almost every line of business or professional activity there is pressure to be resisted. In some spheres of life-the political for example the pressure is well-nigh irresistible. The wonder is not that many fall but that any stand against it. Yes, we need brave men for the times we live in; men like Edwin M. Stanton, the great war secretary, of whom one wrote " Who, in leaning on this man, ever found him a broken reed? He never despaired of the Republic. In the darkest days, though he was oft times full of sorrow and sometimes full of agony, yet his steady nerve never trembled; his stout heart never played the coward"; men like Benjamin Harrison, who was too great a statesman to be a good politician, too strong in his sense of duty as President to be swayed by venial motives, held in higher esteem when he became a mere citizen of the Republic than during his term of office, admirable for his qualities of mind but more admirable for his poise of soul and his high purpose, a man of God as well as of the people, a leader in the Church and the nation, a fit presiding officer of a Missionary Councilhe served his generation well by the will of God and has fallen asleep; men who in less conspicuous spheres can be true to themselves, their country and their God. Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy, Men who have honor, men who will not lie. We have a great host who can hurrah. We have not a few who can act well on an occasion or in a crisis, who can advance in face of shot and shell, who can storm a castle or plant the flag across the seas. But the final test of heroism is to hold the post of danger with quiet determination, to stand calmly to duty though unsupported by others, to bear the brunt of a moral conflict in the days of its weakness, to stand alone with God if need be. This calm moral fight may be waged on any field. Dream not helm and harness, The sign of valor true, Peace hath higher tests of manhood They will come to every one of you whatever be your sphere of life to you, young women, as well as to young men. You will have the chance of heroism and I may say more, you will have the spirit of it, too. It belongs to woman to endure, to make sacrifices, to hold fast to whatever wins her heart. If her history tells not of camp and march and bloody strife, it tells of waiting and watching and hardship and tender ministry and brave counsel. Recently, in China, women, as well as men, braved the ferocious mob in hope of shielding God's little ones won to Christ from heathenism by their efforts. I trust that none of you may be thus exposed. But I know you will not escape the moral test, the temptation to be silent when truth is on the scaffold, to be pliant when wrong is on the throne, the temptation to follow the ways of an ungodly world, the temptation to compromise with Satan rather than withstand him. You can only hope to do good in the world as a Christian by standing to your colors - by exalting everywhere Christ and his cause. Do you now ask me How shall I be able to stand? shall I do this either as a personal or public duty? well for me to be forewarned but only if I may be forearmed. How It is You have sometimes seen a pole that is exposed to the pressure of strong winds held in its erect position by wire supports. You have seen a plant or young tree tied to a post sunk in the ground to keep it from a crooked growth. Are there any ties by which we may be held to an upright life? Are there any firm pillars to which we may attach ourselves and be strong? The Church of Jesus Christ may be a "pillar and ground of the truth" for all who love it and work in it and for it. The companion ship of the choicest spirits we can find may hold us to the right line of truth and duty, may even draw us back from downward tendencies to which we are prone. So my first answer to your inquiry is-Train with upright men and you will grow upright. Keep fellowship with the friends of Christ in the services and work of his Church and you will be a friend of Christ yourself. But I have another answer that comes out of the contest. In order to stand you must have strength. After a few years have passed the young tree that was coupled to a post ceases to need the latter's support. The winds may play upon it from every side but it swings ever back to its perpendicular position. Instead of doing it any harm they only assist its more perfect development. What is the difference between then and now? It has gathered strength with the years and therefore is able to stand alone. Our first need is strength and where shall we get it? Paul's answer is Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might." In another epistle, he says,- By faith ye stand "— faith in God and in Jesus. Speaking of his own experience, he says, "When I am weak then am I strong," and the reason of it is that the power of Christ rests upon him" and finding strong assurance in his past experience he says -"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - - It can This source of strengh is open to you and me. be had if we only believe. The reason why any of us have so little strength is because we have so little faith. The heroes of the ages have been heroes of faith. Moses endured as seeing Him who is invisible. Stephen could resist the enemies of the Gospel and bear to be stoned to death because he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. It was faith that enabled Luther to say before the Diet at Worms Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God." It was faith that made Gordon the most heroic man of the last century. And we will be truly brave and strong just in proportion as we walk 66 before the Lord, as we live in the Lord by faith. Let us cleave unto Jesus with a faith that is living, that will vitalize and energize all that is good in us. Let us pray "Lord, increase our faith! Thus furnished with strength the Knight of the Cross puts on the armor of God and enters on his life-long combat. The armor is both offensive and defensive, visible and invisible. Faith is itself one piece of this invisible, unpenetrable coat of mail. When every part of it is on it covers the head and the breast and every vital part. The shield can be turned to one side or another according to the point of attack. The sword hangs by his side and it is a keen blade piercing to the thoughts and intents of the heart, laying bare the subtleties of Satan's wiles and devices. We cannot speak of this armor at length and in detail. But I bid you notice that it is the armor of God - prescribed, supplied by God. For this reason you may have unbounded confidence in it. It will not disappoint you in the day of trial. You know also where to apply for it. It is furnished by God and He gives it for the asking, "Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance." SERMON XVII, 1902 FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST -John 21: 22. Follow thou me.-. HE first impression we are likely to receive from so like ourselves, so forward and bustling in his action, so independent of his fellows, so impetuous and outspoken, so impressible and immediate in his conclusions, so prone to err in judgment and in speech, yet withal so frank and manly and companionable that we feel that he is one of us, of our kith and kin, of like passions and infirmities with ourselves. A second impression of the story swiftly follows. It gives us a vivid exhibition of the amazing love and grace of Jesus. It reminds us of Pope's line To err is human; to forgive divine. Recall a few of the incidents of Peter's life that illustrate both the frailty of Peter and the Master's tenderness. When Jesus foretold to his disciples his death at Jerusalem, Peter could not bear the thought of such a cruel and untimely end to the career of his beloved. His unwise affection and zeal led him to rebuke his Lord saying"Be it far from thee Lord; this shall not be unto thee." Jesus in turn rebukes him severely and instructs him concerning the conditions of discipleship and a few days afterward takes him up into the mount of transfiguration and shows him his glory and permits him to hear the heavenly visitants, Moses and Elias-speaking of his decease |