| The Joy of Service |
Chapter 18 |
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The spirit is always hampered and limited by the flesh. The body not only veils the life which dwells within it, but also conceals much of its power and beauty. No good man ever lives out all the goodness that his heart conceives and desires to express. No most skillful artist ever gets upon his canvas the whole of the vision which is born in his soul.
“What hand and brain went ever paired?
What heart alike conceived and dared?
What act proved all its thought had been?
What will but felt the fleshly screen?”
Sometimes a veil is put on purposely, by design, to hide a secret evil life. There are those who steal the livery of heaven to serve the devil in. They wish the world to think their life fair and beautiful, and they wear a white veil. But the covering only dimly conceals the blackness and loathsomeness within. Jesus, as His eye pierced life’s thin disguises, – for He knew what was in men, – spoke of certain men who were like whited sepulchers, outwardly beautiful, but inwardly full of uncleanness. What mockeries are any veils which earth’s looms can weave, as coverings of men’s sins!
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