y side; I
will not fear what man can do unto me." "Blessed is the man that
_endureth_." "He that _endureth_ to the end, the same shall be saved."

If faithful to our God, we must expect to encounter contradiction in the
same form which Jesus did--"the contradiction of _sinners_." It has been
well said, "There is no cross of nails and wood erected now for the
Christian, but there is one of words and looks which is never taken
down." If believers are set as lights in the earth, lamps in the "city
of destruction," we know that "he that doeth evil _hateth_ the light."
"Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you!"

Weary and faint ones, exposed to the shafts of calumny and scorn because
of your fidelity to your God; encountering, it may be, the coldness and
estrangement of those dear to you, who can not, perhaps, sympathize in
the holiness of your walk and the loftiness of your aims, "consider
_Him_ that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, _lest_
ye be weary and faint in your minds!" What is _your_ "contradiction" to
_His_? Soon your cross, whatever it be, will have an end. "The seat of
the scorner" has no place in yonder glorious heaven, where all will be
peace--no jarring note to disturb its blissful harmonies! Look forward
to the great coronation-day of the Church triumphant,--the day of your
divine Lord's appearing, when motives and aims, now misunderstood, will
be vindicated, wrongs redressed, calumnies and aspersions wiped away.
Meanwhile, "rejoice that you are counted worthy to suffer shame for His
name."

"ARM YOURSELVES LIKEWISE WITH THE SAME MIND."

Fifteenth Day.

PLEASING GOD.

"I do always those things that please Him."--John, viii. 29.

What a glorious motto for a man--"_I live for God!_" It is religion's
truest definition. It is the essence of angelic bliss--the
motive-principle of angelic action; "Ye ministers of His, that do His
pleasure." The Lord of angels knew no higher, no _other_ motive. It was,
during His incarnation, the regulator and directory of His daily being.
It supported Him amid the depressing sorrows of His woe-worn path. It
upheld him in their awful termination in the garden and on the cross.
For a moment, sinking human nature faltered under the load His Godhead
sustained; but the thought of "pleasing God" nerved and revived Him.
"Not my will, but _Thine_ be done."

It is only when the love of God is shed abroad in the heart, that this
animatin