them.
The Kingdom of God was forming in their souls, for ever disappointing
them by the unreal, and teaching them that what is spiritual, and
belongs to mind and character alone can be eternal.

We will illustrate this principle from the common walks of life. The
principle is, that the reward we get is not the reward for which we
worked, but a deeper one; deeper and more permanent. The merchant
labours all his life, and the hope which leads him on is perhaps
wealth: well, at sixty years of age he attains wealth; is that the
reward of sixty years of toil? Ten years of enjoyment, when the senses
can enjoy no longer--a country seat, splendid plate, a noble
establishment? Oh, no! a reward deeper than he dreamed of. Habits of
perseverance: a character trained by industry: that is his reward. He
was carried on from year to year by, if he were wise, illusion; if he
were unwise, delusion; but he reaped a more enduring substance in
himself.

Take another instance: the public man, warrior, or statesman, who has
served his country, and complains at last in bitter disappointment,
that his country has not fulfilled his expectations in rewarding
him--that is, it has not given him titles, honours, wealth. But
titles, honours, wealth--are these the rewards of well-doing? can they
reward it? would it be well-doing if they could? To _be_ such a man,
to have the power of _doing_ such deeds, what could be added to that
reward by having? This same apparent contradiction, which was found in
Judaism, subsists too in Christianity; we will state it in the words
of an apostle: "Godliness is profitable for all things; having the
promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come."
Now for the fulfilment: "If in this life only we have hope in Christ,
then are we of all men most miserable."

Godliness is profitable; but its profit it appears, consists in
finding that all is loss: yet in this way you teach your son. You will
tell him that if he will be good all men will love him. You say that
"Honesty is the best policy." yet in your heart of hearts you know
that you are leading him on by a delusion. Christ was good. Was he
loved by all? In proportion as he--your son--is like Christ, he will
be loved, not by the many, but by the few. Honesty is _not_ the best
_policy_; the commonplace honesty of the market-place may be--the
vulgar honesty which goes no further than paying debts accurately; b