reward by having? This same apparent contradiction, which was found in
Judaism, subsists too in Christianity; we will state it in the words
of an apostle: "Godliness is profitable for all things; having the
promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come."
Now for the fulfilment: "If in this life only we have hope in Christ,
then are we of all men most miserable."

Godliness is profitable; but its profit it appears, consists in
finding that all is loss: yet in this way you teach your son. You will
tell him that if he will be good all men will love him. You say that
"Honesty is the best policy." yet in your heart of hearts you know
that you are leading him on by a delusion. Christ was good. Was he
loved by all? In proportion as he--your son--is like Christ, he will
be loved, not by the many, but by the few. Honesty is _not_ the best
_policy_; the commonplace honesty of the market-place may be--the
vulgar honesty which goes no further than paying debts accurately; but
that transparent Christian honesty of a life which in every act is
bearing witness to the truth, that is not the way to _get on_ in
life--the reward of such a life is the Cross. Yet you were right in
teaching your son this: you told him what was true; truer than he
could comprehend. It _is_ better to be honest and good; better than
he can know or dream: better even in this life; better by so much as
_being_ good is better than _having_ good. But, in a rude coarse way,
you must express the blessedness on a level with his capacity; you
must state the truth in a way which he will inevitably interpret
falsely. The true interpretation nothing but experience can teach.

And this is what God does. His promises are true, though illusive; far
truer than we at first take them to be. We work for a mean, low,
sensual happiness, all the while He is leading us on to a spiritual