lion, however, was not dead, but
asleep, and presently he awoke and glared at me. My soul was calm as a
summer's evening. When it pleased the Blessed Master that I should
suffer reproach and vilification for my testimony, then it was that the
river of joy which flows from the Throne flowed through my heart as
never before. It was a new experience--a quintessence of joy. The
shouts of burning martyrs were no longer a mystery. I stagger no more
at the account of the saints who took joyfully the spoiling of their
goods. My soul is bathed in an ocean of balm and ineffable joy.'

4. But I spoke also of _the safety_ of the way of Holiness. I must
speak of that more fully another time, but what I mean is this: So long
as you have the remains of sin in your heart you are exposed to a
double danger--the enemy without and the responding traitor within. One
reason why religion is so unsatisfactory to some people is that they
persist in walking on the low level where doubts often spoil their
worship and the allurements of the world pull very hard, and its siren
song makes discord in their hallelujahs. It is, of course, possible to
backslide from any level; but, believe me, the prospect of stability is
infinitely greater if you get a clean heart, and determine to walk in
the pathway of the holy.

In closing, let me quote a short prayer. David cried: 'Search me, O
God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: see if there be
any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting'. If, in
sincerity and simplicity of intention to follow Christ fully, you offer
that prayer, God will not only lead you along the way, but to the Home
of the holy.

There are, however, two little notes which you should compare in this
connexion. One refers to the passage now before us, 'The way of
Holiness'. It is said, 'The unclean shall not pass over it'. The other
refers to Heaven, and says, 'There shall in no wise enter any thing
that defileth or maketh a lie'. By connecting these two you see that
you need to be not only led along the heavenly way, but to be made fit
for the heavenly courts; and David's prayer, sincerely offered, brings
that fitness--that purity of heart which sees God and delights in the
completion of His holy will.

VIII

Circumstances and Consequences

'_And fears shall be in the way._' (Ecclesiastes xii. 5.)

The man who wrote these words was specially emphasizing the importance
of settling one's relationsh