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 patiently endure  the  ills  of  life,  from  the  higher motive of  pleasing  God  and  gaining  heaven.

Brethren, are  we  doing  that  little? Do we  regard heaven as  a  shadowy  myth  or  a  reality;  or  if  a reality,  do  we  act  up  to  it? What are  we  doing,  what are we  willing  to  do  for  heaven? Not half,  I  venture to say  what  we  would  endure  to  gain  a  purse  of  gold, or a  fat  office,  or  a  moment  of  sensuous  pleasure. Consider the  mighty  efforts  men  put  forth  to  accomplish worldly  ends — a  loss  of  energy  which,  if  rightly used, would  raise  the  whole  world  up  to  God. On the other  hand,  consider  how  little  is  done  for heaven; how  rare  the  ideal  Christian. Ah, we  sow sparingly, and  unless  God,  out  of  pure  benevolence, gives the  increase,  we  will  reap  sparingly. Mediocrity is the  curse  of  modern  Christianity,  for  he  who  is  content with  mediocrity  is  the  devil's  right-hand  man. And yet,  mediocre  as  we  are,  we  expect  the  reward  of saints. Think of  the  saints — the  lives  they  lived  and the deaths  they  died,  and  ask  yourself — how  like  am  I to  them,  what  will  become  of  me,  since  even  they trembled for  their  destiny? Not that  we  can  all  be monks  and  nuns,  but  we  can,  at  least,  cultivate  their spirit. If we  cannot  be  poor  in  fact,  we  can  be  poor in spirit. If we  cannot  suffer  persecution  and  die martyrs, we  can,  at  least,  be  meek  and  humble. If we cannot  take  the  vow  of  chastity,  we  can,  at  least, be clean  of  heart. And talk  as  we  may,  criticise  as  we may,  we  must  admit  that  the  humble  monk  and  gentle nun have  best  solved  the  problem  of  salvation. Mark them well;  their  calm  faces,  and  sweet  plaintive