hip that is empty is tossed upon
the ocean, that which is well laden is steady. The heart that has
Christ for a passenger need not fear being rocked by any storm.
Calmness will come with the vision of the Lord, and we shall abide or
'remain,' for there will be no need for us to flee from this Refuge
to that, nor shall we be driven from our secure abode by any
contingencies. 'He that believeth shall not make haste.'

It is a good thing to cultivate the disposition that says about most
of the trifles of this life, 'It does not much matter'; but the only
way to prevent wholesome contempt of the world's trivialities from
degenerating into supercilious indifference is, to base it upon
Christ, discerned as near us and bestowing upon us the calmness of
His risen life. Make Him your scale of importance, and nothing will
be too small to demand and be worthy of the best efforts of your
work, but nothing will be too great to sweep you away from the
serenity of your faith.

Again, the vision of the risen Christ will also lead to patient
persistence in duty. If we have Him before us, the distasteful duty
which He sets us will not be distasteful, and the small tasks, in
which great faithfulness may be manifested, will cease to be small.
If we have Him before us we have in that risen Christ the great and
lasting Example of how patient continuance in well-doing triumphs
over the sorrows that it bears, by and in patiently bearing them, and
is crowned at last with glory and honour. The risen Christ is the
Pattern for the men who will not be turned aside from the path of
duty by any obstacles, dangers, or threats. The risen Christ is the
signal Example of glory following upon faithfulness, and of the crown
being the result of the Cross. The risen Christ is the manifest
Helper of them that put their trust in Him; and one of the plainest
lessons and of the most imperative commands which come from the
believing gaze upon that Lord who died because He would do the will
of the Father, and is throned and crowned in the heavens because He
died, is--By patient continuance in well-doing let us commit the
keeping of our souls to Him: and abide in the calling wherewith we
are called.

And, again, the sight of the risen Christ leads to a life of calm
expectancy. 'If I will that He _tarry_ till I come' conveys that
shade of meaning. The Apostle was to wait for the Lord from Heaven,
and that vision which was given to these 500 men sent them home to