aiment of any who traded in that fair; few could
understand what they said; and the pilgrims set very light by all their
wares. And they did not believe them to be any other than bedlams and
mad. Therefore they took them and beat them, and besmeared them with
dirt, and then put them in the cage, that they might be made a
spectacle to all the men at the fair."

Child of God, your conflict may be altogether _hidden_ from the eyes of
those around you, _lonely_ with the awful loneliness of one in a crowd
of unsympathizing strangers, _painful_ with the tribulation that Christ
foretold. You have been ridiculed, sneered at, maligned; your tools
hidden, your goods injured, violence threatened or executed. You have
been as a speckled bird, pecked at by the birds around. But this is
the way the Master went. By these marks you may be sure that you are
in the way of His steps.

III. THE COMMON VICTORY.--"Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

In the midst of a battle, when the soldiers are weary with fatigue,
galled with fire, and grimed with smoke, if the general rides into the
midst to cheer them with a few hearty words, and tells them that the
key to the position is in their hands, they cheer him enthusiastically,
and take up new hope. So down the line our Leader and Commander sends
the encouragement of these inspiring words. Let us drink their comfort
and encouragement to the full, that, amid our tribulation, in Him we
may have peace.

_He conquered for Himself._--The Lord has shown that a great and
blessed life is possible on conditions which the world pronounces
simply unendurable. He would not accept the world's maxims, would not
be ruled by the world's principles, did despite to the world's most
favorite plans. He even tasted the dregs of reprobation that the world
metes out to those who oppose her, enduring the cross, and despising
the shame. But His life was blessed while it lasted, His name is the
dearest and fairest treasure of our race, and He holds an empire such
as none of the world's most favored conquerors ever won. Does not this
show that the world is a lying temptress, that there is another and a
better policy of life than hers, that the real sweets and prizes of
this brief existence are, after all, not in her gift. Christ has
overcome the world. Her prince came to Him, but found no response to
any of His proposals. He disregarded her flatteries and threatenings;
He would not have her