MANY poets have sung of the weariness of waiting, and the wisdom of the human mind has been put into the proverb which declares, "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick." And yet men have waited through many years and have been patient in their work, and in the time of gray hairs have seen the hope that in early youth they cherished bloom into fruition. How do men of faith endure? Just as Moses did, who is the type of meekness due to strength. "He endured, as seeing him who is invisible." The true character of a man is never justly estimated until one knows his inner vision. There was once a clerk in a court who though unnoticed by neighbors was a great astronomer, astonishing the world with his discoveries of double stars. People sneered at the unadorned mother of the Gracchi, but her sons were her precious jewels. To the eye of criticism the life of a drunkard's wife might seem discouraging, perhaps, but she has the vision of her noble son and consoles herself with thoughts of recompense to be through his fame and goodness. Thus far do better mundane views carry men. What then when heavenly vision breaks in upon drab and dreary lives, making patience thrill with meaning, showing the enrichment of generosity, and the might of meekness? We learn at once in metaphysics that goodness is not futile. Delivered from fear by divine Love, we are able to say, "Where is the fury of the oppressor?" For it goes by us like the raging of the storm heard by one who is safe in a sheltered place.
One who endures is able to think of God as his refuge and strength, and so is delivered from any other reliances. "Trust in Truth," Mrs. Eddy said, "and have no other trusts" (Miscellany, p. 171). This she spoke standing above the multitude assembled, and speaking as a prophetess exalted in thought and testifying to mankind regarding the things of God.
Meet it rightly and temptation comes to an end. In the wilderness Jesus met the series of mental arguments aimed at spiritual vision and life, and the graphic record says, "When the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season." But let us remember later the triumphant word indicating the termination of the adversary's power. Our Master reached the place in demonstration where he said, "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."
