A shadow there; But if, with eyes uplifted, we are wont
To scan^the heavenward stair the angels trod, Behind us is the shadow, and in front The light of God.i
^ E. T. Fowler, Verses Wise and Otherwise, 137. EPH.-COL. — 33
514 THE HIDDEN LIFE
2. If the affections are habitually set on things above, this is the surest evidence of being in a state of grace. In the animal world we see life manifesting itself through an immense gradation, from the sluggish and hardly perceptible animation of the zoophyte up, through that of the insect and reptile tribes, to the finer per- ceptions and sensibilities of the more perfectly organized animals, untU we reach its highest development in man. In all cases we are satisfied life is there, because the results of life are there ; but as these become increasingly distinct and manifest, as we ascend the scale of being, so our assurance of it becomes proportionately stronger. It is the same as regards the spiritual life. That life may be very feeble in some, hardly perceptible, a mere zoophytic existence ; but if it is there at all, it will show itself by its proper results, and most of all by some measure of spiritual sensibility and relish for spiritual things, the things that are above. And as the life becomes stronger, this manifestation of it will become increasingly distinct and convincing.
^ By holiness do we not mean something different from virtue ? It is not the same as duty, as religious belief. Holiness is the name for an inner grace of nature, an instinct of the soul, by which, though knowing of earthly appetites and worldly passions, the spirit, purifying itself from these and independent of all reason, arguments, and fierce struggles of the will, dwells in living, patient, and confident communion with the seen and unseen good.^
^ Our fathers understood by cultivation of the hidden life the practice of earnest prayer, reverent study of the Bible and devotional books, with meditation and endeavour to make their own by faith the life that is hid with Christ in God. Their fathers before them for nearly two thousand years used similar methods. Have we outgrown them ? Are these amongst the old-fashioned ways which we style "early Victorian," and, con- fident in our maturity, are prepared to leave behind us? The Bible — is it read, known, loved, thought and prayed and wrestled over till its deepest religious teaching is afresh assimilated ? The chief interest excited concerning it to-day is aroused by criticism, which in some directions is doing excellent service. But the Bible is essentially a book of religion, not a collection of literary documents. There is a time and a place for examination into the details of its composition, but it is as food for the hidden man of the heart that it is all-important, and it is a, question whether ^ John Morley, Miscellanies.
COLOSSIANS III. 2-4 515
the coming generation in any stratum of society knows the Bible well or appreciates its value for the world. Every Christian prays ; but how ? One who would know the hidden world of prayer must be a familiar denizen of it ; hasty and occasional visits will teach him nothing. Whilst Sir Oliver Lodge is urging the power in the spiritual world of filial communion and those aspirations and petitions which "exert an influence far beyond their conscious range," some Christians, who ought to know better, plead that work is worship, and that social reform is of more importance than " pietistic communings." These things, therefore, ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.^
The lowland road is pleasant and the upper road is steep, The lowland air is windless and its rivers sing of sleep ; When all the kine are gathered and all the pastures mowed, One should go home at evening along the lowland road.
When stalwart knees bend inward and strong-thewed shoulders
tire. When a man has wrought his utmost and followed his desire. When he has starved and feasted and borne a heavy load, How good to come at evening along the lowland road.
But if the white peaks beckon, if one be left to scale, A man should seek the mountains and shun the lowland vale; His heart will feel their prompting, and answer to the goad. And tho' the hour be evening, he'll take the upper road.
When all earth's fruits are gathered on silent field and garth. When song is at the winepress and mirth is at the hearth, There is another harvest whose seed we have not sowed — You'll find the orchards of the Lord upon the upper road.
I'm going by the upper road, for that still holds the sun; I'm climbing thro' Night's pastures, where starry rivers run ; If you should think to seek me in my old dark abode. You'll find this writing on the door — "He's on the Upper Eoad."
3. Setting the mind on things above is conducive to the right discharge of duty and the right endurance of trial. The mind accustomed to Divine contemplation looks at things not on their earthward but on their heavenward side ; or rather — may we say ?
^ W. T, Davison, The Indwelling Spirit, 301.
5i6 THE HIDDEN LIFE
— looks at the things of earth from a heavenly point of view. Duty thus is seen not simply as something that has to be done, a task that has to be performed, but as the will of the heavenly Father, which it is an honour and a privilege to His servants to be called to do. Affliction is seen to be light because it is looked at, not as among things seen and temporal, but in its relation to those things which are unseen and eternal. Thus, the man who has his "conversation in heaven," who is occupied with spiritual realities, whose treasure is in heaven, and whose heart is there also, has a power in him for the discharge of duty which the world cannot understand, and a support under trial which the world can neither give nor take away.