. They are not so striking
and masterful as deeds of judgment and wrath might be--they need a
quicker eye, a purer heart to discern; but they are not less
significant of the fact that He liveth who was dead, and that He is
alive for evermore. And these are sufficient, not only because of the
transformations which are effected, but because of their moral quality,
to show that there is One within the vail who lives in the power of an
indissoluble life.

III. A NEW BEATITUDE.--"Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended
in Me." Our Lord put within the reach of his noble Forerunner the
blessedness of those who have not seen and yet have believed; of those
who trust though they are slain; of those who wait the Lord's leisure;
and of those who cannot understand his dealings, but rest in what they
know of his heart. This is the beatitude of the unoffended, of those
who do not stumble over the mystery of God's dealings with their life.

This blessedness is within our reach also. There are times when we are
overpowered with the mystery of life and nature. The world is so full
of pain and sorrow, the litany of its need is so sad and pitiful,
strong hearts are breaking under an intolerable load; while the battle
seems only to the strong and the race to those who, by some mysterious
providence, come of a healthy, though not specially moral or religious,
stock. And if the incidence of pain and sorrow on the world be
explained by its ungodliness, why does nature groan and travail? why
are the forest glades turned into a very shambles? why does creation
seem to achieve itself through the terrific struggle for survival?

God's children are sometimes the most bitterly tried. For them the
fires are heated seven times; days of weariness and nights of pain are
appointed them; they suffer, not only at the hand of man, but it seems
as though God Himself were turned against them, to become their enemy.
The heavens seem as brass to their cries and tears, and the enemy has
reason to challenge them with the taunt, "Where is now your God!" The
waters of a full cup are wrung out in days like these; and the cry is
extorted, "How long, O Lord, how long?"

You and I have been in this plight. We have said, "Hath God forgotten
to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up his tender mercies?" From our
prison-cell we send up the appeal to our Brother in the glory: "Help
us; for if Thou leavest us to our fate, we shall question if Thou ar