“For instance:  the tree grows in the woods, and bears leaves and fruit after its own nature.  The bird flies in the air, builds its nest, and sings its song after its own nature.  The wild beasts roam through the forest, and rage and devour according to their own nature.  If you are to make these or any other creatures act differently, you must give them a different nature.  By distorting the tree, or training the animal, or clipping the wings of the bird, you may make some trifling and temporary alteration in the condition or conduct of these creatures; but when you have done this, left to themselves, they will soon revert to their original nature.

“By way of illustration.  A menagerie recently paid a visit to a northern town.  Amongst the exhibits was a cage labelled ’The Happy Family,’ containing a lion, a tiger, a wolf, and a lamb.  When the keeper was asked confidentially how long a time these animals had lived thus peacefully together, he answered, ’About ten months.  But,’ said he, with a twinkle in his eye, ’the lamb has to be renewed occasionally.’

“As with these forms of life, so with men and women and children.  The only way to secure conduct of a lasting character different from its nature is by effecting a change in that nature.  Make them new creatures in Christ Jesus and you will have a Christlike life.

     “The presence of the powers natural to Spiritual Life constitutes
     the only true and sufficient evidence of its possession.

“The absence of these powers shows conclusively the absence of the life.  If a man does not love God and walk humbly with Him; if he does not long after Holiness, love his comrades, and care for souls, it will be satisfying evidence that he has gone back to the old nature—­that is, to spiritual death.

     “All Spiritual Life is not only imparted by Jesus Christ, but
     sustained by direct union with Him.

     “‘I am the Vine,’ He says, ’ye are the branches; he that abideth in
     Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without
     Me ye can do nothing’ (John xv. 6).

     “Nothing will make up for the lack of this life.

“This, indeed, applies to every kind of existence.  You cannot find a substitute for life in the vegetable kingdom.  Try the trees in the garden.  Look at that dead apple-tree.  As you see it there, it is useless, ugly, fruitless.  What will make up for the absence of life?  Will the digging, or the manuring of the ground around it do this?  No!  That will be all in vain.  If it is dead, there is only one remedy, and that is to give it life—­new life.

“Take the animal world.  What can you do to make up for the lack of life in a dog?  I read the other day of a lady who had a pet dog.  She loved it to distraction.  It died.  Whatever could she do with it to make up for its loss of life?  Well, she might