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e mental act； the spiritual aberration。 He knows the distance between his highest effort and that lofty standard of perfection to which he has pledged his purposes。 Alone； alone does the great conflict go on within him。 The struggle； the self…denial； the pain； and the victory； are of the very essence of martyrdom；are the chief peculiarities in the martyr's lot。 His； too； must be the solitude of prayer； when； by throwing by all entanglements；in his naked individuality；he wrestles at the Mercy Seat； or soars to the bliss of Divine communion。 In such hours；in every hour of self…communion；when we ask ourselves the highest questions respecting faith and duty； it is the deepest comfort to the religious soul to feel and to say； 〃I am not alone； for the Father is with me。〃
Again； there are experiences of Sorrow in which we are peculiarly alone。 How often does the soul feel this when it is suffering from the loss of friends！ Then we find no comfort in external things。 Pleasure charms not； business cannot cheat us of our grief； wealth supplies not the void； and though the voice of friendship falls in consolation upon the ear； yet with all these； we are alone；alone！ No other spirit can fully comprehend our woe； or enter into our desolation。 No human eye can pierce to our sorrows； no sympathy can share them。 Alone we must realize their sharp suggestions； their painful memories； their brood of sad and solemn thoughts。 The mother bending over her dead child；O！ what solitude is like that？where such absolute loneliness as that which possesses her soul； when she takes the final look of that little pale face crowned with flowers and sleeping in its last chamber； with the silent voice of the dead uttering its last good night？ What more solitary than the spirit of one who； like the widow of Nain； follows to the grave her only son？of one from whom the wife； the mother； has been taken？ The mourner is in solitude；alone； in this peopled world；O； how utterly alone！ Through the silent valley of tears wanders that stricken spirit； seeing only memorials of that loss。
Indeed； sorrow of any kind is solitary。 Its deepest pangs； its most solemn visitations； are in the secrecy of the individual soul。 We labor to conceal it from others。 We wear a face of unconcern or gayety amid the multitude。 Society is thronged with masked faces。 Unseen burdens of woe are carried about in its busy haunts。 The man of firm step in the mart； and of vigorous arm in the workshop； has communions in his chamber that make him weak as a child。 Nothing is more deceitful than a happy countenance。 Haggard spirits laugh over the wine…cup； and the blooming garland of pleasure crowns an aching head。 For sorrow is secret and solitary。 Each 〃heart knoweth its own bitterness。〃
How precious； then； in the loneliness of sorrow； is that faith which bids us look up and see how near is God； and feel what divine companionship is ours； and know what infinite sympathy engirds us；what concern for our good is； even in this darkness； shaping out blessings for us； and distilling from this secret agony everlasting peace for the soul。 How precious that faith in the clear vision of which we can say； 〃I am not alone； for the Father is with me。〃
Finally； we must experience Death alone。 As I said in the commencement； the best； the most pious soul； may naturally shrink from this great event。 We may learn to anticipate it with resignation； to look upon it with trust； but indifference respecting it is no proof of religion。 It would be； rather； a bad sign for one to approach it without emotion； for however his faith may penetrate beyond； the religious spirit will； with deep awe； lift that curtain of mystery which hangs before the untried future。 That is a fact which we must encounter alone。 Friends may gather around us； their ministrations may aid； their consolations soothe us。 They may be with us to the very last； they may cling to us as though they would pluck us back to the shores of time； their voices may fall； the last of earthly sounds； upon our ears； their kiss awaken the last throb of consciousness； but they cannot go with us； they cannot die in our stead； the last time must come；they must loosen their hold from us； and fade from our vision； and we become wrapt in the solemn experience of death； alone！ Alone must we tread the dark valley；alone embark for the unseen land。 No； Christian！ not alone。 To your soul； thus separated in blank amazement from all familiar things； still is that vision of faith granted that so often lighted your earthly perplexities； to you is it given； in this most solitary hour； to say； 〃I am not alone for the Father is with me！〃
I repeat； then； in closing； that the test which proves the excellence of the religion of Christ is the fact that it fits us for those solemn hours of life when we must be alone。 Mere happiness we may derive from other sources； but this consolation not all the world can give；the world cannot take it away。
Let us remember； then； that though we seldom look within… though our affections may be absorbed in external things… these solitary seasons will come。 It behoves us； therefore； as we value true peace of mind； genuine happiness； which connects us to the throne of God with golden links of prayer；it behoves each to ask himself； 〃Dare I be alone？ Am I ready to be alone？ And what report will my soul make in that hour of solitude？ If I do wrong； if I cleave to evil rather than the good； what shall I do when I am alone； and yet not alone； but with the Father？ But if I do right； if I trust in Him； and daily walk with Him； what crown of human honor； what store of wealth； what residuum of earthly pleasure； can compare with the glad consciousness that wherever I rest or wander； in every season and circumstance； in the solitary hours of life； and the loneliness of death； God is verily with me？〃
Surely no attainment is equal to that strength of Christ； by which； when approaching the cross； he was able to say； 〃I am not alone； for the Father is with me。〃 By this strength； he was able to do more than to say and feel thus。 He was able to strengthen others；to exclaim； 〃Be of good cheer； I have overcome the world。〃 So we； by spiritual discipline； having learned of Christ to be thus strong； not only possess a spring of unfailing consolation for ourselves； but there shall go out from us a benediction and a power that shall gladden the weary and fortify the weak；that shall fill the solitude of many a lonely spirit with the consolations of the Father's love； and the bliss of the Father's presence。
Resignation
〃The cup which my Father hath given me； shall I not drink it？〃 John xvii。11。
The circumstances in which these words were uttered have； doubtless； often arrested your attention；have often been delineated for you by others。 Yet it is always profitable for us to recur to them。 They transpired immediately after our Saviour's farewell with his disciples。 The entire transaction in that 〃upper room〃 had been hallowed and softened by the fact of his coming death。 He saw that fact distinctly before him； and to his eye everything was associated with it。 As he took the bread and broke it； it seemed to him an emblem of himself； pierced and dying； and from the fulness of his spirit he spoke； 〃Take； eat； this is my body； broken for you。〃 As he took the cup and set it before them； it reminded him of his blood； that must flow ere his mission was fulfilled； and he could say； 〃It is finished。〃 And then； when the traitor rose from that table to go out and consummate the very purpose that should lead to that event； as one who had arrayed himself in robes of death； and was about to declare his legacy； he broke forth in that sublime strain commencing； 〃Now is the Son of man glorified； and God is glorified in him；〃…that strain of mingled precept； and promise； and warning； and prayer； from which the weary and the sick…hearted of all ages shall gather strength and consolation； and which shall be read in dying chambers and houses of mourning until death and sorrow shall reign no more。
Laden； then； with the thought of his death； he had gone with his disciples into the garden of Gethsemane。 There； in the darkness and loneliness of night； the full anguish of his situation rushed upon his spirit。 He shrank from the rude scenes that opened before him；from the mocker's sneer and the ruler's scourge； from the glare of impatient revenge； and the weeping eyes of helpless friendship； from the insignia of imposture and of shame； and from the protracted； thirsty； torturing death。 He shrank from these；he shrank from the rupture of tender ties；he shrank from the parting with deeply…loved friends；his soul was overburdened； his spirit was swollen to agony； and he rushed to his knees； and prayed； 〃Father； if thou be willing； remove this cup from me。〃 Yet even then； in the intensity of his grief； the sentiment that lay deep and serene below suggested the conditions； and he added； 〃Nevertheless； not my will； but thine； be done。〃 But still the painful thought oppressed him； and； though more subdued now； he knelt and prayed again； 〃O； my Father； if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it； thy will be done。〃 And once more； as he r