What we are taught to seek or shun in prayer, we should equally pursue or avoid in action. Very earnestly, therefore, should we avoid temptation, seeking to walk guardedly in the path of obedience. We are not to enter the thicket in search of the lion. This lion may cross our path, or leap upon us from

the thicket; but we have nothing to do with hunting him. He who meets with him, even though he wins the day, will find it a stern struggle. Let the Christian pray that he may be spared the encounter. Our Savior, who had experience of what temptation meant, thus earnestly admonished his disciples: "Pray that you enter not into temptation."

Those who are soaked in worldly pleasures are incompetent to judge of the sweetness of the heavenly life. If they can relish the grapes of Gomorrah, they are not likely to prize the clusters of Eshcol. A dog is no judge of jewelry; throw him a bone, and

he is better pleased than if you gave him the Kohinoor. When men sneer at us for our godliness we need not be disturbed by it; we should the rather pity them because of their loss of those noble faculties which would teach them better.