Would that I could more clearly see More surely know, more meekly own, And much I wish-but I will pray More of Thy meek and quiet mind. NOVEMBER 18. 66 Only be strong, and of a good courage.' Josh. i. 18. Take courage, prisoner of time, for there be many comforts! Not few nor light are the burdens of life; then load it not with heaviness of spirit; Sickness, and penury, and travail,—there be real ills enow; The tide is strong against us; good oarsmen, pull or perish,— If your arms be slack for fear, ye shall not stem the torrent. A wise traveller goeth on cheerily, through fair weather or foul; He knoweth that his journey must be sped, so he carrieth his sunshine with him. Calamities come not as a curse Struggle-thou art better for the strife, and the very energy shall hearten thee; And wisdom will go bravely forth to meet the chastening scourge, Enduring with a thankful heart that punishment of Love. Proverbial Philosophy. NOVEMBER 19. "I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope."-Ps. cxxx. 5. My Saviour, on Thy word of truth, In earnest hope I live; I ask for all the precious things Thy boundless love can give. I look for many a lesser light In holy expectation held, Thy strength my heart shall stay; Yea, Thou hast kept me near Thy feet, By the stronghold of hope in Thee,— NOVEMBER 20. The lines are fallen unto me in a pleasant place: yea, I have a goodly heritage.”—Ps. xvi. 6. To me fair memories belong, I shall have hopes that never fade, I shall have peaceful thoughts, instead My Saviour, and my God, shall be NOVEMBER 21. "Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"-St. John, vi. 5. The wilderness, indeed, is in itself as bare as ever; but to him who in it has met with The Christ, it has become full of an unearthly presence. In His presence all earthly things are changed into that which is above their own nature. He is in all His gifts to the heart which loves Him. To such an one, every earthly joy is changed into something of an heavenly nature. Even earthly anguish is transfigured by this heavenly glory. The sad heart which turns with loathing from the best comfort which is merely of this world, can rest here, in calmness, if not in joy, its heaviest burdens. There is a healing for every wound, a balm for every disappointment. Nothing is lost to us which He takes to keep for us; nothing missed by us, if instead of it He give Himself unto us. He, and He only, is the true answer to the weary question: "Whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness ?" BISHOP WILBERFORCE. NOVEMBER 22. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"—Rom. viii. 32. Fear not to trust a Maker's love, nor a Saviour's ransom: He drank for all-for thee-and me, the poison of our deeds. He, from the waters of oblivion, raised the drowning race, Lifting them even to Himself, the baseless Rock of Ages. Proverbial Philosophy. |