exact deserts. That would indeed be the kingdom of God on earth. The
prospect of such a kingdom would be painful enough to those who were in
their wrong place, to those who were undeserving. All who were useless,
taking wages either from man or from God, without doing any work in
return, all these would have but too good reason to dread the coming of
the kingdom of God.

But those who were trying earnestly to do their work, though amid many
mistakes and failures, why should they dread the coming of the kingdom of
God? Why should they shrink from remembering that, though God's kingdom
is not come in perfection and fulness, it is here already, and they are
in it? Why should they shrink from that thought? They will find it full
of comfort, of strength, and hope, if they will but hallow their Father's
name, and remember the fact of all facts--that they have a Father in
heaven. There are thousands on earth, from the highest to the lowest,
who can say honestly--to take the commonest instance--every parent can
say it--"I have a heavy work to do, a heavy responsibility to fulfil.
God knows I did not seek it, thrust myself into it; it was thrust upon
me. It came to me in the course of nature or of society, and
circumstances over which I had no control. In one word it was MY DUTY.
But now that I have my duty to do, behold I cannot do it. I try my best,
but I fail. I come short daily of my own low standard of duty. How much
more of God's perfect standard of it! And the burden of responsibility,
the regret for failure, is more than I can bear.

To such we may answer, hallow your Father's name, and be of good cheer.
YOUR FATHER has given you your work. Because He is a Father, He is
surely educating you for your work. Because He is a Father, He will
surely set you no task which you are unable to fulfil. Because He is a
Father, He will help you to fulfil your task. Your station and calling