The Life Magnet Volume 2 of 5

By Robert Collier

Experience the life-changing power of Robert Collier with this unforgettable book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andura Publishing
• Release date: Oct 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9791220203395

Robert Collier

Robert Collier was an American author of self-help and New Thought metaphysical books in the 20th century. He was the nephew of Peter Fenelon Collier, founder of Collier's Weekly. He was involved in writing, editing, and research for most of his life

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The Life Magnet Volume 2 of 5

Robert Collier

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Discouragement

Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. —Proverbs 4:23.

YEARS ago I read a story about a man who had become so discouraged that he decided to commit suicide.

He had married a widow, and she not only made life a burden for him at home, but spent all his savings, ran him into debt and discredited him with his employers.

He could see only one way out—to jump into the river and end his troubles.

It was Saturday night, so, waiting until late, he slipped out of the house and down through the deserted streets to the bridge.

Imagine the grim humor of it when, from out of the shadow of one of the great stone towers, a man with a gun stepped forth and commanded—Hands up!

Automatically, the discouraged man obeyed, then brought his hands down again as the humor of it gripped him. If this highwayman wanted to save him the trouble of killing himself, let him!

But the highwayman wasn’t that obliging. Being a bigger man, he seized the other, held him tightly while he went through the pockets the wife had emptied hours before, then turned him loose and looked him over curiously.

What’s the joke? he asked roughly, as the intended suicide yielded to another paroxysm of laughter.

Between gasps, the man told him.

Hum, mused the highwayman, immediately interested, you ought not to do that. Why don’t you just leave the woman? Leave her and start fresh somewhere else.

But the other was too discouraged. His mind was made up. He was going to put an end to his troubles once and for all.

Well, do this much, anyway, suggested the highwayman. "Give fate a chance. Don’t just jump off the bridge, but climb up on the railing there and see how far you can walk. You’ll fall over before you’ve gone far. If you fall on that side—all right, you’re a goner and that’s the end of it. But if you fall on this side, go back home and give life one more try.

The would-be suicide agreed—so the other boosted him up on to the rail and he started. Before he had gone twenty feet, he was down—and glad enough, if the truth were told, to fall on the bridge side after looking so close into the jaws of death.

His new-found friend picked him up and helped him home, where Fate chose that opportune moment to show him that the greater the obstacle, the bigger stepping-stone to success it can be made.

But perhaps you will say that only happens in stories. Read the lives of the great and you will never say it again. The difference between failure and success is measured only by your patience and faith—sometimes by inches, sometimes by minutes, sometimes by the merest flash of time.

Take Lincoln, He went into the Black Hawk war a Captain —and came out a private. His store failed—and his survey­or’s instruments, on which he depended to eke out a livelihood, were sold for part of the debts. He was defeated in his first try for the Legislature. Defeated in his first attempt for Congress. Defeated in his application for Commissioner of the General Land Office. Defeated for the Senate. Defeated for the nomination for the Vice Presid­ency in 1856. But did he let that long succession of defeats discourage him? Not he. He held the faith—and made perhaps the greatest President we have ever had.

He shall not fail nor be discouraged, promised Isaiah (42:4,6), till he have set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law. Thus saith God the Lord: I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee.

Then there was Grant. He failed of advancement in the army. Failed as a farmer. Failed as a business man. At 39, he was chopping and delivering cord-wood to keep body and soul together. Nine years later he was President of the United States and had won a martial renown second in this country only to Washington’s.

Search the pages of history. You will find them dotted with the names of men whom the world had given up as failures, but who held on to their faith, who kept themselves prepared—and when their chance came they were ready and seized it with both hands.

Napoleon, Cromwell, Patrick Henry, Paul Jones—these are only a few out of thousands.

When Caesar was sent to conquer Gaul, his friends found him one day in a fit of utter despondency. Asked what the matter was, he told them he had just been comparing his accomplishments with Alexander’s. At his age, Alexander had conquered the entire known world—and what had Caesar done to compare with that?

But he presently roused himself from his discouragement by resolving to make up as quickly as might be for his lost time. The result? He became the head of the Roman Empire.

Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

—Deuteronomy 1:21.

The records of business are crowded with the names of

middle-aged nobodies who lived to build great fortunes, vast institutions. No man has failed as long as he has faith in the Father, faith in the great scheme of things, faith in himself.

But it takes the kind of simple faith that F.