gering questions these, to the soul that is ignorant; but the soul
that is wise, the soul that is really under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, has its answer ready.

"I do not know whether I have done this or not. I know not if my life
is changed for the better, or if I am living more as Christ would have
me live than I did a year ago. Moreover, I am not concerned to give
you, God's enemy and mine, any answer to these questions. I have no
account to render to you. But one thing I know; {201} when I sin I can
come back to Him. I kneel at His feet, I put my hands in His, I look
up into those eyes brimming with love, and I say, 'Dear Lord, here is
my poor heart all full of sin again; I lay it at Thy feet. Wash it in
Thy Precious Blood, and make me strong to serve Thee better. I am
sorry and I purpose to amend, but I am weak. Be Thou my strength;
fight Thou against them that fight against me, and let me be the victor
in the end.' I speak thus to Him, and leave it all with Him. I sin
again, and again I come and kneel at His feet; and though I have to
come daily to Him with the same burden, His embrace is never less
tender, His words not less sweet, His eyes are ever full of the same
old love.

"Am I amending my life? I know not,--He knows. Is my soul a saintlier
thing than it was a year ago? I know not,--He knows. All I know is
that I love Him, and I want to love Him more; and that when I think on
Him my heart is at peace."

[1] 1 Tim. i, 15.

[2] 1 St. John i, 8 and 10.

[3] Ps. xci, 11.

[4] St. Luke xii, 32.

[5] St. John xiv, 27.

[6] Heb. xiii, 5.

[7] Joel ii, 13.

[8] Dan. ix, 9, 10.

[9] St. John vi, 37.

[10] 1 St. John i, 7.

[11] Ps. ciii, 17.

[12] Phil. iii, 13-14.

[13] 1 Cor. ix, 27.

[14] _Vid._ Webster.

{202}

CHAPTER XIII

THE GROUND FOR CHRISTIAN COURAGE

In His instructions to His disciples, while not hiding from them what
were to be the hardships and, as the world counts it, loss, that must
accompany His service, our Lord was ever full of words of
encouragement. He strove always to show them that while the following
of Him was not what the natural heart would look for as a flowery path,
yet, if understood aright, His yoke was easy and His burden light, and
that those who bore it would find rest for their souls.[1]

Particularly in His last discourse to them He sets forth repeated words
of encouragement. Twice He used those words of tender assura