e that Jesus is as intensely alive to everything that we do as He
was when He visibly walked with men--that Jesus is as easily aware
of our inmost thoughts and endeavours now as He was of the secret
thoughts of His disciples,--then we shall have brought Him much
closer into our own life.

As the possessor of life is not the student of schools, but is the pupil
of Christ, let us prepare ourselves to be pupils; and this again we do
solely by the help of the Man-Jesus, who is in Christ, and Christ in
Jesus. For the Christ-God is at first too strong a meat for us: we
cannot with fullness understand that He is God, but He Himself will
teach us this when we are ready to know it. To know this truth in its
fullness is already to possess eternal life.

As no man is able to give us eternal life, so no man is able to give us
the knowledge that Christ is God, as He willed to reveal Himself to
man. If we have doubts which hurt, let us drop them out, changing
the thought quickly to the sweetness, simplicity, and gentleness of
the Man-Jesus. If we have questionings, let us cease to question, and
say with the man of old, "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief."

We do well to avoid these questionings, pryings, and curiosities, for
when we indulge in such things we are like that common servant
who does not disdain to peep through the keyhole of his master's
chamber! Let us put such spiritual vulgarities upon one side, and,
opening our heart to lovely Love, take Him as our only guide. Love
draws us very rapidly to His own abiding-place, for we are made of
love, and because of love, and for love, and to Love we must return,
for He awaits us with longing.

* * *

We often think, Where am I at fault? I am unable to _see_ myself as
a sinner, though publicly I confess myself to be one. For I keep the
commandments; I am friendly to my neighbours; I am just to my
fellow-men; I can think of no particular harm that I do. Why, then,
am I a sinner? And our very modesty and reverence may forbid us to
compare ourselves with God. Yet here lies our mistake; for if we
would enter the Garden of Happiness and Peace, which is the
Kingdom of God, this is the commencement of our advance--that we
should compare ourselves in all things with God, in whose likeness
we are made, and, making such full observation as we are able of the
terrible gulfs between ourselves and Him, should with tears and
humility and constant endeavour be at great pains and stre