This does not deny what has been described in the life of a Christian as a " continual exchange of care for peace," but it does strongly suggest that the strengthening sense of God's interest in us may depend on our having reached a point when we, by an act of the faith and will co-operating, definitely take up our burden and throw it (so the original suggests) on Him and leave it there, and pass on, lightened and no longer bowed down under the weight of it. So much so may this be true that now, to turn to St. Paul's words, we add to our " prayer and supplication " thanksgiving, even before we see the fruit of our act, because we are as sure that He has taken from us as that we have cast on Him the burden of our care.
\ A young lady had consecrated herself to the work of missions, and was about to go to India. Just at that point, an accident disabled her mother, and the journey had to be deferred. For three years she ministered at that bedside, until the mother died, leaving as her last request that she should go and visit her sick sister in the far West. She went, intending to sail for India im- mediately on her return ; but she found the sister dying of
^ Isaac Penington.
I50 HUMAN ANXIETY AND DIVINE CARE
consumption, and without proper attendance : and once more she waited until the end came. Again her face was turned eastward, when the sister's husband died, and five little orphans had no soul on earth to care for them but herself. " No more projects for going to the heathen," she wrote. " This lonely household is my mission." Fifteen years she devoted to her young charge ; and, in her forty-fifth year, God showed her why He had held her back from India, as she laid her hand in blessing on the heads of three of them ere they sailed as missionaries to the same land to which, twenty years before, she had proposed to go. Her broken plan had been replaced by a larger and a better one. One could not go, but three went in her stead : a good interest for twenty years.^
1 M. B. Vincent, God and Bread, 160.
The Unfolding of Character.
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Literature.
Binney (T.), Sermons in King's JFeigh-House Chapel, 1st Ser., 138. CampLell (J. McL.), Responsibility for the Gift of Eternal Life, 161.
„ (J. M.), Sermons and Lectures, ii. 30. Gibson (J. M.), The Glory of Life on Earth, 53. Gregg (J.), Sermons in Trinity Church, Dublin, ii. 298. Hanson (C), in Four Prize Sermons, 1, How (W. W.), Plain Words, ii. 161. Howard (H.), The Summits of the Soul, 3. Iveracli (J.), The Other Side of Greatness, 102. Jowett (B.), Sermons Biographical and Miscellaneous, 44. Keble (J.), Sermons for the Christian Year : Sermons after Trinity, i. 1. Little (W. J. K.), The Journey of Life, 23. Macgregor (G. H. C), A Holy Life and How to Live it, 33. Mcllveen (J.), Christ and the Christian Life, 85. Mackennal (A.), The Life of Christian Consecration, 48. Mackintosh (H. R.), Life on God's Plan, 228. Maclaren (A.), Expositions : 1 and 2 Peter and 1 John, 198. Macmillan (H.), The Mystery of Grace, 100. Matheson (G.), Moments on the Mount, 139. Miller (J.), Sermons Literary and Scientific, ii. 378. Moule (H. C. G.), From Sunday to Sunday, 59. Newton (J.), The Problem of Personality, 265. Pearse (M. G.), Short Talks for the Times, 94. Porter (N.), Yale College Sermons (1871-1886), 332, 353 Robertson (S.), The Rope of Hair, 172. Scott (C. A.), Christian Character Building, 7. Skrine (J. H.), A Goodly Heritage, 60. Sniellie (A.), In the Hour of Silence, 312. Thomas (W. H. G.), The Apostle Peter, 252. Watkinson (W. L.), Studies in Christian Character, ii. 73. Wilberforce (B.), Sanctification by the Truth, 129. „ „ The Secret of the Quiet Mind, 29.
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The Unfolding of Character.
Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue ; and in your virtue knowledge ; and in your knowledge temperance ; and in your temperance patience ; and in your patience godli- ness ; and in your godliness love of the brethren ; and in your love of the brethren love.— 2 Pet. i. 5-7.
The writer had set forth in the previous verses the great doctrine that God has given to us in Christ Jesus all things pertaining to life and godliness, and that the form in which this is given is that of exceeding great and precious promises, in order that by these we should be partakers of the Divine nature. After having set forth the things revealed in Christ, he considers how it is, in what particular condition of living it is, that we become partakers of these. The fulness that is in Christ is one thing; the actual enjoyment of that fulness by us personally is another. The 5th, 6th, and 7th verses contain an exhortation by complying with which we shall receive of that fulness.
1. "Giving all diligence." The first thing on which our attention is fixed is this, that the Christian life is an active life — one which contains in it a continual call for watchfulness and activity. It is not a condition of mere repose or of simple receiving ; but there will be a continued activity connected with that receiving. A demand upon the whole man, upon the whole time of the whole man, is implied in the word " all " — " giving all diligence."