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Progress is the order of the day. It pervades everything. It is found in every walk of life. It is breaking up many of our old stereotype notions, and is forcing into notice and practice the newest and best discoveries. Who would not wish our age to be progressive in the useful and beautiful and great? So it is pleasant to see individuals progress — to see them rise step by step to the attainment of some great and worthy object

I. THE CHARACTER OF SPIRITUAL PROGRESS.

1. It is SLOW. From step to step Holiness and heaven are to be obtained slowly — little by little. If we cannot fly or run we must be willing to climb and walk, thankful to go forward, though slowly.

2. It is toilsome. Not only slow work, but hard work. The ascent is difficult and dangerous, like the ascent of some ice-bound mountains. Painfully does the traveller move upwards.

3. It is certain. "They go," etc. They rise. They are near heaven. They have more of Christ's likeness.

II. SOME OF THE INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCES OF CEASING TO PROGRESS.

1. Declension. If the soul is not gazing upward and Godward, it will gaze earthward. If Christ, the strong, loving magnet, does not draw the soul to Himself, the worldly magnet will draw it to itself.

2. Loss at every step; his prospects and hopes clouded, his peace gradually departs.

(W. Darwent.)

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KJV: They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

WEB: They go from strength to strength. Everyone of them appears before God in Zion.