thing to be desired. I do not know that it is to be prayed for; but I think
it will be given us as the great bounty of God, so soon as ever we are
capable of it. That sight of the face of Jesus is, I think, what is meant
by his glorious appearing, but it will come as a consequence of his spirit
in us, not as a cause of that spirit in us. The pure in heart shall see
God. The seeing of him will be the sign that we are like him, for only by
being like him can we see him as he is. All the time that he was with them,
the disciples never saw him as he was. You must understand a man before you
can see and read his face aright; and as the disciples did not understand
our Lord's heart, they could neither see nor read his face aright. But when
we shall be fit to look that man in the face, God only knows."

"Then do you think, papa, that we, who have never seen him, could know him
better than the disciples? I don't mean, of course, better than they knew
him after he was taken away from them, but better than they knew him while
he was still with them?"

"Certainly I do, my dear."

"O, papa! Is it possible? Why don't we all, then?"

"Because we won't take the trouble; that is the reason."

"O, what a grand thing to think! That would be worth living--worth being
ill for. But how? how? Can't you help me? Mayn't one human being help
another?"

"It is the highest duty one human being owes to another. But whoever wants
to learn must pray, and think, and, above all, obey--that is simply, do
what Jesus says."