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It is the part of religion to teach man to do well. Do — he must and will. He does not always, alas, do right; but it is the object of religion — of revelation — to induce him to do so. Weariness. How much is there to induce this spirit, and to render the exhortation against it appropriate. How soon does a spirit of weariness creep over us in our spiritual career. Does any one ask, "Why is this — what are its causes?" I reply — something is to be attributed in this tendency to the love which the human mind has for novelty. We all desire change, Monotony is irksome. The absence of variety is painful, and transforms the period over which it extends into a desert — a sandy plain; while, were there to be the entire negation of variety, life would be insupportable, and, like solitary confinement would soon become the harbinger of death. God knows this tendency of man's mind, and has provided for it — for what is there that does not change? The seasons revolve, and each appears clad in a different garb. Man's life progresses, and each age has its character. Not only is a desire for novelty sometimes the occasion of weariness in well-doing — something is to be attributed to the influence of sloth. An active creature as man is, there is still in him a love of ease, of repose, of luxurious rest. Nor is this all — there is the spirit of self-complacency. I have done so much that at least I may be satisfied. One more occasion of inconstancy in well.doing may be adverted to, and that is the most powerful of all — the natural disinclination of the mind to doing well at any time.

1. "Be not weary," FOR THE MOTIVES TO CONTINUANCE IN THE RIGHT COURSE ARE AS POWERFUL AS THE MOTIVES TO COMMENCEMENT. I say there is no change in the motives to diligence and duty, which abide as at first; and if, after having gone a little way, or a long way, in the course of well-doing, whatever its peculiar form, you have become weary, it is you who have altered, and not the course. The path is as much the king's highway as ever; its banks as green, its turns as beautiful, its trees as picturesque: but you have become weary, and your footsteps have flagged. What you want is, to get fresh impulse by a reconsideration of the motives by which at first you were impelled.

2. Let me say to you, "Be not weary in well-doing," because YOU HAVE THE MOST NOBLE EXAMPLES TO CONSTANCY AND DILIGENCE. Study the history of Jesus of Nazareth. Place yourself amid its events. Observe the spirit by which those. events were vitalized. Seek to understand the hidden laws of that outward and inward life. Was there any symptom of yielding, of inconstancy there?

3. "Be not weary in well-doing," BECAUSE AN UNFINISHED ENTERPRISE, OR A WORK INCOMPLETE THROUGH INCONSTANCY IS BOTH A DISTRESS AND A DISGRACE. There may be, of course, work left unfinished through necessity. The sculptor may die, and his bust half finished be his most significant monument. The painter may be paralyzed, and his unfinished canvas be the best expositor of his malady. In these cases there is distress, indeed, but no disgrace; pity, but not scorn: but let a work be begun, and left through vacillation of purpose — a great work be undertaken, and be unfulfilled through childish waywardness, and no wonder if they that go by "begin to mock," while the artificer is ashamed and distressed. And surely there is disgrace. Do the men of the world even respect a backslider? Then I might urge the exhortation by a reference to the self-discipline which is secured by perseverence — especially perseverence in a course of self-denial.

4. Direct you to the motive adverted to by the apostle. The PROSPECT OF REWARD. "In due season ye shall reap if ye faint not." The bestowment of rewards is a feature of God's government, as the doctrine which teaches it is a doctrine both of Scripture and of providence.

(J. Viney, D. D.)

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KJV: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

WEB: Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give up.