II. Man's waiting.

Our attitude is to be in some real sense analogous to His.

Its main elements are firm anticipation, patient expectation, steadfast
desire, self-discipline to fit us for the influx of God's grace.

We are not to prescribe 'times and seasons which the Father hath put in
His own power.' The clock of Eternity ticks more slowly than our short-
pendulumed timepieces. 'If the vision tarry, wait for it.' We may well
wait for God when we know that He waits for us, and that, for the most
part, when He sees that we are waiting, He knows that His time is come.

But it is to be noted that the waiting desire to which He responds is
directed to something better and greater than any gifts from Him, even
to Himself, for it is they who 'wait for _Him_,' not only for His
benefits apart from Himself, however precious these may be, who are
blessed.

The blessedness of such waiting, how it calms the heart, brings into
constant touch with God, detaches from the fever and the fret which
kill, opens our eyes to mark the meanings of our life's history, and
makes the divine gifts infinitely more precious when they do come.

After all, the time of waiting is at the longest very short. And when
the perfect fruition is come, and we enter into the great spaces of
Eternity, it will seem as an handbreadth.

'Take it on trust a little while,
Thou soon shalt read the mystery right