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 hast prepared  for  those  that  seek  Thee."  St.  Paul assures  us  that  the  sufferings  of  this  time  bear  no proportion  to  the  glory  to  come.  St.  John,  in  his Apocalypse,  describes  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  and Christ  Himself  by  word  and  deed  foretold  its  beauties and  its  difficult  attainment.  Tis  not  without  significance that,  from  the  Jordan,  Jesus  turned  Him  to  the desert,  thus  teaching  us  that  we,  as  He,  must  suffer first  and  so  enter  into  our  glory.  The  disciple  is  not above  his  Master,  and  Christ  has  said  and  proved  that the  kingdom  of  heaven  suffers  violence  and  by  the violent  only  is  attained.  I  repeat  it,  Brethren,  with such  proofs  before  our  eyes — such  object-lessons — to turn  from  our  leader  makes  us  guiltier  than  the  faltering Israelites,  and  against  us  they  will  hereafter  rise in judgment. If their  disloyalty  in  thought  and  word deprived them  of  the  sight  of  Palestine,  how  hope  for heaven, we,  disloyal  as  we  are  in  fact — in  deed? How hope for  heaven,  we,  enjoying,  as  we  do,  the  wondrous advantages  of  Christianity,  and  yet  more  faithless than  the  oppressed  Israelite? Of the  ambassadors sent  by  Moses,  two  returned  bearing  between them, on  a  pole,  a  huge  cluster  of  grapes. Brethren, that vine-branch  is  Christ  crucified;  and  he  that  went before, the  Jews  of  old;  and  he  that  followed,  the Christian people. We have  the  Saviour  ever  at  our hand. We labor  and  are  burdened,  but  He  is  ever there to  refresh  us  with  His  graces,  and  our  burden is lightened  and  our  yoke  sweetened  by  the  thought that, if  such  is  Christ  crucified,  what  must  He  be  in glory. We should  love  Christ's  yoke  and  burden,  so