“Good form” is especially a society phrase, but it is full of meaning, such as has a direct bearing on even the life and walk of a missionary1. It is of sufficient importance to engage the attention of any who would become cultured, and is practical and simple enough to become a subject of study in the most common, isolated2 home, in which children are growing up.
It is in good and bad form that is found a large share of all that difference which distinguishes the lady or gentleman from the slattern and the boor3; and in the consideration given to this question of manners it is once again true that “the children of this world are wiser than the children of light.” Luke 16:8.
4
One of the first efforts that men or women will make if they have an “ax to grind,” or “something to borrow,” will be to appear well. If they have anything “to push,” an advantage to secure, which makes it necessary that some influential4 people shall be “won over” to some certain way of thinking, they will study every movement, turn, and word; learn tact5, self-control, or anything else by which they can hope to succeed.
Many a man has practised facial expression for hours before a mirror, not for amusement, but for business; to the end that he might tone down or eradicate6 certain lines which would make an unfavorable impression upon those whom he met, and has carefully cultivated in their place those that would be sure to give him a better introduction among those whom he intended to use to his own profit or pleasure. This is constantly done in the interests of self, and has often resulted in forwarding those mercenary 5 and sometimes criminal ends for which it was designed.
For the same purpose men learn grace of carriage,—how to enter and leave a room, how to moderate every tone; and practise laboriously7 in private, to fix as habit anything which they believe to be desirable, and eradicate anything that would be a hindrance9, so that they may never be taken off guard by any rush of feeling, and so jeopardize10 the selfish interests which are at stake.
For the same end little children are put into training of the most exacting11 sort, and grow up almost perfect copies of some great master in certain forms which, while in themselves empty, yet are like buckets, capable of holding anything. And until Christians13 are willing to labor8 as faithfully to become winsome14 themselves, and train their children to do the best of all work in the best of all forms, they have not yet come to love the truth as the world loves self.
6
The truth is to be carried to all people, high and low. A boor, who loves the truth, and who is filled with the Holy Spirit, may do a good work in some lines. If he has had no opportunities to know how to carry himself among men, except such knowledge as comes by being a Christian12, God will keep him where he can be used, and will use him to his glory, and give him sheaves to bring home at last.
“Be a Christian” is an easy answer to the question, “How shall I conduct myself in such and such a case?” But a man may be a Christian, and yet, for the lack of some specific instruction in certain forms of procedure, perpetrate a blunder which will bring the laugh from the profane15 whom he wished to arouse to sober thought; or make a mistake, such as will carry and widely scatter16 a serious misunderstanding by which Christ will be reproached and his work hindered.
7
I am confident that in every home among all good Christian people there is a genuine desire to attain17 to the best training in everything that will make this best of all work go swiftly to the ends of the earth; but I am also sure that many have failed to appreciate that “the cause” has a right to be carried by the most perfect methods to which it is possible to attain. The truth is worthy18 of the best of all “good form” in home, church, and social life. Good form does not consist so much in putting on, as in putting off—keeping off—those things in deportment, speech, and association which are especially ungraceful, unwinsome, incorrect, and improper19.
Social good form, although it seems to be of the world, worldly, represents just what Christ would do if he were living among men and women in ordinary social relations. The world has taken the best that worldly wisdom can comprehend of the Christ-life, 8 and carefully embodied20 it in a certain code to which it professes21 to hold itself; to which it does hold itself in public, whatever it may do behind the scenes.
It is manifestly true that the man who has the mind of Christ ought to grow, apple-tree fashion, as much of courtesy, gentleness, and all that goes to make an agreeable appearance, as the world can possibly buy in the market of good manners, tie on and wear, Christmas-tree fashion.
It is by his first appearance that the colporteur will open or close a door to the truth which he carries in a book, or in samples of health food. His manner in the homes where he is entertained, in public, on the train, the street, at camp-meeting, or on the platform, will close or open the hearts of even the hungry to the spiritual food which the minister is sent forth22 to serve in the Master’s name. The manner of those who occupy the field will play no insignificant23 9 part in the work of building up the school, the college, the mission, and in reaching the uttermost parts with the gospel; and since the children now under training in the homes of Christian workers must have a share in the work of God in this time when it means more than it ever did for the servants of God to carry weights and hindrances24, it seems a good thing to take up the consideration of what constitutes “Good Form,” or practical Christian conduct.
I have had my attention called to this subject by questions from young people, as well as parents; and this message concerning how to meet people and handle the things of this mundane25 sphere is to both parent and child, boys, girls, and young people, who are preparing for earnest work in the world.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
missionary
|
|
| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
isolated
|
|
| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
boor
|
|
| n.举止粗野的人；乡下佬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
influential
|
|
| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
tact
|
|
| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
eradicate
|
|
| v.根除，消灭，杜绝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
laboriously
|
|
| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
labor
|
|
| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
hindrance
|
|
| n.妨碍，障碍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
jeopardize
|
|
| vt.危及，损害 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
exacting
|
|
| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
Christians
|
|
| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
winsome
|
|
| n.迷人的，漂亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
profane
|
|
| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
scatter
|
|
| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
attain
|
|
| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
improper
|
|
| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
embodied
|
|
| v.表现( embody的过去式和过去分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
professes
|
|
| 声称( profess的第三人称单数 )； 宣称； 公开表明； 信奉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
insignificant
|
|
| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
hindrances
|
|
| 阻碍者( hindrance的名词复数 )； 障碍物； 受到妨碍的状态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
mundane
|
|
| adj.平凡的；尘世的；宇宙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |