p. 195 | UP-HILL | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 10, 1859

UP-HILL.

ANYTHING that is slow of progress, and difficult of achievement, is called up-hill work.

How smoothly the sled glides down the hill, but how toilsome is the ascent, and how the boys tug to get it on top of the hill again.

Now you know heaven is a great way off, and it is up-hill; and of course, it is no easy matter climbing up to it. You will never get there, however, if you insist on staying at the bottom, and look up, saying, "I wish I was safely there, but how I dread the trial!" There is another hill, descending; you know where that leads.

How many have slid recklessly down its side, while others, impelled by a power they would not resist, have been lost beyond any hope of recovery!

The up-hill road does not look tempting at first, but if you will look above where you stand, there are lovely flowers wooing your acceptance. A host of friends who are traveling that way, turn and beckon you to follow. The path widens, and is illuminated by a light which envelopes the summit in ineffable glory; and there are the everlasting arms to encircle you, and a crown of glory to reward. Is it not worth a trial?

On the other hand, those flowers that fill your eye with pleasure, and invite you to tread the downward path, are not like those on the distant hill; they have no perfume, they are only for the eye, the soul can find no enjoyment in them. When you have gone a short distance, it seems very easy returning, and you will perhaps think often of retracing your steps, but you will just pick this flower, or examine that glittering stone a little further on, until a swifter motion is added to your steps, and you fly down the declivity, until you lie at the bottom, and only God's love and mercy can raise you from that abyss. If you have advanced a few steps on that downward road, turn back, I conjure you, before it is too late.

Oh! take the up-hill road; ask of God, strength for the journey, patience for all the trials to be endured, courage to resist the evil that may way-lay; and with your soul fortified with a Christian's hope and trust, you may at last inherit all the joys that are promised to him that overcometh.—S. S. Times.