^ George MacDonald.
^ E. H. Lovell , First Tyjtes of the Christian Life, 281.
2 PETER III. i8 213
roots to the very top of the tree. Every ring represents a year ; and so from the number of the rings I can tell the age of the tree. Now, it is not quite so easy as that to mark your growth in grace. It is true, however, that very often the face bears traces of the growing goodness within. But when a man grows out of old, doubtful friendships, when he grows out of old habits that were not lovely — habits of idleness, impatience, exaggeration, spitefulness, deceit, pettishness — then I know that man is growing in grace.^
When passing southward, I may cross the line Between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans,
I may now know, by any test of mine,
By any startling signs or strange commotions Across my track.
But if the days grow sweeter, one by one,
And e'en the icebergs melt their hardened faces,
And sailors linger, basking in the sun,
I know I must have made the change of places. Some distance back.
When, answering timidly the Master's call, I passed the bourne of life in coming to Him,
When in my love for Him I gave up all;
The very moment when I thought I knew Him, I cannot tell.
But, as unceasingly I feel His love;
As this cold heart is melted to o'erflowing, As now so clear the light comes from above,
I wonder at the change, and pass on, knowing That all is well.
3. Another test of growth is power to resist temptation. — They say that the sea has welded together by its continuous action the stones that form Plymouth Breakwater. When first they were tipped into the ocean, and each was a separate stone, the ocean might have carried them away ; but now the waters have com- pacted them into a solid mass that nothing can move. Change the figure : a newly planted young tree a boy may root up ; no man can root up the oak that has grown for fifty years. Growth so roots us and grounds us that storms which would once have caused us terror come only as music.
' A. A. Cooper, Ood's Fo-rget-me-not, 44.
214 GROWTH
^f Principal Eainy's son, the late Mr. Eolland Eainy, M.P., once said that he never saw his father out of temper, never even momentarily perturbed during the appalling troubles through which the Free Church was called to pass when the decision of the House of Lords threatened to ruin her. " How do you manage to control yourself ? " he asked the Principal one day ; " do you know, I never remember seeing you bursting into a passion?"* " My son," was the reply, " I once lost my temper atrociously in public, and I made such a fool of myself and did such damage to the cause which I represented that I resolved, for my own soul's sake and for Christ's sake, never again to commit such folly and sin ; and I prayed the Lord to help me to keep my vow. By His grace I have been able to set a watch before the door of my lips." ^
4. But there is no test of growth so easily applied as heauty of character. — It is a test which we ourselves may not be able to apply ; its very existence is dependent on our unconsciousness of its existence. But it is the test beyond every other which others apply to us. And it is the most conclusive.
^ Some years ago, a member of one of my former congrega- tions, a Christian woman of refinement and of great consecration, went to stay in the home of her sister in the country, where she had not stayed for many years. Her sister was a woman of the world, engrossed in worldly pleasures and interests. When my friend was leaving the home, after a stay of two weeks, her sister, taking her by the hand, and looking into her face, said, " I do not understand your religion, but I will tell you one thing; it has made you far easier to live with." ^
^ Liddon had that which we call " distinction." You might agree with him, or not agree ; you might criticize and discuss his gifts; but, anyhow, he had the quality of speciality. In any roomful of men, his presence was felt with a distinct and rare impression. If he let himself speak, his voice, manner, style, articulation, arrested you ; you wanted to listen to him, whoever else was speaking ; his phrases, his expressions, caught your ear. Here was somebody notable ; so you knew. He stood out from his fellows ; there was a flavour in his company which was unique. And this impression is one which belonged to character ; it was not the result of any particular and separate gift, but it made itself known through them all.*
^ British Weekly.
" G. Campbell Morgan, The Simple Things of the Christiwn Life, 63.
' H. Scott Holland, Personal Studies, 140.
Fellowship in the Light.
«5
Literature.
Arnot (W.), The Anchor of the Soul, 244.
Banks (L. A.), John and his Friends, 21.
Butler (A.), Sermons, i. 326.