REVELATION ii. lo 93
the other — meeting small temptations every hour, so that watch- fulness must never be relaxed; when no sooner is one wrong- doing laid in the grave than another rises up, so that, the sword of life is never in the scabbard ; when we know that this will go on for years till death comes — then, not to give way to angry weariness, not to brood over the battle, but to take it frankly as it comes, as part of the day's work ; to make of high endeavour an inward light " which makes the path before us always bright " ; to conquer the chill of custom and the weight of commonplace, and be inspired always by an inward thought ; to pour into life such love of God and man that all things will grow beautiful and worthy to be done; and to look forward, persevering to the last —
From well to better, daily self-surpast,
this is to be faithful unto death, and for these things there is " the crown of life."
^ Wherever a man's post is, whether he has chosen it of his own will, or whether he has been placed at it by his commander, there it is his duty to remain and face the danger, without think- ing of death, or of any other thing, except dishonour.^
^ I rejoiced in God, and made my complaint to Him, because He permitted me to undergo such afflictions ; yet the recompense was great ; for almost always, afterwards. His mercies descended upon me in great abundance. The soul seemed to come forth as gold out of the crucible, most refined, and made glorious to behold, our Lord dwelling within it. These trials afterwards are light^ though they once seemed to be unendurable ; and the soul longs to undergo them again, if that be more pleasing to our Lord. And though trials and persecutions increase, yet, if we bear them without offending our Lord, rejoicing in suffering for His sake, it will be all the greater gain.^
^ A missionary is seated in the courtyard of an Indian house. In a circle opposite is a native family — husband, wife, sister, and some children. They are the first-fruits of a year's toil in Armur, and have come now for the seal and test of their faith — baptism.
" Why do you wish baptism ? " we asked of them.
" Because we belong to Jesus. Did not He die for us ? We are His."
" But if you are baptized, great trouble will assuredly come.
^ Plato, The Apology of Socrates, cap. 16 (Church's trans., p. 56). a The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus (ed. 1911), 278.
94 FIDELITY AND ITS REWARD
You will be out-casted. When neglected and persecuted by old friends what will you do ? "
" We believe in Him. Will He not help us ? "
" How long will you serve Him ? "
Glad and spontaneous was the answer from all three: " Chachudaka— Till death." ^
Triumphant Love, oh, keep us pure By Thine own passion to endure, Till every heart in Thine shall beat — Our Sun, our Shadow from the heat — And no false sun or shade allure !
Let never a dream of hate immure Our life within its prison secure, Nor Self its treadmill-round repeat, Triumphant Love !
If Thou to hardship now enure The soul, in this life's overture To greater music, we entreat That we, through darkness, death, defeat, May triumph in Thy triumph sure, Triumphant Love ! ^
1 G. M. Kerr, in The Foreign Field, Dec. 1910. * Annie Matlieson, Maytime Sc/ags, 15.
Victory and Intimacy.
Literature.
Alexander (S. A.), The Saint's Appeal, 67.
Banks (L. A.), John and his Friends, 206.
Belfrage (H.), Sacramental Addresses and Meditations, 403.
Bonar (H.), Light and Truth : The Revelation, 107.
Brown (C), The Letters of Christ, 47.
Burns (D.), Sayings in Symbol, 72.
Burrell (D. J.), The Cloister Book, 45.
Foster (J. M.), The White Stone, 1.
Fraser (D.), Seven Promises Expounded, 20.
Hall (N.), in The World's Cheat Sermons, vi. 87.
Hamilton (J.), Faith in God, 352.
Huntington (F. D.), Christian Believing and Living, 185.
Jones (T.), The Divine Order, 161.
Laird (J.), Memorials, 231.
MacDonald (Q.), Unspoken Sermons, i. 100.
Mackay (W. M.), Bible Types of Modern Men^ 299.
Maclaren (A.), Expositions : Epistles of John to Revelation, 205.
„ „ Sermons Preached in Manchester, iii. 75.
„ „ The Unchanging Christ, 223.
Macmillan (H.), The Daisies of Nazareth, 125. Macpherson (D.), Last Words, 51. Matheson (G.), Moments on the Mount, 195. Neale (J. M.), Sermons on the Apocalypse, 18. Temple (W.), Repton School Sermons, 223. Thomas (J.), Myrtle Street Pulpit, iii. 268. Trench (R. C), Commentary on the Epistles to the Seven Churches in Asia,
137. Workman (W. P.), in A Booh of Lay SerrMns, 145. Christian World Pulpit, xiv. 293 (M. Lucas) ; liii. 117 (W. T. Davison). Examiner, Jan. 5, 1905 (J. H. Jowett). Expositor, 1st Ser., ii. 433 (E. H. Plumptre). Expositw and Current Anecdotes, xv. (1914) 307 (A. W. Lewis).
Victory and Intimacy.
To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it. — Rev. ii. 17.