ips to the great Creator before the coming
of days when infirmities increase, and decay of natural powers sets in.
The practical outcome of that thought is, that postponement only adds
to one's difficulties when the battle really has to be fought.

Amongst those difficulties the sacred writer places that natural
foreboding, physical shrinking and hesitation which paralyse men when,
after lives spent in sin and selfish indulgence, they desire to make
their peace with God; for, says he, 'They shall be afraid of that which
is high, and _fears shall be in the way_'. The imaginary obstacles
which arise in people's minds, seeming to make holy living impossible,
are varied in character, but I see that many are influenced by fears
and feelings concerning things which I class under the headings of
'Circumstances and Consequences'.

How often, when giving earnest advice, one gets the response, 'My
circumstances are against me', 'Placed as I am, it cannot be', or 'The
consequences are too serious', 'The price of the blessing is too high'.
Even with persons who have no doubt as to the possibility of a clean
heart and sanctification of life, these thoughts operate; and we find
the fear of circumstances hindering one, and the fear of consequences
influencing another, so that they are held back from definitely seeking
the blessing. True, in many instances, the idea is a delusion, a snare
of the Devil, by which souls are kept out of God's Full Salvation; but,
there is the fact--'fears are in the way'.

Fear is like a great magnifying-glass; or one of those mirrors which
give a distorted image of things reflected in them. This effect is
often produced in persons both as regards their own circumstances and
the consequences of following the leadings of God's Spirit.

You may remember how Bunyan, in his 'Pilgrim's Progress', represents
Christian desiring to enter the House Beautiful, but suddenly he espied
two lions in the way, and was almost frightened out of his purpose
until some one told him that, if he went boldly on, and kept in the
middle of the path, he need not fear, seeing the lions were securely
chained. What an illustration of the quaking fears which hinder
definite action in regard to spiritual blessings!

1. A few words as to _circumstances_ may be helpful to some one. Let
me, however, first make one thing clear. With some people circumstances
exist which are insurmountable barriers; there are positions in the
world whic