CHAPTER VI. "FOX-HUNTING.” LET us try to find out how it is these fruits of the Spirit are not brought forth in our lives: what it is that hinders their production. To live as Jesus lived even in some small measure we must do as He did. What did He mean when He said to the Mark x. 21. young man, "One thing thou lackest go and sell all that thou hast: and come, take up thy cross, and Matt. xi. 29 follow Me"? Again, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me." Is it not that there must be nothing in our hearts but the Spirit of God; that Isa. xxvi. 13. Other lords have had dominion over us long enough, now there must be no room for anything but the Spirit of God? The Cross of Christ and the yoke of Christ were simply His obedience unto God, and His doing the will of God. To take Christ's yoke is to be yoked together with Him in His life work-to do the will of God. We have seen how we may know what His will is. The secret of the Christian's life is doing the Christian's work—the will of God. Some time ago, when staying in Scotland at the house of a minister, I noticed on the mantel-board in my bedroom a text written in a language I did not know. I asked next morning what was the meaning of it. The answer was, "That is a motto for life—' In la sua voluntade é nostra pace': ‘In doing His will is our peace.' It made a deep impression upon me, and I adopted it as my life motto. There is the secret of the Christian's happy life. It is not in serving Him much, but in doing the will of God, whatsoever that may be. Professor Henry Drummond has given a little Bible-reading. May I give you the outlines? The definition of an ideal life. "A man after Acts xiii. 22. Mine own heart, which shall fulfil all My will." The object of life. "I come to do Thy will, O Heb. x. 7. God." The first thing we need after life is food. "My John iv. 34 meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me." F Matt. xii. 50. Ps. cxliii. 10. Ps. xl. 8. 1 John ii. 17. Next thing after food is society. "He that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother." Next we want education. “Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God." Next we want pleasure. "I delight to do Thy will, O my God." And then when all is over-" He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." An illustration of this. I went to see, in Dundee, a man who had been confined to his bed for fifty years. I did not wish to go, but was so pressed by friends that at last I consented. It seemed to me that to be fifty years in bed must make a man so miserable that I, who am exceedingly sensitive, would be "blue" for the rest of the day. I selected some texts, hoping—and yet hardly daring to hope that they might help the man. Driving to his house, I told the cabby to wait, as I would only be a few minutes. I got to his bedroom: a nice clean place, the walls decorated by many texts, put there by kind Christian hands. But I shall never forget the look in the man's face. Instead of sorrow, and trouble, and pain, he was full of joy and peace, and calm,—such a face as I expect to see in heaven. He No sooner had I told him who I was than he began to speak to me in a way I had never been spoken to before. It was just as if he took the Bible and made a complete run through it: talking, not as we talk, but as I expect they talk in heaven. I sat and listened and drank of the fountain of waters which were in him running over. Two hours I spent listening and learning. told me at last that I ought to go, or I should be late for my meeting. I had forgotten the cab waiting outside in my joy sitting at his feet. I asked, "May I tell the people anything from you? Did you ever rebel against God for all this pain and suffering?" He told me at first he did; but for the last forty years his life had been one of perfect joy the intense realization of perfect peace. His face was lighted up as he spoke of the love of God; and I saw a man who lived under an open heaven, the very light of God shining upon his poor features. He had learned the secret of happiness-to do the will of God. May we all learn this, too, as we become yoke-fellows with Christ. He will make us to "lift up our hearts," and cause the most callous and the most selfish to feel that the highest joy, as the highest duty, is forgetfulness of self in devotion to others; for surely this was the life of Christ and is doing the will of God. Pray that the Lord may ever more and more assert His supremacy over your whole life, every purpose and act, everything you are and have, keeping you in the blessed rest of readiness to do anything or nothing as He pleases. Why is it we are not like this? One day we feel happy, the next we are ir. despair. At one time we realize we are progressing in the Christian cause, and at the next we are going back-all ups and downs, a time of continual stumbling, needing Cant. ii. 15. to be lifted up again. We read: "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines for our vines have tender grapes." In Australia a gentleman asked if I ever went |