 3:8).
“Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance” (Psa. 112: 6).
“The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot” (Prov. 10:7).

Gladly away from this toil would I hasten,
Up to the crown that for me has been won;
Unthought of by man in rewards or in praises,
Only remembered by what I have done.

Up and away, like the odors of sunset
That sweeten the twilight as darkness comes on—
So be my life—a thing felt but not noticed,
And I but remembered by what I have done.

Yes, like the fragrance that wanders in freshness
When the flowers that it came from are closed up and gone—
So would I be to this world’s weary dwellers,
Only remembered by what I have done.

Not myself, but the truth that in life I have spoken,
Not myself, but the seed that in life I have sown
Shall pass on to ages—all about me forgotten,
Save the truth I have spoken, the things I have done.

So let my living be, so be my dying;
So let my name lie, unblazoned, unknown;
Unpraised and unmissed, I shall still be remembered;
Yes—but remembered by what I have done.

—Horatius Bonar.

Every true Christian is a tree of righteousness, whose fruits are good and profitable unto men. He is glad to help and to comfort others. He is diligent and industrious. He speaks to edification, dwells in peace, and gentleness, and love. He reproves what is wrong by an excellent example, and recommends by his own practice what is pleasing to God.

The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here; but it can never forget what they did here.
—Abraham Lincoln.

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