HI 3:20{We were nearing the end of what had been a very fatiguing journey of over twenty miles, from G— to A—, upon a keen frosty morning, with the thermometer ranging about 25 below zero. Already one or more of our little party had in a measure succumbed to the influences of the weather, and as we urged our horses on through the village of A—, beyond which there remained some little dislance still to traverse of a road that by no means improved as we proceeded, every one of us was already anticipating the moment when, beyond the piercing cold, the snow drifts, and all the other surroundings incidental to our onward way, we would alight at our destination, where a hearty welcome was awaiting us from dear ones who, knowing we were on the way, had been thinking of us and on the look-out for us from the early morning. There was an unusual stir in the village of A—, and, as we passed through it, for our goal lay beyond, we were greeted with the cry, " Your vote and influence! "-the one who thus hailed us judging that we were upon the same bent as himself, that being the day of their municipal election. The answer came simply enough in a shake of the head and pointing forward as those who had their destination beyond, who could take no part in the affairs of the village, simply for the reason that we did not belong to it. We had no rights of citizenship to maintain in it, all our business being in diligent haste to press on until the journey was over-nothing congenial in our surroundings by the way-nothing to tempt any one of us to settle down short of our destination.
Even so, child of God, learn: that party cries raised, however loudly, have no meaning for thine ear as thou passest through, a stranger, a "Pilgrim (in this world), because a citizen of Heaven. Let nothing tempt thee to alight short of the goal, but, " one thing " characterizing thee-" forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before "-do thou " press toward the mark " (or goal) " for the prize of the calling on high of God in Christ Jesus."-Phil. 3:13-1413Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13‑14).