le as an
instance of the temper which they must cherish if they are to make
anything of their Christian life. 'Just as I labour for your sakes at
this unfamiliar work of writing, so do you toil at perfecting your
Christian graces.'

Now it strikes me that we may gain some instruction if we throw together
the various objects to which in Scripture, and especially in this
letter, we are exhorted to direct this virtue of diligence, and mark how
comprehensive its range, and how, for all beauty of character and
progress in the Divine life, it is regarded as an indispensable
condition. Let us then look, first, at the homely excellence that is the
master-key to all Christian maturity and grace, and then at the various
fields in which we are to apply it.

I. Now as to the homely virtue itself, 'giving all diligence.'

We all know what 'diligence' means, but it is worth while to point out
that the original meaning of the word is not so much _diligence_ as
_haste_. It is employed, for instance, to describe the eager swiftness
with which the Virgin went to Elizabeth after the angel's salutation and
annunciation. It is the word employed to describe the murderous hurry
with which Herodias came rushing in to the king to demand John the
Baptist's head. It is the word with which the Apostle, left solitary in
his prison, besought his sole trusty companion Timothy to 'make haste so
as to come to him before winter.' Thus, the first notion in the word is
haste, which crowds every moment with continuous effort, and lets no
hindrances entangle the feet of the runner. Wise haste has sometimes to
be content to go slowly. 'Raw haste' is 'half sister to delay.' When
haste degenerates into hurry, and becomes agitation, it is weakness, not
strength; it turns out superficial work, which has usually to be pulled
to pieces and done over again, and it is sure to be followed by reaction
of languid idleness. But the less we hurry the more should we hasten in
running the race set before us.

But with this caution against spurious haste, we cannot too seriously
lay to heart the solemn motives to wise and well-directed haste. The
moments granted to any of us are too few and precious to let slip
unused. The field to be cultivated is too wide and the possible harvest
for the toiler too abundant, and the certain crop of weeds in the
sluggard's garden too poisonous, to allow dawdling to be considered a
venial fault. Little progress will be made if we do not