Some have shielded themselves, or
tried to shield themselves, in an armour of stoical indifference--of
utter selfishness, being sure that at all events there was one friendship
in the world which could neither change nor fade--Self-love.
Others, again, have withdrawn themselves in disgust, not indeed from
their God and Saviour, but from their fellow-men, and buried themselves
in deserts, hoping thereby to escape what they despaired of conquering,
the chances and changes of this mortal life. Thus they, alas, threw away
the gold of human affections among the dross of this world's comfort and
honour. Wiser they were, indeed, than those last mentioned; but yet shew
I you a more excellent way.
It is strange, and mournful, too, that this complaint, of unsatisfied
hopes and longings should still be often heard from Christian lips!
Strange, indeed, when the object and founder of our religion, the king
and head of all our race, the God whom we are bound to worship, the
eldest brother whom we are bound to love, the Saviour who died upon the
cross for us, is "the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever!"
Strange, indeed, when we remember that God was manifest in the flesh,
that He might save humanity and its hopes from perpetual change and final
destruction, and satisfy all those cravings after an immutable object of
man's loyalty and man's love.
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