Let man behold, through Christ, the infinite Father, the source of all
life and blessedness and good, and man will put God first, and find his
highest glory in acting out the prayer, "Thy will be done on earth as
it is in heaven."

But even so, we are met by the further difficulty that, unlike Christ,
we are not always sensible of being sent on any special errand into the
world. We lose what aim we have, amid the diversities of toil to which
we are compelled. We lose what breadth of view we have, amid the
multitude of trifles of which our lives are composed. We can imagine
Christ's sense of his mission, and how it could absorb him; but what in
our lots can correspond? It may indeed be true that, unlike Christ, you
have no clear idea of why God sent you into the world. Few have, but it
would seem to quite remove God from actual government of the world to
say that, therefore, he had no purpose. That glowing picture which the
apostle paints of the rising temple should forbid the doubt. Every
stone has its place and is needed. It may need to be broken and hewn,
to be polished; it may be hid in an unseen place within the wall; no
man may notice it. But the Builder meant it to be there, and it
contributes its share to the work before which the ages of eternity
shall fall in wonder; that work which is to manifest to the
principalities and powers in the heavenly places the manifold wisdom of
God. We may dismiss the doubt therefore, since God is God. We have been
made and sent here for a purpose. God's will is meaning to use us, and
it is our duty and privilege now to carry out, as far as possible, that
will of him that sent us, so far as he has made it known. And
certainly, brother man, enough of the Father's will is made known to
teach us our work.

We may rejoice to do his will as revealed _in conscience_. He has
placed within the soul of man a guide which, within certain limits, and
as applied to special acts and circumstances, infallibly indicates his
will. So far as it acts, no man can say he is ignorant; and the true
child of God will give heed and say, "This is the will of God."
Conscience will itself be re-enforced by being so regarded; and it is
practically impossible to question conscience, as to most of the
practical duties of life, without plainly hearing, "This is the way."

But we may further rejoice to do his will as revealed _in Scripture_.
Here he has gone beyond the starlight of conscience and flooded th