dom with entreaty, and
not with contention, and keeps it by lowliness of mind: in God alone
it can rejoice, though none else regard it, or can own its life: it is
conceived in sorrow, and brought forth without any to pity it; nor
doth it murmur at grief and oppression: it can never rejoice but
through sufferings; for with the world's joy it is murdered: I found
it alone, being forsaken; I have fellowship therein with them who
lived in dens, and desolate places in the earth, who through death
obtained this resurrection and eternal holy life.'

That is why this story has a happy ending. A made-up story might have
left James Nayler at home with his wife and children. But, after all
he had suffered, he may have been too tired to bear much joy on earth.
Besides, how could he have borne for those dear ones to see the
condemning 'B' burned on his forehead? and the other scars and signs
of his terrible punishments, how could they have borne to see them?

Was it not better that the end came as it did by the roadside near
Huntingdon?

Only remember always, that what we call the end is itself only the
beginning.

Think how thankful James Nayler must have been to lay down the tired,
scarred body in which he had sinned and suffered, while his spirit,
strengthened, purified, and cleansed by all he had endured, was set
free to serve in the larger, fuller life beyond. James Nayler's
difficult school-days were over at last on this little earth, where we
are set to learn our lessons. Like the other prodigal son he had gone
to receive his own welcome from the Father's heart in the Father's
Home.

* * * * *

Why have I told you this story--'the saddest story of all'? A parable
will explain it best. Imagine that ever since the beginning of Time
there has been a great big looking-glass with the sun shining down
upon it. Then imagine that that looking-glass has been broken up into
innumerable fragments, and that one bit is given to each human soul,
when it is born on earth, to keep and to hold at the right angle, so
that it can still reflect the sun's beams. That is something like the
truth that George Fox discovered for himself and preached all over
England. He called it the doctrine of 'The Inner Light.' To all the
hungering, thirsting, sinful, ignorant men and women in England he
gave the same message: 'There is that of God within you, that can
reflect Him. You can hear His Voice speaking in your hear