shall give in exchange for his soul.”  We urge you to make this estimate,—­to compare the “good things” which Dives enjoyed, with the “torments” that followed them; and the “evil things” which Lazarus suffered, with the “comfort” that succeeded them.  There can be no doubt upon which side the balance will fall.  And we urge you to take the “evil things” now, and the “good things” hereafter.  We entreat you to copy the example of Moses at the court of the Pharaohs, and in the midst of all regal luxury, who “chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ, greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:  for he had respect unto the recompense of reward.”  Take the narrow way.  What though it be strait and narrow; you are not to walk in it forever.  A few short years of fidelity will end the toilsome pilgrimage; and then you will come put into a “wealthy place.”  We might tell you of the joys of the Christian life that are mingled with its trials and sorrows even here upon earth.  For, this race to which we invite you, and this fight to which we call you have their own peculiar, solemn, substantial joy.  And even their sorrow is tinged with glory.  In a higher, truer sense than Protesilaus in the poem says it of the pagan elysium, we may say even of the Christian race, and the Christian fight,

  “Calm pleasures there abide—­majestic pains."[3]

But we do not care, at this point, to influence you by a consideration of the amount of enjoyment, in this life, which you will derive from a close and humble walk with God.  We prefer to put the case in its baldest form,—­in the aspect in which we find it in our text.  We will say nothing at all about the happiness of a Christian life, here in time.  We will talk only of its tribulations.  We will only say, as in the parable, that there are “evil things” to be endured here upon earth, in return for which we shall have “good things” in another life.  There is to be a moderate and sober use of this world’s goods; there is to be a searching sense of sin, and an humble confession of it before God; there is to be a cross-bearing every day, and a struggle with indwelling corruption.  These will cost effort, watchfulness, and earnest prayer for Divine assistance.  We do not invite you into the kingdom of God, without telling you frankly and plainly beforehand what must be done, and what must be suffered.  But having told you this, we then tell you with the utmost confidence and assurance, that you will be infinitely repaid for your choice, if you take your “evil things” in this life, and choose your “good things” in a future.  We know, and are certain, that this light affliction which endures but for a moment, in comparison with the infinite duration beyond the tomb, will work out a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  We entreat you to look no longer at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.