unreplenished. It is real and true. It makes the man feel that he has
It cost them only what their food costs the ravens; or what their clothing costs the lilies. They were labouring hard for what they thought to be life, digging into the earth and trying to wring out from it something that might at least be called life,—when, looking upward, they saw the true life, like fresh rain, coming down plentifully on every side. They saw the vanity of their toil, and were content from that moment to be receivers of the life-giving shower. They opened their parched lips to the abundant rain, and they were filled. Happy men! In toiling hard for life, they failed to get it. In ceasing to toil, and consenting to let God fill them with it, they got it at once! The unbought love of God came pouring in upon them, and they found that "in his favour was LIFE," and that "with him was the fountain of life." A "well of water springing up into everlasting life" was now opened within them; and they drank of the fountain of the water of life freely.
This life is, while here, but partial and feeble. Like all other kinds of life in this dying world, it has to maintain a ceaseless struggle with death; for neither climate nor soil are congenial, and no length of time nor care of culture can acclimatise a plant so entirely heavenly in its nature. Yet, though imperfect in some respects, it is above all price,—"far above rubies."
1. It is no empty life.—It fills and satiates the soul. It leaves no part unreplenished. It is real and true. It makes the man feel that he has reached the resting-place. He does not any longer need to crave, or to complain, or to wonder, or to guess, or to say, "Who will shew me any good?" He has found the good thing, and he is satisfied.
2. It is no uncertain life.—It roots itself within us, and there it remains. There is no fickleness nor caprice in its motions nor in its results. It is stable and unwavering, so that he who has it knows what he has, and knows that it will not change nor pass into a shadow or a vapour.