If you attend to any faith because you must, if you follow it of necessity, from a sense of duty, from the goading of fear, or from the dictates of custom, I am afraid, when your faith is put on the scales it will be found wanting.

If the pleasures of this world were all daintily painted before your eyes: every joy that could regale the senses, music to charm the ear, perfumes for the nose, sweets for the mouth, and landscape for the eyes, on the one side, and on the other side, if Christ and His cross be put before you, which would you choose? I know which some of you will and/or have chosen. May God alter your choice. But I trust there are some of you who can say, "Choose? Why, I have once for all chosen Christ. I have counted the cost, and I reckon the reproach of Christ to be greater treasures than all the riches of Egypt." You are commended.

True faith has in it everything that is lovely
All that is good, devout and upright
True faith sings of happiness, courage and victory
It is most pleasing in God's exemplary sight.

Let those refuse to rejoice and sing
Who never knew the Almighty God
But let favorites of our risen Lord
Speak of their joy both here and abroad.

• The Love of Christ Journal