January 2

First Week in Advent.—Monday

O that they were wise . . . that they would consider their latter end! Deuteronomy 32:29.

"WHETHER I eat, whether I drink," says an ancient Father, "whether I study, whatsoever I do, that last trumpet ever soundeth in my ears, 'Arise, ye dead, come to judgment.'" "In every work," it is an ancient rule, "let each say to himself, Wert thou about to die, wouldest thou do this?" All we whom God has placed or brought back into the narrow way have need to try again and again what we are doing, by that searching test, How shall we look upon it when all "is done"? Things around dazzle us, self-pleasing thoughts mislead us; we have to stick closer and closer into the narrow way, closer to cleave to God, more and more to part with all which would keep us from God. Wherever, then, we may be, in the course heavenward each morning let us place before ourselves that morning which has no evening; and purpose to do that only which we shall wish we had done when we shall see it in the light of that morning when, in the brightness of His presence, every plea of self-love which now clouds our eyes shall melt away. Each evening set before us that night "wherein no man can work," resolve by God's grace to work on the morrow, if we see it, more steadfastly the works of God.

Sum up at night what thou hast done by day;

And in the morning, what thou hast to do.

Dress and undress thy soul; mark the decay

And growth of it: if with thy watch that too

Be down, then wind up both; since we shall be

Most surely judged, make thy accounts agree.

In brief, acquit thee bravely; play the man,

Look not on pleasures as they come but go.

Defer not the least virtue:

If thou do ill, the joy fades, not the pains:

If well; the pain doth fade, the joy remains.