hose agony the still heavens looked upon with all their starry eyes；whose tears moistened the bosom of the bare earth；whose cry of anguish pierced the gloom of night。 Now； too； when we sorrow； we know where to find relief； we learn the spirit of resignation； and under what conditions it may be born。 Thank God； then； for the lesson of the lonely garden and the weeping Christ…we； too； may be 〃made perfect through suffering。〃
Such； then； were the circumstances that illustrate the words of the text。 Scarcely had Jesus risen from his knees； and wakened the drowsy disciples； when the light of lanterns flashed upon him； and Judas came with a multitude to bear him to that death from which； but now； he shrunk with agony。 But he shrank no more。 The trial was over；the darkness had vanished；an angel had strengthened him； and when the impetuous Peter drew his sword and smote off the servant's ear； his master turned to him； with the calm rebuke； 〃Put up thy sword into his sheath； the cup which my Father hath given me； shall I not drink it？〃 Yes； cold and bitter as that cup was； pressed next to his very lips； he had learned to drink it。 God had given him strength； and no more did he falter； no more did he groan…save once； for a moment； when； upon the cross； drooping； and racked with intense pain； he cried out； 〃My God； my God； why hast thou forsaken me？〃 But that passed away in the triumphant ejaculation； 〃It is finished！〃
Such was the resignation of Jesus； a trait in his character which； like all the rest； is not only to be admired； but imitated；not an abstract virtue； manifested by a being so perfect and so enshrined in the sanctity of a divine nature that we cannot approach it； and in our mortal； work…day trials can never feel it； but a virtue which should be throned in every heart； the strength and consolation of which every suffering soul may experience。 Nay； if there is one virtue which is more often needed than any other； which lies at the base of true happiness； and than which there is no surer seal of piety； it is this virtue of resignation。 And let me proceed to say； that by resignation I mean not cold and sullen apathy； or reckless hardihood； but a sweet trust and humble acquiescence； which show that the soul has submitted itself to the Father who knows and does best； and that it meets his dispensations with obedience and his mysteries with faith。 The apathy and hardihood to which I have alluded are very far from the trust and piety of a religious spirit。 The fatalist acquiesces in the course of things because he cannot help it。 He has reasoned to the conclusion that his murmuring and weeping will not alter matters and he has resolved to take things as they come。 But here is no resignation to the will of God； but to the necessity of things。 Here is no faith that all things are wisely ordered； and that sorrow is but the shadow of the Father's hand。 No； here is the simple belief that things are as they are； and cannot be altered；…that an arbitrary law is the eternal rule； not a benevolent and holy purpose； and the philosopher would be just as resigned if he believed all things to be under the guidance of a blind fate； whose iron machinery drives on to level or exalt； unintelligent and remorseless； whether in its course it brings about good or evil；…whether it gladdens human hearts or crushes them。 Such resignation as this may be quite common in the world； manifested in various phases； and by men of different religious opinions。 Do we not often hear the expression； 〃Well； things are as they are；…we do best to take them as they come；〃 and here the matter ends？ No higher reference is made。 The things alluded to may issue from the bosom of material nature； may be sent into the world by chance； or may come from the good Father of all； but the minds of these reasoners reach not so far。 Now I repeat； there is no religion and no true philosophy in this method； certainly it is not such resignation as Jesus manifested。 In fact； it indicates total carelessness as to the discipline of life； and will generally be found with men in whose thoughts God is not； or to whose conceptions he is the distant； inactive Deity； not the near and ever…working Controller。 I cannot admire the conduct of that man who when the bolt of sorrow falls； receives it upon the armor of a rigid fatalism； who wipes scarcely a tear from his hard； dry face； and says； 〃Well； it cannot be helped； things are so ordered。〃 Below all this there is often a sulky； half…angry sentiment； as though the victim felt the blow； but was determined not to wince；…as though there was an acknowledgment of weakness； but also a display of pride；…a feeling that we cannot resist sorrow； yet that sorrow has no business to come； and now that it has come the sufferer will not yield to it。 This； evidently； is not resignation； religious resignation； but only sullen acquiescence； or reckless hardihood。
In a certain sense it is true that we do well to take things as they come；…that we cannot help the eternal laws that control events。 But we must go behind this truth。 Whence do events come； and for what purpose do they come？ What is life； and for what end are all its varied dispensations？ Religion points us up beyond the cloud of materialism； and behind the mechanism of nature； to an Infinite Spirit； to a God； to a Father。 All things are moved by infinite Love。 Life is not merely a phenomenon； it is a Lesson。 Its events do not come and go； in a causeless； arbitrary manner； they are meant for our discipline and our good。 In whatever aspect they come； then； let their appropriate lesson be heeded。 This is the religious view of life； and is wide apart from the philosophy that lets events happen as they will； as though we were in the setting of a heady current； and were borne along among other matters that now help us； now jar and wound us；…that happen without order and without object； all； like ourselves； driven along and taking things as they come。 In the religious view； all things stream from God's throne； and whatever sky hangs over them； the infinite One is present； prosperity is the sunshine that he has sent； and Faith； as she weeps； beholds a bow in the clouds。
The religious man takes things as they come； but how？ In a reverent and filial spirit； a spirit that obeys and trusts because God has ordained。 He refers； behind the event； to the will that declares it。 And yet； this will be no formal lifeless resignation。 He will not be stripped of his manhood； or become unnatural in his religion。 His resignation will not be the cold assent of reason； or the mere rote and repetition of the lips。 No； it will be born in struggling and in sorrow。 Religion is not a process that makes our nature callous to all fierce heats or drenching storms。 Neither is he the most religious man who is calmest in the keen crisis of trouble。 I say in the crisis of trouble…for to human vision there always is a crisis。 We cannot penetrate to the secret determinations of God； and in the season of care and affliction there is a time when the issue is uncertain；…when we cannot say it is sealed。 What shall we do then？ Is human agency nothing？ Grant that we are driving down a stream；…can we use no effort？ Is there not a time when deeds； struggles； prayers； are of some avail？…when the spirit； in its intense agony； with swollen strength and surging tears； heaves against the catastrophe； if yet； perchance； it may ward it off？ Truly； there is such a time； and the humblest disciple of Christ may weep as he also wept。 But let him also strive as Christ strove。 Let him not dash his grief in rebellious billows to the throne； let not his groans arise in resentful murmurs； let the remembrance of what God is and why he does； be with him； and let the filial； reverent trust steal in；…〃Not my will； but thine be done。〃 That reference to God； that obedience to him； rising from the very depths of sorrow； and clung to without faltering； is RESIGNATION。 It shall bestow peace and victory in the end。 O！ how different from that sullen fatalism that lets things come as they will。 To such a soul things do come as they will； and it hardens under them；…they do come as they will； but it sees not； cares not； why they come。 No thought goes up beyond the cloud to God；…no strength is born that shall make life's trials lighter；…no love and faith that will seek the Father's hand in the darkest hour； and shed an enduring light over the thorny path of affliction； and upon the bosom of the grave。 Look at these two。 Outwardly； their calmness may be the same。 Nay； the one may evince emotion and tears； while the other shall stand rigid in the hour of calamity； with a bitter smile； or a frown of endurance。 But in the one is strength； in the other rigidity； in the one is power to triumph over sorrow； in the other only nervous capacity to resist it。 The one is man hardened to indifference； sullen because of irreligion； upon whom some sorrow will one day fall that will peel him to the quick； and he will not know where to flee for healing。 The other is man contending against evil； yet not against God；…man with all the tenderness and strength of his nature； impressible yet unconquerable； walking with feet that bleed among the wounding thorns； and a heart that shrinks from the heavy woe； yet； all lacerated as he is； able to walk through； because he holds by the hand of Omnipotence。 The one is the unbending tree； peeled by the lightning and stripped by the North wind； lifting its gnarled head in sullen defiance to the storm； which； when the storm does overcome it； shall be broken。 The other also is rooted in strength； and meets the rushing blast with a lofty front。 But as 〃it smiles in sunshine； so it bends in storm；〃 trustful and obedient； yet firm and brave； and nothing shall overwhelm it。
I trust I have succeeded in impressing upon you the difference between Christian resignation and mere hardihood； or indifference。 Resignation is born of discipline； and lives only in a truly religious soul。 We have seen that it is not incompatible with tenderness； nay； it is more valuable； because it springs up in natures that have thus suffered and wept。 To see them become calm and pass with unfaltering step through the valley of afflicti