PERSONAL RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE 407 



cruel cross was staring him in the face, he was always quiet and sure 

 of himself, because he was sure of the Father. The only truly stead- 

 fast character is that which is rooted in God. It is one thing for 

 a man to steel himself against the assaults of what he calls fate; a 

 very different thing it is to accept the discipline that comes with 

 the belief that it works out a- gracious purpose. Then whatever 

 be the experience through which he may have to pass, he will 

 believe that it is good for him to be there, that that place is to him 

 a house of God and a gate of heaven. 



The sense that God is with us can make the life pure and keep 

 the heart calm; but further, it endows the life with power, and 

 inspires, as nothing else, with strength for the work which is given 

 us to do. For we have a work to do, which is nothing else than the 

 great work which God is himself doing. " My Father worketh 

 hitherto/' and in that work the religious man feels that he has his 

 share. Now that work is simply the setting up of the kingdom of 

 God in the world, and it is the privilege and joy of every religious 

 man to contribute, as far as in him lies, to further its interests and 

 ends. No doubt there are times not a few when the individual 

 may well think his life to be lost, and his work to be vain, " cast 

 as rubbish to the void." As he thinks of the myriads who have 

 been before him and whose work is now forgotten, as he reflects 

 upon the insignificant place which he occupies in the economy 

 of the universe, he is apt to be depressed by the seeming futility 

 of the best that he can do. But not surely if he remember, 

 " Nevertheless I am continually with thee." He may well say, 

 " Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh? " But " Go," says the 

 voice, " and I will be with thee." When a man is striving to work 

 out the purpose of God, he is not alone; he is the "co-worker of 

 God." And this he may be, whatever his station in life; for the 

 Kingdom is more than the Church. It covers the whole range of 

 human activities -- its trade and commerce, its literature and 

 law, its art and science. Now what an inspiration it must be to 

 the lonely worker to feel that he is permitted to share in this 

 mighty work of God - - the transfiguration of the world by the 

 spirit of God. Whatever the man is doing, he is a co-worker with 

 God, and the minutest details of his life are steeped in the light of 

 the eternal world. He is a mystic, but he is no recluse; and the 

 thought that he works with God and God with him will nerve his 

 hand and lead him to grasp his tools, whatever they be, and work 

 with all his might, not so much because the night is coming, as 

 because it is to him an unspeakable joy to cooperate with God. 

 The very power of God will enter into his soul, and his strength 

 will be as the strength of ten, because he is fighting the battles of 

 the Lord. 



