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world with the sunlight of his revelation. The Scriptures contain the
will of God for our salvation. They speak in no doubtful tone. We may
be as certain as Jesus was what the will of the Father is. Paul called
himself an apostle "by the will of God"; so may we. "This is the work
of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." It is the will of
God that we trust him, that we serve him, that we be holy as he is
holy, that we extend his knowledge. These are as absolute commands as
are those of the Decalogue; and the true child will take this
revelation for his guidance, and by its light will try to carry out his
Father's will.

But you may say, "Much of this direction is general, it is not specific.
What is the specific will of God for me?" I answer therefore, finally,
that we may, like Christ, rejoice to do his will as revealed _in
providence_. I have tried to show that even Christ followed where the
Father led, embraced opportunities, met new circumstances, prepared for
"the hour." And certainly we are to do so. The will of God for each one
of us is unfolded by the events of life. These are not causeless. They
are not a chance medley of good and bad. God rules: not a sparrow falls
without him. And therefore, as providence unrolls the will of God for
us, the true child is to accept and obey. Now he brings an opportunity;
now he lays a burden. Now he tries us with prosperity; now with sorrow.
Now he sends us into battle and temptation; now he lays us on beds of
pain and idleness. Now he wounds, and now he heals; the way opens under
his Divine guidance. It may lift us up, it may cast us down. As with
Christ, I say, so with us. It may give us a soul to save, it may cause
our plans to be rejected, it may lead to Gethsemane, it may translate
us to glory; but in all it is the will of him that sent us, the work he
has for us to do. In all, infinite wisdom, the Father's goodness, and
eternal righteousness move. He shows the way, and man's highest
privilege--yea, man's strength and food--is to do his will, because we
love and trust and adore him so entirely that what he wishes, that we
are glad to do.

I hold, therefore, before us Christ's joy in service as not beyond our
power to imitate; and I ask if conscience and reason do not testify
that this is the loftiest ideal in life which we can have. When we
reach heaven, this will be realized. But here, in the desert, now, in
this world of sin, is the time to begin. I do not