r us as a man continually under the
strongest pressure, with a work to do which he was eager to accomplish
in the shortest possible time. He was always calm, never in nervous
haste, yet ever quietly moving with resistless energy on his holy
errand.

We ought to catch our Master's spirit in this celerity in the Father's
business. Time is short and duty is large. There is not a moment to
lose, if, in our allotted period, we would finish the work that is
given us to do. We need to get our Lord's "straightway" into our life,
so that we shall hasten from duty to duty, without pause or idle
lingering. We need to get into our heart a consciousness of being ever
on the Master's errands, that shall be within us a mighty compulsion,
driving us always to duty.

Naturally we are indolent, and fond of ease and self indulgence. We
need to be carried out of and beyond ourselves. There is no motive
strong enough to do this but love to God and to our fellow-men.
Supreme love to God makes us desire to do with alacrity everything he
commands. Love to our fellow-men draws us to all service of sympathy
and beneficence for them, regardless of cost. Constrained by such
motives, we shall never become laggards in duty.

Swiftness or slowness in duty is very much a matter of habit. As one
is trained in early life, one is quite sure to continue in mature
years. A loitering child will become a loitering man or woman. The
habit grows, as all habits do.

"Lose this day loitering, 'twill be the same story
To-morrow, and the next more dilatory;
The indecision brings its own delays,
And days are lost, lamenting o'er lost days.

"Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute.
What you can do, and think you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, magic in it.
Only engage, and then the mind grows heated;
Begin it, and the work will be completed."

Many people lose in the aggregate whole years of time out of their
lives for want of system. They make no plan for their days. They let
duties mingle in inextricable confusion. They are always in feverish
haste. They talk continually of being overwhelmed with work, of the
great pressure that is upon them, of being driven beyond measure. They
always have the air of men who have scarcely time to eat or sleep. And
there is nothing feigned in all their intense occupation. They really
are hurried men. Yet in the end they accomplish but little in
comparison with their