If you
answer, "But we are so slandered, and neglected, and misunderstood,
and hard-worked, and ill-treated; we have no time to enjoy ourselves,
or do the things which we should like best. How can we be joyful?" I
answer: So were the Apostles. They knew that they would be a
hundred times as much slandered, and neglected, and misunderstood, as
you can ever be; that they would have far less time to enjoy
themselves, far less opportunity of doing the things which they liked
best, than you can ever have; they knew that misery, and persecution,
and a shameful death were before them, and yet they were joyful and
full of gladness, blessing and praising God. And why should you not
be? For what was true for them is true for you. They had no
blessing, no hope, but what you have just as good a right to as they
had. They were joyful, because God was their Father, and God is your
Father. They were joyful because they and all men belonged to God's
family; and you belong to it. They were joyful, because God's Spirit
was promised to them, to make them like God; and God's Spirit was
promised to you. They were joyful, because a poor man was king of
heaven and earth; and that poor man, Jesus Christ, who was born at
Bethlehem, is as much your King now as He was theirs then.
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