'The secret

The secret

Soon after Judson reached Burma, he one day met a native woman. He could not speak a word of the language — but touching the woman's hand he looked up and pointed upward. She went home and told her friends that she had met an angel . His very face seemed transfigured.

Just so, every soul writes its story more or less distinctly on the face — which is the index of the inner life . Discontent soon shows its fevered spirit in fretted features. Anger soon reveals its unlovableness in the sinister lines it stamps on the brow. Lust in time blots the delicate marks of purity and innocence from the countenance, and leaves instead the tarnished marrings wrought by its own vileness. There is no secret cherished sin which does not work up out of the heart, however deeply it is hidden there, and reveal itself in some way in the face.

Men think their unhallowed secret sin is not known — but ofttimes they are mistaken; the thing they suppose hidden from all eyes but their own — all eyes see in telltale signs which no art can obscure.

In like manner, godliness in the heart works its way up into the face, and prints its own beauty there. Love in the life, softens the features and gives them a warmth like the gentle beauty of spring flowers. Peace in the heart, soon gives a quiet calm to the countenance. Purity in the soul, shows itself in the upward look and the thoughtful reverence which tells of communion with God. Benevolence writes its autograph on brow and cheek. Thus in a sense, even the physical features share in the transfiguration of the life of faith and holiness.

Drummond tells of a young girl who became wondrously beautiful in her life, growing into a rare Christlikeness. Her friends wondered what the secret could be. She wore upon her bosom a little locket which she always kept closed, refusing to allow anyone to see within it. Once, however, when she was very ill, a friend was permitted to open it, and found there only a little piece of paper, bearing the words, "Whom not having seen, I love." This told the whole story. Her love for the unseen Christ was the secret of that beautiful life which had so impressed itself upon her friends.

Back to The Glory of the Commonplace