2. But there was another thing which Daniel wished, and it was this. Not only had he parted with his kinsmen, and seen them return without him ; he had received an announcement in figure of their future history. It was not all clear, this announce- ment, very far from it. It was mysterious, it was vague. One thing alone was clear, one thing alone was certain. The future was to be a time of trial, a time of distress. Daniel wished to know the meaning. He wished to know the termination. He was curious, anxious, perplexed. " No," is the answer of Jehovah again, "follow your own path. And follow it not only in- dependent of your people's company, but independent of your people's future. Leave problems alone. Put difficulties to the side. It is not for you to know the times and the seasons. The secret things belong to the Lord, the revealed things to you — for you to accept, and for you to practise. And the main revealed thing is this — your duty to your king's interests, your engagement in the king's service, till the call comes to stop. Will you have this question answered ? Will you have that riddle solved ? Desist from them all. Be satisfied with the fact that your own weal is cared for. Be satisfied with the fact that your own safety is ensured. ' Go thou thy way till the end be.' All will be well when that comes. ' Thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end of the days.' "
1 Joan Mary Fry, The Way of Peace,
278 A PROMISED INHERITANCE
In the life and experience of most of us there is much that is perplexing and strange, and not a little that appears to be unjust ; and we are often impatient to learn the secrets of Divine provi- dence and the wherefore of God's working as He does; hearts become angry or fretful, sometimes faith fails, and the soul is in a state of insurrection. But it must be remembered that the present is for us a waiting time. God, when the hour of His appointment has fully come, will make clear His hidden purposes, will resolve the doubts that trouble us, and fully answer all the hard questions of life ; so that we eventually shall see that, however strange the manner of His working may have seemed to be, He has really wrought in love, and has done all things well. But the time for these explanations is not yet ; and man must win life's battle by faith, not by sight. Meanwhile a blessing is promised to him who can wait patiently, trusting God where he cannot trace the way of His working or fathom the mystery of His plan. ,
Tf It is not for the workmen who are engaged in the con- struction of a magnificent pile which is to be the wonder and admiration of the ages to have a clear knowledge of the archi- tectural ideal. All they need know is how to use the tools that have been placed in their hands ; all they need be anxious about is the particular piece of wall given them to build. They labour necessarily in the dark. All they need be assured of is that they are working under the guidance and inspiration of the great Master-Builder. Be true, be honest, be diligent, be faithful, fill the particular position into which Providence hath introduced you as well as it can be filled by the grace of God, and the great Architect under whose superintendence the vast structure is being upreared will take care of the congruities and harmonies. Do not agitate yourself with questions which are beyond your capacity to understand. Do not permit the inexplicable and the perplexing in human phenomena to disquiet you. Do not obtrude into the domain of the Infinite. "Go thou thy way."1
In sorrow and in nakedness of soul I look into the street, If haply there mine eye may meet
As up and down it ranges, 1 B. P. Thomas,
DANIEL xii. 13 279
The servants of my father bearing changes
Of raiment sweet — Seven changes sweet with violet and moly, Seven changes pure and holy.
But nowhere 'mid the thick entangled throng
Mark I their proud sad paces,
Nowhere the light upon their faces Serene with that great beauty Wherein the singly meditated duty
Its empire traces : — Only the fretful merchants stand and cry — " Come buy ! come buy ! come buy ! "
And the big bales are drunk with all the purple
That wells in vats of Tyre,
And unrolled damasks stream with golden fire, And broideries of Ind, And, piled on Polar furs, are braveries winned
From far Gadire. And I am waiting, abject, cold, and numb, Yet sure that they will come.
0 naked soul, be patient in this stead!
Thrice blest are they that wait.
0 Father of my soul, the gate Will open soon, and they Who minister to Thee and Thine alway
Will enter straight, And speak to me that I shall understand The speech of Thy great land.
And I will rise, and wash, and they will dress me
As Thou would'st have me dressed;
And I shall stand confest Thy son; and men shall falter — " Behold the ephod of the unseen altar !