GOLD

A holy Christian is like gold. Cast gold into the
fire, or into the water; cast it upon the ash-heap
or into the pleasant garden; cast it among the poor or among the rich, among the religious or
among the wanton heathen--yet it is still gold,
still it retains its purity and excellency.
Just so, cast a holy Christian--a golden Christian
--into whatever condition you will, or into what-
ever company you will--and still he will retain
his purity, his sanctity!! Yes, the worse times
are, the more a holy man studies holiness, prizes
holiness, and practices holiness.

THOMAS BROOKS