them, may elude him;
and all sooner or later show themselves to be accidents of his
experience, and not its natural and essential issue. Then he discovers
that there is but one legitimate reward of life, and that is increase
of life, more of power and capacity and vitality and effectiveness.
What is the reward of learning one's lessons? Marks, or praise, or
distinction, may come of this, or they may not. The legitimate reward
is simply the power to learn other lessons. The expenditure of force
has increased the supply of force; the use of capacity has developed
capacity. What is the reward of taking physical exercise? It is not
athletic prizes, or athletic glory; it is strength. You have sought
strength, and you get strength. The crown of athletic life is increase
of athletic vitality. What is the reward of keeping your temper? It
is the increased power of self-control. What is the reward of doing
your duty as well as you can? It is the ability to do your duty
better. Out of the duty faithfully done opens the way to meet the
larger duty. You have been faithful over a few things, and you become
the ruler over many things.

{95}

And what is the crown of the whole of life lived faithfully here? It
is not a crown of gold or gems in another life; it is simply more life;
a broader use of power, a healthier capacity, a larger usefulness. You
are faithful unto death, through the misapprehensions and imperfections
and absence of appreciation or gratitude in this preparatory world, and
then there is offered to you inevitably and legitimately the crown of a
larger, more serviceable, more effective life.

{96}

XXXIX

THE HIDDEN MANNA AND THE WHITE STONE

_Revelation_ ii. 12-17.

Both of these are Jewish symbols. One refers to that food which, as
Moses commanded, was kept in the sanctuary and eaten by the priest
alone; the other apparently refers to a sacred stone worn by the
priest, with an inscription on it known only to him. Both symbols mean
to teach that the Christian believer has an immediate and personal
intimacy with God. There is no sacerdotal intermediation for him. He
can go straight to the altar and take of the sacred bread. He wears on
his own breast the mark of God's communication. It is the doctrine of
the universal priesthood of believers; the highest promise to a
faithful church. But on this white stone, the message says, there is a
name written which no man knoweth save he t