Ishouldbewrong，eventhoughmythemeisthebrighterside，toignorethecrossandminimizethecostOnlyitgivestothecrossamoredefinitemeaning，andararervalue，toconnectitthusdirectlyandcasuallywiththegrowthoftheinnerlifeOurplatitudesonthe\"benefitsofaffliction\"areusuallyaboutasvagueasourtheoriesofChristianExperience\"Somehow\"webelieveafflictiondoesusgoodButitisnotaquestionof\"Somehow。\"
Theresultisdefinite，calculable，necessaryItisunderthestrictestlawofcauseandeffectThefirsteffectoflosingone\'sfortune，forinstance，ishumiliation；andtheeffectofhumiliation，aswehavejustseen，istomakeonehumble；andtheeffectofbeinghumbleistoproduceRestItisaroundaboutway，apparently，ofproducingRest；butNaturegenerallyworksbycircularprocesses；anditisnotcertainthatthereisanyotherwayofbecominghumble，oroffindingRestIFamancouldmakehimselfhumbletoorder，itmightsimplifymatters；butwedonotfindthatthishappensHencewemustallgothroughthemill。
Hencedeath，deathtothelowerself，isthenearestgateandthequickestroadtolife。
YetthisisonlyhalfthetruthChrist\'slifeoutwardlywasoneofthemosttroubledlivesthatwaseverlived:tempestandtumult，tumultandtempest，thewavesbreakingoveritallhetimetillthewornbodywaslaidinthegraveButtheinnerlifewasaseaofglassThegreatcalmwasalwaysthereAtanymomentyoumighthavegonetoHimandfoundRestEvenwhentheblood-houndsweredoggingHiminthestreetsofJerusalem，HeturnedtoHisdisciplesandofferedthem，asalastlegacy，\"Mypeace。\"NothingeverforamomentbroketheserenityofChrist\'slifeonearthMisfortunecouldnotreachHim；HehadnofortuneFood，raiment，money——fountain-headsofhalftheworld\'sweariness——Hesimplydidnotcarefor；theyplayednopartinHislife；He\"tooknothought\"
forthemItwasimpossibletoaffectHimbyloweringHisreputation。