16 The Spiritual Life.
servantof awillgreater than myown,instead
of formyownpersonalgainandprofit.
Thatis thefirststep,andthereisnotoneof
you that cannot take it. You may do your
business just the same, but you carry a new
spiritwith you into it; you doit because itis
your work in the world, as a servant does a
taskfor hismasterbecauseheis biddento do
it,andhisloyaltymakeshimdoitwell. Then
every adding up of a numberof figures in a
ledger, every selling of an article in a shop
would bedonewith this sublimeideal behind
it: "Idoitasapartoftheworld'swork,and
thisisthedutythatfalls tomylottodo,"and
would be taken as coming directly from the
greatWillbywhich theworlds move,asyour
share of the Divine activity, your part of the
universal work; and the mightiest archangel,
thegreatestof theshiningones,candonothing
morethanhisshareof carryingout the Divine
will. And George Herbert wrote truly that
theonewho sweeps a roomas tothegloryof
God makesthatand the action fine. That is
spirituallifewhereall isdoneforduty,forthe
largerinsteadofforthesmallerself. (Applause.)
And,mind,itisnotalwayseasy. Noshuffling,
no leaving of a task undone, because the
Master'sevewillnotbethere,forourMaster's