your aspiration after higher manhood? "Yes, that I have still; but, then, I have no funds; I have no homestead; I have nothing before me." Nothing before you! You have the kingdom of God Almighty before you. You have all glory before you. If you have saved truth, and conscience, and love, and manhood, and faith, do not envy any one. The wealth of the world will pass away very soon, but what bankruptcy can come over the exchequer of God? And you are heirs of God. You did not stand in your own light when you refused to yield to temptation. Are there any young men here who think it is not profitable to serve God? Which will you take, the prosperous Jew, or the despised Christ? See what each of them was in his own time-the one clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day, flattered, feasted; the other poor, neglected, cast out, persecuted. But which would you rather be to-day? In the long fight, which had the strongest arm? Where is the Jew to-day? and where is Christ? Look up for the Prince and Savior! Look down for his enemies! Take heart, then. Do not think that a man has thrown his life away because he has not silver and gold. You will get, perhaps, more of these than you expect; but whether you get a penny or not, you will get transcendently more in that life which is near at the door. For you that life is nearer than you think. Many of you will go before another year rolls around, and will put to proof my words in the kingdom of your Father. But others still suffer. Are there none here that suffer for their children? I stood in the public burning-place at Oxford, where the old reformers were burned, and with inexpressible feelings I went back in thought and history to their time; but I have seen cases of martyrs that were burned at the stake which were much more piteous than these. I have seen many a woman who, because she would not betray fealty, and because she could not yield love, was day and night burned at the stake of an intemperate husband, bound to him, suffering more than he suffered, covering his shame, hiding his faults, repairing his mistakes, studying his welfare, pouring out her life for his worthless life. And if there are such martyrs here to-day, I say to them, Do not be discouraged. You are following in the steps of the great Victor, who by defeat was victorious. Remember that Christ gained his victory by patient waiting in suffering. Remember what by his servant he said, "No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." Is there not here many a heart that is sorrowing in family matters? Are there not many of you who are conscious that you are bound with bonds and cords from which you could only release yourself by rending what are called the decencies and proprieties of life? Are there not those here who are bearing the yoke and suffering for a parent, a brother, a sister, an orphan, some helpless or dependent one? You who are yielding your opportunities, and joys, and life for another, patiently, are carrying the cross of Christ. Yes, and it is Christ in you that is inspiring you to do that, and saying to you," Child, a little while longer lose your life. Do not be afraid to be lavish of it. Pour it out. Do not be economical. Lose it, lose it, and you shall save it unto life eternal." Who are they that I see triumphing in the heavenly host? They that lived in ceiled houses? They that walked the earth with crowns upon their heads? They that knew no sorrow? No. "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb;" they that cried from under the altar, "How long, O Lord, how long?"-these are they that stand highest in the kingdom of God. Heaven is just before And many of you that seem to have a long and weary path of suffering will soon be done with your period of trial, and will rise to honor and glory in Christ Jesus. Oh, that I could pour in upon the young the majesty and the sanctity of living for the invisible; that is to say, for honor, and truth, and fidelity! Oh, that I could make you feel how essentially brittle, how friable, how perishable are all material sources of strength! God is the centre of life, and spiritual realities are the only things that will endure. Stone, and iron, and silver, and gold, and timber, and cities, and nations, and outward things are but pictures, painted soon to fade away; while truth, and love, and fidelity, and purity shall last forever and forever. May it please God, then, when we rise in the morning of the resurrection, to let shine upon us the hope of our coming glory, that, when we enter heaven, our faces may be as the stars on the horizon, bright, and still rising into greater beauty, so that we may evermore shine as the brightness of the firmament. |