life. One is the bearing of its burdens ; another is victory over our sins ; the third is service for the Kingdom of God. Apply these three tests, and bring the Christian hope to bear upon them. Who can bear his burdens, the burdens of this lower life, its weariness, its monotony, its pain, its sorrows — who can bear them like the man who believes in the coming liberty of the glory of the children of God ? " I reckon," said the Apostle, " that the sujSerings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." That faith makes every burden light. If we have that hope, we will bear our cross with a glad heart, and we will sing while bearing it : " The glory of the Lord shall be revealed." And the weight of sorrow shall pass away for ever. And who will fight for purity in his own life and spirit like the man who believes that purity is ordained to deter- mine the destiny of every created thing, like the man who believes that purity means ultimately unfathomable glory? That hope of glory will condemn the impure heart, will burn like a blazing fire in the bones of the man who does not keep his garments white. And the man with this hope will work with the most glowing enthusiasm. Who can work with such greatness of purpose, and might of heart, and strength of arm, as the man who believes in this glorious unfolding, who believes that man is destined for this wonderful central position in God's new creation, and that this earth of ours, these men and women we see around us, may be sons of God, the dazzling centre of a new creation in a world of everlasting glory ? And so this hope fills us with inspiration. For the way is bright before us, and vast shall be the unfoldings of the future.
^ There is a fine story told of Carlyle, — one welcomes anything about that great genius which tends to show him sympathetic with the Christian attitude, inclined towards the Christian faith. He was walking with the late Bishop Wilberforce in the grounds of a country mansion, and speaking of the death of Sterling, the associate and friend of both. "Bishop," Carlyle said suddenly, " have you a creed ? " " Yes," was the answer of the other — fine in its own way too — "and what is more, the older I grow, the firmer that creed becomes under my feet. There is only one thing that staggers me." " What is that ? " asked Carlyle. " The slow progress that creed seems to make in the world." Carlyle remained silent for a second or two, and then said slowly and
68 THE SAVING GRACE OF HOPE
seriously, " Ah ! but if you have a creed, you can afford to wait!"i
As the bird trims her to the gale,
I trim myself to the storm of time,
I man the rudder, reef the sail,
Obey the voice at eve obeyed at prime:
"Lowly faithful, banish fear,
Eight onward drive unharmed;
The port, well worth the cruise, is near,
And every wave is charmed."^
* W. A, Gray. ' Emerson.
How TO Pray as we Ought.
Literature.
Barrett (G. S.), Musings for Quiet Hours, 35.
Bishop (J. W.), The Christian Year and the Christian Life, 261.
Candlish (J. S.), The Work of the Holy Spirit, 106.
Cox (S.), The House and its Builder, 93.
Davison (W. T.), The Indwelling Spirit, 137.
Gore (C.), Romans, i. 321.
Hull (E. L.), Sermons, iii. 1.
Jackson (G.), Memoranda Paulina, 240.
Jay (W.), Short Discourses, ii. 639.
Maurice (F. D.), Sermons preached in Country Churches, 80.
Meyer (F. B.), Present Tenses, 101.
Moore (E. W.), The Spirit's Seal, 123.
Murray (A.), The Ministry of Intercession, 116.
New (G.), Sermons preached in Hastings, 147.
Nicoll (W. R.), Ten-Minute Sermons, 19.
Tholuck (A.), Hours of Christian Devotion, 199.
Vallings (J. F.), The Holy Spirit of Promise, 138.
Westcott (B. F.), The Historic Faith, 103.
70
How TO Pray as we Ought.
In like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity : for we know not how to pray as we ought ; but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. — Rom. viii. 26.
The subject contains two parts — our own prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit in us. St. Paul speaks of two ways in which the Holy Spirit works in us — by helping our infirmity, and by making intercession for us. Obviously the work of the Holy Spirit comes first; we cannot even begin to pray without His Divine inspiration. St. Paul starts from this point — " The Spirit helpeth our infirmity."
We shall, therefore, take two main divisions — I. The Intercession of the Spirit. II. Our Prayer.
The Ini'ercession of the Spirit.
1. Let us consider first of all what is the practical value to us of faith in the Holy Ghost. " The Spirit," says the Apostle, " helpeth our infirmity." It is when we faint before the mystery and the terror of the universal hfe, and of human life, that we grow most profoundly conscious of this *' infirmity," and feel most keenly that we are not wise enough, or strong enough, for the task imposed upon us by our own conscience and by the law of God ; that in and of ourselves we cannot cease to do evil and learn to do well ; that we cannot rise from imperfection to perfection. And it is just then, says St. Paul, just when we most need help and feel our need of it, that the Spirit of God " helpeth our in- firmity," that His wisdom is made perfect in our folly, His strength