"--In all things proving himself a true messenger from God, by
being able to dare and to endure for God's sake, what no man ever
would have dared and endured for his own sake.
"But"--someone may say--"St. Paul was an apostle; he had a great work
to do in the world; he had to turn the heathen to God; and it is
likely enough that he required to train himself, and keep strict
watch over all his habits, and ways of thinking and behaving, lest he
should grow selfish, lazy, cowardly, covetous, fond of ease and
amusement. He had, of course, to lead a life of strange suffering
and danger; and he had therefore to train himself for it. But what
need have we to do as St. Paul did?"
Just as much need, my good friends, if you could see it.
Which of us has not to lead a life of suffering? We shall each and
all of us, have our full share of trouble before we die, doubt it
not.
And which of us has not to lead a life of danger? I do not mean
bodily danger; of that, there is little enough--perhaps too little--
in England now; but of danger to our hearts, minds, characters? Oh,
my friends, I pity those who do not think themselves in danger every
day of their lives, for the less danger they see around them, the
more danger there is.
Pages:
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74