that they may be such themselves as they wish to make others."
In thought and tendency, My Prayer-Book purposes to be the embodiment of Christian optimism and altruism; the exponent of all that is helpful and invigorating in the Christian life — of whatever is calculated to promote man's temporal and eternal welfare; it lays stress upon the fact that while the short cut to happiness is by way of self-renunciation, self-denial, self-conquest, self-control, in the following of Christ, nevertheless good Cheer, heartfelt joy, and genuine happiness, far from being incompatible with the practice of religion, and of the Catholic faith in particular, are really the concomitant or rather the outgrowth and efflorescence of a virtuous Christian life.
"Virtue only makes our bliss below." — Pope.
" 'Tis virtue makes the bliss where'er we dwell.".
— Collins.
If Christianity sends men to learn the solemn lessons of the grave and asks them to keep in view their eternal destiny and the salvation of their priceless immortal souls, this need not make them gloomy and morose, this should not and does not make them sad and depressed; it tends, in fact, to keep them in that state in which they will be able to "rejoice in the Lord always" to be glad and cheerful and hopeful and helpful also to others, no matter what may be their outward circumstances. The peace of God is with them
