the stamp of incompleteness, and suggest completeness by their own incompleteness.  The new moon with its ragged edge not more surely prophesies its completed silver round, than do the experiences of the Christian life here, in their greatness and in their smallness, declare that there come a time and an order of things in which what was thwarted tendency shall be accomplished result.  The tender green spikelet, pushing up through the brown clods, does not more surely prophesy the waving yellow ear, nor the broad highway on which a man comes in the wilderness more surely declare that there is a village at the end of it, than do the facts of the Christian life, here and now, attest the validity of the hope of the glory of God.

And so, brethren, if you wish to brighten that great light that fills the future, see to it that your present Christianity is fuller of ‘peace with God,’ ‘access into grace,’ and the firm, erect standing which flows from these.  When the springs in the mountains dry up, the river in the valley shrinks; and when they are full, it glides along level with the top of its banks.  So when our Christian life in the present is richest, our Christian hope of the future will be the brighter.  Look into yourselves.  Is there anything there that witnesses to that great future; anything there that is obviously incipient, and destined to greater power; anything there which is like a tropical plant up here in 45 degrees of north latitude, managing to grow, but with dwarfed leaves and scanty flowers and half shrivelled and sourish fruit, and that in the cold dreams of the warm native land?  Reflecting telescopes show the stars in a mirror, and the observer looks down to see the heavens.  Look into yourselves, and see whether, on the polished plate within, there are any images of the stars that move around the Throne of God.

But let us turn for a moment to the second source to which the Apostle traces the Christian hope here.  I must not be tempted to more than just a word of explanation, but perhaps you will tolerate that.  Paul says that trouble works patience, that is to say, not only passive endurance, but brave persistence in a course, in spite of antagonisms.  That is what trouble does to a man when it is rightly borne.  Of course the Apostle is speaking here of its ideal operation, and not of the reality which alas! often is seen when our tribulations lash us into impatience, or paralyse our efforts.  Tribulation worketh patience, ‘and patience experience.’  That is a difficult word to put into English.  There underlies it the frequent thought which is familiar in Scripture, of trouble of all kinds as testing a man, whether as the refiner’s fire or the winnower’s fan.  It tests a man, and if he bears the trouble with patient persistence, then he has passed the test and is approved.  Patient perseverance thus works approval, or proof of the man’s Christianity, and, still more, proof of the reality and power of