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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of How to Live a Holy Life, by C. E. Orr
+
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+**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
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+**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
+
+*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
+
+
+Title: How to Live a Holy Life
+
+Author: C. E. Orr
+
+Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6999]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on February 20, 2003]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE ***
+
+
+
+
+This eBook was produced by Mark Zinthefer, Charles Franks
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+How to Live a Holy Life
+
+C. E. Orr
+
+
+
+
+DEVOTIONAL READING.
+
+
+A person may almost be known by the books he reads. If he habitually reads
+bad books, we can pretty safely conclude that he is a bad man; on the
+other hand, if he habitually reads religious books, we can reasonably
+presume that he is a religious man. Why is this? It is because the nature
+of a person's books is usually the nature of his thoughts; and as a man
+thinks, so he is.
+
+Consequently, our reading devotional literature is a great aid to our
+being devotional. Too few, I fear, realize how important to our spiritual
+advancement is the cultivation of a taste for devotional reading. As a
+rule, those who have a taste for spiritual books and gratify that taste
+prosper in the Lord, while those who have no relish for such books labor
+at a great disadvantage. Some one has said that "he who begins a devout
+life without a taste for spiritual reading may consider the ordinary
+difficulties multiplied in his case by ten." The most spiritual men of all
+ages have had a strong love for reading spiritual books. If, however, my
+reader happens not to have such a taste or such a love, he should not be
+discouraged, for it can be created and increased through perseverance in
+reading devotional literature. Just as a person who does not relish a
+certain food may learn to like it if he will persist in eating it, so a
+person who does not have a taste for devotional books may come to enjoy
+them if he will diligently and prayerfully peruse them.
+
+Spiritual reading invigorates the intellect, warms the affections, and
+begets in us a desire for more of God's fulness and for a more heavenly
+life. It is especially helpful to prayer. When the mind is dull and the
+spirits low and we have no inspiration for prayer, the reading of a
+spiritual poem will often so stimulate the mind, raise the spirits, and
+animate the soul, as to make it easy for us to pray.
+
+As to what books to read, the Bible, of course, is the best of all. But we
+need others. Although no other book can take the place of the Bible and
+none of us should neglect reading it, there are many books that can
+profitably be read in connection with it.
+
+But whatever devotional book you are reading, do not read too fast. Think
+and digest as you go. Let there be a frequent lifting of the heart to God
+in prayer. It is not the bee that flies so swiftly from flower to flower
+that gathers the honey, but the bee that goes down into the flower. A few
+sentences taken into the mind and heart, and dwelt upon until they have
+become a part of us, are better than many pages read superficially.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+If the reading of this little book encourages any on their pilgrim way; if
+it arouses them to greater diligence; if it creates in them a stronger
+desire to live more like Christ; if it gives them a better understanding
+of how to live,--this poor servant of the Lord will be fully rewarded for
+all his labor.
+
+Even among the children of God in this beautiful gospel light of the
+evening there is an inclination, on the part of a few at least, and maybe
+more than a few, to slow down and not be their very best and most active
+for God. We hope that this little book will arouse such ones to greater
+zeal and earnestness. Diligence, yea, constant application, is the secret
+of success in all manner of life and especially in the Christian life.
+
+This volume is written for all those who desire to please God with a well
+-spent life. It is sent forth in Jesus' name, with a prayer--that God bless
+and help both the reader and the writer to live life at its very best and
+fulfil the purpose of God concerning them.
+
+Your humble servant in Christian love,
+
+The Author.
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+
+We have only one life to live, only one. Think of this for a moment. Here
+we are in this world of time making the journey of life. Each day we are
+farther from the cradle and nearer the grave. Solemn thought. See the
+mighty concourse of human lives; hear their heavy tread in their onward
+march. Some are just beginning life's journey; some are midway up the
+hill, some have reached the top, and some are midway down the western
+slope. But where are we all going? Listen, and you will hear but one
+answer--"Eternity." Beyond the fading, dying gleams of the sunset of life
+lies a boundless, endless ocean called Eternity. Thitherward you and I are
+daily traveling.
+
+Time is like a great wheel going its round. On and on it goes. Some are
+stepping on and some are stepping off. But where are these latter
+stepping? Into eternity. See that old man with bent form, snow-white
+locks, and tottering steps. His has been a long round, but he has made it
+at last. See the middle-aged. His round has not been so long, but he must
+step off. See the youth. He has been on only a little while, but he is
+brought to the stepping-off place. He thought his round would be much
+longer. He supposed he was fairly getting started when that icy hand was
+laid upon him and the usher said, "Come, you have made your round, and you
+must go." The infant that gave its first faint cry this morning may utter
+its last feeble wail tonight. And thus they go. But where? Eternity.
+
+If you were to start today and ask each person you met the question,
+"Where are you going?" and, if possible, you were to travel the world over
+and ask each one of earth's inhabitants, there could be but one answer--
+"Eternity."
+
+  "Oh, eternity,
+  Long eternity!
+  Hear the solemn footsteps
+  Of eternity."
+
+Only one life to live! Only one life, and then we must face vast, endless
+eternity. We shall pass along the pathway of life but once. Every step we
+take is a step that can never be taken again. With this fact in mind, who
+does not feel like calling upon the All-wise to direct his every step. If
+when we make a misstep we could go back and step it over, then there would
+not be such great necessity to step carefully. But we can never go back.
+We are leaving footprints. Just as our steps are, so will the footprints
+be which will tell the story of our life. If we had a score of lives to
+live, how to live this one would not be of such great moment. We should
+then have nineteen lives in which to correct the errors and sins of this
+one; but alas! we have but one. What, then, should we seek more earnestly
+than to know <i>how to live?</i>
+
+We doubt not but there is in the heart of the reader a strong desire to
+live life as it should be lived. Thank God, you can. You desire your life
+to be like the fertile oasis, where the weary traveler refreshes himself.
+You have seen the rays of light lingering upon the hillside and treetop
+and gilding the fleecy cloud after the sun had gone down. You desire the
+beautiful rays of light from your life to linger long after your sun has
+gone down. You can have it that way. The deeds you do will live after you
+are gone. They are the footprints. Some one has said that we each day are
+here building the house we are going to occupy in eternity. If this be
+true, nothing should concern us so much as how to live. Some men are
+devoting their time and the power of their intellects to invention; some
+are studying statesmanship; some are studying the arts, others the
+sciences; but we have come to learn a little more about how to live. Many
+are thinking much about how they wish to die, but let us learn how to
+live. If we live well, we shall die well.
+
+Since we have but one life to live and with it we must face eternity, I am
+sure there are many who want to make the most of life. There are many who
+want to be their best in life. This is not a play-ground, or a place to
+trifle with time. It is a place of work and effort, a place of purpose and
+earnestness, a place to do something. Life is not given us to squander nor
+fritter away, but was given us to accomplish a purpose in the mind of the
+Creator. If we will set ourselves to live as we should, God will help us
+and no man can hinder us. We are purchasing treasures for eternity by
+making a proper use of time. To trifle away time is indeed to be the
+greatest of spendthrifts. If you squander a dollar, you may regain it; but
+a moment wasted can never be regained.
+
+There is great responsibility in life. It means much to live. The time was
+when you and I were not, now we are. We are, and there can never come a
+time when we shall not be. You and I shall always exist somehow,
+somewhere. One sweet thought to me is that I have time enough to do all
+that God intends for me to do, and do it well. Then comes another
+thought--a thought that awes: the good that I do, the sum of my
+usefulness, will be less than it should be if I spend a moment of time
+uselessly. God will give us all the time we need to accomplish all he
+purposes us to accomplish, but he does not give us one moment to trifle
+away.
+
+The mission of this little volume is to strengthen and energize and help
+you to spend life as you should. May it please the Great Teacher, who has
+promised to "show us the path of life," to bless this little work and by
+it help some one to a pure and noble life and to the accomplishment of all
+God's design in giving them life.
+
+The Author.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+Devotional Reading............................................. 4
+
+Preface........................................................ 5
+
+Introduction................................................... 7
+
+The Way the Sail is Set (Poem)................................ 15
+
+The Model Life................................................ 17
+
+How to Live the Christ-Life................................... 22
+
+The Bible Way................................................. 25
+
+The Heavenly Way.............................................. 29
+
+Keeping the Commandments...................................... 31
+
+"Be Doers of the Word"........................................ 37
+
+Who are the Wise?............................................. 39
+
+Keeping the Commandments a Test of Love....................... 41
+
+The Blessedness of Obeying God's Word......................... 43
+
+The Relationship We Have with Christ through Obedience........ 45
+
+Our Life is to Adorn the Gospel............................... 46
+
+The Christian an Epistle of Christ............................ 48
+
+How We may Live as the Bible Reads............................ 50
+
+How to Keep the Word of God in the Heart...................... 52
+
+Man the Vehicle for Exhibiting God's Perfections.............. 54
+
+Some Use to Jesus (Poem)...................................... 63
+
+Godly Living.................................................. 65
+
+Something to Do............................................... 69
+
+Spiritual Dryness............................................. 76
+
+Prayer........................................................ 81
+
+Keep the Roots Watered........................................ 85
+
+Under the Fig-Tree............................................ 87
+
+Shut the Door................................................. 91
+
+Alone with God................................................ 93
+
+Prayerful Remembrance (Poem).................................. 95
+
+He Careth for Thee............................................ 96
+
+"Consider the Lilies"........................................ 102
+
+Sorrowful Yet always Rejoicing............................... 105
+
+Gentleness................................................... 113
+
+Tenderness................................................... 117
+
+The Christian Walk........................................... 124
+
+The Christian is to Walk Circumspectly....................... 125
+
+The Latest Improved.......................................... 129
+
+The Christian's Walk a Walk with God......................... 130
+
+A Holy Life.................................................. 148
+
+Lukewarmness................................................. 151
+
+Steadfastness................................................ 156
+
+How to Understand God's Will................................. 160
+
+A View of Jesus.............................................. 164
+
+Devotion to God.............................................. 166
+
+The Golden Rule of Life...................................... 174
+
+Timeliness in Doing Good..................................... 177
+
+The Warfare of a Christian Life.............................. 181
+
+Life by Faith................................................ 183
+
+A Valuable Legacy............................................ 185
+
+Some Scriptures for Daily Practise........................... 188
+
+
+
+
+THE WAY THE SAIL IS SET.
+
+
+  I stood beside the open sea;
+   The ships went sailing by;
+  The wind blew softly o'er the lea;
+   The sun had cloudless sky.
+
+
+  Some ships sailed eastward, some sailed west,
+   Some north, some southward trend.
+  How can ships sail this way and that?
+   But one way blows the wind.
+
+  An old sea-captain made reply
+   (His locks with salt-spray wet):
+  "'Tis not the wind decides the course;
+   'Tis way the sails are set."
+
+  *       *       *       *       *
+
+  I stand beside the sea of life;
+   The ships go sailing by;
+  The winds blow fair from heaven's land;
+   No clouds bedim the sky.
+
+  But one sails eastward, one sails west,
+   One north, one southward goes:
+  How can ships sail this way and that
+   With selfsame wind that blows?
+
+  A voice made answer to my soul:
+   "'Tis not how blows the gale;
+  Each voyager decides the goal
+   By way he sets the sail."--Selected.
+
+
+
+
+How to Live a Holy Life
+
+
+THE MODEL LIFE.
+
+
+In doing anything, it is always well to have a model by which to fashion
+our work. In fact, nothing is done without a pattern, either real or
+imaginary. The little boy making a toy has in in his mind a model by which
+he is framing his work. Likewise, the sculptor has in his mind a model,
+and as the "marble wastes, the image grows" into the likeness of the
+vision in his soul.
+
+To live this one life of ours as it should be lived, we must have a
+perfect model after which to pattern. Thank God, this perfect model of
+life can be found. Of all the vast number of lives that have been lived
+since Adam down to this present day, there has been only one that we can
+take as a model. This one is the life of Jesus. He says, "I am the life."
+To live this life of ours well, to live it to the highest degree of
+perfection, we must fashion it according to the glorious life of Christ.
+The life of Jesus is the model life for every other human life. He invites
+us, yea, commands us, to follow him, to step in his steps, to walk as he
+walked.
+
+There have been many good men in the world, but none of them afford us a
+true pattern of life. There was a man who said, "Be ye followers of me,"
+but he immediately added, "even as I also am of Christ." Man may so live
+as to reveal to us the life of Christ. We can then follow, not them, but
+the Christ-life they manifested through them.
+
+Let me here say a word on a subject on which we may have more to say
+hereafter. The grandest, noblest work man has ever done is by his life to
+reveal the life of Christ to another, thereby helping that person to be
+fashioned more after the image of Jesus. A little flower grew in a place
+so shaded that no ray from the sun could fall directly upon it. A window
+was so situated that at a certain time in the afternoon it refracted the
+sun's rays and threw them upon the flower, thus giving it color and
+beauty, and aiding it to bloom. Some people are living in the dense shade.
+No light from Christ has ever shined upon them. If you so live as to
+refract the life of Christ and turn it upon them and thus stamp upon them
+a holier life, you have not lived in vain. To set the life of Christ in
+its purity and beauty before some one and influence him, though only a
+little, to live better and love Jesus more, is a work the worth of which
+can never be computed. He who helps another to a better way of living does
+more than he who gains great worldly honor and riches. Blessed indeed is
+that life which causes some other life to be more like Christ. Oh, may
+this thought seize upon our hearts and fill us with a greater passion to
+live the life of God.
+
+We are told by the voice of Scripture to be "followers of God as dear
+children." When children are dear to the heart of the parent, he loves to
+have them obey him. God's children are dear to him, and he would have them
+follow him. To follow God is to imitate him, or be like him. This is the
+true way of life.
+
+A text of Scripture as rendered by the Revised Version is very appropriate
+here: "Like as he which has called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy
+in all manner of living." 1 Pet. 1:15. Only those who live godly in their
+entire manner of life are spending the days of their pilgrimage as they
+should. Jesus has walked the true way of life; we are told to walk in his
+steps. If we will step each day just where Jesus stepped, then on looking
+back, we can not see a footprint of our own; but if we take a single
+misstep, our footprint will show our departure from the true way of life.
+How deep and awful are the words of Scripture wherein we are commanded to
+walk even as "Jesus walked"! Jesus says, "I am the way." There is no other
+right and perfect way. If we will walk as Jesus walked, then we shall walk
+in the true path of life. This only is the pathway that leads up to the
+golden gates of glory and the sweet fields of heaven. That bright world of
+bliss encourages us on. If we will follow Jesus and live as he lived,
+God's approval will be upon us, and his outstretched hand will help us
+along life's way and finally over the turbulent river of death to the
+sunlit shore of eternal rest.
+
+Many times we may become wearied and think the toils of the way almost too
+heavy; but when we remember that it is the way that Jesus trod, then the
+heavens open to our view, we look forward to the mansion prepared for us,
+and the toils of the way grow lighter.
+
+See that aged pilgrim journeying down the western slope of life. The sun
+is nearing the setting. Long and toilsome has been his pilgrimage, but he
+has walked in the path his Savior trod. For many years his life has been
+hid with Christ in God. In Him he has lived and moved and had his being.
+Now he is making his last step on the shore of time; he passes out of our
+sight through the gates into that land where toils are ended and the sun
+never sets. But his life was the life of Jesus. He was holy as God is
+holy; he walked as Jesus walked. This is how to live. This is the true way
+of life and the only way to life eternal. He who does not live with Christ
+on earth can not live with him in heaven, and he who does not live as
+Jesus lived does not live as he should. The life of Christ was the perfect
+life. Ours is perfect to the degree that we imitate him.
+
+  Take my life, O Christ divine,
+  Make it holy, just like thine;
+  Every act and thought and word
+  Be an outflow from my God.
+
+  Guide my feet and keep my heart;
+  Let me not from thee depart;
+  Let me breathe thy warming love,
+  That my soul be drawn above.
+
+  Draw me, Jesus, closer draw;
+  Thy strong arm around me throw;
+  Draw me to thy pierced side;
+  In thy bosom let me hide.
+
+  Teach me all thy will and word,
+  That my life be filled with God;
+  Teach me, Lamb of Calvary,
+  How to live this life for thee.
+
+
+
+
+HOW TO LIVE THE CHRIST-LIFE.
+
+
+Man can not naturally live the Christ-life. But Christ has promised to
+come into our hearts and live in us. In order that we may have Christ
+dwell in our hearts and that we may live his life, there must be a giving
+up of our self-life. There must be annihilation of self that Christ may
+live. It is truly wonderful and as glorious as it is wonderful that man
+can live the life of Christ in this world. But here is the secret: it is
+man ceasing to live the self-life and Christ living in him.
+
+Imagine a hollow brass figure in the exact image of a man. Suppose you
+fill this hollow figure with a kind of life which we shall call self-life.
+This life goes to using the hands and feet, and eyes, ears, tongue, in
+short, all the members of this brass figure, but using them in the
+interest of itself. Now you desire to make a change; you want that image
+to speak, act, and think only for you. You must first put to death the
+life that is using the figure, cleanse it entirely out, and then get into
+it yourself. Once in, you can use all the members of that image for
+yourself. Your body is that image. There was a life in you that used all
+the members of your body in the interest of self. But there has been a
+change. You were made a new creature. The life you once had was put to
+death--was crucified; then Christ stepped into your heart, and now he
+uses all the members of your body for himself. You still live, yet not
+you, but Christ lives in you. Once you did things for yourself; now you do
+them for Christ. Just as you once lived purposely and intentionally for
+yourself, now you do things purposely and intentionally for Jesus, because
+it is he that lives, and not you yourself. You remember how once you would
+plan for yourself. In the evening as you lay upon your bed and again in
+the morning and throughout the day you would think about what you were
+going to eat or drink, what you were going to have for clothing, where you
+were going to live, where you were going to go, and what you were going to
+do. But now you are changed; you are a new creature. Now it is not you
+that lives, but Christ lives in you. Now you eat not for yourself but for
+Jesus. You now go, not where self would lead you, but where that life in
+you loves to go and would have you go. You do things, not for yourself,
+but for Jesus.
+
+  O Christ, I die, that thou mayst live,
+   That thou mayst live in me;
+  That all I think or speak or do,
+   May be, O Lord, for thee.
+
+  May not the least of self remain,
+   But all be put to death.
+  Oh, may I nothing do for self,
+   Nor draw one selfish breath!
+
+  To have my Savior live in me,
+   To occupy the whole,
+  To make my heart his royal throne
+   And take complete control--
+
+  'Tis all I ask; 'tis all I wish;
+   'Tis all my heart's desire,
+  Content if but a wayside bush
+   To hold God's holy fire.
+
+  Low at thy feet, O Christ, I fall
+   A yielded lump of clay,
+  For thee to mold me as thou wilt,
+   To have thy own sweet way.
+
+
+
+
+THE BIBLE WAY.
+
+
+If the Bible had not been given us, we should not always know the way that
+Jesus walked. But he has given us his Word. The way of the Bible is the
+way of Christ, and is therefore the true path of life. O pilgrim to the
+heavenly kingdom, the Word of God will be a lamp unto thy feet and a light
+unto thy way. It will lighten you home. There will never be a day so dark
+but the beams of light from the blessed Bible will pierce through the
+darkness and fall with a bright radiance upon your pathway. If sometimes
+you can not see just where Jesus stepped, take the precious Book of God,
+and it will be a lamp to show you the way he trod. One wintry morning a
+father went a long distance through the deep snow to feed his sheep. A few
+hours later a little boy was sent to call his father home. The child was
+carefully stepping in the footprints before him, but soon a dark cloud
+arose and the blinding snow-storm so dimmed his eye that he frequently
+stepped aside. In the beautiful, clear light of the Bible we can see all
+the way that Jesus trod. If we will walk according to the Bible, we shall
+walk as Jesus walked and not show a double track. Make the blessed Word of
+God your guide if you would walk aright the path of life and be happy.
+
+  "And often for your comfort you will read the Guide
+   and Chart:
+  It has wisdom for the mind and sweet solace for the
+   heart;
+  It will serve you as a mentor; it will guide you sure
+   and straight
+  All the time that you will journey, be the ending soon
+   or late."
+
+'The Scriptures are given by inspiration of God and are profitable for
+doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
+that the man of God may be perfect' 2 Tim. 3:16. If by faith we receive
+into our hearts the instruction in righteousness as given by the
+Scriptures, it will make us perfect in this life. O reader, if you would
+know how to live, study the Bible. It points out the way clearly and
+plainly. Let its truths in all their power reach to the depth of thy
+heart. Let thy soul seize upon the Bible and drink its strength and
+sweetness as the bee sips the sweetness from the flower. As the animal
+eats the plant and by assimilation converts it into animal life, so eat
+the Book of God and convert it into human life. It is the food of angels.
+But rather than its being the Bible converted into human life, it is human
+life transformed into the purity of the Bible. There are great depths to
+the Bible. The simplest text contains depths to which we can ever be
+descending.
+
+They who would live a perfect life must set the life of Christ before them
+as portrayed by the Holy Scriptures. You can not see much of this perfect
+life by a passing glance. It is he who looks into the perfect law of
+liberty and continues to look that will see the perfect life which it
+pictures. The artist must look long at the landscape and get it imaged
+upon his soul before he can produce it upon the canvas. The Bible
+description of the life of Christ must fill your soul with admiration and
+with a strong desire to possess it. Your heart must lay hold upon it until
+that life is focused and printed upon your own soul. It is like the art of
+photographing. The object must be set before the heart.
+
+The Bible is the light that shines the image of Christ upon the soul. For
+the pure in heart to develop into higher spiritual life, they must gain
+such an admiration for the beauty of Christ that they will long to possess
+him in greater fulness. The pleading of the heart will be, "Lord, let thy
+beauty be upon us." Their souls will follow hard after his perfections. In
+no other way will the soul unfold and develop into the higher Christian
+life. He who has not learned how to grow in grace has not yet learned how
+to live. To live life in the best possible manner is to be making constant
+progress. Oh, let us give this world our best life! When we are nearing
+the end of the way and life's sun is sinking low, if on looking back we
+can see nothing but a life spent in the service of God, walking in the
+light of his Word, this will afford us untold satisfaction.
+
+  O blessed Word of eternal life,
+  The lamp to guide the way
+  Through this weary world of sin and strife
+  To heaven's perfect day!
+
+
+
+
+THE HEAVENLY WAY.
+
+
+There is a heaven. There is a place of rest and happiness. I have not gone
+to heaven, but heaven has come to me; therefore I know there is a heaven.
+Many who have eaten oranges have never been in a land where oranges grow,
+but these persons know there must be such a land, because they have tasted
+its fruit. Likewise, I know there is a heaven because I daily taste its
+joy.
+
+Not only is there a heaven, but there is a way to heaven. All can go who
+will. Heaven is a holy place, and the way to heaven is a holy way. A
+prophet of God said, "An highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall
+be called the way of holiness." The Christian dwells in a heavenly place.
+
+The writer to the saints at Ephesus says, "He hath raised us up together,
+and made us sit together in heavenly places." To live in a heavenly place,
+we must live a heavenly life. Those who do not live a heavenly life on
+earth will never live in heaven. The heavenly life is the only life worth
+living. It is the only life that ends in heaven. The way of holiness is
+the way of happiness. Holy and happy is the true and right life of man.
+This one brief life of ours should be constant holiness and happiness.
+Without these, life is not as it should be. It is our privilege in Christ
+to walk the path of life in perfect peace and joy and in perfect holiness.
+Such a life will flow out into an eternity of joys unspeakable.
+
+  Wait thou on God, O soul of mine!
+   Listen to know his will;
+  Light will come from the golden throne
+   If thou, O soul, be still.
+
+  If thou wouldst sail on tranquil sea,
+   Wait thou on God, my soul.
+  Speak, act, and think alone in him;
+   Sweet rest shall be thy goal.
+
+  If thou wouldst have life's way to be
+   Verdant as the growing sod,
+  Take each step 'neath the guiding eye,
+   Keep in close touch with God.
+
+  Sweet heavenly life! sweet happy life!
+   Thy joys increase each day.
+  O soul of mine, press up and on
+   This high and holy way.
+
+
+
+
+KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS.
+
+
+God's Word is pure. Heaven itself and the great white throne is no more
+pure than the Word of God. That life may be pure, it must be in sweet
+harmony with the blessed Bible. A life that is lived in obedience to the
+Bible is as pure as the Bible. Such a life is pure enough for heaven. The
+writer of Revelation, being in the Spirit, saw "a pure river of water of
+life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the
+Lamb." This pure stream was the wonderful word of life. It was as pure as
+its source, which was the throne of God. The life through which this pure
+stream flows will be as pure as the throne.
+
+One of the Psalm-writers said, "The words of the Lord are pure words: as
+silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." "Thy word is
+pure; therefore thy servant loveth it." The writer of Proverbs says,
+"Every word of God is pure." When the veil is drawn aside and our souls
+are brought face to face with the purity of the Bible, then we understand
+that a Bible life is the best, purest, noblest, and holiest life that can
+be lived upon the earth.
+
+  O soul of mine, unveil thine eye,
+   Look upward to thy God,
+  A wreath of purity to see
+   Crowning his every word.
+
+In the following words we have the sum of all true and right living: "Let
+us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep his
+commandments; for this is the whole duty of man." Eccl. 12:13. This text
+as rendered in the Septuagint version brings out clearer the true
+signification: "Hear the end of the matter, the sum. Fear God and keep his
+commandments: for this is the whole man." Man is not entire, he is not
+complete as originally intended, when not keeping all the commands of God.
+Something is lacking in the life that is not in full obedience to every
+word of God.
+
+The Bible speaks of a beautiful city in that bright, celestial world. It
+is a city of pure gold, clear as glass. Its walls are of jasper; its
+twelve foundations are garnished with all manner of precious stones; its
+twelve gates are gates of pearl; its streets are pure gold. In that fair
+city there is no sin, no pain, no sickness; sorrow and trouble never come
+there; a tear shall never fall from any eye, for no tears are there. There
+is no death in that wonderful city so fair. In the midst of the street
+stands the tree of life. Oh, who does not desire to dwell forever and
+forever in that city of love and light when the pains and sorrows, the
+trials and tears, of this weary life are over?
+
+Listen while I read to you in accents clear, distinct, and unmistakable--
+"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to
+the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev.
+22:14. O traveler to eternity, your entrance into the beautiful, glorious
+city of God depends upon your conduct respecting the commandments of God
+while you are making the journey across the turbulent sea of life. Keeping
+the commandments of God is man's whole duty. If he does his whole duty
+through life, he will come up out of the dark valley and shadow of death,
+and find the gates of pearl unfolding. Who will not cleave to the
+commandments of God? Who will not obey his voice and walk daily in his
+holy ways? The obedient will be rewarded by an unfading inheritance in
+that eternal city of gold. There is a beautiful mansion in the great house
+of God for every obedient soul. Oh, how blessed!
+
+  I am thinking of heaven tonight,
+  Of the mansion prepared there for me,
+  Where Jesus my Savior now dwells,
+  And where I am longing to be.
+
+Will not heaven be well worth a life of obedience to the Word of God,
+though obedience calls us through storms of persecutions, furnaces of
+trials, oceans of tribulations, and years of toil and suffering? To Moses
+the reproaches of Christ were greater treasures than the riches of Egypt,
+"for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." Sit quiet for a
+moment and by a strong eye of faith look away into heaven and see that
+bright mansion prepared for you. See those jasper walls, those pearly
+gates, and those golden walks. See the crown of life, the harp of God, and
+the light of the Lamb. Shall we not bear the trials of life a little
+longer in patience? Shall we not be watchful to walk in God's ways and
+obey him, that this rich inheritance may be ours forever? Methinks I can
+hear a reply coming from the depths of many a sincere, trusting heart--
+"Yes, I will live in humble obedience to God on earth, that I may be with
+him forever in that celestial city of light." God bless you!
+
+Beyond the shores of time and the kingdoms of this world is a kingdom
+called the kingdom of heaven. It is the place where God has his great
+white throne, around which the angels play upon their golden harps and
+shout, "Blessing and honor and glory and praise and might be unto God
+forever and ever." It is around this throne that those who have passed
+through the tribulations and the trying scenes of this lower world and
+burst through the gates of death are singing redemption's sweet song. Who
+does not desire to join that happy, heavenly throng and wave those palms
+and wear those white robes and sing those sweet songs over beyond the
+shadowy vale of death? I seem to hear many voices saying, "I hope to be
+among that blood-washed throng." Let me tell you in all tenderness and
+love, but very plainly, that the realization of your hope depends entirely
+upon how you live while here in this world. Oh, how much in that great and
+awful future is depending upon our manner of life in this time-world! Let
+us learn to live well, to be our best every day.
+
+We may dream of a home in heaven; we may entertain hopes of seeing Jesus
+and of inheriting a mansion on the shores of eternal bliss; we may imagine
+ourselves walking through the blooming fields of paradise and sitting
+beneath the tree of life; but our dreams, our hopes, and our imaginations
+will never be realized unless we carefully keep the commandments of God.
+More than a profession is necessary; obedience is the only door into the
+kingdom of God. Jesus said, "Not every one that sayeth unto me, Lord,
+Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
+Father which is in heaven." Until our faith pierces through and beholds
+the beauties and the realities of God so we can say from the very depths
+of the soul, "I delight to do thy will, O God." and, "My meat and my drink
+is to do the will of Him that sent me," we have not fully entered the true
+and right pathway of life. Keeping the commands of God is the whole man
+and the whole of a perfect life.
+
+
+
+
+"BE DOERS OF THE WORD."
+
+
+I want to remind you again that the mission of this little volume is to
+teach you how to live. The life beyond depends on the life here. Let me
+emphasize what I have repeatedly said before: to live as we should, we
+must live by every word of God. To live by every word of God is not only
+to hear it but also to do it. We have learned that, in order to enter the
+city of God and eat of the tree of life, we must <i>do</i> his
+commandments, and also that it is not "every one that sayeth, Lord, Lord,
+that shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my
+Father which is in heaven."
+
+Now I will read you a text from the Epistle of James, "But be ye doers of
+the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." We are living
+in a careless age. The Word of God is being treated with neglect. Many are
+hearing it, but alas! how few are doing it! In this way people deceive
+themselves. They think they are on their way to heaven, when they are not.
+The only way to heaven is by doing the commandments. To illustrate this, I
+will refer you to a few texts. "If thine enemy hunger, feed him." Rom.
+12:20. "Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the
+other also." Matt. 5:39. "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye
+also to them likewise." Luke 6:31. If it comes most natural for us to live
+according to these texts, we can begin to conclude that our hearts are
+right with God. However, we must have a heart that does not rebel against
+any text in the Bible.
+
+We are exhorted earnestly by the apostle Peter to make our "calling and
+election sure." The only way to do so is to live to every word of God. Oh,
+my dear reader, those sweet hopes you have had of reaching heaven and of
+seeing Jesus and those dear loved ones who have gone before you to that
+other side will never be realized by you unless you be a diligent doer of
+the Word of God. I feel like warning you against all carelessness and
+neglect, and to keep yourself in the love of God. See that your heart and
+life reads each day as the Bible reads, and you will then have an unshaken
+foundation for your faith and hope. If you would know how to live and make
+the best of life, read the Bible much and conform your life to its
+teaching.
+
+
+
+
+WHO ARE THE WISE?
+
+
+Who is a foolish man? It is a man who hears the sayings of Jesus and fails
+to do them. He is likened to a man who was foolish enough to build his
+house upon the sand. This man would better not have built at all, for the
+cost of building was lost. He could have had the money for his use and
+enjoyment if he had not wasted it in building a house on the sand. A
+foolish man, indeed! Who is a wise man? It is the man who hears the
+sayings of Jesus and does them. He is likened to a man who built his house
+upon a rock. From a temporal standpoint nothing else is so conducive to
+man's happiness as a good home. No better use can be made of money than to
+spend it in the building of a home, provided the house be built upon a
+sure foundation. A man who hears God's Word and does it is likened to such
+a man. To build up a Christian character in obedience to the Bible is the
+greatest wisdom. That is building a mansion in heaven.
+
+A real, true Christian experience and life cost something, but they pay,
+because they will stand. A mere profession of Christianity may cost
+something also, but it does not pay, since it will not stand. A man who
+erects his house upon the sand can build at less cost than he who digs
+deep and lays his foundation upon the rock, but at the very time when the
+former man most needs his house--when the winds blow and the rain falls--
+that is when it is destroyed. On the other hand, the man who builds upon a
+rock has a house to shelter him through the storms. Likewise, he who
+builds up a Christian experience in obedience to the Word of God will have
+something to serve him in a time of need.
+
+We thus learn from Jesus' parable of the wise and the foolish house
+-builders that obeying the Bible is the true way of life.
+
+
+
+
+KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS A TEST OF LOVE.
+
+
+We are commanded to love God. It is the first and greatest commandment.
+Love is more than an emotion; it is an act of the will. A mother loves her
+child constantly, though she may not always experience the emotions of
+love. Her care for her child is a proof of her love. We may not always
+experience a feeling of love toward God, but we can always love him. Our
+love is measured, not by our emotions, but by our obedience--our service.
+We labor for those we love, and the love makes the labor light. It is not
+an irksome thing to obey God when we love him.
+
+It is possible to make a profession of love to God and not really love
+him. It may be that many are deceived at this point. One scripture says,
+"If any man love God, the same is known of him." Jesus says, "Why call ye
+me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Love is something more
+than mere words. It is useless to make a profession of love to Jesus and
+not do what he says. A husband can not convince his wife of his love by a
+mere profession of love, but he can convince her by his acts. We are to
+love, not in word and tongue only, but also in deed and in truth. Again,
+Jesus says, "If a man love me, he will keep my words." Here is an
+unfailing test of love. If you will not obey God, he knows you do not love
+him, no matter how much you may profess to love him.
+
+So again we are reminded by the Holy Bible that, in order to spend this
+brief life of ours as we should, we must keep the commandments of God. No
+other life will find acceptance with God. No other life will please him.
+He desires your love most certainly, but he wants such love as will prompt
+you to obey him. Do not measure your Christian experience by your
+feelings, but measure it by your obedience as proceeding from an internal
+principle. When you find something in your heart that causes you to obey
+God no matter how you feel, you have good reason to hope that you are a
+Christian.
+
+In subsequent chapters I will tell you something of what God's Word
+teaches, but, first of all, I desire to fully convince you, and to help
+you to feel, that the right and true way of life is in obedience to its
+teaching.
+
+
+
+
+THE BLESSEDNESS OF OBEYING GOD'S WORD.
+
+
+Everything is said in the Scriptures that can be said to show us the need
+of living in harmony with the Bible. If our lives are out of harmony with
+one text in that blessed book, we are not yet fitted for heaven. We can
+never be admitted into the everlasting kingdom of God if we knowingly
+refuse or neglect to live to every word of God. We are therefore exhorted,
+beseeched, entreated, encouraged, warned, and commanded to obey every text
+in the Bible. We are encouraged to obedience by being told of the
+blessedness of keeping the commandments.
+
+It is natural for mothers to love to have their children well spoken of.
+We do not fault them for this. When a young man, by his good deportment,
+is gaining a fair name, mothers, when together, will remark, "It is
+blessed to be the mother of a young man like that." There was a woman who
+heard of the fame of a young man. He was casting out devils, healing the
+sick, opening blinded eyes, and unstopping deaf ears, and consequently he
+was gaining a wide and favorable reputation. This woman came to the young
+man and with that mother in her heart said to him, "Blessed is the womb
+that bear thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked." It was, indeed,
+blessed to be the mother of this young man. An angel from heaven
+acknowledged this. In speaking to Mary of the birth of Jesus (for he was
+the young man), the angel said, "Hail, thou that are highly favored, the
+Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." She was more highly
+favored than any other woman on earth, because she was to become the
+mother of the Son of God. Can it be that any one can be more blessed than
+this happy mother of Jesus? Let us hear his reply to the woman--"But he
+said, Yea, rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it."
+Jesus did not deny that it was blessed to be his mother, but said that
+those who hear God's word and keep it are rather, or more, blessed. God
+favors those who obey him. "The willing and obedient shall eat the good of
+the land." "Hadst thou hearkened unto my commandments, then wouldst thy
+peace be like a river." Happiness is the result of obedience, and heaven
+is the final reward.
+
+
+
+
+THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH CHRIST THROUGH OBEDIENCE.
+
+
+The reason why it is more blessed to obey the Word of God than to be the
+mother of Jesus is obvious. Spiritual things are higher than physical
+things. Spiritual relation is closer than natural relation. Brotherhood in
+Christ is closer than brotherhood in the flesh. A brother in the Spirit is
+dearer to us than a son of our own mother. Obedience to God makes us one
+with God. Mary was the mother of Jesus after the flesh, but God's children
+enjoy such a relation after the spirit. At one time somebody brought word
+to Jesus that his mother and his brethren stood outside desiring to see
+him. "But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother?
+and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his
+disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! for whoever shall
+do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and
+sister, and mother." Matt. 12:48-50. Every one who desires to spend life
+in the highest possible degree of perfection should make a constant study
+of the Bible and should carefully and diligently obey all its precepts.
+Doing this will bring him into the closest possible relationship with God
+and will make life the best man can live.
+
+
+
+
+OUR LIFE IS TO ADORN THE GOSPEL.
+
+
+To adorn is to make attractive, to beautify. We are exhorted by the
+apostle Paul to adorn the doctrine of the New Testament by our every-day
+life. This thought should be a powerful incentive to close living with God
+and assiduously keeping all of his commandments. Who would not take
+pleasure in adorning the teachings of Jesus by a pure life? This is the
+joy of the Christian's heart. He cares nothing for the adornings of the
+world, but oh, that he may so live as to make beautiful the blessed
+Bible!--this is happiness enough to him.
+
+In another of the Pauline Epistles we are commanded to "let our manner of
+life be as it becometh the gospel of Christ." To become is also to make
+attractive or to give a better appearance to. An article of dress is
+becoming to us when it gives us a better appearance. We speak of any one's
+bad conduct as not being becoming to him. We are to become the gospel of
+Christ by holy living. When a life is lived as God designed that life
+should be, that life will be an adornment to the Scriptures.
+
+God will beautify his children with the glories of his redeeming grace; he
+will adorn them with a meek and quiet spirit, which in his sight is very
+precious, that they, in turn, may adorn his commandments. As a bride decks
+herself with jewels, so the heavenly Father beautifies his children with
+the robe of righteousness.
+
+The life of a Christian is God's special treasure. "They shall be mine,"
+says the Lord, "in that day when I make up my jewels," or "special
+treasure" as rendered by the margin (see Mal. 3:17). By reading the
+context we learn that it is those who fear the Lord that are his jewels.
+To fear God and keep his commandments is man's whole duty. It is a perfect
+life. Such a life is the Lord's jewel. Such a life is recorded in heaven.
+Oh, how animating is such knowledge! How it strengthens our hearts to live
+a righteous life. To live a life that is worthy to be recorded in heaven
+and is a special treasure to God is truly wonderful. Our souls are awed by
+such a thought. Oh, how it ought to move our hearts to carefulness in
+life! How diligent we should be to walk as worthy citizens of our heavenly
+state! Some day the Lord will come and gather up these holy lives and
+place them in his heavenly courts above, where they shall shine as the
+stars forever.
+
+  Oh, take this life, this life of mine
+  (To thee, O God, 'tis freely given),
+  And polish it, that it may shine,
+  And ornament thy Word divine.
+
+
+
+
+THE CHRISTIAN AN EPISTLE OF CHRIST.
+
+
+The life we live is being read. We are not going through the world
+unnoticed. Some one is looking on, and some one is to some extent
+fashioning his life after ours. Our life each day is being written down in
+some one's memory. My own dear children group around me at times and talk
+of their mother, who has gone to heaven. Her pure and holy life written in
+their memory is read over and over to each other and to me. She still
+lives as an epistle in their hearts. They read her daily life while she
+was with them, and they continue to read it since she is gone. Christians
+are said to be the epistle of Christ (2 Cor. 3:3). To read their life is
+to read the life of Jesus. All the Bible that many will ever read is what
+they read in the lives of Christians.
+
+Life will be read just as it is, not as it may pretend to be. It is not
+what we pretend to be, but what we really are, that will go down in the
+memory of others. Those who read our lives have a way of reading between
+the lines. We should strive not so much to make life holy as to be holy.
+If you are holy, then live just what you are. We should never strive to be
+what we are not. The only way whereby the Bible may be read in the life is
+to get it in the heart. People will never read the Word of God in your
+life simply because you have a neat little Testament in your pocket or a
+large family Bible on your center table. The Bible can get into the life
+only by beginning at the heart. There is power in the Word of God, but it
+works from within. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." It will
+transform the life so that the life will read just like the Holy
+Scriptures.
+
+The Word of God is a lamp to light us into a holy life. If we follow its
+instructions in righteousness, it will make us perfect. It reveals our
+imperfections and thus gives us an opportunity to make improvements. To
+discover an imperfection in the life is not a bad thing, and we need not
+think we are any the worse for the discovery. It is only when we let the
+imperfection remain after it is revealed to us, that we become worse.
+
+The heart that comes under the influence of the Bible will bear the image
+of Jesus, but of this I shall have more to say elsewhere. So I conclude
+here by saying, live upon the Word of God, desire the sincere milk of the
+Word, and you will be an epistle of Christ. We should feel the
+responsibility that is upon us, remembering that all the Bible some will
+ever read is what they read in your life and mine. Oh! let us see that it
+reads in our life as it does in the book, lest those who follow us will
+not walk in the footprints of Jesus.
+
+
+
+
+HOW WE MAY LIVE AS THE BIBLE READS.
+
+
+It is just as natural and easy for a Christian to live the Christian life
+as it is for a sinner to live a sinful life. The sinner needs make no
+effort to live a sinful life; he lives it naturally and easily. Life
+proceeds from the heart. The heart is the fountain, and the life is the
+stream. As the fountain is, so the stream will be. It is not difficult to
+live a Christian life when our hearts are pure. This is the secret of
+purity of life.
+
+The important question, then, is, "How can I have a pure heart?" Hearts
+are made pure by the blood of Jesus. Then comes the command, "Keep thyself
+pure." That the heart may be kept pure, it must be kept filled with that
+which is pure. To keep darkness out of a room, we need only to keep it
+filled with light. Carefully closing up every crevice will not suffice if
+the light goes out. Darkness will be present. But simply keep the room
+filled with light, and no effort is required to keep darkness out. In like
+manner no effort need be made to keep impurity out of the heart and keep
+the heart filled with that which is pure.
+
+But what is pure? "The word of God is pure, as silver tried in a furnace
+of fire, purified seven times." "Thy word is very pure; therefore thy
+servant loveth it." "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly," and your
+heart will be kept pure. The Psalm-writer said, "Thy word have I hid in my
+heart, that I may not sin against thee." Here is the only way to a sinless
+life. Keep the heart filled with the Word of God. It is the way to live as
+the Bible reads. To have a nicely bound volume of the Scriptures lying on
+the center table will not keep the life sinless. We must have the Word in
+our heart. One night while I was waiting for a train in one of our large
+Eastern cities, I went into a mission. A man arose and said he had read
+the Bible through forty-two times and could quote whole books of it from
+memory. Later in his talk he said he committed sin more or less every day.
+The Word of God did not keep him from sinning, for he had it in his head
+instead of in his heart.
+
+To live a Bible life is the only true and right way to live, and in order
+to live such a life, we need to have the Word written in the heart. "I
+will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts." Heb. 8:
+10. Let us illustrate this by taking a single text: "Having food and
+raiment let us be therewith content." When we have these words in the
+heart, they will be true in the life. All fret and worry and murmurings
+will be banished out of the life when the heart is full of the truth.
+
+
+
+
+HOW TO KEEP THE WORD OF GOD IN THE HEART.
+
+
+Since keeping the Word of God in the heart is the only way to successful
+Christian living, you will at once want to know how to keep it in the
+heart. The Word is kept in the heart the same as food is kept in the body.
+The food is eaten, and then by the process of assimilation it becomes a
+part of the body. This is something of a mystery; nevertheless we all know
+it to be true. We feel weak in body, but soon after we partake of food, we
+feel stronger. Somehow that food gets into the life and makes us stronger.
+Now, "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
+out of the mouth of God." We can eat the Word of God, and we <i>must</i>
+eat it in order to get it into our heart and life. By eating and the
+process of assimilation the Word becomes a part of our inner being. We eat
+it by faith, and the Spirit assimilates it into our hearts.
+
+Let us take a text: "In honor preferring one another." It is blessed to
+have an experience like this. To feel happy when others are honored and we
+are not is certainly a desirable experience. We can have it. As you read
+the above text, love it, admire it, desire it, ask for it, believe you
+receive it,--and you have it. It will be a truth of beauty and of power in
+your soul and life. But remember, you must have an eagerness for it. You
+must lay hold upon it as the infant does upon the mother's breast. The
+same is true with every text in the Bible. Eat the entire book, and thus
+you will have it as a glorious source of power and purity in your life.
+
+
+
+
+MAN THE VEHICLE FOR EXHIBITING GOD'S PERFECTIONS.
+
+
+Man was created for a purpose, and that purpose was to glorify his Creator
+(Isa. 43:7). But man sinned and came short of the glory of God. The Lord,
+that he may yet be glorified in the man, provides a way of redemption.
+Through the redemption we have in Christ we can live to the glory of God.
+This is God's purpose. The whole of life should be such as will glorify
+the Creator, and all that we do should be done with that end in view. God
+help us. Living for God, honoring his Word, magnifying his name--this is
+the duty of man. Awful responsibility! Oh, what carefulness it should work
+in us. What vehement desire! what earnest seeking after God! that we may
+live such a life.
+
+Jesus was here in the world and was the light of the world. He had a human
+body and in that body lived a life that glorified God. That was an
+exemplary life. Such a life, and such a life only, is to the glory of God.
+We must fashion our life after his if we would spend life as we should. To
+know how Jesus lived is to know how we should live. Every life that is in
+the likeness of Christ's life is accepted of God. No other life can be.
+While Christ was here in the body, he was in the express image of the
+Father. The true, holy character of God was revealed through Jesus' human
+life to a lost and sinning world. God had done all he could to reveal his
+true character to man by laws, ceremonies, and ordinances; but these were
+only the shadow of the true life that was to be the light of the world.
+Christ was both God and man. Having a physical form, which is visible, he
+could set the holiness of God in plain view before the world. If you would
+know the true life, look to Jesus.
+
+But his life could be perfect only as it was given in sacrifice for man.
+His life was holy because it was a life sacrificed to God. No life can be
+possessed by God and used to his glory, that is not sacrificed to him.
+Jesus gave himself as an offering and sacrifice to God for us (Eph. 5:2).
+This left him without a body or human life through which to demonstrate
+moral principle to the world. But now comes the command to man, "I beseech
+you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
+bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
+reasonable service." Rom. 12:1. God would have this human life of ours
+offered up in sacrifice, so that we are no more ours but his. When we do
+so, there will be a change, a great and wonderful change. That life will
+no longer be worldly or in the course of ordinary earthly-minded men. It
+will be a transformed life, a life in which God can live and do his will.
+Through the sacrifice of Christ, God will take the sacrificed life of man
+and possess it by his Spirit and again demonstrate moral principle to the
+world. O man, that is your calling in life. You are the vehicle to convey
+the perfections of God to an unbelieving world. Only an empty vessel for
+God to fill with himself and use to his glory.
+
+O man, consider thyself, and know thyself, the purpose for which thou wert
+created, and the place which thou dost occupy in creation. Thou art no
+mean creature. Thou art highest of all. God condescends to walk and talk
+with thee. He upholds thee in his hand. Angels minister to thee. When thou
+passest through the waters, God himself will be with thee so that they
+shall not overflow thee, and when thou walkest through the fire, he will
+walk with thee so that the flame shall not kindle upon thee; because thou
+art precious in his sight and honorable, and he has set his love upon
+thee. Thou art so precious to him that he gave his only begotten Son to
+die to ransom thee.
+
+In the vast created universe, what place does man occupy? He stands out as
+a creature that bears the stamp of the divine image, a creature that is
+endowed with eternity. The heavens shall pass away, but man shall be
+forever. He was made capable of holding communion with the Creator. He
+occupies the relationship with God as child with parent. Being made in the
+likeness of God, he steps out upon the stage of the mighty universe to
+play the highest and noblest part in the entire drama of created
+existences. The songs of the morning stars as they sing together, pouring
+their anthems into the ears of God, are not such sweet music as is the
+voice of praise and adoration from the holy soul of man.
+
+Man was created for the very highest purpose in the mind of God. He is
+chosen to represent the divine character. On the stage men and women
+represent certain characters. Man upon the great stage of life is selected
+to represent the holy character of God. Oh, that he might play his part
+well! He who occupies the highest and most responsible part in this
+wonderful play of the universe will sink to the lowest shame and disgrace
+if he fails. The eyes of earth, heaven, and hell were turned upon man as
+he stepped out to play his part. A garden eastward in Eden was selected as
+the ground of exhibition. It was whispered throughout the corridors of the
+universe, "Will he succeed? Will he play his part well?" Ah, the sad
+story! He failed and he fell, bringing a world into shame and disgrace,
+causing angels to weep and God to repent that he had ever made him.
+
+But heaven's love was set upon him, and God sought a way whereby the
+fallen man could be lifted from his low, degraded plane to the high
+position he once occupied. After searching heaven through, God found but
+one way for man's redemption, but one price to pay. Would he pay it? He
+called his Son, his only Son, and pointed out to him the fallen condition
+of man, and how He was robbed of glory and devils were rejoicing. The
+Father said to his Son, "Only thy entering into that lower world in the
+likeness of sinful flesh and suffering and dying can redeem man." The Son
+replied, "I will go. I will suffer. I will lay down my life that man may
+be restored to his former position, so that he can again take up the part
+he was to play." The price was paid; the plan of man's redemption was
+effected; the divine image was again stamped upon the man, so that in
+Christ Jesus he could again come out and in his life's play reveal the
+character of God to the world.
+
+Reader, this brings us down to your day and mine. We have our part to play
+in life. That part is to display the divine perfections. Through Christ
+this is possible. Oh, what responsibility! Will we play our part well?
+Again the eyes of earth, heaven, and hell are turned upon us. The apostle
+says, "We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men."
+1 Cor. 4:9. "Men" includes both good and bad; likewise the term "angels"
+includes both good and bad angels. So, as I have said, earth, heaven, and
+hell are spectators. To live life as it should be lived is to act out our
+part upon the stage of life in such a way as to honor God and demonstrate
+his character before this mighty host of spectators.
+
+Such is man. Through him the righteous character of God is made visible to
+the world. God himself is invisible; but since he comes into our heart and
+life, and since our life is physical and visible, his holiness becomes
+visible in our holy living. This is how to live. He who lives on a lower
+plane than perfect holiness is not living to God's requirements.
+
+God did not redeem man at such a great price merely for man's sake. He
+redeemed him for his own glory. Redeemed man is God's purchased
+possession, that 'he should show forth the virtues of him who hath called
+him out of darkness into his marvelous light' (see marginal reading of 1
+Pet. 2:9). Here again we learn that the mission of man is to show forth in
+his daily life the true, holy virtues of his Maker and Redeemer. This
+should be the first business of our life--living solely, purposely, and
+earnestly for God. We are beings in whom God dwells and through whom God
+is to display his own holy perfections. This is wonderful; this is
+weighty. There is, I repeat, great responsibility on man. But unless he
+feels it, he will never fill to the full the measure of life. Oh, how
+delighted is the loving heart of God to find in this world a being in whom
+he can dwell and through whom he can reveal his own beautiful life! Shall
+we yield ourselves to him? Shall we invite him into our hearts? Shall we
+consecrate our lives to him that he may hide our life in his life? Yes,
+dear Lord, we are thine, wholly thine, now and forever. Take full
+possession; live in us; reign in our hearts; use every faculty of our
+beings to thy own glory. Thy will be done in us and with us as it is done
+in heaven.
+
+Jesus will gather his holy angels before him and address them thus: "Do
+you behold Brother--? He is a pilgrim and stranger down there in the
+earth. He is my child. I have washed him in my blood and clothed him with
+the beautiful garments of salvation. His heart is pure and full of love.
+He is dead to sin and the world. He loves my will, and his daily meat and
+drink is to do it. He loves my Word and has hid it in his heart. He keeps
+all my commandments. He seeks my glory. He often communes with me. He is
+fervent in spirit and zealous in good works. His good deeds and prayers I
+bottle up here in heaven, See that beautiful mansion yonder with its gates
+of gold and walls of jasper, its floors of transparent glass, its
+corridors of chalcedony, and colonades of topaz and beryl. That mansion is
+to be his home when his pilgrimage in that under-world is done. By his
+holy walk and devoted life he is now confessing me before men, and I take
+great delight in telling you that he is my child and in confessing him
+before you and my Father on his throne. Just as I have said in my Word, he
+that will confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father and
+the holy angels."
+
+Redeemed man is a light in the world. In the darkness of this world he is
+a dispeller of gloom. His life shines, shedding its peaceful rays of light
+wherever he goes.
+
+Man's life, when meeting the fullest purpose of God, is used as a
+magnifying-glass through which others may look and see the beauties of
+divine perfections. Alas! it is to be lamented that the life of many who
+profess to be followers of Jesus is such that it blurs the perfections of
+God.
+
+In concluding this chapter, let me give you a few rules for daily living--
+rules which, if followed, will make your life a conveyancer of light,
+peace, and holiness from God to the world.
+
+Live such a life that the pure and devoted will be pleased to have you
+come again.
+
+Live so near to God that every man that meets you is made a little better
+by having met you.
+
+Live such a life each day that the world can see in you the true way of
+life.
+
+Be such a light that others can see the way to walk.
+
+
+
+
+SOME USE TO JESUS.
+
+
+  O Christ, the way, the truth, the life,
+  Keep me safe mid the raging strife;
+  Help me a warrior brave to be
+  And take the battle-field for thee.
+
+  I fear not the swift arrow's power
+  Since thou art my high, strong-built tower;
+  The darts may have a bitter sting,
+  I shelter 'neath thy feathery wing.
+
+  Before me the Goliaths tall
+  Must quickly flee or headlong fall;
+  The foe is bruised beneath my feet;
+  In thee the victory is complete.
+
+  Jesus, to thee I give up all,
+  To live or die, to stand or fall.
+  The sparrows have thy kindly care;
+  I'm more than they, then need I fear?
+
+  I have a refuge from all harm
+  Within thy strong encircling arm;
+  Thou keepest me by day and night,
+  And guidest my weak steps aright.
+
+  The hairs on my unworthy head
+  Are numbered all, thy Book has said.
+  Gathered, like the defenseless brood,
+  My soul is kept in quietude.
+
+  As kind and loving parents would
+  Give to their children all things good,
+  So from thy presence angels bring
+  Unto thy child each needful thing.
+
+  Sometimes thou hidest thy sweet face;
+  The way is dark, I can not trace.
+  Thou doest best; I'll not repine,
+  But say, "Thy will be done, not mine."
+
+  Since them art good, so good, to me,
+  I beg to be some use to thee:
+  Intensify thy love divine
+  Within my heart, that I may shine
+
+  A little brighter, Lord, for thee,
+  That others thy great love may see.
+  Oh, crucified let all self be,
+  That thou mayst shine thy light through me.
+
+  I would not be so dazzling bright
+  That all the world might see my light,
+  But in some quiet nook of thine,
+  An out-of-way place, there I'd shine.
+
+  'Tis not for me to shine afar,
+  Like blazing sun or brilliant star;
+  Just help me at my door to be
+  A little candle-light for thee.
+
+
+
+
+GODLY LIVING.
+
+
+When some one is spoken of as living a worldly life, it is meant that he
+lives in a worldly manner, or in a manner like the world. Likewise, when
+some one is spoken of as living a godly life, it is meant that he lives in
+a godly manner, or in a manner like God. To many this is a hard saying,
+but it is possible for man to live just such a life; in fact, it is the
+only right way of life. A godly life is the only true life. Such a life is
+demanded by the Scriptures. We are to live "soberly, righteously, and
+godly in this present world" (Tit.2:12).
+
+God's dear children are told to be "followers of him" (Eph. 5:1). In some
+translations this reads, "Be ye imitators of God," and in some others, "Be
+ye mimickers of God." From this we understand that to be a follower of God
+is to live or act in a manner like him. Again, it is said of those who
+abide in Christ, that they should walk even as he walked. Our manner of
+life should be as was the life of Jesus. It is said of Christ that "when
+he was reviled, he reviled not again." Although he was treated most
+shamefully by his enemies, he did not seek to avenge himself. When
+insulting remarks were made to him, he gave no reply. To live a godly life
+is to live in the same manner. When Christians are reviled, they bless;
+when they are persecuted, they suffer meekly and patiently. When Jesus was
+being put to death by his enemies, he prayed the Father to forgive them.
+When a man who had come to take Jesus had his ear cut off, Jesus in his
+tender compassion healed this bitter persecutor's wound. This is the true
+spirit of godliness.
+
+The full standard of godliness is attained to only when the whole tenor of
+the life is in simplicity and godly sincerity. The apostle Paul said in
+testimony that his rejoicing was this: the testimony of his conscience
+that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the
+grace of God, he had had his conduct in the world. A godly life is wholly
+free from ostentation; every act is done in purest simplicity and truest
+sincerity. As God scrutinizes every act by his all-seeing eye, he
+discovers no impure motive, as vain-glory or lifting up of self; for all
+is in godly sincerity.
+
+The grace of godliness in the Christian character is capable of
+cultivation and increase. There is a law in both the material and
+spiritual that exercise is conducive to growth. The Spirit-filled apostle
+said, "Exercise thyself unto godliness." In the Emphatic this reads,
+"Train thyself for piety." Here is something for every soul that has any
+aspiration to be more godly in life. Train yourself for piety. To become
+of deeper piety and more godly is the joy of the Christian heart. By
+training we become more pious. The lawn-tender forms an espalier by
+intertwining the branches of the vine. He keeps intertwining them as they
+grow, and by such training forms a latticework made of shrubbery. The soul
+intertwined with the meek and lowly life of Jesus will form a character of
+deep piety and sincere godliness. The daily life should be intertwined
+with the life of Jesus. Let there be no reaching out for anything outside
+of him. For a proper development of the Christian graces there must be a
+constant training or intertwining of the soul with God. This linking more
+tightly is the result of growth, and growth is produced by exercise, and
+exercise consists in reading the Scriptures, in prayer, and in deep
+thought or heart-communion with God. The athlete takes such exercises and
+eats such foods as will most properly develop and strengthen his muscles.
+The soul that has any longings for more of God must exercise to have its
+yearnings gratified. To be conscious of a growing up into Christ, to feel
+the soul intertwining more and more with the life of God, is fulness of
+joy and perfect happiness. Christian reader, is there an ardent flame of
+pure love in your heart? Do you walk with Jesus in a devout, trustful,
+reverential spirit? Do you oftentimes find your mind contemplating the
+wonders of creation and the glories of salvation? Is your soul habituated
+to breathe in the atmosphere of heaven deeply? Is that holy awe filling
+you? Is that tender sensibility of spiritual things filling your heart? Is
+that fine, keen edge upon your soul that gives such avidity for holy
+things? Is to become more godly a sincere desire of your heart? Then
+diligently perform all the duties that belong to a godly life. Some give
+great diligence for a time and make spiritual gain and then lose it all in
+a day of slackness. But do not slack, be constant, be persevering, be
+encouraged, reach forth, press forward,--and the prize of meekness, peace,
+and godliness will crown your life.
+
+
+
+
+SOMETHING TO DO.
+
+
+There is so much to do that every one is needed to help in doing it. In
+this great, busy world of life there is something for every one to do. The
+command is, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."
+Think over these words for a moment. Does not your heart feel that they
+imply great earnestness in life? They mean a life of labor--a life of
+service. "Do with your might" implies putting your whole heart into your
+work. Do it in just such a manner as shows you expect to make a success of
+it.
+
+God has a work for every one that comes into the world. This world is
+going to be made a little better by your having come into it, or it will
+be made worse. Which shall it be? No one can do the work of another, since
+every one is given all he can do. It is true we are told to bear one
+another's burdens. I am to help you bear your burdens; that is a part of
+my work. You are to help me. We need the help of each other. But I can not
+do what you ought to do; for I have all I can do. What you neglect to do
+will have to go undone. If some one stops to do what you ought to do, just
+as large a rent is made in his life's work as would have been made in
+yours, but the reflection is on you.
+
+A father who had five sons left them a certain work to do. He gave to each
+his portion according to his ability. Upon his return he found that four
+of them had done their part and done it well, but one had only partially
+done his. Consequently, there was a neglected spot--a dropped stitch--
+which constantly showed itself. If we fail to do the work in life that God
+in his wisdom has assigned us, there will be in the Father's great plan a
+blank space, a neglected part, that will show through all eternity. Is
+your life or mine going to be the dropped stitch in the great web of human
+life? Down in our heart there is a No for an answer, is there not?
+
+Let not the precious moments of your life flee away unimproved. Jesus is
+our example. He went about doing good. Everywhere he went, he left
+evidences that he had passed along that way. O pilgrim on life's journey,
+what are you leaving along the way to show in after-years that you have
+passed along? Is it flowers you are strewing? Is it sunshine to cheer and
+lighten the hearts of others? Sad indeed if there is none to say, "He did
+me good."
+
+It matters not how small may be the part of his great work the Father has
+assigned you, do that little and do it well and do it with all the
+earnestness of your heart. It is your part, and you should do it with as
+much earnestness and interest as those who are engaged in the greater
+works do their parts. If your part is not done well, there will not be
+completeness in the divine plan. A single stitch dropped shows a blemish
+in the garment. In the sight of God the most menial task is as sacred as
+that of the highest order, and when well done as greatly meets his
+approval.
+
+That is a beautiful thought expressed by the Mohammed Bible. It tells of
+Gabriel's being sent to earth to do two things. One was to keep King
+Solomon from becoming so much engaged with the affairs of his kingdom as
+to neglect the hour of prayer. The other was to give assistance to a
+little ant that was trying to bear its load of food up a hillside. To
+Gabriel the one duty was as important as the other because both came in
+the plan of God. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy
+might." Think these words over again. Let them have the full force of
+meaning to your heart. Take as much interest in helping the little child
+get the tangle out of the string as in building a church edifice.
+
+Many are working, but alas! how few are doing their best! So much time and
+labor are being wasted; so many things are being done that had as well not
+be done. God wants not only our service but our best service. We are under
+obligation to do our best every day. If we let a day pass by without doing
+what we could and in the best way we could, our work is not perfectly
+done.
+
+God pours his blessings out upon us, but the blessing is not to end with
+itself. Remember these words: "Freely ye have received, freely give." Seek
+to be blessed of God, that you may pass the blessing on to others. Leave
+some footprints here upon the sands of time, so that in after-years they
+may guide some one to a noble deed and better way. When you reach the end
+of life, you can experience no greater consolation than to know you have
+done what you could. Improve the moments of time while you have them. They
+are passing swiftly. They will not wait for you. Some people are going to
+do, but behold, the opportunity passes before they are ready.
+Opportunities do not wait. Do good while you may. You are going to give
+the flower tomorrow, but tomorrow the flower may have faded. You intended
+to speak a kind word yesterday, but thought you would defer until another
+day. But the strain was so great the life went out, and your kind word
+came too late. Today is the day to save the lost. Tomorrow may be too
+late. How sad that a soul through all eternity will be crying out, "You
+were going to help me, but you came too late." O God! help us to be up and
+doing while it is called today. What work you are going to do, do it now
+as the poet urges in the following beautiful lines:
+
+  "Let's not be living in the past,
+   On what we have been doing,
+  Nor building castles in the air
+   And after them pursuing.
+  'Work in my vineyard, go today':
+   The Master's time is narrow
+  For yesterday we'll see no more--
+   We may not see tomorrow.
+
+  "If for discouragements you look,
+   You certainly shall find them,
+  But they are not discouragements
+   Except to those who mind them.
+  The future for itself will care,
+   We'll not its trouble borrow;
+  Sufficient evil is today,
+   Then think not of the morrow.
+
+  "Let's cast our bread upon the flood,
+   In many days to gather,
+  But then at eve hold out the hand
+   For present blessings rather.
+  We hide the seed deep in the ground
+   And watch the closing furrow,
+  When, lo! the field's already white,
+   Not waiting for the morrow.
+
+  "The sower and the reaper both
+   May now rejoice together,
+  For what they sow and gather in
+   Is fruit that lives forever.
+  The saint rejoices evermore,
+   E'en in the midst of sorrow;
+  He knows the weeping's but a night,
+   Joy cometh on the morrow."
+
+Man was made to labor. He is so constituted that he can not find true rest
+and enjoyment in idleness. How much the Bible says about good works! We
+are "created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
+ordained that we should walk in them." Jesus purifies unto "himself a
+peculiar people, zealous of good works." We are told by the scriptures to
+"be careful to maintain good works" to "be not weary in well-doing," and
+to "do good unto all men." Time is given us to spend in usefulness, not in
+idleness. Money lost may be regained, but a moment never.
+
+As Christians we have the mind of Jesus. With such a mind we can not be
+contented unless we are doing the will of God and making the proper use of
+the moments he gives us. Mind is the same quality whether it be in Jesus,
+in angels, or in men, and it is governed by the same laws. It is true that
+after man's transgression he was told that in the sweat of his face he
+should eat bread, but this does not imply that the disposition to labor is
+a result of the fall. The disposition to labor that we find in man's
+constitution is not the fruit of corruption in his nature, but is a part
+of his original constitution. We find this disposition in the mind of
+angels. They are ministering spirits. They are doing the will of God. How
+often we read in the Book that tells of heaven how angels have visited
+this transitory world of ours on errands of help, mercy, and consolation.
+They have closed the mouths of lions, opened prison doors, stilled the
+waves, whispered comforting words, rolled away the stone, and ministered
+strength and help to the needy.
+
+Man is not designed for prayer and praise only; he is designed for service
+as well. His mission is twofold: he is to adore and praise his Creator and
+to serve his fellow men. Some have symbolized the two functions of man's
+life by the ascending and descending of the angels on the ladder that
+Jacob saw in his dream. They ascended to God and descended to man. Life
+should be spent in praising God and in serving man for God's sake.
+
+There is something to do. There is much to do. There is too much to do for
+us to idle away one moment of time. A full and well-spent life is one
+which is spent in doing good out of pure love to God and man. When we
+shall have come down to the end of life's journey, how sweet it will be to
+know that we have done all we could to help other pilgrims make their
+journey in safety! There is a reward for every generous act. Heaven is
+faithful and will repay. What we do here will find an eternity of reward.
+Let not, therefore, one day pass you by without your doing something
+purposely for God.
+
+
+
+
+SPIRITUAL DRYNESS.
+
+
+We often meet with those who complain of dryness and deadness in their
+worship. They are very unlike the Psalmist's picture of the "blessed man."
+"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth
+forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither." This is a
+true picture of the Christian life. The soul should be as a watered
+garden--fresh and green and sparkling. It should be a springtime. You have
+seen a garden in the spring or one that is well-watered. All is beauty,
+freshness, and vigor. Such a garden is used by the prophet to symbolize
+the Spirit-filled soul. He says, "And the Lord shall guide thee
+continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones; and
+thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose
+waters fail not." Isa. 58:11.
+
+In order to have such a happy experience, however, the children of God
+must meet certain conditions. The context says, "If thou draw out thy soul
+to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul." If our souls are not drawn
+out in pity for the hungry and we fail to do what we can to relieve them,
+we need not expect anything other than a spiritual drought in our own
+cases.
+
+Spiritual dryness is sometimes the result of attachment to the world. "Set
+your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth." Unless
+we live by the Bible, we can not be spiritual. A little affection for the
+things of earth robs the soul of spiritual life. In this matter Satan is
+an excellent reasoner. He will suggest that your desires are only for the
+glory of God; that you have no affection for the worldly object, but
+desire it only for God's glory. A young lady to whom I gave warning said
+that her desires were pure and that she had no affection for the object,
+but sought only to please the Lord. Very soon, however, she came to the
+realization that her soul was a desert place, and all because she had
+believed the falsehood of Satan. Beware how you desire earthly things for
+God's glory. Underneath may be a desire for self-gratification, ease, or
+luxury. If you are troubled by a lack of sensible devotion in worship,
+examine your affections. Possibly you may find some tiny roots twining
+around something of this world.
+
+Spiritual dryness may be the result of sloth. "Slothfulness casteth into a
+deep sleep." Prov. 19:15. Spiritual idleness soon results in spiritual
+dryness. That sophism of Satan's, "No time for prayer," is very dangerous.
+Any neglect of spiritual devotion must result in lukewarmness. Oh, how
+unreasonable is man and how easily the desires of the flesh deceive! If
+you neglected to water your garden, you would not wonder for a moment why
+it was drying up. Then, when you are neglecting to water the soul in
+vigorous, spiritual exercises, why do you wonder at your being so
+spiritually dull? "Awake, thou that sleepest!" Up and away to the hill of
+the Lord. Be the frequent witness of a sunrise scene from the mount of
+prayer.
+
+The San Jose scale works imperceptibly at first. Oftentimes its presence
+will be detected only by the experienced. Its presence will perhaps be
+known first by the fruit. If your spiritual fruit is not as beautiful,
+well-flavored, and fully developed as it should be, look for the presence
+of sloth in the soul. The poison of sloth will get into the soul little by
+little. First there will be a momentary delay of spiritual duties. Satan
+is too wise to suggest an entire abandonment of them, but he will suggest
+a little postponement. One delay will soon be followed by another and then
+by another. These delays are an opiate that dulls the spiritual senses,
+and thus they will yield more readily to postponements and finally find
+pleasure in them.
+
+Let me make this still more simple, for some may need it made very easy to
+understand. When the soul is like a watered garden, it will be drawn to
+God in prayer in the early morning. Any delay will cause uneasiness and
+restlessness. The soul longs to hasten away to the presence of God. But
+one little delay after another brings on a morbid condition. The soul
+loses its keen relish; its senses become deadened, so that there is no
+uneasiness; while the senses of the self-life will find pleasure in sloth.
+
+When the soul once gets into the habit of idleness, it experiences no
+little difficulty in getting out. On becoming aware of his state, the
+individual may acknowledge his inactivity and make half-formed resolves to
+be more earnest and diligent, only very soon to relapse into the same
+former sluggishness. This virus of sloth inoculates the entire spiritual
+being, poisoning the will and making spiritual activity most disagreeable.
+Not only does it destroy the will of the soul, but it blindfolds the eyes
+so that the individual can see no necessity for great fervency in spirit
+or for diligence in spiritual exercise. In a half-dazed manner he
+acknowledges that the "watchings often" and "fastings often" and "praying
+always" of the apostle Paul were very consistent in him, but does not
+realize that such would be as desirable in his own Christian profession.
+He wonders why he is not healed as people were in the days of Paul. Why
+wonder? He does not wonder why the flowers wither when it does not rain.
+It is the fervent, earnest prayer that God hears.
+
+Nothing but the greatest diligence and determination and strong laying
+hold upon God will ever put spiritual sloth to death. In this respect it
+is like the South American animal called the sloth. Though one species of
+the sloth is only the size of a cat, and is extremely slow on the ground,
+its highest rate of speed there being not more than ten feet an hour, yet
+it is difficult to exterminate.
+
+One reason why so many are slothful is that they do not realize the true
+worth of prayer. Oh, I would to God that men rightly valued communion with
+God or a few thoughts of him! The lifting of the heart to God in praise or
+adoration is of greater value than the wealth of worlds. It is not enough
+to know much about the doctrine of the Bible, to be acquainted with this
+present reform, and to live a fair outward life; we must be filled with
+the Spirit. We must be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, whose
+leaf does not wither. Take plenty of time to gain heaven. Take time to be
+spiritual. A home in heaven is worth laboring for. Work out your salvation
+with fear and trembling. Spiritual dryness is the result of spiritual
+indolence. Be active, and you will not be unfruitful.
+
+
+
+
+PRAYER.
+
+
+A work of this nature would be inexcusable for not saying something about
+prayer, for who can live life triumphantly without prayer? Who can
+properly estimate the true worth of prayer or rightly appreciate the
+privilege of prayer? Man esteems it a great honor to be admitted into the
+courts of the lords and kings of earth. What an honor it is to have
+audience with the King of glory! He extends the golden scepter to us, and
+we come hopefully, confidingly into his presence to tell him all that is
+in our hearts. He loves us so. We should not dare to come into the awful
+presence of the Great King did we not know that he loves us with an
+everlasting love. When we understand his love toward us, we tell him with
+joy and eagerness every desire of the heart.
+
+Prayer is the energy and life of the soul. It is the invincible armor
+which shields the devoted Christian from the poisoned missiles shot forth
+from the batteries of hell. It is the mighty weapon with which he fights
+life's battles unto victory. He who lives in prayer reigns triumphant. The
+dark storm-clouds are driven away, mountains of discouragement are cast
+into the sea, chasms of difficulties are bridged, hope is given wings,
+faith increases, and joys abound. Hell may rage and threaten; but he who
+is frequent and fervent in prayer experiences no alarm.
+
+By prayer the windows of heaven are opened, and showers of refreshing dew
+are rained upon the soul. It is as a watered garden, a fertile spot where
+blooms the unfading rose of Sharon and the lily-of-the-valley; where
+spread the undecaying, unwithering branches of the tree of life. By prayer
+the soul is nourished and strengthened by the divine life. Do you long for
+a brighter hope and deeper joy, for a deeper sense of the divine fulness,
+for a sweeter, closer walk with God? then live in prayer. Do you love to
+feel the holy flame of love burning in all its intensity in your soul?
+then enkindle it often at the golden altar of prayer. Without prayer the
+soul will weaken, famish, and die, the fountain of love dry up and become
+as a thirsty and parched desert. Do you admire the character Jesus? Behold
+his lowliness and humility, his gentleness and tender compassion. Have
+they any beauty and do you desire them to grace your soul? then draw them
+down from the skies in all their glorious fulness by the fervent prayer of
+faith. As through the process of assimilation food is transformed into an
+active, living being, so through the medium of prayer the character Jesus,
+in all its transcendent beauty and glory, becomes the character of man.
+
+If you desire victory during the day, begin it with prayer--not a few
+hurried words, not a few ejaculations, but minutes of deep, intimate
+communion with God. Linger at the altar of prayer until you feel particles
+of glory drop in richness into your soul, scattering sweetness throughout.
+In the early morning hours, when the still, balmy breath of nature plays
+around you, let your soul fly away on the wings of prayer with its message
+of love and praise to its Maker.
+
+  "Sweet morning is the time to pray:
+  How lovely and how sweet
+  To send our early thoughts away
+  Up to the mercy-seat!"
+
+If you desire to be more deeply and sincerely pious, pray. If you desire
+heights in his love, depths in his grace, fulness in his joy, and richness
+in his glory, pray, pray with all sincerity of heart and intensity of
+soul. Did you say you had no time for prayer? What a pity! Your happiness
+and success in life depend upon prayer. Your eternal enjoyment depends
+upon it. Then, oh, what a pity that you have no time for prayer! Satan
+will tell you there is no need of so much praying. He will give you
+indifferent feelings if he can, and tell you that you can get along well
+enough without it. He will do all he possibly can to prevent your praying.
+If there is not much benefit derived from prayer, why is he so concerned?
+The Bible commands are: "Watch and pray," "Pray always," "Be instant in
+prayer," "Pray without ceasing," etc. Beloved saints, I exhort you to a
+life of prayer. I beseech you in Jesus' name to go often into your closets
+and there in all earnestness of soul pray until the love of God and light
+of heaven fill your beings. Pray until a rapture from the skies sweeps
+over your soul, making the place of prayer the dearest spot on earth to
+you.
+
+
+
+
+KEEP THE ROOTS WATERED.
+
+
+How often you admire a tree for the loveliness of its green foliage and
+the profusion of its luscious fruit. You speak to your friend of the
+beauty of the tree and of the goodness of God in bestowing such a gift to
+men; but perhaps you do not speak nor even think of the coarse, unsightly
+roots hidden deep in the ground. But that tree owes its beauty and its
+life to roots. The foliage is bright and fresh and green because the roots
+are burrowing deep in a rich and well-watered soil. The flavoring of the
+fruit is generated by the roots down in the dark and silent chamber of the
+earth.
+
+Perhaps there comes to your mind now some whose faces you always see lit
+up with a radiant glory. You can not fail to admire them. Their words
+contain a secret power and seem to awaken in you all that is noble. They
+seem to lift you into a higher life. From their words, their actions, and
+their countenances flows an influence that causes you to forget the things
+of earth and makes you feel as if you had joined the society of angels.
+Such ones have a secret hidden root-life that generates this peculiar
+charm in their visible life. Down in a closet is a secret laboratory where
+the fragrance and beauty and glory that flow out of their lives are
+compounded. There the roots of their inner life take hold upon the riches
+of heaven's grace and drink in of the waters that flow. In their oft and
+silent communion with God they take root downward, and then they go forth
+into life and bear fruit upward. While others are talking with their
+friends about the things of earth, they meet with God in the garden of
+graces, where the sweet spices flow out and the frankincense and myrrh
+scent the air, and there they become laden with a profusion of fruits and
+impregnated with a sweet odor, which they bear out into the world. They
+are like the tree planted by the rivers of water, whose leaf does not
+wither.
+
+O beloved pilgrim, see that the roots of your inner being are well
+watered. Let them drink in the sparkling waters of life. Remember,
+effectual work for God consists more in being than in doing. Do not go
+about in your labor with an empty basket. It is only when you go out from
+deep and silent communion with God that your labor will be effectual.
+Never think that you have so much to do that you have not much time for
+prayer. An hour's work done in the quiet, secret power of the Spirit is
+worth more than a day of your own efforts. Keep the roots watered.
+
+
+
+
+UNDER THE FIG-TREE.
+
+
+In the beginning of his ministry Christ called to Philip to follow him.
+Upon being called Philip went in search of Nathanael to tell him that he
+(Philip) had found the Christ. Nathanael was somewhat doubtful, but at
+Philip's invitation he went to see. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming, he
+said, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael,
+wondering how this man happened to know him, asked, "Whence knowest thou
+me?" Jesus answered, "When thou wast under the fig-tree I saw thee." John
+1:48.
+
+It is evident that something had occurred with Nathanael under the fig
+-tree outside the common details of every-day life. If there had not
+something rather unusual or something higher than the common events of
+life occurred there, the Savior would not have mentioned this one
+particular place. Any other place would have done as well. There was in
+this answer something that was highly significant to Nathanael. At this
+time there were many devout people looking for the "consolation of
+Israel." They were looking for the coming of the King of the Jews. It is
+not difficult for me to believe that Nathanael was under the fig-tree
+praying to God for the speedy coming of the Messiah. When Jesus said to
+him, "When thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee," Nathanael
+immediately replied, "Thou art the King of Israel." He was doubtless under
+the tree in prayer to this end not once only, but very probably for months
+and maybe for years. He had been praying for this very thing. He had
+selected one especial fig-tree as a place for prayer. It was not <i>a</i>
+fig-tree, but <i>the</i> fig-tree. There he had prayed long and often for
+Israel's King to come. So when Jesus said, "When thou wast under the fig
+-tree, I saw thee," he knew at once that his oft-repeated prayers were
+answered, and therefore said, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art
+the King of Israel."
+
+Many a devout one since that day has had his secret communion-place with
+God. Perhaps it was in the woods on a mossy knoll, under an oak, on a
+grassy spot on the bank of a stream, or under a shade-tree that grew by
+the brook in the meadow. To these places of solemn silence they would
+retreat when the shades of night were falling or when the light of the
+morning was streaking the sky, and there from the fulness of their souls
+they would pour out their praise and thanksgiving to God. These were the
+dearest places in the world to them. It may be there are aged ones today
+who had such places in the earlier days of their lives. Though they are
+now far removed from those scenes, these are still sacred in their memory.
+
+There are those today who have their altars of prayer in some secluded
+place. There they meet God and tell him all their sorrows and cares, there
+they recount to him his loving kindness, there they implore his grace to
+sustain them through all their trying scenes of life, and there they
+worship at his feet. Bless his name! Beloved, have you a "fig-tree"? and
+are you often found under it? Have you a quiet nook somewhere which is
+hallowed by the presence of God?
+
+The beloved disciple John, when in the Spirit, saw golden vials in the
+hands of the worshipers of the Lamb around the throne. These golden vials,
+he says, were "full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev.
+5: 8). Are you, dear reader, every day filling golden vials around God's
+throne with the sweet odor of prayer? Again, this disciple, when the
+seventh seal was opened, saw seven angels standing before God with seven
+trumpets. Then came another angel, with a golden censer. To him was given
+incense, which he offered with the prayers of saints upon the golden
+altar, and the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of saints
+ascended before God. (See Rev. 8:3, 4.) We have the privilege of mingling
+our prayers with the incense that is being offered before the throne.
+
+The Psalmist seemed to comprehend something of the nature of prayer when
+he said, "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, and the
+lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." Psa. 141:2. The prayers
+that were offered by the devout Cornelius were so fragrant before God that
+they were kept as a memorial of him. A memorial is something kept in
+remembrance of any one. If you want to be kept in remembrance before God,
+see that your prayers are highly impregnated with a sweet odor. You must
+pray or die. No one can retain spiritual life any great length of time
+without prayer. So we exhort you to a life of prayer.
+
+
+
+
+SHUT THE DOOR.
+
+
+It is as impossible to live and prosper spiritually without prayer as it
+is to live and prosper physically without food. Those who enjoy a close
+walk with God and have power with him are those who pray. Natural
+abilities and intellectuality can never supply any lack in spirituality.
+Unless you are spiritual, you are of but little use to God; and to be
+spiritual, you must live much in prayer. It is not those who are on their
+knees the oftenest or the longest that do the most praying. Some may pray
+more real prayer in one hour than others in two or three hours. Too many
+people leave the door open. Prayer that feeds the soul must be offered
+with the door shut. "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,
+and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret."
+Matt. 6:6.
+
+God is in secret. He is hidden from the world. The world does not see him,
+neither knows him. You can never reach God in your prayers unless you shut
+out the world. Shutting the door means something more than closing the
+door of your literal closet. Persons may enter the literal closet and
+close the door, and yet have the world in their hearts and thoughts. Such
+have not closed the door in the true sense.
+
+In the public assembly you must enter your closet when you pray, and shut
+the door, or your prayers avail not with God. You must talk from your
+heart to the heart of God. Those assembled may hear your words, but they
+do not know the secret. The secret is between your heart and the heart of
+God. You scarcely hear your words. You know and hear more of the speaking
+of your heart. There is a blessing in such praying; there is a joy that
+can not be told. Such prayer feeds the soul upon the divine life and lifts
+us in realms of light and happiness. Thank God for the sweet privilege of
+secret intercourse with him. O beloved, when you pray, enter into your
+closet, and be sure to close the door.
+
+
+
+
+ALONE WITH GOD.
+
+
+This life of ours will never be all that it should be unless we are much
+alone with God. Only those who are oft alone with him know the benefit
+that is derived therefrom. You can not be like God unless you are much
+with him, and you can not live like him unless you are like him. The
+Scriptures tell us that Jesus departed into the mountain to be alone with
+the Father and that he was often "alone praying." When Jesus had anything
+of great importance to say to his disciples, he always took them aside
+from the multitude. When he was transfigured, he took three of his
+disciples into a mountain apart from all the world. When he was one time
+alone praying with his disciples, he asked them who he was. Peter
+answered, "The Christ of God" (Luke 9:18). It was only when he was alone
+with them and after prayer that he could bring them into such nearness to
+him that they might know in their hearts that he was the Son of God. When
+amid the active duties of life and when in contact with the world, we can
+scarcely come into that sacred nearness to God that will enable us to feel
+in our hearts all that God is. We may get slight glimpses of his glory, we
+may occasionally get a dim view of some of his beauty, we may feel a
+little warming of his love in our bosoms; but only when alone with him are
+we awed into wonder at the sight of his glory and great beauty. It is only
+then that we see him in his purity and feel the warm sunshine of his love.
+It is only then that our hearts can be deeply impressed with the knowledge
+that he is God, and in childlikeness we can look up to him and call him
+Father.
+
+
+
+
+PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCE.
+
+
+  At evening time when dark'ning shades draw nigh
+  And flickering rays of light go chasing by,
+  When all around glad nature sweetly sings
+  And seems you hear the sound of angel's wings,
+  Some one in memory may be brought to thee.
+
+  Maybe some one from distant land away,
+  Of whom you had no thought for many a day.
+  'Tis passing strange; you do not understand
+  Why such a one and from such distant land
+  Should step across the threshold of your mind,
+  Why he to you at this time should be brought.
+  'Tis mystery when all else claims your thought;
+  You seek to understand, but learn it not.
+
+  Maybe this one has conflict great and sore,
+  Is struggling long and hard 'gainst grim despair,
+  And God who rules the thought and mind of man
+  Has brought him this long way to you for prayer.
+  Then do not drive these whisperings from your mind
+  Nor cast them carelessly upon the wind:
+  'Tis but the voice of God, in tender care
+  For suffering one on life's broad way somewhere,
+  Inviting you to plead for him in prayer.
+
+  Kind friend, if at morning, noon, or night
+  I come to thee on wings of memory,
+  It is no doubt because the fight is fierce;
+  Then will you bow and pray to God for me?
+
+
+
+
+HE CARETH FOR THEE.
+
+
+Life will never be successful unless we learn to let God care for us.
+Unless we have faith to know that God is our keeper and that hence we have
+nothing to fear, we shall never be the cheer and sunlight in this dark
+world that God designed us to be. This is a world of trouble. Sin envelops
+many souls in awful midnight gloom. Some may never find Jesus unless they
+see him smiling in your face. You as God's dear child are to be a light to
+those poor, benighted souls. To be such a light, you must be full of
+light, and to be full of light you must be full of hope by faith in the
+cheering and encouraging promises of God. None can be truly happy, none
+can be the cheer, comfort, and consolation to the world, who are bearing
+their own burdens. Only those who have learned the sweet lesson of trust
+in God and know that he cares for them are truly happy and free and
+capable of cheering others.
+
+  He who this one short life would live
+  As heaven has designed
+  Must scatter rays of cheering light
+  From a heart with Hope enshrined.
+
+There are many priceless promises in the Word of God. There is a promise
+for every need, condition, and circumstance of life. Among these blessed
+promises, here is one that has brought comfort to many a weary pilgrim on
+life's way: "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1
+Pet. 5:7. If this promise does not lift you far above all the trials,
+discouragements, and weariness of life, it is because you do not believe
+it nor understand the fulness of its meaning. "He careth for <i>you</i>."
+It is not your neighbor or your friend, but it is you. Cares will come to
+you, certainly; you could never cast your cares upon God if you had none.
+But you have them and doubtless many of them. The difficulty with many is,
+they do not cast them on God. Reader, your life will never be, it can not
+be, that free, happy, radiant, sunlit, helpful life that pleases God, if
+you bear your own cares.
+
+There is nothing too trivial in life to take to God. In the very smallest
+concerns of your daily life he has an interest. In everything let your
+requests be known unto him. Do learn to take everything to him. Fret over
+nothing, never worry for a moment. Let nothing disturb or disquiet you. I
+say <i>nothing</i>. "He careth for you." Do you comprehend the full
+meaning of these words? Think them over for a moment. Let go of yourself
+and let God keep you. Oh, the freedom that belongs to the children of God!
+Theirs is a sweet land of liberty. But alas! how many will go on bearing
+their own burdens and weighted down with care with these words right
+before them: "He careth for you"! Why not let him?
+
+Care is a grace-destroyer. If you would be strong in the grace of God, you
+must live free from care. It gnaws at the very vitals of the soul. A
+strong cable made of many fine wires was stretched across the river and
+was used to tow a heavy scow back and forth. One of the small strands was
+broken. This was thought to be a small matter. Soon another was broken and
+then another. Still this was not of much consequence. One by one more were
+broken but unheeded because each was so small. Finally all were broken,
+and the boat went adrift. A little care does not seem to be of much
+consequence. But the Bible says to be "careful for <i>nothing</i>," and to
+"cast <i>all</i> your care upon him."
+
+Some have thought that the bearing of burdens and cares made us strong in
+the Lord. No, it is the casting of them on Jesus that makes us strong. For
+a man to be down under a heavy weight is no exercise to his muscles; but
+to be up on his feet and passing heavy weights on to another, this is
+exercise. To be down under burdens and cares is no exercise to the soul,
+but is really death; the passing of the cares on to Jesus is the exercise
+and the strength of the spiritual powers. If you only knew how much grace
+a little care destroyed, you would quickly cast them on Jesus. Some have
+come to find themselves entirely without grace because they did not cast
+their cares on the Lord. We knew a sister whose baby was such a care that
+she could not keep saved. One day when asked how she was getting along in
+the Lord, she answered, "Not well; the baby is such a care and worry that
+I can not keep the victory I should like to have." Was it not too bad to
+lay such a blame upon a poor little innocent child? I was asked one time
+if it was possible to reach an experience where we would never fret or
+worry. Certainly we can. We shall never get to a place where we shall have
+no temptations, but we can get to a place where we shall not yield to the
+temptations. Your life has not reached that degree of perfection that it
+should, until you have attained to such an experience. Jesus says, "Take
+no thought for the morrow." When you are having any great anxieties about
+future things, you are doing what Jesus tells you not to do, and you can
+not do something he tells you not to do without suffering spiritual loss.
+Oh! why will you worry about anything, when Jesus says, "Be anxious for
+nothing." "But," you say, "when there is no meat in the larder and no
+flour in the bin, can we then be not anxious?" There are those who have
+been in just such circumstances and yet have not been greatly troubled.
+
+If you will be over-anxious about anything, you can never live close to
+God. When anxieties knock at the door of your heart for admittance and you
+open the door and let them in, you are opening the door to a dangerous
+band of robbers. They are robbers of grace and peace. When anxieties step
+over the threshold of your heart's door, grace and peace fly out of the
+window. "But what am I to do?" sighs a care-worn soul. Do just what a good
+man says he did. He said that he opened his heart to Jesus, and he came in
+and shut the door. Let Jesus keep the door of your heart. When anxieties
+come and want into your heart, tell them they must get permission from
+Jesus, because you have given your whole heart up to him. This is what is
+meant by "casting your care upon him." It is not enough to kneel down and
+ask Jesus to take them; you must cast them upon him. In this is the soul's
+needed exercise. The soul that will do this shall be strong. You must put
+the burden over on the Lord's shoulders and let him bear it. He will bear
+all your burdens for you if you will lay them upon him.
+
+Not only must you put them upon him, but you must let go entirely. You do
+not even need to look after them to see what he does with them. Your
+little child comes to you with a tangled cord. It gives it over into your
+hands, but holds to one end. Now, you know that in order to get the tangle
+out, you must have both ends. O weary one, Jesus will disentangle all the
+cares of life, but you must let him have both ends. He does not want your
+help. You hinder him if you attempt to help him. Cares will come; things
+that are of a trying nature will assail us as long as we live; but we have
+a refuge in Jesus; he will bear our burdens; he will care for us.
+
+
+
+
+"CONSIDER THE LILIES."
+
+
+What a beautiful lesson Jesus has taught us of rest and quietness from the
+lilies! "Consider the lilies of the field," he says, "how they grow: they
+toil not, neither do they spin." He is trying to teach us how free we can
+be--free from all earthly cares and anxieties. The lily does not struggle;
+it has no anxieties about its future; but it grows. It grows to be
+beautiful. Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of them.
+God paints the flower with greater beauty than the robes of kings. If you
+would be beautiful, you must rest in the Lord. Just a little struggling,
+and you will mar the whole. Christ wants to reveal himself through you. He
+will shine the beauty of his own glorious person into your soul if you
+will but be quiet. Have no anxieties about the things that pertain to this
+life, and Jesus will clothe you with the beauties of heaven. Character, as
+the years pass on, is revealed on the face. The miser's face shows the
+miserly condition of his heart. Jesus will stamp his own image upon the
+soul if the soul is kept in quietness, and this image will stand out in
+beauty on the face and outward life.
+
+By this lesson of the lilies Jesus did not mean to teach that we should
+not pray. He once said, "Men ought always to pray." We must pray much. If
+we do not pray, Satan will have us toiling and spinning. Keeping close to
+Jesus with a strong faith and a firm trust is the only way to rest, and we
+can not do this without much prayer. "Cease thy toiling and care." Learn a
+lesson from the lilies. Rest in the Lord, and he will make you an object
+of Christian beauty that will bless the world. Even after you are long
+gone, that restful, patient life will cast its rays of light and beauty
+back and chase away the shadows from the life of others.
+
+  The day has gone, the twilight fades,
+  There's stillness everywhere;
+  I seek some place of solitude,
+  And humbly bow in prayer.
+
+  I tell the story of the day--
+  The joy, the grief, the care;
+  I keep not back one secret thing,
+  But tell it all in prayer.
+
+  O heart of mine, be light and free,
+  Not lightest burden bear,
+  In everything let thy requests
+  Be told to God in prayer.
+
+  Yes, all; I tell it all to Christ
+  In evening twilight dim:
+  Somehow my heart much lighter grows
+  Since all is told to him.
+
+  I lay my life at his dear feet--
+  O Jesus, I am thine!
+  I'll walk the way of life with thee;
+  Thy will, O Christ, is mine.
+
+  And now I lay me down to sleep
+  While gathering shadows fall,
+  And sweet indeed my rest shall be,
+  Since Jesus knows it all.
+
+
+
+
+SORROWFUL YET ALWAYS REJOICING.
+
+
+This world is sometimes called "the vale of tears." Jesus said, "In the
+world ye shall have tribulation," but he also said, "In me ye shall have
+peace." The way to heaven is through tribulations. Those whom John saw
+standing before the throne and the Lamb arrayed in white robes and with
+palms in their hands, were one day where we now are, and thank God, we,
+coming up through great tribulation, shall some day be where they are.
+While man in this world will meet with sorrow, he can by the grace of God
+always rejoice. Alum thrown into muddy water will clarify it. The grace of
+God thrown into a cup of sorrow will turn it to joy. Sorrows are needful.
+It is only a barren waste where there is no rainfall.
+
+We have sung, "No days are dark to me." This can indeed be true, but it is
+not to be taken in the sense that there will be no clouds nor rainfall.
+Show me a man who never has a cloud to float across his sky, and I will
+show you a man who has not faith enough to see clearly in the sunlight. It
+is those whose faith pierces through the cloud and keeps the smiling,
+sunlit face of Christ in view that have the truest, sweetest joy. Their
+rejoicing is in the Lord. By bravery and force of will some may shut
+themselves against sorrow and soon become insensible to it. But the heart
+that is steeled against sorrow is in all probability so calloused that it
+can not experience joy. Those who know the deepest sorrow may ofttimes
+know the fullest joy, and that in the midst of their sorrow. Do not harden
+your heart against sorrow, but look to Jesus for that balm which heals,
+that grace which sustains, that comfort which gladdens. Some have thought
+that true joy consists in never having a sorrow; that those who have
+sorrow have not found the way of peace. In this they err. Those who never
+have a sorrow rejoice because they have no sorrows, but some who have
+sorrow have learned to rejoice in the Lord. This is truest joy.
+
+"Sorrowful," said one who was crucified with Christ, "yet always
+rejoicing." He never once denied having sorrow; nay, he said, "I have
+great heaviness, and continual sorrow in my heart." But he also said, "I
+glory." It was the deep sorrow that made him most like Jesus. He had
+feeling. "We sorrow," he said, "but not as those who have no hope." The
+world knows a sorrow that the Christian does not know. Christians should
+be careful lest in hardening themselves against feeling they do not render
+themselves incapable of feeling compassion, sympathy, and pity.
+
+Let the tears flow. If you keep them back, the fountain will dry up. May
+the Lord pity those who have no tears! Jesus wept. The apostle Paul said,
+"Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many
+tears." Oh, that unfeeling heart that can not suffer, that dry heart that
+has no fountain of tears! It weeps not over the sorrows of others and
+consequently can not rejoice when others are joyful. Only those who weep
+can truly rejoice.
+
+You rejoice because you and your family are in good health, because your
+friends are smiling upon you, because circumstances surrounding you are
+favorable, because you have an abundance of good things to eat and of
+clothing to wear. But your rejoicing is only in earthly things. We are to
+be grateful for these things, but they are only the sea-foam of joy; the
+water lies beneath. True joy is to rejoice not only <i>in</i> the Lord but
+<i>with</i> the Lord. Rejoice in those things in which Jesus and the
+angels rejoice. When your goods are being wasted, you find your deepest
+joy because God is being glorified.
+
+If you can not weep with angels, you can not rejoice with them. See that
+aged pilgrim: his has been a hard and stony way; loved ones have gone one
+by one from his embrace; riches have taken wings and flown away; sorrows
+are multiplied; trials are many; burdens are heavy; he is footsore, sad,
+and weary. Angels are bending over him weeping. Can you weep with him and
+them? They comfort him. The sadness of his heart begins to die away; hope
+begins to dawn. The dawning of the hope causes the angels to rejoice. This
+is truest joy. Rejoice when souls are saved; rejoice when hearts are
+gladdened; rejoice when God is praised. This is the true source of purest
+joy. But it is only those who are capable of suffering deeply with the
+sufferings of others, that can truly rejoice when their sufferings are
+turned away. The more we are like Jesus, the more we have of his Spirit,
+the tenderer will be our hearts and the more deeply will our souls be
+moved by the sufferings of others.
+
+When some dear friend has proved untrue; when some loved one has gone
+astray; when the death-angel has left a chair vacant at your hearth-stone
+and deep sorrow lies upon your soul, then it is that you feel nearer to
+Jesus. You feel ripe for heaven. The world has suddenly gone out, and you
+have cast your eyes upward. Do not try to keep back the tears; let them
+flow. They are pearls in angels' sight. It is the tears of the child that
+touches the heart of the parent, and cites him to give comfort to the
+little one. It is the tears of the Christian that touches the great loving
+heart of God and moves him to give that solace which only Heaven gives.
+David said in a time of deepest sorrow--his son was seeking his life--"It
+may be the Lord will look on my tears [margin], and that the Lord will
+requite me good." Hezekiah was doomed to die. The prophet told him to 'set
+his house in order, for he should die, and not live.' The dying man turned
+his face to the wall and prayed, "I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how
+I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done
+that which is good in thy sight"; and he "wept with a great weeping
+[margin]." This touched the heart of God, and he said, "I have heard thy
+prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee."
+
+If the heart of God's saints were a deeper fountain of tears, more sick
+people would be healed in these days. Around are the sick and suffering,
+but alas, how few tears! When saints have so deepened into God, cultivated
+such a tenderness of heart, and become so deeply compassionate, that they
+will "water their couch with their tears all the night" at the sight of
+sick persons, they will get answers to their prayers. To such God will
+say, "Behold, I will heal him." If tears will not reach God, the case is
+hopeless. Esau sought for a place of repentance and sought it with tears,
+but could not find it. The mentioning of tears here implies that the
+addition of tears to earnest heart-seeking has influence with God.
+Jeremiah, in his lamentations for fallen Israel, said, "Oh, that my head
+were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and
+night for the slain of the daughter of my people!" He knew that if
+anything would avail with God, it would be tears therefore he wished that
+his eyes were a fountain of tears, so that God might be moved to save
+Israel.
+
+"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." There can be no harvest from
+seed sown unless the seed is watered. As you go out to sow seed in the
+Master's field, water them with your tears if you would have a joyful
+harvest. May God save his people from unfeelingness of heart! A soul with
+no tears is a soul with no flowers. There is no verdure where there is no
+water. Those who are not deep enough in God to shed tears over a lost and
+ruined world are not deep enough to shed tears of joy over a soul's
+salvation. Out from the depth of his heart Jesus cried, "O Jerusalem,
+Jerusalem! how oft would I have gathered thee as a hen gathereth her brood
+under her wing, but ye would not." When did you shed tears over lost
+souls? Do you ever have a Gethsemane? Is your pillow ever dampened by
+tears shed for a doomed world? Do you ever go out beneath the starry sky
+and with outstretched arms cry in the severe pains of travail, "O lost
+souls, lost souls! how oft would I have gathered thee to Jesus, as a hen
+gathers her brood under her wing, but ye would not"? Only those who have
+deep travail of soul for the lost can fully rejoice when the lost are
+found.
+
+One of the apostles said he served the "Lord with many tears." A heart
+from which flows no tears is not a heart that is wholly imbued by the
+Spirit of God. Tears of compassion for the suffering, tears of warning and
+entreaty for the lost, tears of joy for the saved, will flow through a
+perfectly holy heart as freely as water through a sieve. Sunlight
+perforates the block of ice from the center outward; so the love of God
+perforates the heart to its depths and lets the tears of affection, pity,
+and sympathy flow out.
+
+Do not try to escape suffering. Do not shut your heart against sorrow. It
+is the bruised flower that gives out the sweetest scent. Open thy heart to
+God and let him bruise it, let sorrow flow in and break it, that sweetness
+may flow out. When the poet sang:
+
+  "I no trouble and no sorrow
+  See today, nor will I borrow
+  Gloomy visions for the morrow,"
+
+he sang not of sorrow for souls lost in sin, nor of needful heaviness
+through manifold temptations, nor of sorrow awakened by the suffering of
+others, but of that sorrow which arises from the world through distrust
+and separation from God.
+
+There is a sorrow which comes through Christ. It is as the refiner's fire,
+purifying the soul and binding it closer to God. Such sorrow detaches the
+heart from the world and from self, and hides it in God. It is impossible
+for the soul to approach any degree of nearness to Christ only through
+sorrow and suffering. In my own experience my heart once longed for deeper
+grace. My whole soul breathed out, "O Jesus! give me more meekness." For a
+few days a heavy cloud of sorrow lay upon me; when it had passed away, I
+had an answer to my prayer.
+
+I would have you beware of that unfeeling state in which one has no
+sorrow, and mistakingly attributes its absence to grace. Grace helps us
+bear sorrow, but does not harden our hearts against it. Sorrow brings us
+to a throne of grace for grace and grace brings us joy, so that we have
+joy in sorrow. No other joy is so sweet as this. It is the real and true
+joy of Christ.
+
+
+
+
+GENTLENESS.
+
+
+Fruit-bearing trees are used in the Scriptures to represent the race of
+mankind. The Savior likens the wicked to "corrupt trees," which bear evil
+fruit and the righteous to "good trees" which bear good fruit (Matt. 7:15,
+20). He also teaches very emphatically the impossibility of one's being a
+good tree and yet bearing evil fruit, or of being a corrupt tree and
+bearing good fruit. Since the nature of the fruit we bear determines what
+manner of tree we are, it is very advisable that we as professing
+Christians should frequently examine the fruit we are bearing. To be
+Christ's, or to be a Christian, we must have the Spirit of Christ; for the
+Scriptures say that "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none
+of his" (Rom. 8:9). As certainly as cause produces effect, those who have
+the Spirit of Christ bear the fruit of the Spirit. Not to bear the fruit
+of the Spirit is full proof that you have not the Spirit. Then a close
+examination of the fruit you are bearing will reveal to you whether or not
+you have the Spirit of Christ, whether or not you are his, whether or not
+you are a Christian. You can make a superficial examination, and allow
+yourself to be deceived. You can make excuses for yourself because of your
+weaknesses, and thus deceive yourself. But a close, thorough, profound
+examination will disclose to each one the manner of spirit he is of.
+
+Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22). If we have the
+Spirit of Christ, we bear this fruit. "Well," says one, "in my very make
+-up I am rough, harsh, and hasty." You need to be made anew. When God finds
+a man that is rough, harsh, and severe in his make-up, He will, if the man
+will yield to the operation of the Holy Spirit, make him mild, gentle, and
+peaceful. People go to a hospital and by a scientific operation have
+abscesses and tumors removed from the stomach and other internal parts.
+God, by a blessed, wonderful, and successful operation of the Holy Spirit,
+will take that roughness, harshness, and severity out of your nature, and
+instil mildness, tenderness, softness, and gentleness instead. Harshness
+and roughness are a corruption that God, in his gracious plan of
+salvation, is pleased to remove. If you will allow the Holy Spirit to work
+in you that which is pleasing in God's sight, he will make you gentle.
+
+What is gentleness? It is blandness, softness, mildness, and meekness. It
+is the opposite of harshness, roughness, etc. It is sweetness of
+disposition, mildness of temper, softness of manner, kindness, tenderness,
+etc. Those who are of a gentle disposition act and speak without asperity.
+They are not morose, sour, crabbed, and uneven, but are smooth, mild, and
+even. Good manners are intimately connected with gentleness, and good
+manners are no dishonor to Christianity.
+
+The apostle Paul by way of testimony said to the Thessalonian saints, "We
+were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children." 1 Thess.
+2:7 Such was his manner. As a kind mother is to a delicate child, so was
+he to those whom he loved. Vastly different was he then from what he was
+when he was persecuting and wasting the church of God. He had been changed
+by grace. He exhorts servants of the Lord to "be gentle unto all men" (2
+Tim. 2: 24) and to be "gentle, showing all meekness unto all men" (Tit.
+3:2). David, in his sublime tribute of praise to God in 2 Sam. 22: 36
+says, "Thy gentleness hath made me great."
+
+Would you, my reader, like to be more gentle in your manner? Are you too
+harsh and rough? Are you, if a parent, as gentle to your children as you
+should be, at all times? Husband, are you as kind and gentle toward your
+wife as you should be? Do you believe you fill the Bible measure in this
+particular? Are you as gentle to your domestic animals as you should be?
+or do you have impatient feelings and act in a hasty, abrupt manner
+towards them? If you meet with something quite provoking from your wife or
+the children or the animals, do you keep as mild and sweet as you know you
+should? Now, I hope you will examine closely. I do not mean to condemn
+you; I want to help you. There are many professing saints today who are
+not nearly so gentle as they should be. Why not be in earnest, and seek
+God for help, and make improvement? Why go along with crossness, and
+coldness and snappishness in your life? Be gentle toward all.
+
+Gentleness is a beauteous grace. Her excellence is great. By culture this
+grace is capable of much improvement. Too few saints experience it to the
+extent they should. I beseech you by the gentleness of Jesus to be in
+earnest and improve upon your gentleness. Never allow a frown or a scowl
+to settle for a moment upon your brow. It will leave its mark if you do
+so. Learn to be gentle in your home. Sometimes when far away from home,
+you picture to yourself how gentle and kind and loving you should be at
+home. By God's grace you can be just as gentle as you see in the picture
+you should.
+
+
+
+
+TENDERNESS.
+
+
+In order for life to be what it should, it must flow from a heart full of
+tenderness. This is that quality of soul which enables us to give kind
+attention to others, to be willing and eager to do good, to exercise great
+carefulness to give no offense, and to be soft and gentle in every
+expression. Like all other good qualities, this is found in perfection in
+the character of God. "The Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy."
+Because of his pity he never lays upon his trusting child a greater burden
+than he can bear, and in his tender mercy he always gives to each trial a
+happy ending.
+
+It will be helpful to study for a few minutes the principle of tenderness
+as an attribute in the nature of God. "Like as a father pitieth his
+children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." It is the father who
+sees his little child in deep pain that knows what pity is. It is that
+feeling which makes the father desirous of bearing all the pain. It was
+the pity or compassion of God for the lost in sin that caused him to give
+his only Son to suffer and die for them. When God saw the wretchedness of
+men, he had such a feeling in his heart that he could find relief in no
+way but in providing the only means of their rescue. Oh, think of this!
+The child of God never has a pain or a sorrow but that God has a feeling
+of pity. The knowledge that some one has pity for us and fellowships our
+suffering goes far toward alleviating our pains. Recently while I was in
+deep soul-suffering, I received a letter containing these words: "We
+suffer in spirit with you." This was a great relief. If in a time of trial
+we could know how God was suffering with us, it would be a great
+consolation.
+
+Again, we read, "As one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you;
+and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem." Who is it that knows not the
+comfort of a mother? When we hear of a young man's meeting with a sad
+accident away from home, we have great pity; but when we learn of his
+mother's having gone to him, we feel better. Ah, the comfort of a mother
+is surpassed only by the comfort of Jesus. "If Mother were only here!"
+says the troubled daughter. Nothing else so fittingly represents the
+nature of the comfort that God gives as the comfort of a mother. O child
+of God, you will never have a sorrow nor a pain but that the tenderness of
+God will cause him to come and comfort you. Let us lift up our hearts and
+praise him for his mercy and comforting love. A mother may forget to
+comfort her child, but God will never forget.
+
+The tenderness of God is revealed in these touching words: "How often
+would I have gathered thy children together as a hen gathereth her
+chickens under her wings." The imagery is homely, but oh! so impressively
+sublime. I can not do better than to use here the words of another. "Was
+ever imagery so homely invested with such grace and such sublimity as this
+at our Lord's touch? And yet how exquisite the figure itself of
+protection, rest, warmth, and all manner of conscious well-being in those
+poor, defenseless, dependent, little creatures, as they creep under and
+feel themselves overshadowed by the capacious and kindly wing of the
+mother bird. If wandering beyond hearing of her peculiar call, they are
+overtaken by a storm or attacked by an enemy, what can they do but in the
+one case droop and die, and in the other submit to be torn to pieces? But
+if they can reach in time their place of safety under the mother's wing,
+in vain will any enemy try to drag them thence. For rising into strength,
+kindling into fury, and forgetting herself entirely in her young, she will
+let the last drop of her blood be shed out and perish in defense of her
+precious charge, rather than yield them to an enemy's talons. How
+significant all this of what Jesus is and does for his helpless child!"
+Under his great wing he tenderly, lovingly gathers his little ones and
+there they are secure. He is a safe retreat.
+
+From the song of Moses we learn still more of God's tender care. "As an
+eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad
+her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did
+lead him, and there was no strange god with him." This metaphor
+beautifully expresses the care and the tenderness of God toward his
+children. The eagle is noted for her great attachment to her young. Her
+care is extraordinary. When the little eaglets have attained age and
+strength to leave the nest and learn to fly, the mother bird bears them
+up, when weary, on the top of her wing.
+
+These all express to our hearts the wonderful tenderness of God to his
+children. But there is nothing in the material world that forms a full and
+perfect analogy for the things in the spiritual world. These are too high.
+
+If we do not have the tenderness of God in our hearts, our life comes
+short of being a full and true life. The Bible tells us to "be kind one to
+another, tender-hearted." There is no true holiness of life without
+tenderness. As we get deeper into God, we become more tender of heart.
+
+There are some things that will prevent this tender-heartedness. Just a
+little feeling of resentment, a little desire for retaliation, or a secret
+wish for something to befall those who have done us an injury will callous
+the heart and harden the affections. When we have been slighted by some
+one or misjudged, oh, how Satan strives to get us to thinking much about
+this, and to work a "hurt" feeling into our heart. Even to think about the
+meanness of others will bring a harshness and coldness into the inner
+life. That which we condemn in others will, if we think and talk much
+about it, creep into our own hearts.
+
+You say you are saved and sanctified. Thank God for such a blessed
+experience; but you have much yet to gain. You have not yet attained to
+the full depth of anything. There is yet a tenderness of heart you can
+reach only through many and varied experiences. There is tenderness of
+voice, tenderness of manner, tenderness of feeling, tenderness of thought,
+you will attain to only through much and deep communion with God. It is
+those intimate and familiar talks with Jesus that fashion us into his
+glorious image. A brother minister related to me a few mornings ago his
+experience of the night before. He lay awake, he said, for a long time and
+had a sweet talk with the Lord. So intimate was the communion that,
+turning over to go to sleep, he said, half unthinkingly, "Good night," as
+if parting from a dear friend. Such close union with Jesus gives us
+clearer visions of his character and stamps his beauty upon our souls.
+
+Have you not seen those who are harsh, rough, and unfeeling in their
+speech and manner. No one wants to be like them. We are glad to get away
+from them. They measure a person by their standard, and if he is not what
+they think he should be, they speak about him in an unloving and unfeeling
+manner. We feel that something coarse and flinty needs to be taken out of
+their nature. We do not say they are not sanctified, but they are too
+bitter and severe. They need to be bathed in the love of God; they need to
+be immersed in the sea of his gentleness. We have seen, on the other hand,
+those who were so feeling, so quiet, tender, and gentle, that their
+presence was like the breath of a sweet spring morning. There was a
+tenderness in their eye, a softness in their voice, a pathos in their
+feeling, that cast over your soul a sense of delight.
+
+There is much for us to gain. But we can gain it only at the end of the
+bayonet. If we would win, we must fight. There is no victory without
+battle. One brother, after gaining a decisive victory, said, "The devil is
+dead." He was so victorious and free that he thought the devil must be
+dead. In a short time, however, the brother learned his mistake. The
+prince of the power of the air still lives, and we still have our
+humanity. If we are not prayerful and watchful, we become disposed to
+contend for our way; to feel a little bitter if we are trampled upon.
+Jesus tells us to "resist not evil." We are not only to not resist evil
+outwardly, but to have no resisting feeling in our hearts. If we would
+have holiness of life, we must have tenderness of spirit. If you desire
+your life to be like the oasis in the desert, where the weary traveler is
+refreshed, be tender of heart, be compassionate, bear every trial with
+patience, endure all suffering without a murmur, commune much with God,
+and he will bring you out into that tenderness of soul that will make your
+life, everywhere you go, like the atmosphere of heaven.
+
+
+
+
+THE CHRISTIAN WALK.
+
+
+Life is termed a walk in the Scriptures. Where they say that we ought to
+walk as Jesus walked, they have reference to our manner of life. The way
+in which a Christian walks is called the way of life. It is called the way
+of life because it leads to a land of life--a place where death never
+enters, where all is life, and life forevermore. The Christian walks in
+the way that leads to that land of life. There is also a place of death,
+and the way there is called the way of death.
+
+The way along which the Christian walks is a narrow way. "Strait is the
+gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life." But we need have no
+fear; for although it is narrow, it is not dark. "Thy word is a lamp unto
+my feet, and a light unto my path." I would rather walk in a narrow way in
+full light than in a broad way in the dark. The Word of God lights up the
+Christian's pathway. How beautifully the electric lights light up the
+walks in the city park! There is no danger of stumbling. The Bible is a
+light along the way of life, and it lights the way beautifully. Not one
+step need be taken in the dark. There is light for every step of the way.
+Sometimes the Christian may think he has reached a dark place; but if he
+will open his Bible, he will find a light to lighten that very spot.
+
+
+
+
+THE CHRISTIAN IS TO WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY.
+
+
+"See then that ye walk circumspectly." Eph. 5:15. To walk circumspectly is
+to walk cautiously; to look where one is stepping; to be vigilant,
+watchful, diligent, attentive. Be our pathway ever so light, if we do not
+look where we are stepping, we may stumble. Conybeare and Howson render
+the above text in these words: "See then that ye walk without stumbling."
+We are to walk not as foolish people but as wise. We would say that the
+man acts foolishly who does not look at all in the way he is walking.
+Those who are wise in business walk carefully; they look where they are
+going; they take advantage of every opportunity to make their business a
+success. In our Christian walk we are to seize upon every opportunity to
+make progress. There is no time in this short life for ease. Carelessness
+and indolence are dangerous and destructive to spirituality. An indolent
+man will never accomplish much for God nor be of any great benefit to his
+fellow men. But oh, how easy to become careless!
+
+Many begin the Christian walk in carefulness and diligence, but soon give
+place to carelessness and neglect. How prone people are to lose interest
+in anything when the new has worn away! They take great interest in the
+new preacher, but they will become so familiar with him and so accustomed
+to him that they will lose interest. They have never heard any one preach
+so well as the new preacher, and what he says has such weight and
+authority; but behold, after the new has worn away, he can not preach any
+better than any other they have no more regard for his words than they
+have for the words of others. There is an old adage which says, "A new
+broom sweeps clean." The boy is eager to cut wood with the new ax. A child
+will carefully write like the copy for the first few lines; but the
+farther down the page, the greater the carelessness. The young lady takes
+great interest in the music lessons at first; she wants to practise all
+the time; but it soon gets old, and then it is hard to keep up an
+interest. The husband is very loving, kind, and attentive to his wife for
+a while; but alas! in a little while she becomes old to him, and then he
+lets her shift for herself. This need not and should not be; but it seems
+to be the nature of man.
+
+In the Christian life there is a strong tendency to let things run down.
+Some persons hear a sermon and they are awakened, but they are soon lulled
+to sleep again. Perhaps the example of some one has shown them that they
+do not pray enough, and they resolve to pray more, but they soon drift
+into the same careless way. Maybe they see that they do not read enough
+and improve themselves, and they are greatly stirred to do better, but
+alas! how soon they allow that resolution to weaken and become as
+negligent as ever. Nothing but the greatest diligence and unyielding
+determination will save us from getting weary in welldoing. Keep up a
+strong faith. Hold your mansion in the skies well in view and let nothing
+hinder you in your journey home.
+
+There are professed Christians who, I am sorry to say, never take a good
+look at their mansion in heaven, and it is to be feared that many who are
+really God's children do not view their home above as often and distinctly
+as they should. They see more of temporal things than of eternal things.
+It is by faith that we see eternal things, but if we have too keen a
+vision for temporal things, it dims our spiritual vision. If you knew you
+had a fine home in an adjoining State, and you had never seen it, you
+would want some one who had seen it to give you a description of it.
+Perhaps you would want a photograph of it. You would take a look at the
+picture often, and would learn all about it you could, and would think of
+the time when you could go and live there. Now, Jesus tells you that he
+has prepared a mansion for you in heaven. He does not tell you much about
+it, but you know full well that a mansion that Jesus prepares is perfect
+and complete. Why not think much about this mansion? why not view it often
+by faith? why not learn all about it you can? Getting too much engaged
+with the things of this life is the reason why. To walk circumspectly is
+to see that every step bears us heavenward, to have our faces set toward
+God, to have our eternal home in view, and to be journeying that way. We
+are not to be sauntering along, but to be industriously living for God and
+heaven.
+
+How often have you decided that you would be more prayerful, would read
+more, would love God more, and the souls of men, would do more for the
+cause of God! How often you have decided to walk more worthily of God, to
+be more patient, to live a higher life, to be slower to speak, to
+cultivate a spirit of love and kindness, to be more like Jesus! You
+started out well and with great diligence, but alas! ere long you became
+weary in well-doing; you became less vigilant; you did not walk so
+carefully and were less attentive to your way. One day a circumstance
+occurred that caused a brother to see that he was not as attentive to
+others as he should be and let many opportunities of helping others in
+little things go by unimproved. He decided that he would be more watchful,
+and thus be more helpful; but, as he said, he soon became as negligent as
+ever. Time after time he resolved and as often became negligent. Do not be
+discouraged. A little more determination, a little more faith in God for
+help, and you will triumph.
+
+
+
+
+THE CHRISTIAN'S WALK A WALK WITH GOD.
+
+
+"He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require
+of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy
+God." Micah 6:8. The life of Enoch is descriptive of the Christian's life,
+and it is said that he "walked with God." Hand in hand with God, heart in
+heart, and life in life, is the true Christian way. In order to walk thus
+with God, we must be in agreement with him; for two can not walk together
+heart in heart unless they be in agreement. To be agreed with God implies
+submission to the divine will. It is to go where he leads.
+
+"He leadeth me" is the sentiment of the Christian heart. He may sometimes
+lead in a laborious path; nevertheless we go. He may lead in a way that
+brings suffering and self-denial; he may take our loved ones from us; he
+may call somebody dear to us to a foreign field, or he may call us. If we
+would walk with him, we must not draw back, but say, "Lord, thy will be
+done. I will go with thee all the way." Such a walk may lead over some
+thorny paths and through some waters and fiery trials, but it pleases God
+and ends in heaven, So onward let us go.
+
+
+
+
+THE LATEST IMPROVED.
+
+
+As we walk along the streets of villages and cities, we see machines of
+different kinds exposed to view and bearing a card with these words: "The
+Latest Improved." For our life to be perfect every day, it must be our
+latest improved. The world is getting worse, we say, but you and I as
+Christians can daily grow better. Our life today can be an improvement
+over our life of yesterday. The Christian life is a real life, and is as
+capable of development as any life. The same law that develops us
+physically is necessary to our development spiritually. Day after day we
+can be built up into stronger spiritual beings. We can become more like
+God, possessing a firmer Christian character and having an integrity that
+will not swerve for a life nor a world from the path of virtue. Constant
+progress is constant peace and happiness. It is the triumphant life.
+
+Dear reader, I am going to ask you to lay aside for a few minutes the busy
+cares of life and come and have a talk with me about spiritual and
+heavenly things. Now, if you feel that you scarcely have the time, and can
+not fully dismiss the temporal concerns of life from your mind, then I
+will excuse you. I do not care to speak with you unless you can give me
+your undivided attention. I desire to help you if you need help. I want to
+talk to you about your every-day life, and I do want your calm, serious
+attention. Surely by God's help we can spend a few minutes to some profit.
+
+Some people hesitate to look closely into their life, lest they find such
+a delinquency as will disquiet them. Some fear to give a close
+examination, lest it give Satan an opportunity to accuse them. This need
+not be. We can look closely into our daily life and not allow Satan to
+whisper one word to us. We can not make improvement upon our life without
+close examination in order to discover weakness and imperfections. When we
+discover them, we must set earnestly to work to correct them. The
+discovery alone is not sufficient. If we do not correct a fault that we
+have discovered, we soon lose consciousness of the fault. There are times
+with every one, no doubt, when it seems that they are making no progress,
+but these may be the times when we are making most progress.
+
+If we have just one fault, we ought to desire to get rid of it. Our desire
+should be so great that we shall set about at once to correct that fault.
+Now, if we say, "Oh, it is such a little thing," then we shall not get
+free from it, and that little thing may become a greater thing. To be too
+quick to speak is a fault. The Bible says, "Be slow to speak." If we have
+the fault of speaking too quickly, we should correct that. We can if we
+will.
+
+The Bible tells Christians to watch and pray. Christians do not need to
+watch and pray lest they rob a bank. They would not rob a bank if they
+never prayed. But we do need to watch arid pray lest we do some little
+thing that we should not do. I will relate to you the experience of a dear
+brother who desired to live for God, but who neglected to watch and pray
+as he should. An evil thought was presented to his mind. Not seeing the
+evil of it, he indulged the thought, and found pleasure in the indulgence.
+After a few minutes he felt the reproving of the Spirit of God and so
+dismissed the thought. Later it came again. It was so pleasing that he
+indulged it a little longer than before. Again the Spirit reproved him. In
+a few evenings the thought came again. It was only a little sensual
+thought, a little imaginary indulgence of the flesh. But it came again and
+again. It was indulged a little longer and a little longer. Eventually it
+worked a fleshly lust into his heart, and after two or three years he was
+led into actual commission of a sinful deed. It was an apparently innocent
+thought in the beginning, but it ended in sin committed.
+
+There are little yieldings to lightness, impatience, aircastle building,
+exaggerations, frettings, murmurings, idleness, etc., that prey upon the
+soul and rob it of peace and the sweet consciousness of God's presence.
+But there is progress in the divine life for every one of us if we will
+only give attention to our life as we pass along. The first thing is to
+have a deep interest in making spiritual gain, and then to be full of
+faith and encouragement.
+
+Jesus will help you to make some gains each day if you will press your way
+through the crowd and touch him. It is the earnest prayer of faith that
+gets us through to God and makes us feel like giants in his strength. If
+you would be strengthened in your soul, you must exercise. This is the law
+of development in the spiritual as well as in the animal life. "Exercise
+thyself unto godliness." This is a motto we should hang upon the walls of
+our memory. Its meaning is that increase in godliness is attained only by
+exercise.
+
+I shall have much now to say about your doing, but bear in mind that the
+doing is to be not in your strength, but in God's strength. Here are two
+mottos to keep in remembrance: "Without Him I can do nothing"; "I can do
+all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me." By the help of the Lord
+we are going to tell you how to be strong in him. God wants you to be a
+David. Go out in his strength and meet the Goliaths. They must fall before
+you. I shall not tell you so much you do not know as I shall endeavor to
+get you to practise what you know. How many times have you resolved to do
+and have failed to keep your resolution? Your failure was not because you
+could not, but because you did not. To make a success in any business
+enterprise, one must give it constant and daily attention. Likewise, if
+you make a success in the Christian life, you must give it constant and
+daily attention. You must make it not only <i>a</i> business but <i>the
+first</i> business of your life.
+
+But some make this complaint: "It takes so much time." It will take some
+time, that is true, and if you do not think you have time, then you had
+better not begin. What would you think of a man who contemplated engaging
+in some business, but said he did not have much time to devote to it? You
+would advise him not to engage in the business at all. It takes time to
+make advancement in the Christian life. One brother said, "But we must
+attend to our temporal duties." My reply was, "Shall we not attend to our
+spiritual duties?" When people talk of having to attend to temporal
+duties, it appears that they are going to do this if they have to neglect
+spiritual duties. Unless we have a better enlightenment than this, we
+shall never make progress in the Christian life.
+
+We have no excuse for not being strong in the Lord. "Watch ye, stand fast
+in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." Of course, you need the help
+of God, but God helps those who help themselves. He will not by some
+irresistible power convey you to your closet and put you on your knees,
+but he will give you strength to go if you will use what he gives you.
+
+I will now give you, not learned theology, but plain, simple instruction
+how to make daily advancement in the divine life and to be strong in God.
+"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from
+fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." I Pet. 2:11. Any indulgence of
+the flesh weakens the spiritual powers. The question might arise, "What
+are fleshly lusts?" We are here in the flesh. The flesh has not only its
+desires but its needs. To indulge the flesh in its needs is not fleshly
+lust, but to indulge it in any thing beyond its actual needs is "fleshly
+lusts." In other words, any intemperance is lust of the flesh. Temperance
+is a fruit of the Spirit. We are to add temperance to our knowledge. The
+more knowledge we get of the divine character, the more clearly we can
+discriminate between fleshly lusts and temperance.
+
+"I keep my body under, and bring it into subjection," says the apostle
+Paul. He spoke these words when talking about running to obtain an
+incorruptible crown. He calls our attention to how people run to obtain a
+corruptible crown, "and every man." he says, "that striveth for the
+mastery <i>is temperate in all things</i>." If men must be temperate in
+all things in order to obtain a corruptible crown, how much more temperate
+must we be in order to obtain an incorruptible crown? If the soul does not
+keep the body under, the body will keep the soul under.
+
+But this keeping under does not consist in many prayers, in long vigils,
+and fasts, in severe chastenings of the body, in dwelling in a cloister or
+being a hermit. Do not make this sad mistake. His yoke is easy and his
+burden is light, yet the Christian life is one of self-denial. But his
+love in our hearts makes it a delight. We are not to keep our bodies under
+by prolonged fasts and beatings, but to keep in control the self-seeking
+that is natural to the self-life of man. The pure in heart have organs of
+sense, are capable of feeling the impressions made by external objects. It
+is natural for the individual life of the sanctified to seek ease and
+comfort. This is not the nature of the divine life in the soul, but is the
+nature of the self-life of man.
+
+Adam and Eve had this self-life in the purity of their creation; they had
+organs of sense. It was to these that Satan made his appeals; to the
+feelings in their self-life, not to the feelings in the divine life of
+their soul. The will of sense--for such it might be called--overpowered
+that higher will of the soul, and they yielded to the will of sense as
+aroused by temptation. We who are pure in heart have this same will of
+sense. It is this will of sense that must be "kept under." or in control
+to the will of God. "Not my will [that is, that lower will of my self
+-life]." said Jesus, "but thy will, be done." I will make this plainer as
+we go on. I feel like making it as plain and simple as I can, even if
+doing so does require time, because here lies the secret of success in the
+Christian life. Those who look upon the instructions herein as trifling
+will do so to their own spiritual injury.
+
+It is natural for us to avoid hardship and suffering. This is not wrong of
+itself; it is wrong only when it conflicts with the will of God. It is not
+wrong for you to avoid burning at the stake unless it be God's will that
+you should thus end your life. If God wills you to burn at the stake you
+must not seek to avoid the ordeal. If we do not watch carefully and live
+close to God and keep our body under, the will of sense will grow strong
+and cause us to avoid hardships even when God wills us to undergo them. Be
+careful that you do not mistake the impulse of sense for the divine will.
+One may say he does not believe it to be God's will that he undergo this
+suffering when it may be only his own humanity. Out of human sympathy we
+may try to dissuade our brother from doing the will of God. At Caesarea
+certain brethren tried, out of mere sympathy, to persuade Paul not to go
+to Jerusalem, where, it was prophesied, he should be bound and delivered
+to the Gentiles. Seeing that he would not be persuaded, they gave place to
+that higher will, and said, "The will of the Lord be done."
+
+This is not confined to the greater affairs of life, such as burning at
+the stake, but includes the little affairs of every-day life. How easy it
+is for man to conclude it is the will of God for him to do a certain thing
+when perhaps it is only the will of sense! Remember, God's ways are not as
+our ways. It seems to be a most reasonable thing to the minister that he
+should go home to his family. How easy it is for him to believe it is
+God's will that he should go! At least, it has been so many times with the
+writer. He has too often obeyed the human desire and disobeyed God. Such
+disobedience, if such it may be called, is not sin, since the will of God
+is not known, but it is being led by the impulse of sense and is
+detrimental to spirituality. God would have us look more earnestly to him
+in order to know his will and not yield so readily to mere human desires.
+
+To enjoy nearness to God we must not be influenced by any will of sense.
+The impulse of sense is so deceptive that, if we are not very watchful and
+fully surrendered to God with an intense desire to know and do his will,
+it will prevent our understanding his will to us. It may not be difficult
+to convince you that it is God's will that your brother should go as a
+missionary to some foreign field, but very difficult to convince you that
+it is God's will for you to go, when perhaps it is just as reasonable
+every way that you should go. It may be the will of sense to remain, that
+prevents your knowing God's will.
+
+Here is a truth I wish you to think upon: We can not see the folly of any
+passion clearly when we are strongly tempted by that passion. A sanctified
+man may eat too much sometimes; he may be intemperate sometimes in the
+sexual relation; and yet the Word of God says, "Whether ye eat or drink,
+or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Let me say, however,
+that those who enjoy deep union and communion with God are careful to be
+temperate in their entire manner of life.
+
+As we have stated before, the pure in heart have organs of sense. These
+organs can be impressed by external objects. These impressions may
+properly be termed "feelings." A man filled with the Holy Spirit may, when
+being praised by some unwise person, be tempted to pride; in other words,
+he feels a sense of pride. This feeling is in the self-life of the man. A
+sanctified man is tempted to impatience. He feels a sense of impatience,
+not carnal, but as an impulse of sense in the self-life. When some one
+does something contrary to your pleasure or wishes, you may have feelings
+of displeasure or impatience. The patience of a mother is sometimes tried
+by the conduct of a child. The trying of patience is simply feelings of
+impatience in the self-life. But in her patience she is to possess her
+soul. These feelings of impatience are to be resisted in the strength of
+the Lord. Resist them with a prayer.
+
+I have now brought you to the place where I am ready to tell you how to
+grow in grace, how to increase, how to make progress in the divine life,
+which is all that is meant by the expressions, "getting closer to God,"
+"becoming more like Christ," etc. Remember this: 'feelings are
+strengthened by being indulged. You are tempted to pride, to lightness, to
+impatience; you have feelings of pride, lightness, impatience, for this is
+what temptations are. These feelings should be immediately and indignantly
+resisted. Get after them in earnest. The very exercise of resisting is
+what will develop and strengthen the spiritual powers; but if the feelings
+are indulged, they will grow stronger and the spiritual powers grow
+weaker. If you value your spiritual prosperity, you will be very quick to
+resist every temptation. Sometimes people allow a tried, mean, impatient
+feeling to settle down upon them for hours. They do not feel pleasant,
+neither do they look pleasant. Such feelings leave their trace behind.
+They are a dangerous foe. Loathe them, despise them. Go to the Lord in
+earnest prayer and pray until joy springs up in the soul, a smile beams on
+the face, and the bad feelings are made to fly away like a startled bird.
+Some say, "We can not prevent bad feelings and thoughts from attacking
+us." They use the words of Luther--"We can not prevent birds flying over
+our heads, but can prevent them from building nests in our hair." It is no
+sin nor source of discouragement to be attacked by bad feelings and bad
+thoughts. But bear in mind that we can frighten the birds that are flying
+over and thus make them fly quickly, and that after being frightened a few
+times they will fly far around or very high over. So with bad feelings and
+thoughts: if earnestly and indignantly resisted, they will fly away
+quickly, and their assaults will grow weaker and weaker. It is God's will
+that we eat, drink, and sleep; but to be intemperate in these is to
+destroy spiritual life. We should be guided by a sense of the divine will,
+and not by a sense of human desire. To yield to the lower will of sense is
+to be soon abandoned to self and destitute of grace.
+
+I have been asked whether it is possible for us to attain such a degree of
+perfection that we should never speak a harsh, impatient word or a light
+word, or be the least intemperate in any way. My answer is that by much
+prayer, by close watching, and earnest resisting, the will of sense can be
+so weakened and the soul become so habituated to act under a sense of the
+divine will that foolish or impatient words, impulsive actions, or any
+intemperance will be very few and far between. This is being strong in the
+grace of God.
+
+Again, I have been asked, "Can we reach a place where we shall be no more
+tempted?" Yes; if you are earnest and faithful, you will reach it when you
+arrive in that land where flesh and blood can not enter. There you will no
+more be tempted. But as long as you are here in the flesh, you will be
+tempted. In the very nature of things you need to be. Your spiritual
+powers would weaken if they had nothing to resist. Let me here acquaint
+you with a device of Satan. All these attacks upon the will of sense are
+made by the devil. He will use some external object to try you. He may
+withhold temptation for a long time in order that you may become careless
+and cease to watch and pray, and thus in a measure lose your power of
+resistance. Then he will come in with a slight attack, so slight you will
+not detect it in your weakened state. If it be an attack to impatience,
+you will speak a little hastily, but will scarcely perceive it and will
+think it of little consequence. But his attacks will grow stronger; your
+words will grow more hasty; there will be frettings and worryings; and you
+will be so stupid that you will not be aware of your backsliding. Do not
+cease your watching and praying even if you have no temptations. Alas, how
+many have gone down under this cunning device of Satan! This is a scheme
+he plays well.
+
+When the Christian first starts out on his pilgrimage, he is watchful and
+prayerful. An attack of Satan startles him, and he becomes earnest in his
+resistance. If he speaks impatiently or lightly, he flees at once to God
+for grace, and thus he grows in grace. But if he becomes strong and his
+soul forms the habit of acting in holiness, he feels strong and ceases his
+close watching and praying and resisting. Then he slowly but surely
+retrogrades. Unless he is in some way awakened, he will backslide.
+
+But the question arises, "How can we keep up resistance in order to be
+strong, if Satan ceases to tempt." Have sham battles. In time of peace
+soldiers are constantly drilling so that they may be prepared when they
+come to battle. Pugilists go through much training in preparation for the
+actual contest. So we are to watch constantly. Keep the soul in a
+defensive attitude. This is what I mean by sham battles. Bearing in mind
+that you may be attacked at any time, keep the soul in a defensive
+attitude; keep up the shield of faith. The very exercise of holding up the
+shield and keeping the soul in watchings makes it strong for the battle.
+If you do not exercise your soul in earnest prayer each morning, Satan
+will likely catch you that day unprepared.
+
+For the perfecting of the soul in the habit of holiness, you must exercise
+yourself in inward acts of resistance. Keep an intense hatred of sin and
+the devil; get where you enjoy a contest with Satan; glory in tribulation;
+rejoice when you are persecuted; count it joy when you are tried and
+tempted. Soldiers get so they love the battle, pugilists enjoy the
+contest, and we should be where we love trials. We hate them, therefore we
+love to conquer them; they afford us means for development, therefore we
+welcome them; they deepen us into God and make us more like Christ,
+therefore we hail them with joy. We hate them themselves, but in our
+intense love for God and the privilege of exercising ourselves in his
+strength we count all our trials joy. We rejoice in the midst of
+temptation because we have the opportunity of displaying the strength of
+our God.
+
+But do not make the mistake of thinking that you are so strong in God that
+the little evil thought, or the feeling of pride or impatience, or the
+little act of intemperance, is of no consequence. It is these little
+things that sap away the spiritual strength. Get after the very least of
+them and put them to death. Give them no place. If one single word of
+lightness or of impatience escapes your lips, go in earnest prayer, asking
+God to make you a conqueror. Seek to have your life wholly free from
+imperfections, and you will daily advance in the divine life.
+
+  Life is full of peace and pleasure
+   When we're saved by grace;
+  Sweetest joys overflow the measure
+  When we're saved by grace;
+   Gifts from heaven fall in show'rs,
+  Cheering dark and lonely hours,
+  By our pathway bloom sweet flow'rs,
+   When we're saved by grace.
+
+  E'en in sorrow there are blessings
+   When we're saved by grace;
+  Chastening rods are fond carressings
+   When we're saved by grace;
+  Storm-clouds far away are driven,
+  Life flows on so sweet and even,
+  Round us beams the light of heaven,
+   When we're saved by grace.
+
+  All around is wondrous beauty
+   When we're saved by grace;
+  There is joy in every duty
+   When we're saved by grace;
+  Hope is ever sweetly singing,
+  Peace-bells in our souls are ringing,
+  Guardian angels round us winging,
+   When we're saved by grace.
+
+  We must every day be growing
+   When we're saved by grace;
+  Progress in divine life making,
+   When we're saved by grace;
+  Upward, upward, nearer heaven,
+  Life more peaceful and more even,
+  Fuller light upon us beaming,
+   When we're growing in grace.
+
+You will, I hope, pardon the writer if he repeats too much. Repetition is
+sometimes needed that a truth may be enforced. Sometimes line upon line is
+needful.
+
+What, in its true sense, is a holy life? It is the life of Jesus. His
+whole manner of life was truly holy. His life is the ideal life. If we
+would live holy, we must live as he lived. The artist has his ideal before
+him, and with touches of the brush here and there upon his canvas he forms
+an exact image of the ideal. The life of Jesus is what we are to imitate.
+He sets the example of holy living and calls us to the same holy life. "As
+he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
+conversation." I Pet. 1:15. This text has a better rendering in the
+Revised Version: "Like as he which called you is holy, be ye yourselves
+also holy in all manner of living." As Christians we are God's offspring,
+and as such are like him.
+
+Holiness in the life of Jesus is found not only in the great miracles that
+he performed, but also in the lesser happenings of his life. The restoring
+of life to the dead is no more beautifully holy than the laying of his
+hands upon the heads of children and blessing them. His memorable Sermon
+on the Mount no more portrays the loveliness of his character than does
+his conversation with the woman by the wayside well. It is the little
+things in every-day life, if attended to and kept in the meekness and the
+solemnity of the Spirit of Christ, that make life truly beautiful and
+holy. It is not the eloquent sermon that makes a life so sublime, but it
+is the tender smile, the kind word, the gentle look, given to all; it is
+the patient manner in which all the little trying and provoking things of
+life are met. You may preach or write ever so forcibly and eloquently, and
+bring out the sublime truths of the Bible in great beauty; but if in the
+privacy of your own home there are little frettings, a little peevishness,
+a little crossness, a little levity, a little selfishness, a little
+distrust, your life is not as truly holy as it should be.
+
+If you desire God's holy image to be stamped upon your soul, your
+countenance, and your life, you must carefully avoid the little sprigs of
+lightness, the little bits of sloth and indolence, touches of forwardness,
+rudeness, selfishness, etc. Pure words belong to a holy life. You should
+use the very choicest words, language that is free from vulgarity, slang,
+and the spirit of the world. Untidiness, uncleanness, carelessness, and
+shabbiness are not at all beautiful ornaments in a holy life. But
+quietness, modesty, and reticence are gems that sparkle in a holy life
+like diamonds set in a band of gold. Give attention to your words, your
+thoughts, your tone of voice, your feelings; to little acts of
+benevolence, the practise of self-denial, of promptness, of method and
+order. These are auxilaries of holy living. Are there not many little
+things in your home life that you can improve upon? Seek God for help and
+be truly holy.
+
+
+
+
+LUKEWARMNESS.
+
+
+A lukewarm life is a displeasure to God; he would have us to be fervent in
+spirit. God is pleased with us when we are lively stones, but not when we
+are formal and lukewarm. A lukewarm state is a dangerous state. One very
+dangerous thing about it is that usually when a person is lukewarm he is
+unaware that he is lukewarm. If a man is sick and does not know that he is
+sick, he is in great danger of his life, because he is not at all likely
+to take the proper care of himself. So the man who is cold and formal but
+thinks he is spiritual and full of love is not at all likely to do
+anything for the improvement of his spiritual condition. He is very much
+like the Irishman's turtle. I hesitate to relate anything so amusing, but
+it so well illustrates the state of the lukewarm professor that I think I
+am justifiable.
+
+Some Irishmen had caught a large turtle and cut off his head. Then they
+waited for him to die, but the turtle scrambled about for some hours.
+Desiring an explanation of such a phenomenon, they accosted an Irishman
+who was passing by. After watching the turtle for a moment, he remarked,
+"He is dead, but he doesn't know it." This is the condition of the
+lukewarm professors. They are spiritually dead, but are not aware of it.
+The professors of Christianity at Laodicea were lukewarm, but they thought
+themselves rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing.
+
+Diseases of the human body are attended with certain feelings and symptoms
+by which the physician can tell the nature of the affection in a
+particular case. The diseases of the human soul are also attended with
+certain symptoms by which the nature of the malady in a given case may be
+known. I will now tell you of a few of the symptoms of lukewarmness, so
+you may know whether such is your state.
+
+First. A kind of doubtful or uncertain feeling as to whether you are right
+with God, together with an unwillingness to examine yourself closely for
+fear you are wanting. Being filled with the Spirit gives us fulness of
+assurance.
+
+Second. If when you testify to being saved, sanctified, and ready for the
+coming of Jesus, your heart fails to say amen and you wish down in your
+soul you had a little better assurance that what your lips say were true,
+you are not as spiritual as you should be. When we are filled with the
+Spirit, our souls are assured and satisfied.
+
+Third. Going along day after day in the same routine of life, taking it
+for granted that you are at the work the Lord wants you to do, and not
+earnestly seeking to <i>know</i> his will. Those who are spiritual can not
+be contented without a definite knowledge of the will of God. If you are
+going along without any real and positive knowledge of the will of God and
+are not seeking to know it, surely you are lukewarm.
+
+Fourth. If when your routine of life is in some way interrupted, you are
+dissatisfied and complain; if you do not enjoy being moved out of your old
+channel, but you wish to be let alone, it is evident that you have chosen
+your own way and that God is not ordering your steps.
+
+Fifth. If when you are called to the assistance of a neighbor or the sick
+or even an enemy, you find a reluctancy to go and an often returning of
+your own mind to your own concerns and a desire to hurry back to them, you
+are, it appears, looking upon your own things, and not on the things of
+others. The Bible tells us to look upon the things of others. If you see
+your own needs, and see and care but little about the things of others,
+you are selfish. Those who are spiritual have time to help others and do
+it willingly.
+
+Sixth. If when called upon to go to the assistance of some unfortunate one
+and you can not possibly go, if you do not have a deep heart-regret and if
+you do not ofttimes during the day think of the poor unfortunate man and
+be pained at heart because of your inability to help him, you must be more
+concerned about yourself than about others. You look on your own things
+and do not see nor feel the needs of others. If such is true in you, you
+are in a lukewarm state.
+
+Seventh. If you were to be asked whether you are doing the work you are
+now doing, solely and purposely for the glory of God, and you should be
+obliged to answer that you had taken no particular thought about it, but
+supposed it mattered little to the Lord, just so you were doing something,
+this would surely show neglect, indifference, lukewarmness.
+
+Eighth. If you are indifferent and unconcerned about making spiritual
+progress; if you are not desiring and earnestly seeking for more of God;
+if you are not earnestly striving to be more meek and humble, to be more
+kind and patient; if you are carelessly tolerating acts of selfishness, of
+impatience, unkindness, harshness, and lightness, you are certainly
+lukewarm.
+
+Ninth. Neglect to read the Bible and to pray in secret; greater fervency
+in public prayer than in secret prayer; more outward manifestation than
+real inward piety; testifying or preaching beyond the true standard of
+living--these too are evidences of lukewarmness. A man may become
+enthusiastic in prayer, testimony, or sermon, and think he is making great
+advancement; but if he does not live up to every word he speaks, he is
+losing instead of gaining, because he is not walking in light.
+
+Lukewarmness is very loathsome to God. It reproaches him. To make no
+profession of love to God at all is not such a reproach to him as to
+profess love and be lukewarm. God wants all your heart. If he can not have
+it all, he will have none. He desires warm, fervent love. To love him only
+partially, and not supremely, makes it appear as if he were worthy of only
+half-hearted love. It makes other things equal with God.
+
+After the physician learns the symptoms and pronounces the disease, he
+then prescribes the remedy. Thank God, there is an unfailing remedy for
+lukewarmness. Of course, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
+cure." "Repent and do the first works." Come to God and buy of him gold
+tried in the fire. Exercise yourself in spiritual things if there yet be
+any love in your heart. Shake off everything that is stupefying. Press
+your way through to God in spite of dryness and deadness. Stir up your
+soul. Give yourself to deep meditation upon the great love of God to you.
+Pray in fervency and faith. Consecrate to the whole will of God. If your
+case is not hopeless--and it is not--this will effect a cure.
+
+
+
+
+STEADFASTNESS.
+
+
+"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always
+abounding in the work of the Lord." 1 Cor. 15:58. Steadfastness is an
+essential principle in Christian character. There can be no success nor
+prosperity in the Christian life when this principle is wanting. The
+Psalmist said, "My heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." This is true
+steadfastness. It is cleaving to God, let the storms rage as they may. It
+is resting and abiding in Jesus though the trials of life may be the
+severest possible. It is a firm, fixed, settled decision to abide in
+doctrines of the Bible. It is to rest confidingly upon the teaching and
+promises of the Holy Scriptures. Just as a man lies confidently down to
+rest upon his bed, so a Christian, in his steadfastness, rests
+confidingly, rests without fear, upon the never-changing Word of God.
+
+Through Jesus Christ, Christians are made partakers of the divine nature.
+They receive the imprint of divine character in their souls. Among the
+different principles in the character of God is found steadfastness. When
+God delivered Daniel from the lions, Darius the king said, "I make a
+decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before
+the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast forever." Dan.
+6:26. Just as Christian fortitude is noble, manly, and pleasing to God, so
+a lack of steadfastness is ignoble, unmanly, and highly displeasing to
+God.
+
+Some (it may be many) are led by their feelings. We, as the children of
+God, are to be led by the Spirit of God; but not all fully understand what
+is meant by "being led by the Spirit." I would rather be led by a sense of
+duty than by my feelings. I do not understand that in order to be led by
+the Spirit we need always to have a strong inward impression or almost
+audible voice speaking to us. The Spirit of God has illuminated the Word
+and enlightened your mind to know what is your Christian duty; hence when
+you go forward and discharge your duties faithfully, you are truly being
+led by the Spirit. You know it to be your duty to help the poor, to
+support the weak, to comfort the sorrowful, to attend religious services,
+to witness for Jesus, to study the Scriptures, to pray, and diligently to
+follow every good work. You may sometimes feel a strong impression to
+pray, but you do not need to have this feeling always in order to be duty
+-bound to pray. It is your duty to pray, to give of your means, etc.,
+oftentimes just as much when you do not feel impressed to do so as when
+you have strong inward impressions. You do not need to wait for such
+impressions before you act, for a knowledge of your duty makes you
+responsible.
+
+A man can have no true steadfastness who is influenced by his emotions or
+impressions. The man who is steadfast, unmovable in the Word, goes forward
+to a discharge of his known duties, no matter what his feelings may be.
+Whatever may be his impressions to do a certain thing, if it is not
+consistent with the Word and the Spirit and his knowledge of right, he
+persistently refuses to obey.
+
+How the true principle of steadfastness abides in the will of God and the
+doctrines of Christ is demonstrated in the teachings of Barnabas to the
+church at Antioch. There was some contention in the church over
+circumcision, and heavy persecutions from without, and many were being
+moved from the true faith. Barnabas exhorted that with purpose of heart
+they cleave to the Lord. Steadfastness is a firm, fixed purpose of the
+heart to cleave unto God, to attend strictly and promptly to every
+Christian duty. It is a decided, unchangeable, unshaken purpose of the
+heart to obey implicitly the teachings of the Savior, regardless of the
+feelings.
+
+You will find that, if you attend to every Christian duty, you will often
+have to go contrary to your feelings. How often the enemy of your soul
+will, if he can, cast indifferent feelings over you concerning prayer.
+That is the time to show your Christian fortitude and steadfastness. It is
+weakness and laziness to neglect prayer simply because we do not feel
+inclined to pray. To yield to indifferent feelings is to encourage them,
+and they will grow stronger and stronger, so that we shall feel less and
+less inclined to pray. The more we pray, the more prayerful we feel;
+likewise, the less we pray, the less prayerful we feel. When we have
+yielded to indifferent feelings for sometime and have sadly neglected
+prayer, we have a hard struggle to get through to the glorious light and
+victory and sweetness. But you must get out where the blessings fall; you
+must get where you have sweet tastes of love and the satisfying blessings
+of the presence of God. You must be courageous, manly, and decided. The
+way to enjoy serving God and doing our full Christian duty is always to do
+our duty and especially at those times when doing it seems to be the least
+enjoyable.
+
+Steadfastly resist Satan and every indifferent feeling, and do your duty
+at any cost. Remember, it is not he that feels to do good and doeth it
+not, but "he that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin,"
+
+
+
+
+HOW TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S WILL.
+
+
+In order to do God's will we must first know his will. In order to have
+real satisfaction, rest, and contentment in the Christian life--and there
+is no true rest outside the Christian life--we must have the full
+assurance that we are doing the will of God. The soul that loves God can
+not be satisfied with anything less than this. As long as there is a
+doubt, there can not be perfect contentment. We must have a perfect
+knowledge of God's will concerning us, or else we shall not fully know we
+are doing his will.
+
+Many are saying, "I would gladly do God's will if I only knew what was his
+will." Such ones have not reached that nearness to God that they should.
+There should always be a clear and definite understanding between God and
+his children. "My sheep," Jesus says, "hear my voice"; and we know that
+God hears the voice of his children. We can talk to God and God to us;
+consequently, there can be understanding between us. You can live close
+enough to God to know his will--not merely to suppose his will or take it
+for granted, but to know it because he told you. A man's employees may
+suppose they are doing what he wants them to do, but this does not give
+them full assurance. It is only when they have been in his presence and
+heard him express his will that they know they are doing it. You can know
+God's will. You need not spend one day without knowing you are in his
+order.
+
+The Scripture says, "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what
+the will of the Lord is." Eph. 5: 17. In the verses preceding this one we
+are told to walk circumspectly and to redeem the time. We need to know
+God's will that we may use every opportunity to the greatest advantage. To
+pass along day after day without a definite knowledge of being in the will
+of God or without taking much thought about it or earnestly seeking to
+know it, is living on entirely too low a spiritual plane. God wants you to
+come up higher--high enough and close enough to know his will. Has not God
+purchased you? You are his servant, his bondslave. You are to do
+everything you do for him. He who has men in his employ expects them to do
+his will. They do not go out a single day ignorant of his will. They do
+not always wait to be told what to do, but they make inquiry. With many
+there may not be enough earnest seeking after God to know his will.
+
+In order to know God's will there must be a perfect consecration to God.
+The soul must lay down her own will and present herself before God as much
+as to say, "I give up my way and will forever to be thine and thine alone;
+to love thee and serve thee; to do thy whole will now and forever." There
+must be humility before God; a deep inner consciousness of your
+nothingness and your inability to accomplish anything in life of yourself.
+"The meek he will guide in judgment." We must be meek and humble before
+the Lord and confess that we are dependent on him and that life will be an
+utter failure unless he wills and guides and plans and works in us and
+with us and for us.
+
+There must be great love to God and an earnest desire to know his will.
+Without strong desire to know God's will you can never learn it. It is
+those who desire that obtain answers to their prayers; and that desire
+must be really great. You must seek to know. Where there is great desire,
+there will be earnest seeking; but there will not be earnest seeking
+without the fervent desire. The desire must be so intense that you feel as
+if you must know. You must feel that you can not get along in life without
+knowing God's will. You can not be of any service to him without having
+knowledge of his will. You must also have faith. When you ask God to teach
+you his will, you must believe he will do it, and he will do it. When he
+begins to unfold his will, you must move in his order without doubting or
+questioning. He will guide you and direct your every step, and you can
+know that you are doing the very thing God wants you to do. Bless his
+name! Such a life is heaven here.
+
+
+
+
+A VIEW OF JESUS.
+
+
+Let us take a look at Jesus. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit may unveil
+him and present him to us clearly. Now we see him. We see him as our all
+and as in all. Can you see him thus? Is he everything to you? and is he in
+everything that comes to you?
+
+Let us take a view of Jesus through two texts of Scripture. First, "And
+hath put all things under his feet." Eph. 1:22. We see him as our
+protector. Christ has conquered all, and God has put all things under his
+Son's feet. In all the world there is no evil thing that can harm the
+child of God. Jesus cares for his children. How safe we feel! He is our
+refuge, our strong tower, our buckler, and our shield. Discouragements,
+doubts, fears, disease, Satan, and all that would antagonize us are under
+his feet and so can never do us harm.
+
+Second, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his
+hand." Every good thing is in the hand of Jesus. He stands ready to give
+them to his children. There is not a need you can ever have but Jesus has
+in his hand something with which to supply that need. His loving hand is
+extended to you. It contains something that will meet all your needs in
+life. Praise the Lord!
+
+Nothing can harm us, for every harmful and harming thing is beneath the
+feet of our Lord. So we need not fear. We can never fail to have all our
+needs supplied, for Jesus stands with outstretched hand to give just what
+we need just when we need it. Do you see Jesus as such? Open your eyes
+wide, look and live, and be happy and free.
+
+
+
+
+DEVOTION TO GOD.
+
+
+Devotion to God implies ardent affection for him--a yielding of the heart
+to him with reverence, faith, and piety in every act, particularly in
+prayer and meditation. We catch a glimpse of the true meaning of devotion
+from what is said of the centurion of the Italian band. He was termed a
+devout man because he feared God, gave much alms to the people, and prayed
+to God always (see Acts 10:2). This is the essence of true devotion. He
+loved God, without which there can be no devotion. The more we love an
+object, the more devoted to it we are. Devotion is therefore love
+manifested. At the feet of Jesus stood a woman weeping and washing his
+feet with her tears and wiping them with the hairs of her head and kissing
+them. Is not this a picture of devotion? It is love and devotion expressed
+in action. Jesus said, "She loved much." The secret of devotion is loving
+<i>much</i>.
+
+Every devoted Christian desires to be more devoted to his God. I am glad
+we can be. It is pleasant to feel in our hearts an ardent desire to love
+God more. A fond mother clasps her babe to her bosom. She loves it, and
+her heart is happy in that love; but she feels she can not love it enough.
+She longs to love it more. Her heart yearns to love it more, though she
+loves it from the fulness of her soul. This longing to love increases our
+capacity to love. By being filled with air some vessels are made to
+expand. Unless filled to their utmost capacity, they would not become more
+extended. To the extent that the heart is filled with the love of God, man
+is happy.
+
+To desire to be more devotional is not an evidence of lack of devotion,
+but, on the contrary, an evidence of devotion. Those who are the least
+devotional have the least desire to be more devotional. The heart that is
+fullest of love is happiest; and although it is happy and satisfied, yet
+it longs to move. Oh, how we long to clasp our arms more tightly about
+him! how we long to have him clasp his arms more tightly about us! how we
+long to nestle more fondly and lovingly on his bosom! What rapture to our
+love-flooded souls to receive of his caresses and hear his tender words!
+To the soul in the ecstasy of its heavenly love, the world with its
+pleasures has vanished away like a morning vapor.
+
+It is not understood by all how and why we should have a desire to possess
+more of that of which we are already full. It is the desire for
+development; it is an innate desire; it is a principle planted in our
+constitution under grace. Let me repeat what I have said elsewhere: Every
+living thing consciously or unconsciously struggles to conform to type.
+When the little plant bursts through the ground, it enters the race in
+conforming to the type that it carries in its bosom. Thus, in the heart of
+the acorn is a miniature oak-tree. The little chick carries within it an
+image of the mother bird, to which it will naturally though unconsciously
+conform.
+
+In the natural world when things reach the highest point of development,
+they begin to decay or deteriorate; but this is not true in the spiritual
+world. Never in this life and possibly never in that life which is to come
+shall we reach the fulness of the type, or, in other words, the highest
+point of development. As the acorn or the little chick bears in its nature
+an image of the parent, so the Christian bears in his soul the image of
+God. This is the image to which he is to conform. Day after day he can
+grow in grace. Day after day the beautiful graces of the Spirit can become
+more beautiful and the exterior life be more perceptibly stamped with the
+holy image of God. There must be progress, or there will be regress. When
+a ball that has been thrown upward ceases to ascend, it begins to descend.
+When the fulness of the type is reached, then begins the retrogression.
+This is none the less true of spiritual things. The reason why there need
+be no declension in love is because the highest point of development is
+never attained.
+
+For illustration let us set a little child in our midst. As a child it is
+perfect. All its organs are in proper place and are properly performing
+their functions. It is a perfect image of the type of man into which it
+will grow. That child's nature tends toward, and the child longs to be, a
+man. The child's innate desire for development does not make it
+discontented as long as its craving for growth is gratified. In this we
+behold the goodness and the wisdom of the Creator. That the child may be
+happy, it is so constituted that it satisfactorily meets all the
+requirements of the law of development. The child is thus kept in a state
+of contentment. Did it seek to fulfil the law of growth contrary to its
+nature, to become a man would be an irksome task. It is a delight to the
+child to eat, to play, to sleep. And these things, producing growth, meet
+the demands of its nature. There is implanted in it both a desire to grow
+and a relish for the things necessary to its growth. Thus the entire
+process of development is a delight. In fact, there will be no delight or
+enjoyment unless there be development.
+
+True, a child does not eat and play for the express purpose of growing.
+Indeed, it may take no thought about growing. But there is in the nature
+of the child, when in health, a demand for growth. When the child is in
+ill health, the growth ceases; consequently there is no demand for
+development, and it loses relish for the things that go to meet that
+demand.
+
+This very beautifully illustrates Christian development which includes
+becoming more devotional. You desire to be more devotional. Such a desire
+is legitimate. The nature of every sanctified soul craves development. The
+soul is not dissatisfied, any more than the growing child. As that
+developing life in the child moves it to seek for the things that produce
+development, so the life of God in the sanctified soul moves it to seek
+for the things that will unfold and amplify that life. "If ye be risen
+[have life] with Christ, seek those things which are above." Those things,
+coming into our soul daily, will unfold us more and more into an heavenly
+life. They are food to the sanctified soul. They keep the soul satisfied,
+because they are the means provided by a loving, all-wise Providence for
+the constant healthful growth of our spiritual natures. Herein only is
+true soul-rest.
+
+God gives us a relish for the very things that go to fulfil the demands of
+our Christian nature. Prayer, meditation, reading the Bible, trust, and
+resting in the Lord promote increase in him. How delightful is prayer to
+the soul that is healthful and growing! and the Word of God is sweeter
+than honey. Where there is a demand in the soul for these things, how
+delightful it is to engage in them! Do you behold the beauty and the
+wisdom here? God implants a desire in the soul for spiritual development
+and at the same time implants a relish for the things necessary for such
+development. Bless his name! Understand me, please, this desire is not a
+restless longing, an aching void, as is found in an unregenerate heart or
+in a soul in spiritual decline; but it is the delightful struggling of a
+soul bearing the likeness of God, to conform to the natural law of
+development pent up within its bosom.
+
+What is it in the nature of the oak that causes it to send its root down
+into the soil and to drink up of its substance? What is it in the nature
+of the child that causes it so eagerly to eat and play? It is the demand
+in their nature for growth, or that innate struggle to conform to type.
+Manhood is sleeping in the child's bosom, and it wrestles and struggles to
+rise to the fulness of that image. What causes the Christian heart to long
+to root deeper into God; that makes the soul seek his embrace? It is that
+instinctive struggle to conform to God's glorious image. The entire
+process of development is delightful. Whenever the natural tendency toward
+growth ceases, the soul is in an abnormal state, and loses relish for the
+things necessary to growth.
+
+Christian, see to it that you keep in your heart a desire, a longing, a
+panting, or, if you would rather I will say, a demand, in your spiritual
+being to be more devotional to God, and meet that demand by resting by
+faith in him, by prayer, by meditation, by service. Do this, and you will
+become more devotional. But I love the word "desire." Desire in the soul
+for spiritual things is appetite. Satisfying this desire is a pleasure.
+Never were any viands so sweet to the physical sense of taste as that food
+to our soul which helps us be more devotional. "Desire" is a Bible term.
+"As new-born babes, <i>desire</i> the sincere milk of the word, that ye
+may grow thereby."
+
+Before concluding this chapter I will call your attention to one way of
+becoming more devotional--being active in service. Desire must be
+gratified, or it will die. Likewise, motive must find expression in
+action, or it will die. You have a desire for prayer; then grant that
+desire by actually praying, or you will lose the desire. An appetite once
+lost is difficult to regain. You may have in your soul a pure motive; then
+carry it into action. Do something for God, and you will become more
+devotional to God. Not that devotion comes by works, to begin with, any
+more than grace; but we do become more devotional by doing, just as we
+grow stronger physically by exercise. Follow out every inclination to do
+good as far as you can, and you will become more devotional to your God.
+
+God loves to have you devoted to him, and he longs to have you more
+devoted. It is astonishing, nevertheless God has intense desire to be
+prayed to and great love for communion with our hearts. He says, "My son,
+give me thine heart." What does he want with man's heart? He wants to put
+his love in it, so he can be loved by it and hold communion with it. "The
+prayer of the upright is his delight." Oh, that there are so few hearts
+that love God! Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they would not come to
+him. But why does he so intensely yearn for the prayers and devotions of
+our hearts? Because it is another young life struggling to conform to the
+image in which it was created. It is another soul which has been won for
+God and in which he has his throne.
+
+O God! take our hearts and compress within them that pure love from thy
+own heart that will cause us to pray, "O God! enlarge our hearts." God
+would even pain our hearts with the fulness of his love until we find no
+ease except in expansion.
+
+
+
+
+THE GOLDEN RULE OF LIFE.
+
+
+"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them like wise."
+Luke 6:31. This is a good rule for every-day living. It is known
+throughout the Christian world as "The Golden Rule." It has great depths.
+It contains more no doubt than any of us comprehend. But let us study it
+for a moment. We might divide it into two rules: First, Do good to all;
+second, Do harm to none. We would that all men should do us good, and we
+would that none should do us harm. But if we would see the greater depths
+of this rule, we must look beyond the physical man. To do good to all and
+harm to none in a bodily or physical sense is indeed good, but to do good
+to all and harm to none in a moral sense is much better. We should do all
+we can to help others in a moral sense. Is not this what we would have all
+men do to us? We should do harm to none in a moral sense, because we would
+have none do us harm. This necessitates living a very holy life.
+
+There are two ways in which we may do good to men morally: first, by
+strengthening the good that is in them; second, by suppressing and helping
+them to overcome any evil or fault that may be in them. Likewise, there
+are two ways in which we may do harm to men morally: first, by
+strengthening and encouraging the evil and fault that may be in them;
+second, by suppressing and destroying the good that may be in them.
+
+We are all creatures of influence. We are being influenced, and we are
+having an influence. There never was a human life but that had some
+influence over some other human life. We influence more by example than by
+words. If we say one thing and act another, we shall find our actions
+speaking more loudly than our words. If we love God with all our hearts,
+that love will influence another to love him. Never was love lost. The
+love you have, O child of God, will find its way into some other life
+sometime, somewhere. The more of God's love is beaming out of our heart
+and life, the greater will be our influence upon others. Then may we love
+him with all the heart. We should be filled with the Spirit. If we are
+spiritual, we cause those we converse with to desire to be more spiritual.
+We should be full of faith that our strong faith may help others to have
+more faith. We should like for others to be such an example to us; and as
+we would that men should do to us, let us do to them.
+
+It is a very great source of regret, indeed, to be so destitute of love,
+faith, and spirituality that we discourage and dampen the ardor of those
+into whose presence we may be for a time. Be your very best for God every
+day of your life and wield a holy influence over the hearts of men. The
+very greatest benefit we can be to man and the highest homage we can pay
+to God is to be filled with all the fulness of God.
+
+
+
+
+TIMELINESS IN DOING GOOD.
+
+
+To spend well this one brief life of ours, we must be active in doing
+good. This we have already learned. But not only should we be active in
+doing good, but we should do the good act when the act will be most
+helpful. Do the good deed when the good deed needs to be done. The kind
+word may be worth much and be greatly helpful to the fainting soul today,
+but may be too late tomorrow. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do
+good unto all men." Will you stop a moment and think over these words? Let
+no opportunity of doing good go by you unimproved. To neglect the present
+opportunity of doing good and then never be able to do it is a sad thing.
+
+  "Of all sad words of tongue or pen
+  The saddest are these: 'It might have been.'"
+
+Why do you keep all the kind thoughts and kind words for a man until he is
+dead? They do him no good then. It is while he is living that he needs
+them. He has burdens heavy to be borne; troubles gather thick over his
+head; he is neglected and even misrepresented. You can help him with a
+smile or a few kind words; but, no, you pass him by. Now he is brought to
+the grave. As the cold clods fall upon his plain coffin, you say, "Well,
+he was a good man, after all." Why did you not tell him that when he was
+living? It would have buoyed up his spirit then; it would have made him
+feel that life was not all in vain and that yet he might do a little good.
+But now he hears not your words. They return to you or float out into
+empty space a mere sound. The ear that was once eager for them and the
+heart that was aching for them is now cold in death. Your kind, cheering
+words are too late to give him encouragement; your flowers are too late to
+be appreciated. Once they would have brightened his life, but now his life
+is over. Once you could have chased away some clouds that were darkening
+his life, but you did not, and that day has gone into eternity as a day of
+darkness. You might have brightened it. This morning some kind hand placed
+a vase of beautiful flowers upon my desk. As I write, their fragrance
+reaches me and brings me tidings of some one's kind remembrance.
+
+It costs but little to speak kind words, but oh! ofttimes they are worth
+so much! I know of nothing that costs so little to give that is so
+valuable to receive. But why keep all the flowers, the kind words, the
+tender feelings and thoughts, and the sympathetic tears until the one to
+whom they should be given passes away, and then come and let them fall so
+gently upon the casket? Do you know of one who is weary? do you know of
+one who is being misrepresented? do you know of one who is being trodden
+down by others, with scarcely any one to speak a word of comfort? Now,
+what would Jesus do? Look at poor Lazarus--turned away by the rich,
+neglected and rejected; watched over by angels ready to gather him to
+paradise when he passes beyond the need of aid from men. Why not be an
+angel and make a day of paradise for him here? Let us do some angel-work
+while here in life. The angels are ministering spirits. They whisper, "Be
+of good cheer," "Peace on earth." They come to gladden hearts; they come
+to close the lions' mouths; they come to open the prison doors and break
+the iron bands. Oh, let us do some angel-work!
+
+  Hast thou any flowers for me?
+  Wilt thou kindly let them be
+  Given ere death be-dews my brow?
+  Wait not, give them to me now.
+
+  While in life's eventful day
+  Tried, and weary grows the way,
+  When in dark and lonely hour,
+  Give me then the cheering flow'r.
+
+  Hast thou kind words to impart,
+  Words that lift the fainting heart?
+  Speak ere Death's hand on me lay;
+  Speak those kind words now--today.
+
+  Kind words are but empty breath
+  To the heart that's still in death;
+  When life's load is hard to bear
+  Let me then the kind word hear.
+
+  Hast thou sunlit smiles to give,
+  Smiles that make us want to live?
+  Ere I cross death's sullen stream,
+  On me let those bright smiles beam.
+
+  Smiles, whate'er their power to save,
+  Can not penetrate the grave.
+  Ere I reach life's ending mile,
+  Give to me the sunlit smile.
+
+  Prayer can stay the trembling knee:
+  If thou hast but one for me,
+  Let it offered be today,
+  Ere the life-light fades away.
+
+  When my soul transcends the air,
+  I no more shall need thy prayer:
+  Let now, today, thy soul travail;
+  'Tis only now thy prayers avail.
+
+  "If I should die tonight,
+  My friends would call to mind with loving thought
+  Some kindly deed the icy hand had wrought,
+  Some gentle word the frozen lips had said,
+  Errands on which the willing feet had sped;
+  The memory of my selfishness and pride,
+  My hasty words, would all be put aside,
+  And so I should be loved and mourned tonight."
+
+
+
+
+THE WARFARE OF A CHRISTIAN LIFE.
+
+
+It is blessed and glorious to be a Christian. No other life is so
+beautiful and pure; no other life is so tranquilly peaceful; no other is
+so full of rest, happiness, and satisfaction. The Christian, however, does
+not go to heaven on flowery beds of ease. His pathway is not strewn with
+roses all the way; there is now and then a thorn. It is not sunshine all
+the time; now and then a shadow falls. To win heaven he must fight. There
+are some things to oppose a Christian on his pilgrimage to the skies;
+these he must contend against. The contending against those things
+prepares him for his blissful home above.
+
+"All things work together for good to them that love God." Heaven's
+blessings and hell's venom, angels' smiles and Satan's frowns, comforts of
+grace and spiritual wickedness, good and ill, love and hatred, all work
+good to those who have union with God. It is the battle that disciplines
+and makes strong and brave the warrior, and not the victory. We are
+exhorted to "endure hardness as a good soldier." There are some things to
+endure along the Christian way. James says, "Blessed is the man that
+endureth temptation." Temptations are outward influences acting upon our
+natural emotions and passions to induce the will to act contrary to the
+law of grace to satisfy self. We need not expect to be free from
+temptations; therefore let us settle it that we will endure them. It is
+really a blessed thing to endure them. You may think it would be a blessed
+thing to be free from them, but such would not be the case. It is more
+blessed to endure them. Temptations will never cease to attack the soul as
+long as it inhabits this "muddy vesture of decay." Be brave, O soul, and
+endure temptations. Be brave and fight the good fight of faith. Do not
+faint because you have temptations. Do not fear because there are long and
+fierce battles to fight. Be strong and of good courage. It is a life-long
+struggle, and it is also a life-long victory, and in the end eternal
+victory. Strong and well-developed spiritual sinews are the result of
+resisted temptations.
+
+It is not sinful to be tempted. We never lose any spirituality by being
+tempted. It is the slight yieldings that cause a leaking, a loss of grace.
+Clear up the vision of your faith a little and take a look at your
+beautiful glittering crown of life. It is not gold, neither crystal. Do
+not look at it as such, but see it a crown of life. Yes, you will be
+crowned with eternal life if you will but endure temptation. Think of this
+in the hour of thy sore trial. Fight on; heaven awaits to reward you.
+
+
+
+
+LIVE BY FAITH.
+
+
+Live by faith. There is no other true and right way to live. Without faith
+it is impossible to please God, and of course the life that pleases God is
+the only life that is perfect. We can please God; we can walk each day in
+a way that is pleasing to him. Such a walk is by faith, not by sight. God
+honors faith. He loves to have his Word believed. He delights to hear the
+prayer of faith; it avails with him.
+
+Around the great white throne in heaven the angels are shouting day and
+night, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! blessing and glory and wisdom
+and thanksgiving, honor and power, belong to thee." But amid all this
+sound of praise God hears a voice and bends an ear to listen. It is the
+prayer of faith from the heart of one of his children. There is never too
+many angels singing nor too many harps resounding for God to hear the
+voice of his child. "My voice," said the sweet singer of Israel, "shalt
+thou hear in the morning." He hears the first faint cry of his heaven-born
+child. Even the unuttered wish of the heart, the unexpressed desire, the
+faintest breathing of love, he hears and recognizes as the voice of his
+child. Faith will wing its way into the presence of God. It traverses the
+universe until it finds him and there brings the soul to its rest. Faith
+will guide us through this world.
+
+Faith touches God. A woman came to Jesus and tremblingly reached out her
+feeble hand and touched the hem of his garment. He asked, "Who touched
+me?" It was not the finger-touch that he felt, but the faith-touch. Today
+we can touch him by faith and by no other way. Though many angels may be
+thronging him, yet the feeblest touch of faith will reach him. You may be
+one of the weakest ones, unnoticed and unknown. A little cabin on the
+mountainside may be your home, but your feeblest cry of faith will reach
+the throne of God, and he will send angels to encamp round about you and
+deliver you. <i>Have faith in God.</i> When all is dark around you,
+believe in him. Trust him when you can not trace, and believe when you can
+not see. Never doubt his Word. Faith will prevail and bring you the desire
+of your heart. Will you believe?
+
+
+
+
+A VALUABLE LEGACY.
+
+
+A legacy is a gift that some one makes to another; usually something that
+one leaves behind, when departing from this world, for others to enjoy.
+Some have left great sums of money to others and to institutions, and
+these bequests have been called valuable legacies. I am now to tell you of
+the greatest and most valuable legacy that has ever been left to man. It
+is a bequest left not to one man but to all men. It is not a legacy of
+silver or gold or diamonds nor of houses and lands. Nor can this precious
+gift be purchased with gold. It is something Jesus gives; and what he has
+can not be purchased with any earthly thing. I will read you what it is:
+"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." These are the words
+that Jesus uttered just before his departure from the world, and this is
+the legacy he leaves to man. Oh, what a gift! We can all possess it. We
+need it as we are crossing the sea of life. Many storms arise and billows
+roll high, but the soul possesses this valuable treasure of peace. There
+is a stillness, a calmness, a peacefulness, in the soul that stormy winds
+can never disturb.
+
+This peace that Jesus gives, is given us through our obedience. "Oh, that
+thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a
+river." What is more peaceful than the calm, even flowing of a river? As
+we look upon it a quiet peacefulness begins to spread its mantle over our
+hearts. Still waters are a beautiful emblem of peace, while troubled
+waters are a picture of unrest.
+
+This peace that Jesus gives is unlike anything that the world gives. This
+world contains many pleasant things and makes many very liberal offers,
+but peace is never found by accepting any of them. The pleasures of this
+world leave a bitter taste, while the hardships we endure for Jesus
+sweetens our cup.
+
+Shall we analyze this peace, that we may know all about it, even the very
+hidden secret of the principle? The apostle says, "The peace of God, which
+<i>passeth all understanding</i>, shall keep your hearts and minds." Let
+us be satisfied to have our hearts and minds kept by this wonderful peace,
+though we do not understand it. I have some flowers on my desk. There are
+white ones and yellow and purple and red and pale blue. I do not
+understand the principle of life that gives them such beauty and
+fragrance. If I should dissect them in order to discover this secret, I
+should destroy their beauty and be no wiser. We can not understand this
+peace, but we can possess it.
+
+There is power in this peace to keep the heart and mind. "Let the peace of
+God rule in your hearts." Give thy heart over to its calm, still power. It
+will rule very quietly in your soul, but rule with kingly power. The
+waters can not rise in trouble where peace holds sway. When this secret
+power has dominion in our hearts, it speaks peace to all around. It says
+to the waves and the winds, "Peace, be still." On the attacking fears, on
+the threatening circumstances, it lays a quiet hand and whispers, "Peace,
+be still," and great is the calmness of thy soul.
+
+
+
+
+SOME SCRIPTURES FOR DAILY PRACTISE.
+
+
+If we seek God earnestly in the prayer of faith to help us in our daily
+practise of the following Scriptural texts and then put forth our best
+efforts, we shall find life daily growing more holy and beautiful. The
+beauty and enjoyment of a holy life is that it can always be improved
+upon. We can live in all the light that shines upon us from these texts
+today, but tomorrow we find them shining a little brighter and fuller
+light, so that we shall have to live a little more holy than we are living
+today. Thus, all along our Christian way we shall find that we are growing
+and becoming holier in life, and more of the transcendent beauty of Jesus
+will be seen upon us.
+
+"And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another,
+even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Eph. 4:32. Let this law
+of kindness get into your life as its very essence. It is not enough to
+affect kindness; we must be kind. A tender heart is the groundwork of
+kindness. Out of such a soil the beautiful flowers of gentleness,
+kindness, and tenderness grow. These perfume the life and make it cheering
+to others. Can you be more kind in your daily life? Is your heart so
+tender that it feels the suffering of the child or the pain of the dumb
+animal to the extent that you find pleasure in giving relief even at the
+expense of self-ease?
+
+"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Col.
+3:2. Guard your heart. "Keep it with all diligence." See that all of its
+affections are on things above. Some of the earthly things that God has
+given into your keeping will want some of your affection. The beautiful
+home, the farm, the bank-account, the domestic animals, and even some
+things almost worthless will want a little of your heart's love. Your own
+talents and personal appearance may desire some of your affection, just
+enough to set you approving them for your own sake. Practise daily the
+above text.
+
+"In everything give thanks." 1 Thess. 5:18. "Giving thanks always for all
+things." Eph. 5:20. Thankfulness is a grace easily improved and developed
+if cultivated. Likewise, it will very soon degenerate if neglected. In
+order to keep a deep sense of thankfulness in our hearts, we must be
+mindful of the gracious dealings of God. It is well to take time as often
+as circumstances will permit to meditate in some quiet place upon the
+goodness of God to you. We should have such thankful hearts that ofttimes
+tears of gratitude will flow at the remembrance af God's goodness.
+
+"Rejoice evermore." 1 Thess. 5:16. "As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing." 2
+Cor. 6:10. "Rejoice alway: and again I say, Rejoice." Phil. 4:4. "Count it
+all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." Jas. 1:2. This is the power
+of the Christian life. We can always rejoice. We can be contented and
+happy, whatever our circumstances in life. God's grace will sustain us.
+Every day can be, and should be, a day of rejoicing. God is pleased to
+have us happy, but he would have our rejoicing to be in him and not in his
+blessings. To rejoice in the midst of trial is health to the soul.
+
+"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thess. 5:17. "Continue in prayer, and watch in
+the same with thanksgiving." Col. 4:2. "Praying always with all prayer and
+supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance
+and supplication for all saints." Eph. 6:18. If you value peace and
+prosperity of soul, you will not neglect to pray. It is prayer that keeps
+us up above the clouds and brings heaven down. He who does not pray at all
+is not a Christian, and he who does not pray much is not much of a
+Christian. It is not those who have plenty of time to pray that do the
+most praying, but they who take the time. Let there be some prayer every
+day.
+
+"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind
+let each esteem others better than themselves." Phil. 2:3. This should be
+the experience of your heart every day. When we are lowly, we see our own
+faults and imperfections and our brother's virtues; therefore we look upon
+him as better than ourselves. It seems to us that others are more humble
+than we are, and have more faith and love God more than we do.
+
+"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of
+others." Phil. 2:4. We should be as much concerned in others' welfare as
+in our own. He who is looking out for himself and neglecting others has
+not advanced very far in the Christian life. The Christian lives for
+others. He will overlook his own needs and see his brother's needs.
+
+"See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that
+which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men." I Thess. 5: 15.
+"And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap,
+if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all
+men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Gal. 6:9,
+10. To go about doing good out of a heart full of love is the way to spend
+life. Heaven is going to reward us according to our works. The Bible tells
+us so. Never a day should go by without our having done some good thing
+purposely out of love to God and man. The Lord does not overlook small
+deeds when done in love. A coral is very small, but many of them make an
+island: a little good deed done every day will in a lifetime amount to
+enough to build a splendid mansion in heaven.
+
+"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Gal.
+6:2. To lift a load from off the shoulders of another is noble service. To
+remove a burden from another's heart is truly Christlike. He who goes
+through life bearing the burdens of others has found the easiest road; he
+who goes through life refusing to aid others travels a road of hardest
+toil.
+
+"Abhor that which is evil." Rom. 12:9. God is holy; consequently he hates
+that which is evil. When we admire the holiness of God, we loathe sin; if
+sin has no horror to our soul, holiness has no beauty. To the extent we
+love holiness, to that extent we hate sin. A good man of long ago said,
+"If I could see the shame of sin on the one hand and the pain of hell on
+the other, and must of necessity choose one, I would rather be thrust into
+hell without sin than go to heaven with sin."
+
+Sin is a hideous monster. Draw near to God if you would see sin's awful
+hideousness. Unlike most other things, the farther you are away from sin
+the more clearly you can see it as it really is.
+
+"Cleave to that which is good." Rom. 12:9. To cleave to is to adhere
+tightly; to cling. We cleave to that which is good by ever doing good.
+When we hate sin as we should and see its awful shame, and love the good
+and see its wondrous beauty, we would rather go to hell doing good than to
+heaven committing sin.
+
+"Draw nigh to God." Jas. 4:8. The close of every day should find us a
+little nearer God than the evening before. We should hide a little more
+secretely in his pavilion. We should nestle a little more closely under
+his wing; his feathers should cover us a little more fully. Be the storms
+what they may, we can daily live very close to God, and what we can do it
+is our duty to do.
+
+"Open thy mouth wide." Psa. 81:10. We should daily live with wide-open
+mouth. If we will, the promise is that God will fill it. For God to be all
+to us, we must expect all from him. God can impart to us only what our
+hearts are open to receive. If we would live with God in our own soul, we
+must have all our soul open to receive him. Many fail to see the beauty of
+a life hid with God because they are looking too much earthward. Opening
+the mouth wide implies an abandonment of ourself to God with a readiness
+to receive all that God has to give, together with an expectation to
+receive nothing that does not come from him. Then God will fill us daily
+with himself. There will be a constant inflowing from God of strength and
+ability to perform every duty of life, and of grace and peace to make life
+an emblem of heaven. "The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou
+shouldest <i>know</i> his will." Acts 22:14. "Not with eye-service, as
+men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, <i>doing</i> the will of God
+from the heart." Eph. 6:6. "I <i>delight</i> to do thy will, O my God"
+Psa. 40:8. It is our privilege to daily <i>know</i> the will of God. It is
+our duty to daily <i>do</i> it. It is a blessing to love to do it. Here is
+the sum of all Christian living: 1. Knowing the will of God; 2. Doing the
+will of God; 3. Doing the will of God in love.
+
+  "I asked the New-year for some motto sweet,
+  Some rule of life with which to guide my feet;
+  I asked, and paused; he answered soft and low,
+  'God's will to know.'
+
+  "'Will knowledge then suffice, New-year?' I cried,
+  And e'en the question into silence died:
+  The answer came, 'Nay, but remember, too,
+  God's will to do.'
+
+  "Once more I asked: 'Is there no more to tell?'
+  And once again the answer sweetly fell,
+  'Yes, this one thing all other things above:
+  God's will to love.'"
+
+"Do all things without murmurings and disputings." Phil. 2:14. Let thy
+life be free from all frettings and worryings. Let it be like the calm
+flowing of the river. God is a strong and high tower, a refuge, a shield.
+With our life hidden in him, worries and frettings can not reach us. We
+may be treated unjustly by a bosom friend, but we commit it to God, and
+instead of feeling the wound the friend gives, we feel the balm our Father
+gives.
+
+"Be content with such things as ye have." Heb. 13:5. "I have learned, in
+whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Phil. 4:11. He who has
+gained contentment has gained more than he who has gained the wealth of a
+world, if it be contentment with godliness. A discontented life is a dark
+spot on the page of human history. An even, contented life is as a
+lighthouse shedding its peaceful beams over the turbulent waters where
+voyagers come and go.
+
+"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:13.
+"I am mighty enough for all things through Christ who empowers me."--
+Rotherham. There is no excuse for your not living a perfectly victorious
+life today. You can be a conqueror. Temptations will assail you, trials
+will come, but you can ignore them in such a way as to show their author
+your contempt for both him and his temptations. I read just this morning
+this good suggestion: "Do not dwell upon your temptations. They are like
+little dogs that bark after a man that passes by; if he stops to drive
+them away, they bark more fiercely than before." You can do all things
+through Christ, but you must do them in his way. Ofttimes he would have
+you ignore temptations instead of fighting them. It is well ofttimes not
+even to ask, "Who is there," when temptations come knocking at your door.
+
+"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of
+mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;
+forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a
+quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." Col. 3:
+12, 13. Such a life is a heavenly life. Think these words over and make
+them your experience today. Have bowels of mercies--that yearning,
+longing, compassionate feeling that would gladly bring every offender to
+Jesus for forgiveness. Be kind. Oh, the power of kindness! It can not be
+resisted; it conquers wherever it goes. This cold world knows no music so
+sweet as kindness; it charms and delights the ears of all. If you would be
+kind in word and act, be kind in thought. Be humble in mind. Think well of
+others and not so well of yourself. Life will flow on peacefully and
+easily if we are humble; nothing can disturb. Be meek, sweet, and mild
+tempered. Bear long with the failings and weaknesses of others, carefully
+considering your own and keeping in mind how you would like to have others
+bear with you.
+
+"And above all these things put on charity; which is the bond of
+perfectness." Col. 3:14. Throw the mantle of love over every act and
+thought in life. Love purely, love sincerely, love fervently. Nothing is
+so great as love. All the graces have their seat in love; you can not be
+compassionate, kind, humble, meek, or forbearing without love.
+
+"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts." Col. 4: 15. Let the peace
+of God act as umpire, deciding every case. Let it have the ruling power in
+your heart and life today and every day. Whatever matters may arise, let
+the peace of God take it in hand and dispose of it. If it shows any
+resistance, then let the peace of God cast it out.
+
+"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know
+how ye ought to answer every man." Col. 4: 6. "Let no corrupt
+communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use
+of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Eph. 4: 29.
+Have a pure speech, made mighty by the grace of God. Be sober without
+gloom, be serious with cheerfulness. Have such a conversation as is suited
+to lift hearts to a higher plane. Your words should be such as to make
+better those you talk with and make them feel that there is something
+higher for them.
+
+"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Eph. 5:16. Time is more
+than money; it is life. Do not waste it. Improve its golden moments today.
+Be economical in its use. Many complain of not having time for devotional
+reading and for prayer, while if they would examine carefully, they would
+find that they trifle away as much time as would he needed for prayer each
+day.
+
+"Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." Eph. 5:21. This
+is beautiful. Submissiveness is a desirable grace and one that will strew
+your pathway with peace. How blessed it is to be always ready to give up
+our way! It is the easy way. We shall find life's way a hard road to
+travel if we are always wanting our way.
+
+"Be careful for nothing." Phil. 4:6. "Casting all your care upon him; for
+he careth for you." 1 Pet. 5: 7. "Take no thought for your life, what ye
+shall eat or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put
+on." Matt. 6:25. The Christian life is one of freedom from anxiety. Jesus
+will bear all our burdens, and cares if we will but cast them on him.
+There is no need to worry nor to bear a load of care. A certain brother
+was much troubled about not having bread for the next meal. But while he
+was troubling himself and bearing his load, a man drove up and unloaded a
+barrel of flour at the door. All the time the brother was troubled, the
+barrel of flour was on the way. Take no anxiety for future things.
+
+"Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still." Psa. 4:4. Each
+evening in some quiet place and with interior stillness talk with your
+heart and let your heart talk to you. Take a distinctive view of your
+inward life. You need to be very careful lest you outwardly appear to be a
+little more than you really are inwardly.
+
+"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
+liveth in me." Gal. 2:20. Is it true? Does Jesus live in you? If you are
+smitten upon the right cheek, does Jesus then live in you? If you are evil
+spoken of, misrepresented, misunderstood, neglected, dispised and
+forsaken, does Jesus live in you then? If you see your brother in need; if
+you have two coats and he has none, does Jesus live in you then? There are
+some in prison near you; there are those who are sick; there are those who
+are thirsty and hungry; in foreign lands there are heathen that know not
+God,--are you sure Jesus lives in you?
+
+"Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I can not
+perceive him: on the left hand, where he doth work, but I can not behold
+him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I can not see him." Job
+23:8,9. This may be your experience some days. In fact, if you are making
+progress and at all approaching maturity, you will have such experiences.
+Some dear conscientious Christians become much troubled because they are
+not more conscious of God's presence. They do not feel him, and thus they
+conclude they must be very formal. I have always believed and taught that
+we should have a consciousness of God's presence with us; I still believe
+and teach it; but I must admit that the most spiritual ofttimes can not
+perceive God on either hand. They may fear that they are lifeless, because
+there is not a fresh and sweet spontaneous feeling in their souls. It
+seems to them that they merely go through the form of worshiping God
+instead of being in the Spirit. They pray, but their prayers seem to have
+no depth of heart. In consequence they may be troubled. They need not be.
+We are not necessarily lukewarm because we do not feel God. The most
+humble men are those who are least conscious of their humility. The
+greatest of men are those who take no note of their greatness. The
+Christian has life; but when we get in the habit of living, we are not so
+conscious of life.
+
+Let me illustrate the point in this way: Suppose your weakness to be
+selfishness. You struggle hard against that selfish principle; you notice
+that you are becoming more unselfish; you are conscious of it because you
+have had to put forth such effort to attain it; but after you have gained
+the victory and have become habituated to living an unselfish life, you
+will be less conscious of your unselfishness. The musician is not so
+conscious of his skill after he has mastered the art as he is while
+learning it. Those who are the meekest and have the most intimate converse
+with heaven, diffusing a fragrance round about them from their holy lives
+and seeming to be visitants from some world where there is no sin--these
+are least conscious of their high spiritual attainments.
+
+Live a holy life, obey the commandments of God, have a will to serve God,
+and if sometimes you do not feel him nor perceive him, do not be troubled,
+but consider that he knows the way you take and that when he has tried
+you, you shall come forth as gold.
+
+"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love." Rom. 12:10.
+Brotherly love is precious in the sight of angels. It is the most
+convincing proof of the Christian religion. "By this shall all men know
+that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another." But in
+addition to brotherly love there should be kind affection. This is love
+felt and expressed. There are those who really love, yet whose nature is
+such that they do not feel much love. Kind affection, like every other
+grace, is capable of cultivation.
+
+"In honor preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in
+spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
+continuing instant in prayer." Rom. 12:10-12. These words contain depth of
+experience, but only by prayer and deep meditation can we descend to their
+depth.
+
+But we must close by referring you to the whole of the Bible. It is a holy
+book, yea, the holiest of books. A life in harmony with its precepts is
+the holiest life. Such a life will grace the earth and shine as a star
+forever in heaven. Cleave to the Bible, study its pages, appropriate its
+truths to your own heart by faith. By living upon the Word of God, we
+become more like God. Heavenly words taken into the heart form a heavenly
+life.
+
+Let your soul be fed each day from the blessed Book of God. Take the time.
+Drink deep into its pure, crystal stream, and the beauty of the Lord will
+grow upon you. Watch the little things in every-day life--the thought, the
+word, the act--until you bring the whole of your life into the habit of
+acting godly. Be as kind as you can be today, and you can be kinder
+tomorrow. This is for the Christian. We do not become Christians by
+growth, but we must grow after we become Christians. We can be more
+patient tomorrow by being as patient as we can be today. We can be better
+men tomorrow by being our best today. We grow as we live. If we live the
+right way, we shall grow that way, and the longer we grow that way, the
+more natural and easy the way.
+
+Therefore let your whole life flow out in a trend with the Bible, until it
+wears a channel in holiness and Christian character. Gather food daily for
+your soul from the sacred page; live in the most intimate communion with
+God that is possible; meditate in his law day and night; let the love of
+your heart grow warmer; let life be the holiest possible. Do this, and you
+will be one of the jewels God will gather to bedeck the temple of the
+skies.
+
+  A tender blue is in the sky
+   As sets the golden sun;
+  Another day is passing by,
+   And thus the moments run;
+
+  The song-bird's note is soft and low,
+   Flying to leafy nest;
+  In evening's peaceful twilight glow
+   All nature sinks to rest;
+
+  The fields are wrapped in somber shroud
+   As fades the light of day;
+  A tender flush is on the cloud
+   Beside the milky way;
+
+  A hush is on this world of ours;
+   Day, dying, drops a tear;
+  Angels' hands unveil the stars,
+   Which one by one appear;
+
+  Now Pleiades grow sparkling bright
+   In deepening blue above:
+  O mild, serene autumnal night!
+   Thy voice is full of love.
+
+  Such sacred awe my soul doth fill!
+   Such quietness doth reign!
+  The Voice that uttered, "Peace, be still,"
+   Has whispered once again.
+
+  The silver bars that streak the West
+   Are short'ning one by one;
+  Another day has gone to rest,
+   And thus the moments run.
+
+  I've one day less to watch and wait,
+   My Savior's face to see,
+  Some day, and ope will be the gate.
+   Sweet heaven, I come to thee.
+
+  Oh, may it be when sets the sun
+   So peacefully and calm!
+  Oh, may I hear the sweet, "Well done,"
+   When evening sings her psalm!
+
+ *  *  *  *  *  *  *
+
+  It is a pleasant autumn eve;
+   The blue is in the sky;
+  My task is done; I take my leave.
+   Good-by, dear friend, good-by!
+
+ *  *  *  *  *  *  *
+
+  Dear reader, live alone for God;
+  Walk blameless in his blessed Word.
+  We may not meet each other here,
+  But let us live in Heaven's fear,
+  So when our work on earth is done,
+  We'll meet each other round God's throne.
+  Just one request I make of thee:
+  Until we meet, pray oft for me.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of How to Live a Holy Life, by C. E. Orr
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE ***
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