Morning Star

WHY AM I NOT HAPPY?

Growth in grace is a duty which the scriptures positively enjoin. To grow in grace, implies that we already possess grace, or are in a state of grace. A state of grace is the exercise of love, joy, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, humility, and faith. These are the fruits of the Spirit in our hearts, by which our christian character will be examined. "By their fruits ye shall know them."

To possess these heavenly feelings occasionally is not sufficient.—When we have been to the house of God, and bowed before his throne, our hearts have often burned with love, but alas! how soon has the flame been quenched by the flood of worldly cares. In the hour of secret devotion the tears of penitence have sometimes watered these plants of righteousness, but oh how often have the frosts of unwatchfulness and vanity withered them to the very root. These things ought not so to be. Our piety ought to be, and will be if cultivated like the river growing wider until it empties into the broad ocean of eternity.

Onward, with speedy and never ceasing progress in all that is good should be the motto of every Christian. "I press towards the mark," was the declaration of an inspired apostle whose example is worthy of universal imitation. The mark at which he aimed was high. He diligently sought an elevated character as a christian and as an apostle of Jesus Christ. He could not be satisfied until he had attained the perfect image of his Saviour. He sought this attainment as the only character which could lay in himself the foundation of a perfect heaven, and prepare him for its blessedness. To become holy ourselves, and to render others so, is the mark towards which we, like the apostle, should constantly press. Difficulties, moral, physical and social, some imaginary and some real, may obstruct our path, but still our motto should be, "press onward." In this way alone can we prove ourselves worthy to be called the children of those, the benefit of whose toils, sufferings, and perseverance we now enjoy. If with our superior means of advancement we rise no higher than those who have gone before us, their sleeping dust may well arise at the last day to testify against us. Press onward, for in no better way can we express our gratitude to God for his mercies, to the guardians of our youth for their care, or to our present benefactors for their kindness. Press onward, for it is the only path of happiness. The mind, could it be stationary, would not be happy, but when on the retrograde it is miserable. Would we be happy, every day must bring some additional improvement to fill the expanding mind. Our truest and most exalted happiness consists in our constant approach to the likeness of God. "Then shall I be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness."—R. I. Evan.