and has a somewhat different object from
these other two. Therefore it is here slightly separated from its sister
graces. Faith, love, hope--these three form the defensive armour that
guard the soul; and these three make self-control possible. Like a diver
in his dress, who is let down to the bottom of the wild, far-weltering
ocean, a man whose heart is girt by faith and charity, and whose head is
covered with the helmet of hope, may be dropped down into the wildest
sea of temptation and of worldliness, and yet will walk dry and unharmed
through the midst of its depths, and breathe air that comes from a world
above the restless surges.

And in like manner the cultivation of faith, charity, and hope is the
best means for securing the exercise of sober self-control.

It is an easy thing to say to a man, 'Govern yourself!' It is a very
hard thing with the powers that any man has at his disposal to do it. As
somebody said about an army joining the rebels, 'It's a bad job when the
extinguisher catches fire!' And that is exactly the condition of things
in regard to our power of self-government. The powers that should
control are largely gone over to the enemy, and become traitors.

'Who shall keep the very keepers?' is the old question, and here is the
answer:--You cannot execute the gymnastic feat of 'erecting yourself
above yourself' any more than a man can take himself by his own coat
collar and lift himself up from the ground with his own arms. But you
can cultivate faith, hope, and charity, and these three, well cultivated
and brought to bear upon your daily life, will do the governing for you.
Faith will bring you into communication with all the power of God. Love
will lead you into a region where all the temptations round you will be
touched as by an Ithuriel spear, and will show their foulness. And hope
will turn away your eyes from looking at the tempting splendours around,
and fix them upon the glories that are above.

And so the reins will come into your hands in an altogether new manner,
and you will be able to be king over your own nature in a fashion that
you did not dream of before, if only you will trust in Christ, and love
Him, and fix your desires on the things above.

Then you will be able to govern yourself when you let Christ govern you.
The glories that are to be done away, that gleam round you like foul,
flaring tallow-candles, will lose all their fascination and brightness,
by reason of the glory