annot
perceive your own progress in holiness. Go on, and you cannot but go
forward; believe it, though you do not see it. Do the duties of your
calling, though they are distasteful to you. Educate your children
carefully in the good way, though you cannot tell how far God's grace has
touched their hearts. Let your light shine before men, and praise God by
a consistent life, even though others do not seem to glorify their Father
on account of it, or to be benefited by your example. "Cast your bread
upon the waters, for you shall find it after many days. . . . In the
morning sow your seed, in the evening withhold not your hand; for you
know not whether shall prosper, either this or that; or whether they both
shall be alike good[24]." Persevere in the narrow way. The Prophets
went through sufferings to which ours are mere trifles; violence and
craft combined to turn them aside, but they kept right on, and are at
rest.

Now, I know full well, that this whole subject is distasteful to many
men, who say we ought to be cheerful. "We are bid rejoice, why then do
you bid us mourn?" I bid you mourn in order that you may rejoice more
perfectly. "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be
comforted[25]." "They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy." I bid you
take up the cross of Christ, that you may wear His crown. Give your
hearts to Him, and you will for yourselves solve the difficulty, how
Christians can be sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing[26]. You will find that
lightness of heart and cheerfulness are quite consistent with that new
and heavenly character which He gives us, though to gain it in any good
measure, we must for a time be sorrowful, and ever after thoughtful. But
I give you fair warning, you must at first take His word on trust; and if
you do not, there is no help for it. He says, "Come unto Me, . . . and I
will give you rest." You must begin on faith: you cannot see at first
whither He is leading you, and how light will rise out of the darkness.
You must begin by denying yourselves your natural wishes,--a painful
work; by refraining from sin, by rousing from sloth, by preserving your
tongue from insincere words, and your hands from deceitful dealings, and
your eyes from beholding vanity; by watching against the first rising of
anger, pride, impurity, obstinacy, jealousy; by learning to endure the
laugh of irreligious men for Christ's sake; by forcing your minds to
follow seriously the words of pr