"You see," said the young tutor, "I am making preparations for my departure from Milverton; but thus I may innocently suck honey from the hives of Sir Oliver, without robbing him, or those who come after him, of the smallest portion of such sweets as they contain."
"And what may be your study?" said Juxon, as he came up to the table, and looked over him.
"A curious work," replied Cuthbert, "containing the most remarkable pieces of John Huss, together with his life--imprinted in the last century at Augsburg."
"Friend Cuthbert, you are too constant in these serious and solemn studies and speculations."
"Master Juxon," answered the pale youth, "they are every thing or they are nothing."
"Verily, for my part I think divine truth is as clear and glorious as the sun in the firmament; and to warm ourselves, and to walk in the light of it, is better wisdom than to read so many commentaries and discourses upon it."
"May we not sometimes lie indolently warming ourselves by a fire of our own, and fancy it as comfortable as basking in the sun? Walking in the light is no such easy matter; and in my case I find that the words, and, above all, the examples, of those who have earnestly contended for the truth, as so many outstretched and helping hands to assist me in climbing the hill."
"The high hill, Master Juxon, where the reformers and martyrs of past times have left the print of their blessed footsteps."
"Cuthbert, I see that you are in earnest, that you are sincere; but you are on a road beset by enemies, to the full as dangerous as those on any other. Pride may be waiting to assail you,--spiritual pride, the worst of all enemies: you want to do something; you would unlock heaven's gates by some great performance:--remember its arches are so low that none can enter them who crawl not on their knees:--the little child's is the appointed stature for all believers."
"That, indeed, is true--it is a solemn truth; but there are beasts to be fought with, Juxon, and the stern combat is at hand. It is upon this I think by day, on this I dream by night."
"So much the worse: you are commanded, in many senses, to 'take no thought for the morrow;' and in none is it more your duty to obey the precept than in waiting the events of the coming day in quietness and in confidence: you conjure up shadows that you may fight with them."