Though he slay me, yet will I wait for him. JOB Xiii. 15. ВЕ Give me heart-touch with all that live, And strength to speak my word; But if that is denied me, give The strength to live unheard. EDWIN MARKHAM E utterly convinced of the righteousness of the dealings of God, harsh as these may seem. Unless it is your joy to believe that he has been thoroughly just, nay, more than just, undeservedly forbearing and generous, you will knock your head against rocks at every step. The justice of God's dealings admitted, your humiliation reconciled with your self-estimate, your attitude to men and things made up, you may safely look out for your place in your Father's household. MOZOOMDAR Pervading all Nature we may see at work a stern discipline which is a little cruel that it may be very kind. HERBERT SPENCER We can now see clearly that our new knowledge enlarges tenfold the significance of human life, and makes it seem more than ever the chief object of Divine care, the consummate fruition of that creative energy which is manifested throughout the knowable universe. JOHN FISKE My soul looketh for the Lord, More than watchmen look for the morning; The Lord upholdeth all that fall, PSALM CXXX. 6. And raiseth up all those that be bowed down. PSALM cxlv. 14. Ah, soul! with hope and watching worn, Mourn not thy leafless spring. The joyless days of life were born The joyful ones to bring. EDWIN ARNOLD N° O time of seeming inactivity is laid upon God calling upon you to do his business by ripening in quiet all your powers for some higher sphere of activity which is about to be opened to you. The time is coming when you shall be called again to the front of the battle. Let that solemn thought of dread, yet kindling expectancy, fill the cup of your life with the inner work of self-development which will make you ready and prepared when your name is called. The eighteen years at Nazareth, what was their result? A few years of action, but of action concentrated, intense, infinite; not one word, not one deed, which did not tell, and which will not tell, upon the universe forever. Eighteen years of silence, and then- the regeneration of the world accomplished, His Father's business done. STOPFORD A. BROOKE In the still air the music lies unheard; Great Master, touch us with thy skilful hand; Spare not the stroke! do with us as thou wilt! Walk on, my soul, nor crouch to agony, BONAR ANONYMOUS God alone knows what life is enough for us to live, what life we shall find worth our while; and be sure he is laboring to make it as full and lovely, and best in beauty, as it is possible for him to make it-only that depends on how much we make possible by believing he is what he is, and letting him have his own blessed way with us. GEORGE MACDONALD Week Sirteenth PRAYER AND ANSWER Prelude O thou that hearest prayer, PSALM 1xv. 2. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. (Earlier Version, "Here am I.") ISAIAH lviii. 9. "Allah, Allah!" cried the sick man, racked with pain the long night through; Till with prayer his heart was tender, till his lips like honey grew. But at morning came the tempter; said, "Call louder, child of pain! See if Allah ever hear, or answer, 'Here am I' again." Like a stab, the cruel cavil through his brain and pulses went; To his heart an icy coldness, to his brain a darkness sent Then before him stands Elias, says, "My child! Why thus dismayed? Dost repent thy former fervor? Is thy soul of prayer afraid?” "Ah!" he cried, "I've called so often, never heard the 'Here am I ;' And I thought, God will not pity, will not turn on me his eye." Then the grave Elias answered, "God said, ' Rise, Elias, go, Speak to him, the sorely tempted; lift him from his gulf of woe. 666 'Tell him that his very longing is itself an answering cry; That his prayer, "Come, gracious Allah!" is my answer, Here am I.": 66 99999 Every inmost aspiration is God's angel undefiled; And in every "O my Father!" slumbers deep a 'Here, my child.” FROM THE PERSIAN |