rd is to us an example. As he did, so must
we try to do. He entered into glory, by suffering shame, and yet
despising it. He submitted to be confounded before men, that He might
not be confounded in the sight of God His Father. And so must we,
sometimes, at least. Every man who makes up his mind to do right and to
be good, must expect ridicule now and then. Rich or poor, boy or man, if
you try to keep your hands clean, and your path straight, the world will
think you a fool, and will be ready enough to tell you so; for it is
cruel and insolent enough. And the more tender your heart; the more you
wish for the love and approbation of your fellow-men; the more of noble
and modest self-distrust there is in you, the more painful will that be
to you; the more you will be tempted to obey man, and not God, and to
follow after the multitude to do evil, merely to keep the peace, and live
a quiet life, and not be laughed at and tormented. And thus the fear of
man brings a snare; and naught can deliver you out of that snare, save
the opposite fear--the fear of God, which is the same as trust in God.

Joseph of old feared God when he was tempted; and said, "How can I do
this great wickedness, and sin against God?" But I doubt not there were
plenty in Egypt who would have called him a fool for his pains. There
are hundreds of gay youths in any great city--there may be a few in this
Abbey now for aught I know--who would have laughed loudly enough at
Joseph for throwing away the opportunity of what certain foolish French
have learnt to call, as its proper name, a "bonne fortune"--a piece of
good luck.--As if breaking the 7th Commandment could be aught but bad
fortune, and the cause of endless miseries in this life and the life to
come.

And it may be, as Joseph was all but confounded and brought to shame, at
least from man, when he found that all that he gained by fearing God
was--a false accusation, the very shame and contempt from which he most
shrank, danger of death, imprisonment in a dungeon.

But he was true to God, and God was true to him. He trusted in God; and
therefore he feared God: for he trusted that God's laws were just and
good, and worth obeying; and therefore he was afraid to break them. He
trusted in God; and therefore he hoped in God; for he trusted that God
was strong enough and good enough to deliver him out of prison, and make
his righteousness as clear as the light and his just dealing as the
noonda