ed life shall be yours.

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree." [7]

"Their souls shall be as a watered garden." [8]

It is the man "whose delight is in the law of the Lord" who not only
"bringeth forth his fruit in his season," but also when the time for
freshness and life and growth seems over,

"They shall still bring forth fruit in old age." [9]

Not only "created in Christ Jesus unto good works," but perpetually
recreated in him, from hour to hour, from year to year. Has he not
said: "I will be as the dew unto Israel"? [10] No more age for them,
thus dwelling in "the power of an endless life";[11] no empty hands,
for those who "have all things, and abound." [12] No disgust of life
or hopelessness of labour for servants who every now and then--from the
midst of their work--follow the Master (but only him) "apart to rest
awhile," [13] "A stranger will they not follow." You have seen such
people; you may see them every now and then; with smooth brows and
sweet faces and eyes full of the peace of God.

"And I said, This is the rest, and this is the refreshing." [14]

I am persuaded, that without this, all forms of recreation that can be
tried will be but as quack medicines, giving a temporary relief, only
to be followed by a sorer need. And while there are a hundred lawful,
sweet, wholesome means of rest at our disposal, I believe that even
they will fail if used alone. And if you throw in all unlawful
pleasures also, the failure will but be the more complete, "All my
springs are in thee," [15] and these other things are but channels
through which may flow the loving kindness of the Lord. From him comes
all your skill to study, your power to sing: the ingenious fancy, the
quick intellect, the deft hand, are all his gift. In this exquisite
world of his wherein you work, his power, his care, his laws are around
you as surely when you play as when you work. So that you can walk
with Christ always, as you are meant to do; looking up to him from
relaxation as from labour, thus missing the intoxication of the one and
forgetting the toil of the other.

Now whatever lawful things such a disciple may "amuse" himself with,
you can see at once that for even the doubtful he could have no relish;
counting them but as a draught from that "troubled sea whose waters
cast up mire and dirt." [16] Neither would he come to his recreations
tired of life, nor because his daily round had turned to "white of
egg