we die without adding
to that grief the far bitterer torment of remorse!

Oh, young people, young people, listen to what I say! You can be, you
will be, you must be, the builders of your own good or bad fortunes. On
_you_ it depends whether your lives shall be honourable and happy, or
dishonourable and sad. There is no such thing as luck or fortune in this
world. What is called Fortune is nothing else than the orderly and
loving providence of the Lord Jesus Christ, who orders all things in
heaven and earth, and who will, sooner or later, reward every man
according to his works. Just in proportion as you do the will of your
Father in heaven, just so far will doing His will bring its own blessing
and its own reward.

Instead of hoping for good fortune which may never come, or fearing bad
fortune which may never come either, pray, each of you, for the Holy
Spirit of God, the Spirit of right-doing, which _is_ good fortune in
itself; good fortune in this world; and in the world to come, everlasting
life. Fear God and keep His commandments, and all will be well. For who
is the man who is master of his own luck? The Psalmist tells us, in
Psalm xv., "He that leadeth an uncorrupt life, and doeth the thing which
is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart." "He that backbiteth
not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a
reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is
contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord: he that sweareth to
his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to
usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent."

Whoso doeth these things shall _never fall_. And as long as you are
doing those things, you may rejoice freely and heartily in your youth,
believing that the smile of God, who gave you the power of being happy,
is on your happiness; and that your heavenly Father no more grudges
harmless pleasure to you, than He grudges it to the gnat which dances in
the sunbeam, or the bird which sings upon the bough. For He is The
Father,--and what greater delight to a father than to see his children
happy, if only, while they are happy, they are _good_?

XX. GOD'S BEAUTIFUL WORLD.--A SPRING SERMON.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great: thou
art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light
as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: who
layet