First, to escape trouble by running away from duty. Jonah once made the experiment; but soon found himself where all his imitators will in the end find themselves. Therefore, manfully meet and overcome the difficulties and trials to which the post assigned you by God's providence exposes you. Second, to become a Christian of strength and maturity without undergoing severe trials. What fire is to gold, that is affliction to the believer. It burns up the dross, and makes the gold shine forth with unalloyed luster. Third, to form an independent character except when thrown upon their own resources. The oak, in the middle of the forest, if surrounded on every side by trees that shelter and shade it, runs up tall and sickly; put away from its protectors, and the first blast will overturn it. But the same tree, growing in the open field, where it is continually beat upon by the tempest, becomes its own protector. So the man who is compelled to rely on his own resources forms an independence of character to which he could not otherwise have attained. Fourth, to be a growing man when you look to your post for influence, instead of bringing influence to your post. Therefore, prefer rather to climb up hill with difficulty, than to roll down with inglorious ease.