There was another yoke upon those cows that day than the yoke of wood fashioned by the hands of Philistines: they were constrained of God. It was that that made them patient and willing to walk together; that, too, made them choose the new road. Born and stalled in Ekron, familiar with the field and the manger, they herded off to Beth-shemesh, along the road they had never been before.

Why did they do it? It was God.

And as surely it is God when men choose the new way and walk along the road to the heavenly kingdom. They are apprehended of Christ and not only born of the Spirit but borne of the Spirit. Men moved of God have a new instinct.

Nature would have sent those cows back to their calves, but something has been known to make a man forsake father and mother, renounce life or a love dearer than life, for the Kingdom of God.

Whoso hath felt the Spirit of the Highest cannot confound Him, or doubt Him, or deny.

It means pain. Christ’s martyrs, living or dying, though they rejoice to follow in His steps, are not insensible.

The cows went, lowing all the way. That was part of the proof; they had not forgotten their calves although they had forsaken them. Every low of the cow was a witness for God, and God who asks His people to sacrifice for His sake does not chide us because we feel it.

The reward of sacrifice is a call to sacrifice still more complete. The Lord never pays spiritual service in earthly currency. The impulse that carried the cows to the destined country led them to pause beside the stone that became an altar. The happy reapers of Beth-shemesh welcomed the Ark, but the cows who under God’s hand had brought it to them were not feasted and garlanded.

“The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD” (1 Samuel 6:14). So the service was followed by sacrifice, and the story is in the Book to make us glad when, our active life a thing of the past, we can still render ourselves unto God in a great renunciation.

GOD’S HIGHWAY

Measure all by the cross!

Whosoever . . . shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.—He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.—Praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.