ing a few scores or hundreds
converted, there will be thousands flocking into the Kingdom of God.
Remember, that we honor God when we ask for great things. It is a
humiliating thing to think that we are satisfied with very small
results.

It is said that Alexander the Great had a favorite General to whom
he had given permission to draw upon the royal treasury for any
amount. On one occasion this General had made a draft for such an
enormous sum that the Treasurer refused to honor it until he
consulted the Emperor. So he went into his presence and told him
what the General had done. "Did you not honor the draft?" said the
Emperor. "No; I refused till I had seen your Majesty; because the
amount was so great." The Emperor was indignant. His Treasurer said
that he was afraid of offending him if he had paid the amount. "Do
you not know," replied the Emperor, "that he honors me and my
kingdom by making a large draft?" Whether the story be authentic or
not, it is true that we honor God when we ask for great things.

It is said that on one occasion when Caesar gave a very valuable
present, the receiver replied that it was too costly a gift. The
Emperor answered that it was not too great for Caesar to give. Our
God is a great King; and He delights to use us: so let us delight to
ask Him for great grace, that we may go out and work for him.

I find that many Christians are in trouble about the future; they
think they will not have grace enough to die by. It is much more
important that we should have grace enough to live by. It seems to
me that death is of very little importance in the meantime. When the
dying hour comes there will be dying grace; but you do not require
dying grace to live by. If I am going to live perhaps for fifteen or
twenty years, what do I want with dying grace? I am far more anxious
about having grace enough for my present work.

I have sometimes been asked if I had grace enough to enable me to go
to the stake and die as a martyr. No; what do I want with martyr's
grace? I do not like suffering; but if God should call on me to die
a martyr's death, He would give me martyr's grace. If I have to pass
through some great affliction, I know God will give me grace when
the time comes; but I do not want it till it comes.

There is a story of a martyr in the second century. He was brought
before the king, and told that if he did not recant they would
banish him. Said he, "O king, you cannot banish me from Chris