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SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS

A.MIJ

GLEANINGS

1!\-

MACHilK 1'. AxN'DERSON.

We look before and after,
And pine for wliat is not;

Onr sincerest Inu.nhter
<-\ With some pain i~, frauchl

Our sweetest .on,, are those that t'ell of sadde't ihought..-.V/,.//.>,.

SAINT JOHN, N. u .

"A.LV TKLKOKAW, HOOK AND .,0K rRESS, CANTKKBL RY HTKKKT

r 7 M u ' ■ — •

I'i

INTRODUCTION.

The writing' of those "Thoughts and OIoanin«v.s " has
eiiaJ.lo.l me to oiuluro hour after li our of severe sufTerins n.iul
weaiincss in the still night watches, when the wo.-ld around
me seemed Imshed in slumber, and no sound disturbed tlie
almost painfid stillness between midnight and early dawn

Tf one soul similiarly situated shall gain one helpful, com-
forting thought from my experience, while passing thiough
the deep waters of physical and m<«ntal suffeiing, 1 shall not
have suffered in vain, neither shall I have written in vain.

1 desire to express my grateful thanks for the many
kindnesses of my numerous friends and acquaintances during
my long continued illness.

May Heaven's choicest blessings rest upon those dear ones,
and may they be enriched with all spiritual and temporal
blessings.

May God's blessing rest with Divine power in fulness of
His love upon this little l>ook, and may He in Spirit and in
truth, go forth with each and every copv.

"Knowledge by suffering entereth,
And life is perfected by death."

— M7's. Rrovnin<i,

"Patience doth. con(|uer by out-suffering all."

— Peelf,

M. P, A.

1"^^ % 0

■i

roXTHXTS.

^ FxKST J>AY~iMi(lniylit 'J'lioiij^lits

Ski (>m» Day- -Ropentance jo

'I'liiiii. Day -SccMirity in ( 'lirist )•{

KoiKTii Day Our H,„„f Inlluenco [[[[] I,';

Vn-vu l)AY-'I'lie \'.ilue of Little 'I'liiiigs

S/\rii Day -Without Carefulno.ss . . . . "

Skykntk D.u -Daily Stio.igtli How ..htaiiiod. ......

KKiiiTii DAY-Kpi.cles Known and Koa.l ,]]"

Ninth Day— Unceasing in I'rayer

'I'knth Day- Following ( )i!r Sheplienl .5,

Ki.KVKNTii Day -'' Kept '" .

'I"\\ Ki,n II Day— Unto Still Waters

'rniHTEKNTii DAY-Three Degrees in Peace , 4^

•^ FoiRTEKNTii Day— Unfailing Cruse

FinKKNTH Day- -( 'I'p-I.earers to our King

.SiXTKKNTir DAY.-Koeping ffoly the Sal)hath .... -,4

Skvkntkentii Day— " Overcome •

KKiHTEKNTH Day-" Tliou (iod secst me'' '. . . . .....'.[.""

NiNiEENTii DAY-Seeing and Knowing

TwENTiKiH Day-" The Lord shut him m" . . ..

TwENTY-KiRST Day -loint-heirs with Christ " 74

TwENTY-sKioM, Day -IJcaring our ( 'ross

TwKNTY-TifiHi) Day--" It is Well •

Twenty- lo.KTH DAY-Heaven Oi)ened ..'....

TwKNTY-KiKTM Day- Beginning of (;od's love s<»

Twenty-sixth DAY-Seeing Jesus \y^

TvvENTY-sEVENTH DAY-Pressing toward the 'Mark ' i,-

rwENTY-Ei.Mn I, Day Falling Short of the Mark ... ,(),',

I WKNTY-NiNTii Day- When " Death • is "(;ain "

Thirtieth Da Y-Hindrances

Thirty- 11 MS r Day— Kive Places ...

'JO
24
•-'7
:{()

r.i

1;;!

1 1
81
Sli

First Sunday—" Coming ■

Second Sunday-" Immanuels lamU

104
100
110

Third Sum

Four'

•AY—" Knocki

ncr,

ni Sunday— "Not K

ever Knocking

now

ing

FiVTU Sunday— Celestial Country

114
118
1'2.'{
125

128

SICK-ROOM TJIOLGllTS AND GLEAMXGS.

FIRST DAY.

MrnNKMIT TII()|;{;j|Ts.

Til.- Hoods of sorrow and biilows of affliction have w.ll
nigli overwhelmed nie. Has (;o.l forsaken ine ? No. CJod
hath fiaid: " 1 will never leave thee, nev.T fb.-sake thee " I
do bolh've God, and 1 will trust in Him.

Thus 1 nu.se while lying on my bed in severe pain
dunng the silent watehes of the night, when all the world
.s.'eu.s hushed in silent slund,er, and no sound is hear.l to
disturb the ain.ost painful stillness of my sick-room, save
the ticknig of th,. clock as it n.arks the flc-ting moments
winch are stea,lily and swiftly passing away to be nun.bered
witii the thnigs of eternity.

" What makes the good Christian '( P-rpetual trial He
Who has experienced the severest stonns, and most fre-
quently thrown out the Christian anchor, has the strongest
hope. Where shall we expect the firmest faith' At the
gate of St. Peter's or at the martyr's stake? Who is com-
pared to purified silver or gold? That Christian around
whose soul Cod hath kindled the fires of His furnace, and
kept then, glowing till it reflected His iu.age. "-/;/./...
i/iompsuii. '

Have we swerved fron. the paths of righteousness.' Yes
AH we hke sheep, have gone astray; we have tunu-d every
one to his own way, and the Lo,-d hath laid on Hin. tlu-

8 S/CA'-A'OO.U TUOUGJITS AND GLEANINGS.

iiii(iuity of us all, CJorl is calling UH to return unto Him,
retrace our stops, until \vc shall again walk in the paths of
righteousness, (iod strengtrien us to obey Him and trust
Him for abundant pardon. " Lot the wicked forsake his
way, and the unrighteous man his tlioughts, and let him
return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him,
and to our (iod, for Ho will abundantly pardon." Thus
saith the Lord • "I have called theo by thy name, thou art
Mine." As our Saviour calls your name, are you not
thrilled with its jtathos ? Are you not melted with tlu;
depth and obedience of Calvary love ? At the remembrance
of His dying agony for you, are you not |)ierced to the heart "?
And when He whispers loving, comforting and sympathetic
words in tlu; silent night watcheu, and you listen to His
precious invitation, " Come unto Me all ye that labor, and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," canyon resist the
l»leading love of Oahary .' " Cast thy binden upon the Lord
and He will sustain thee."

" V'ou who are hedged in by untoward circumstances,
seiiing the sea before you, and the mountains fort.tdding
r(, treat, antl no escape, let \\w say, ' xStand still and see the
salvation of (Jod.' His mercy will provide a way even
though it be through the Hood, and while to lead you in the
way there may be no bannei- of tire nor pillar of cloud, our
Father will lead you out of bondage into the freedom of His
abundant grace." — Rev. Warren llathavHtii.

For His name's sake, dear riiader. His love shall be
unfailing, His vigilance sleepless, His faithfulness unchang-
ing, His love for you through eternity passing knowledge.
We shall never outgrow our need of His guidance and Christ
will not abandon us half way.

"Though foes assail me, yea, within without,
Harass my soul, aud hurl my joys in dust ;
No forceful fear nor fraud of treacherous doubt
Disarms my buckled trust.

,/l

s/CA' A'(>(>}/ ■/■//(>/■(;///:<; i.v/) ';/ /■: ix/xi;s.

"Yea, tlK.UKli then slay nic, and supine I .'nwor

Jlcait jiicrfcd ami Meediii^' fi„i„ the lieiy tliiiiMt,
I liiiuw tliere waits in Heaven a Kldriuu.s limir
'I'n erown my sacrnl triiNt."

I'nnI II. 11,11,,,,'.

Ill "v.-ry liny tcsl cf (ri,i|.t,iti()M or liial, i„ r-v.-rv uMli.-
(i"", in rvrry .lark or uwful luciucnt of vour lif,-, l.ol.l fust
to tlio ,„o.nis,- „r ( .'.hI's .sii(llci..',.;v. ( ;o.l'.s"i.mn.is..s of ivf,,-,.,
<lHiv..ianco, protcrti.Hi and -uidanrr ,,.(•,.,• i,, ,,nr souls.

'•Oil. l.y rv.Ty tear wjiiej, ( .'o.l has wij„.,| fn,,,, your ry<.s.

I.y cvrry anxirty nvIuVI, ||o j.as sooti,,,], l,v ..v.tv fVar wlnVli

H.- has ,lis,K.ll,..l, l.yrv.TV want v JnVl, nj. J.us .su|.,,Ii..|, l,y

<'v...y uuTcy wl.icl. H.- has L.-stoNvcl, strci.-th..,, vo.,rs.>K ."s

for all that awaits you throu-h th.- •••■u.ain.l.T of 'v,.ur lif,. •

look onuani if it must W so. to now trials, to innvas..!

r<Tpl,,xiti,.s: yra, ..von to doath itsflf; hut look on what is

past as W..11 as what is to com.., and you will I,,, mal.k-d

to say of llihi in whose hands aro your tinu's. His future

(l.'alinys will l„. what His fonnor has l.,vn. fulfihn.nts of

the pronns... 'As thy .lays, so shall thv strnx^h '...'"-_

Ilelti'een the J/itjhfs. " °

LEAN lIAKIi.
"Child of My l„ve, ' f,ean Hard,'

And let mo feel tlie pressure of thy earo,

I know tliy burden ; child, I shaped it. '

Poised it on Mine own ' uid, made no proporti .n

In Its weight to thii.e untided strength.

Before ever I laid it on I said

I shall 1)0 ever near, and while she lean.-, Me,

'I'his burden shall he Mine n.)t hers.

So shall I keep My child within My circling arms

Of Mnie own love. Here lay it down, not fear

To iuipo.soit on shoulders which upholds
The governments of worlds, ^'ct closer ..'ome
Thou art not near enough, I would emhraco thy care
So I might feel My child reposing on my heart.
Jhou Invest Mo y 1 douht it not ;
Then i- ving Me, ' Lean Hard.' ' '

siCA'-A'ooM THorcirrs ax/> g/.e.ix/xgs.

SECOND DAY.

REPENTANCK.
"Woiindi of the soul, though healed, will ache ;
The reddeuincr scars remain and make

r'onfession ;
Lost innocence returns no more ;
We are not what we were l)efore
Transgression.

"But noble souls ^hmugh dust and heat,
Rise from disaster aiid defeat

The s< runger ;
And conscious still of th j Divine
Within them, lie on earth supine
No longer."

— //. W. Loniifelloii\

-Bishop Huntin-ton says: "Judging by the tifty-first
Psuhn, ther(' has been no repentance more thorough-going
than David's. On that ground ho an,l we meet togethe.t
What lie said we can say. Wlvit lie felt, though his heart
was under a royal robe, we can feel. Our mortal nothing-
ness, our inability to coi)e with each day's dangers, our utt^r
dependance on the grace of God, Helps we have that he
had not. He was but the son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite,
after all, and had never heard — what every worshippei- in'
Christ's church has heard — the Divine story that aft(n--
wards began at that same Bethlehem and ended at the ci'oss.
He knew not the Master and Redeemer, as we know Him.
He only knew that he wanted Him in his heart and in his
flesh. Blessed are all they that know tliat now."

"Tears fill my eyes, and falling on my face,
Betoken deepest sorrow for my sin ;
The wodd is dark, but when I look within,

4*7

s/cA-~A'c>uj/ Jiiuicirj's Axn (;/./■: i.v/xcs.

A deeper darkness seem.s to take its j)lace ;

'i'lie past is but a record of disgrace :
The i)resent is a threshold ; I Iji'gin
To step it over. Init tliere iiaiigs between

A hiding vale whose threads close interlace.

0 for some light to ciieer the darksome way !

0 for some voice to speak a word of peace !

1 look, ami lo I a kindly heavenly ray ;

1 listen, and His ' Come ' .' bids doubting cease

Before Thy cross, 0 t'hrist, I humbly fall,
I can do notliing. Thou must do it all."

How sliuU w<- olitain the peace of forgiveness ?
" ^^'e can never l.e at peace until we ha^•e performed the
highest duty of all -till we have arisen and gone to our
hiither, — George Macdonald.

Tl,e perfect character of Clirist merits our trust, and the
chastisement of our peace was upon Him. We are resolved
and detenu.ned to take up the cross of Christ and bear it
glaaly for our Saviour's sai<e ; and ah-eady hope changes the
rugged and thorny into fountains of refreshn.ents in the
wilderness of this world. We are rich in hope when we see
how sweetly He disposeth all things after the counsel of Hi.s
own wdl, and permeates and visits us like the sweet refresh-
ing shower fro.n heaven. " Con.e unto Me," saith Jesus-
and we can.e just as we were -guilty, lost an,l l)elples.s
smners in response to His loving invitation, and He hath
c eansed us in His blood. We went en,pty, hungry and
^^ealy, and Jesus received, filled and satisfied us He mv
Saviour, has done it all. ' ^

"Any man may, if lie will, have his whole nature influ-
enced and inhabited by that mighty Spirit, of whon. .. may
all be ten4>les, and which dwells in us, not as the image oV
he gods abides in the shrine, but as our spirits anin.ate our
bodies, being diffused through all our nature, the eye of our
seeing, the heart of our love, the will of our resolv.., and in
all ot us the source of our goodness and tlie life of our better

S/CA-~A'00.]/ THOUGIfTS AND GLEANINGS.

life. ' Tf any man liavo not^tho Spirit of Christ, he is none
of Jlis.' Let us i-enioinber that tliis penetration of all our
nature with a Divine Spirit -1 welling within us is the promise
of Christianity to every man "— Jfem«c/er J/cZ<r/-e?<, D. D.

" The l)lood of Jusus Cnrist, His son, cleanseth us from
all sin."

Cleanse all who shall icad this page in Tliy blootl, my
Savioui-, and periiK^ate us all with 'Wy Spirit of love, purity
and power.

S/CA-ZaX-).]/ TIIOCGinS AX I) UI.EANIXGS

THrHD DAY.

SKCriUTV 1\ CHRIST.
"The way is dark, my ci.il.l ; hut loads t(. light,
I would not always havs^ thee walk by sight : '
My dealings now, thou canst not understand,
I meant it so ; hut I will take thy hand,
And through the gloom
Lead sately home my child !

The day goes fast, my child : But is the night
Darker to me tlian day ? In me is light !
Keep close to me, and every spectral band
Of fears shall vanish. I will tak.. thy hand,
And through the night
Lead up to light, my child !

The way is long, my child ! But it shall be
Not one step longer than is best for thee,
And thou Shalt know, at last, when thou sh.alt stand,
Safe at the goal, how I did take thy hand,
And (juick and straight
Lead to Heaven's gate my child !

The path is rough, my child ! But oh ! how sweet
^^ ill be the rest, for weary pilgrims meet,
^^ hen thou shalt reach the borders of tliat land
To which I lead thee, as I take thy hand,
And safe and biest
With me shall rest my child !

The throng is great my child ! But at thy side
Thy Father walks : then be not terrified !
For 1 am with thee ; will thy foes command
To let thee freely pass ; will take thy hand.

And through the throng

Lead safe along my child !

S/CA'-A'OO.y TIIOL'C Ill's AXD 0 1.EAXIXGS.

The crf)s.s is heavy child ! Yet there was one
^\ ho hore a lieavier for tlice : My .Son,
My well beloved. For Him bear thine ; and stand
With Him at last ; and from thy Fatlier's hand,

Thy cross laid down,

Eeceive a crown, my child." — 11. X. Cobb.

Onr Rodeeniei- has said : " I am the door ; by Me if any
man enter in lie shall he saved and shall go in and out and
find pasture." Yes, truly those of ns, whom (jod has shut
in, to experience year in and year out, dull companionship of
])ain and continual weariness of ex tn.'me su fieri ng and weak-
ness, most assuredly w(; "go in and out and find pasture";
we have abundant freedom and abundant spiritual food in
Christ. We are secure in Christ. The })recious blood of
Christ can never lose its power and virtue. God is just and
holy ; His word is truth, and all His promises are sure.

" You think that you coidd never have been a martyr,
yet women more timid, and children more delicate, have won
and worn that crown ; nearer to the tlame they were nearer
to Christ, and as the balmy winds of Paradise beat u})on
their foreheads wliile the file roared about their feet, so
believe me, it will be with you. I have known martyrs
here — boys ungifted and unattracti\\., boys neglected and
despised, yet so firm in their innocence, .so steadfast in their
faith, that no evil thing had power to hurt them. Every day
their struggle was easier ; every day their faith more hai)py.
Weak, unloved, and .single-handed, they overcome the world,
And why % 0, if by any passing interest attaches to the
accident of these last words, I would that I could leave you
this thought as an indelible impression. Why % Because
God is faithful." — Archdeacon Farrar.

Give Thine angels charge over us, and keep us in the hol-
low of Thine hand all the days of our lives ; and enlighten
our minds in tlie knowledge of Christ, and renew our
strength in all things according to Thine will, and may we

-i

.^,s

S/CA'~A'00.]f THOUGIirS AXP Gl.RAXlXGS.

Cohh.

mount lip as wit], tl... win-s of .an fa-le, so tliat we shall nin
and not be weaiy and walk and not faint,

" Living fr..ni day to day l)encath His eye, and wl-ero all
things are ordered l.y a Divin,- Providence. As o.a.efullv as
H mother arranges tlu> room where her child wili pass^he
•lay, does (Jod prepare each hour that opens l.efore me.
A\ hatev.M- has to he done, it is His will that I sliould do it
^. and in order that it should be done well, He provides the

necessary time, intellig,.nce. aptitude and knowledge.

Whatever of suffering presents itself. He expct^ts me to
boar It. even though I may not sl^e any reason for it, and if
th- pain be so sharp as to call forth a crv, He ..ontly
wluspoTs: 'Courage, My child, for it is My will.'"- r^W
Dust.

Truly, Cod's love is unbounded, the foundation of all
l;a).pin,.ss, present and future, He is altogether sucli a
fc>aviour as I need. I an, very unworthy : but He is worthy
I am weak, but He is strong, i am by nature and practice
sinful an. I polluted, but His efficacious blood cleanseth from
all sin. The God of love defends His own, and can brin-^
bght out of darkness, good out of evil. All the promises of
God in Christ Jesus, are yea and amen to those who believe
in Him.

All is yours, y(. aie Christ's, and Christ's is God's We
are secure in Christ. " They that trust in the Lord shall
be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth
lorever.

s/cA' A'PD.]/ -///ore /ITS .LV/) i; /./•:. Lv/.\'c,s.

FOrPvTH DAY.

OUR HOME INFIX'ENCK.

Truly lias it been said, that "our duties arc like the
circles of a whirlpool, and the innermost includes home."

By our de{)ortment in our homes, Ijy our conduct and
conver.sation, Ity the attitude wo assume toward our parents
and brothers and sisters in our family circle, by the friend-
ships we form, by oiir dispositions, teinjHMS, talents and
atlections, we are continually increasiufj or diminishin?' the
sum total of human happiness. There is no middle path.
If we are not instruments of good, we are instruments of
evil. Even the most obscure individual exerts an influence
which must be felt in the great brotherhood of nuinkind.
Let us never forget in our intercourse with our own family
that there are duties and responsibilities in\ olved as well
as privileges and pleasures. Which member of the family
group can say ; I have no influence] Do we not frequently
find that the oldest member of the family — either the
oldest brother or sister — becomes the oracle of the rest,
either of good or evil ; consciously or unconsciously modify-
ing and influencing the conduct as well as the motive of all
with whom they are brought in contact ; but more especi-
ally those of our own family and kind idil Will my sisters
and brothers — when I shall have passed froiii among them
— and God only knows how soon that may be — - be the
better or the worse for my presence, for my influence ]

'Tis a solemn question, a solemn thought, and may well
make us pause and consider our attitude and deportment in
our intercourse with each other, (lod gi\e unto us, the
oldest member of the circle. Thy Spirit of Wisdom, that we
may be " wise as the serpent and harmless as the dove."

S/CA--A'OC>.]/ IllOUailTS AXn UI.EAXJXGS.

"We are forgetting that the niiglitir.st power in th"
world, next only to the Spirit of God Himself, is tlie power
of Chiist-like eharacter. It were well, therefore, that the
voices among us weie less noisy and tlie deeds mor(> pro-
nounced. Uetter a star than a meteor ; l)etter a heaeon
that is steady, than a marsh tire that is flickering and change-
ful. iJfe is more potent than words. I5y life, 'without a
word,' things will be accomplished which could not he
secured even by the most glowing words without the life "
— ir. M. Tujlor, D. I).

I
1?

THE EVERLASTIN(; MKMOllIAr..
" rp and away, like the dew of the iiiorniujr,

That soars from the eartli to its home in the sun,
So let me steal away, gently and lovingly,
Only remembered by what I have done.

My name and my ijUce and my tondj all forgotten,
The l)rief race of time well and patiently run,

So let me pass away peacefully, silently,
Only remembered by what I have done.

r;iadly away from this toil would I hasten.
Up to the crown that for me has been won ;

Unthought of by man, in rewards or in praises, —
Only remembered by what I have done.

Up and away, like the odors of sunset,
That sweetens the twiligiit as darkness comes on ;

So be my life,— a thing felt, but not noticed,
And I but remembered by what I have done.

Yes, like the fragrance that wanders in freshness,

When the flowers that it come from are elosed up and gone.

So would I be, to this world's weary dwellers,
Only remembered by what I have done.

Needs there the praise of the love-written record.
The name and the epitaph graved on the stone ?

The things we have lived for, let them be our story,
We ourselves but remembered by what we have done.

S/CA'-A'OO.U THOUCirj'S AND GJ.AANJNGS.

I need not be missed, if my life has been bearing,
(As its Summer and Autumn moved silently on)

The bloom, and the fruit, and the seed of its season S
I shall still be renienibered by what I have done,

I need not be missed, if another succeed me,

To reap down those fields wiiicli in Spring I have sown ;

He who plowed, and who sowed is not missed by tlie reaper.
He is only remembered by what he has done.

Not myself, but the truth that in life I hiave spoken,
Not myself, but tlie seed that in life I have sown,

Shall pass on to ages,- all about me forgotten,

Save the truth I have spoken, the things I have done.

So let my living be, so be my dying ;

So let my name lie, unblazoned, unknown ;

Unpraised and unmissed, I shall still be remembered ,

Yes, — but remembered by what I have done.''

— Bonar,

Tliere ai-e; those who occu])y the position of the oldest
member in the family group ; liow fearful is our responsi-
bility ! When the younger members of our family circle
come to us for counsel in moments of disappointment and
irritation, or for comfort in the time of sorrow or distress :
when they look uj) to us and say ; " What must I do 1 How
shall I act 1 " It is most important that we should carefully
and prayerfully weigh each word ere we give it utterance,
ere we assume the responsibility.

" May it not be a comfort to those of us who feel that
we have not the mental or spiritual powers that others have,
to notice that the living sacrifice mentioned in Romans xii. :
1, is our bodies] Of course that includes the mental powers,
but does it not also include the loving, sympathetic glance,
the kind, encouraging word, the ready errand performed for
another, the work of our hands, opportunities for all of
which come oftener in the day than for the mental power wo
are often tempted to envy 1 May He enable us to offer
that which we have," — From Daily Strength.

S/Ch A\)0.]/ 77/Or(;//'JS .L\'/> O/./i.LV/A'GS.

1{)

Common life and tho most trivial drcd.s may Ix' ennohlcd
when tlic work that is done is done not from ntvossitv. hut
from love; lovo that is willin/,' to sacriHt-e sonicthin,-,' for
the good of another, or for another's benefit or liapj^inoss,
Christ sliowed the nobleness of self-sacrifice for tlie good of
others, prompted by the one true motive — Love.

That spirit of love that sufJereth long and is kijid, that
envieth not, tliat vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth
not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not
<^asily provoked, thinketii no evil, rejoiceth in the tiuth,
beareth all things, ' ^peth all things, endureth all things,
love that never faileth. That spirit, we j)ray Thee, give
unto us. God givt. unto us, the oldest members of tlu;
family group, Thy Spirit of love. :\Iay love rule in our
hearts and in our homes, and may we "serve" because we
"love."

"If an outward trouble or inward pain be needful to
make of me but for one moment a consoling angel to some
poor, lowly heart, oh ! however keen the pain, or l)itter the
trouble, I pray you grant it to nie, Jesus."— /'/•o/m Cold
Dust.

God grant unto us who sluill read this page, and those who
have written it, the character of Christ, the sympathy and
iove of Christ, and may our home influence be of the spirit
of Christ.

S/CA' A'UO.U TUiKiillTS AXI^ HI.KANINGS,

FIFTH J)AY.

Tin; \ALUK OF littlp: tiiixos.

' Do thy littlo, do it woll,
Do wluit liglit and reason toll ;
l)() wiiat wrong and sorrow claim,
Concjuer sin and cover shame.

Do thy little, though it be
Diearinuss and drudgery ;
They wliom Christ qmstles made,
(;atliered fragments when He l)ade.

L>o thy little ; never mind
Thougii thy bretliren be unkind ;
Though the men who ought to smile,
Mock and taunt thee for a while.

Do thy little ; never fear
While thy S'aviour stanileth near ;
Let the world its javelins throw, '
On thy way undaunted go.

Do thy little ; God hath made
IVIillion leaves for forest shade ;
Smallest stars their glory bring,
God employeth every thing.

Do thy little, aad when thou
Feelest on thy pallid brow,
E're has ilea the vital breath.
Cold i.nd damp the sweat of death.

Then the little thou hast done,
Little battles thou hast won.
Little masteries achieved.
Little want with care relieved
Little words in love expressed,
Little wrongs at once confessed,

.svcvv' /iv '( '.1/ /■//( >i \ii/is . ix/) CI. /■:. LX/xcs.

liittio fuvoFH kindly doiu',
T^ittk- toils tlmii djilut not h1i;iii,
I-ittIr graces iiuikly worn,
Little slights with iiaticiu'o home.
Theso shall crown the pillowed head,
Holy light iiiMiii tlice shed ;
These are treasures that shall rise
Far beyond the smiling skies."

— C/iceriiHj Wori/.i.

" Kacli (lay is like a furrow lyiiiu hct'oiv us ; our thoughts,
desires iiiid uftions aiv tlio seed tliiit cacli iniiuito wc drop
into it, without seeming' to i.crccivc it. 'I'lic fiurow tinislied,
we coiDmenco uju))! aiiotiici', thcu another, and again anotiior;
eacli day prcsent.s a fresh one, and so on to the end of life.
8owinf,', ever sowing. And all w(> have sown springs up,
grows and hears fruit, almost unknown to us, even if l>v
chance we cast a hackward glance, ^\■v. fail to rocogmV.e our
work.

liehind us, angels and demons, like gleaners, gatlier
together in sheaves all that l.elongs to them. Kvery night
their store is increa.sed. They preserve it, and at the last
day will present it to their master. Is there not a thought
in this that should make us i-ellect?" — Cul'I Dvst.

God, " Our Father " will frequently pennit us to minister
to others a word at the needful moment, and He will hloss it ;
just as He did tlie u-ord of the little maid in the liouso of
Xaanian the Syrian.

A \eiT little circinnstance, a trilling kindness, a very
little sympathy when the heart is sore over recent loss, a
very few kind words done and spoken have e're this been
powerful for good.

Often we are tempted to sit down and wee),, we are so
weary, and we begin to doubt and hang our harps in the
willows.

But a friendly voice is near, and bids us " be of good
courage," and a friendly hand is laid in .sympathy on^'our

S/CA-AOJ.W rilOUCHTS ANn CJ.h.lN/NGS.

iichiii;; Iii-ails, tiiid scrms to rest in lie." dictifm njHtti it, still-

)l.l

ing tilt! li(>r('( tliroliltiiim' tciiijilfs, im(1 s(>(>innig to (

liHuso

jivouiul us an unionut, of '^mA niid iiM|»|)iiir.ss, l»y only show-
ing a smiling face and kind licari, Hud speaking eliccd-y
words of •TeonrngiMncni to us in our moments of despond-
(Uicy l»y reason of our inlirmities. Are we wutcliful to tak(^
advanliige of every op{)ortunity / Do w(! try to make tlioso

ar reader, wi

you tr)

try?

around I, s l)ett(!r and luippier ? 1)(

Will y()U render nnto (Jod the liest services of you'.* life I

" A popular authoress tells us that she longs to be like
the cIhu'cIi liells, uttering a 'holy' over all human activity
— rvei' all sti-iving and all suH'ering — over all the happy;
as if they had said, 'Come, ye sorrowing; yc gay and
tlioughtless on(,'S ; ye weary and lujavy laden ones. Come
md heai- (iod's message of redeeming lov(> ' I "

Every person is continually operating for good or evil
upon ail connected with him. Shall we not, then, put forth
every effoit to cheer, soothe and minister to the happiness
of each other, as we pass through this world. " If you can-
not do a kind d(K'd, speak a kind word ; if you cannot speak
a kind word, think a kind thought."

" Livin<f to Christ in small thini's and liviui; for Christ
every day is the secret of large faithfulness."

" A peach tree or an orange does not leap into a bounty
of fruit by one spasmodic effort ; an orchard does not ripen
utuler a single day's sunshine. Every raindrop, every sun-
beam, every inch of subsoil does its part. A fruitful Chris-
tian is a growth To finish up a godly character by a mere
religion of Sundays and .sermons and sacraments and revivals
and special seasons is impossible. A man may be converted
in an instant, but he must grow by the year. The tough
fiber of the slender branch that can hold up a half bushel of
oi'anges is very different from a little willow switch ; it is
the steady, compacting process that makes that little limb
like a steel wire. Such is a healthy and holy believer's life.

•I

s/CA /yOOM I IHH-Girrs ANn Gl E.WfiXGS.

i»3

KveiT lioncHt prnyor tlmt is hivntlietl, evoiy cross that is rar-
ri«'(l, ..v(;ry trial tlmt is wrll nulnml, every ^umd \u.rk for
our f.-llow-inni lovinjily (Ion.>, every littN' act tlmt is cousci-
.'iitiotisly iH.rform.'.l for ( 'iMistH .ijlory, helps to limko the
('liristiiin elmnieter l-eiititiful, aii.j to loud its l.roiul l,ou<,'lis
with 'apples of oohj' for (Jod's l.usketof silver."— /;/•. Vn^hr-

" Wo Iim;,' to do grL';it tliiii;,'M, so wt- noKK'ct
Oft tiiriL-H to do tlu; littlr tliiiig.s wc can,
Tho common daily diitii-H, - while wr plan
Some grand high etlect."

S/CA'-A'OO.]/ THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

SIXTH DAY.

UITJIOIJT CAKKFILNESS.

Is it (Jod's will that I bIiouIcI 1)e fiee from care? you ask.
Yes. (lod does not mean that we are to be shiftless, negli-
gent, or indifierent in thijigs concerning our temporal and
spiiitnal welfare. God would have us " acknowledge Him
in all our woys," use all due caution in our domestic life, all
diligence in our school life, all honesty in our business deal-
ings; " doing all as unto the Lord," and all energy and ear
nestness in our s))iritual life. He would not have us over-
anxious, taking unnecessary thought, and worried o\er the
most trivial things. Ood would have us do our best, and
having done our best, using caution. He would have us leave
the result with Him — " casting all our care upon Him," as-
sured He careth for us.

'•Careful for nothing, ])rayerful for everything, thankfu-
for anything." — D. L. Mooch).

" 0 Lord, what Thou sayest is true. Thy care for me is
greater than all the care that I can take for myself." — Titos.
A. Kempis.

" Cast all thy care on God. See that all thy care be such
as thou can'st cast on God, and then hold none back. Cast
thy whole self, even this very care which distresseth thee,
upon God." — E. B, Pansey.

Do look at this promise, dear reader : " ]My God shall
supply all your need according to His riches in glory by
Christ Jesus," for of course it applies to you as well as to me.
Shall we not drink deeply of its fulness and be refreshed
with its sweetness ? What is youi- special need to-day ] He
has promised to " supply all your need," and " all " means

S/CA'-A'iHKU THOUGHTS AND Gl.E.lXIXGS.

ALL. Yes, Oofl l,as pledged Jiimself to "supplv all our
need." Shall ue not tru.st God muiuestiouinglv and fuHy-^
trust ]tin. in the -loom as well as in the sun.shine ; trust
Him wlum the paths we are treading are dark as well as
light and clear and pleasant to journey through, when friends
are few, and we seem alone, and in want, and utterly help-
less? (iod has jdedged Himself to " supply all onr" need,"
and God cannot lie.

_ Let us .see to it, that we fulfil the conditions, and appro-
pnat.- the promises, v.od strengthen us in the name of
Jesus our Sa\iour, to yield ourselves entirely unto 'i'he.. and
lie perfectly passive in Thy hand, and give "'Thee an oppor-
tunity of shouing unto us the exceeding greatness of Thv
exceeding great love.

Let this promise ring through our minds and hearts with
Its sweetness, saith the Lord : - My people shall be satisfied
with my goodness."

Why do we so often remain unsatisfied, yea, and dissatis-
fied when God says: -Ask and ye .shall receive," and "open
thy mouth wide and I will fill it." - Taste and see that tin-
Lord IS good," and you shall be "abundantly satisfied." May
our daily life be one glad thanksgiving to Thee.

"hf: cakkth."
" Wliat can it mean ? Is it aught to Ifim
That the nights are long an.l the days arc dim r
Can He be touched by tiie griefs I bear,
Wliich sadden tlie heart and whiten the liair?
About His throne are eternal cahiis,
And strong, glad music ol happy psalms,
And l)liss unrufiled by any strife —
How can He care for my little life ?

And yet I want Him to care for me,
^Vhile I live in tins world where the sorrows be •
^\ heu the lights die down from the i»ath I take '
When strength is feeble and friends forsake ;
When love and music that once did bless,

SICK-ROOM 'J'lIOUGlITS AND GLEANINGS.

Have left me to silence and loneliness ;
And my life-song changes to solibing prayers,
Then my heart cries for a Goil that cares.

When shadows hang over the whole day long,
And my spirit is bowed with shame and wrong,
When I am not good, and the deeper shade
Of conscious sin makes my lieart afraid,
And the busy world has too much to do,
To stay in its course to help me tlirough ;
And I long for a Saviour. Can it be
That the God of the universe cares for me?

Oh, wonderful story of deathless love!
Each child is dear to that Heart above.
He fights for me when I cannot fight.
He comforts me in the gloom of night,
He lifts the burden, for He is strong.
He stills the sigh and awakens the song ;
The sorrow that bows me down He bears.
And loves, and pardons, because He cares.

Let all who are sad take heart again ;
We are not alone in our hours of pain ;
Our Father stoops from His throne above
To soothe and quiet us with His love ;
He leaves us not when tlie storm is high,
And we have safety for He is nigh.
Can that be trouble which He doth share ?
Oh, rest in peace, for the Lord will care."

— Qood News.

S/CA'-ROO.]/ 'J/IOCGIITS JXD CI.KAXLMiS.

Ten.'s,

SEVENTH DAY.

DAILY .STRENGTH — IIOW OlSTAIXEl).

" It is not once a month, not once a week, but every clay,
particularly every morning, that we should be spiritually
awakened and united to Christ by prayer, if we do not want
the Spirit to yield during the course of tlie day, to some desire
or weakness of the flesh. For the best among us is still
capable of doing the worst ; and the fall may be as unex-
pected as heavy. It is beyond comprehension how ouickly
the best disposed man, the most devoted to Christ, if he is
not prepared by watchfulness and prayer, can be surprised
and led astray. There is a way that leads back from the
bottom of the precipice to the glorious summit; but tliere
IS also a steep path wliich in a moment leads from ihe most
brilliant suunuit to the darkest abyss."— Pro/e^vwr Codet.

" The little worries which we meet each day,
May lie as stumbling blocks across our way ;
Or we may make them stepping stones to be,
Of grace, 0 Lord, to Thee."

"Take the world as it is, and try to make it what it
ougJit to be."

Spurgeon says : " Use men and things as you find them.
Do not despair because they are not so good as they oucht
to be, or might be; but .set to work to improve rather than
censure."

There are days when we are spiritually depressed. Bur-
dens seem to be multiplied. We are so weary, and we do
not know why, but everything seems tangled, and we are sa

SICA'-A'OOM THOUiUITS AND GLEANINGS.

persevere.

tliv vain "lory.

utterly helpless, and inadequate to meet and Itattle with the
doubts and discouragements of life.

But (Jod draws near unto us, and permeates, and pene*
trates our inmost being with such a sense of His all surround-
ing loving-kindness, and tender, watchful love and care over
U.S, and His i)0wer invests us and strengthens us to face and
conquer e\ery foe.

" ( Jod icives thee !\ litth; lifdit that thou mavest know
thy duty. But He surrounds thee with much darkness that
thou mayest know thy dependence. He rewards thy ellbrts
after knowledge with sonu; discoveries to encourage thee to
He meets them with more ditliculties to humble
He allows thee to ascend higher on the
uiouut of prospect ; but He causes the horizon to recede far-
ther and farther from thy view. He reminds thee ]K*rpetu-
ally tiiat thy im[>iovement is to be eternal and thy career
unending ; that thou art to be ever learning, and yet never
coming to the knowledge of the truth ; that as thou must
always remain finite forever and ever it will ])e true that thy
thoughts and thy ways are not as His ways." — Alonzo
Potter.

"The surest method of arriving at a knowledge of the
Eternal purpose of God about us, is to be found in the right
use of the piesent moment. Each hour comes wuth some
little ftigot of God's vv'ill fastened i.pon its back." — F. W.
Faher.

We must acknowledge daily, hourly, yea, every moment,
the character and ]>ower of Jesus, our Redeemer, and push
forward, knowing that whither He calls us He will go with
all His inspiration and His sympathy and strength. As
Christ's chosen and redeemed children let us live in Him.
" As Christ means us to abide by His choice of lis, He ex-
pects that we shall abide by our choice of Him." — Professor
Jfurtms Do('s.

SICA-h'OO.]/ TUOfiUlTS AM) CLEANINGS

•2!>

* ' In crooked ways I read thy golden scroll.
Thy pledge of everlasting help to me ;
I read, am strengthened ; though the billows roll
Thou sayest : ' My child, I am ever witli thee,'
Ever, my Saviour, till the earth dotli end-
Yea, through the ages of eternity.
Until I see Thee— Shepherd— Friend—

I cling to this : ' Thou art ever with me '."

—From At the Beatdi/td Gate.

■n

ixS

,v:9

SICK- ROOM THOUGHTS AXl) GLEANINGS.

EIGHTH DAY.

EP'STLES KNOWN AND HEAD.

.So often we ar-e tempted to think tliat our gifts and our
l)rayers have been in vain. And we have been tempted to
think that we in our isolated positions liave no influence.
But there are none wlio live detached lives. There is no
such thing as a detached and isolated individual ; we are
inextricably tied up and interlaced with each other ; and we
cannot live or act without affecting others in some degree.
There are those, we are told, who exert on others "a moral
power resembling the effects of climate upon the rude and
rugged marble : every roughness is by degrees smoothed ofi,
and even the coloring becomes subdued into calm harmony
with all the features of its allotted position."

May God give unto us an attractive influence for Christ
by the simple setting forth of that love which *' sutiereth
long and is kind," and " which seeketh not her own," as we
lie on our beds of suffering, and weakness and weariness,
*' enduring as seeing Him who is invisible."

May we be " living epistles" of Christ in our daily life,
and in our conversation, deportment and services. ''We
all, with open face beholding as in a glass, tlie glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory,
even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

" The refiner sits looking on upon the crucible until he
sees his own image reflected upon the liquid metal ; the pro-
cess is then complete." Those of us who are shut in to
experience the dull companionship of pain and weakness, day
in and day out, week after week, and month after month,

S/CA'-A'00.]r TIIOrGJlTS .\Nn Cf.KANINGS.

and year after year, utterly iucapaeitated, have temptations
wliich are unknown to those in the full vigor of health, and
engaged in the busy routine of life, as we are exempt from
n:iany of the trials and temptations besetting those who are
continually using both mental and physical power while
passing through the whirl and routine of life Shall not we,
"Shut-ins," " lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth
so easily beset us," and surrounds us, and surrender "soul "
and "body" as a " liviug sacrifice,' and "run with patience
the race that is set before us."

We shall be preserver! froui the snare of the fowler and
sheltered from the storms of life under His wings; kept as
the apple of His eye, and guided with His counsel, and
eventually given an abundant I'ntrance into the prepared
" resting place," wliich our Saviour is even now prei)aring
for us."

"Ood's furnace cloth in Zion stand,
But Zinii's God sits l)y ;
As a refiner views his gold
With an observant eye."

Even so, Lord Jesus, would we " Shut-ins " have Thee
prepare, purge, refine and purify us until we shall reflect
Thine own image.

" A lighted lamp," writes ]\rcCheyne, " is a very small
thing, yet it gives light to all who are in the house, and it
burns calmly and without noise."

Touch our hearts as with a live coal from off Thine
altar, and may it burn 'and flame with love, gratitude and
])raise to the triune God of Love,

Oh, fill my heart with Thy likeness, that I may reflect
Thee, even in the midst of extreme pain and weakness, and
this weariness of long continued suffering, to the same
degree, and may I reflect Thee as in "a nrrror," and prove
unto the woHd Thy mightiness to save. The world was
made in six days, but the work of Grace may increase until

.S2 S/CA'A'On.]/ THOUGHTS ANJ) GLEANINGS.

the end of life. I rocognize the exalted privilege, and claim
the precious l.lood of Christ. " I am Thine, save me. I am
Thine l.y creation, i)reservatioii, redemption and adoption."

life's tapestry.
" Too long have I, metliouglit, witli tearful eye,
I'ored o'er this tangled work of mine, and mii.sed
Above eaen stitch awry, and tliread confused ;
Now will I think on what in years gone by,
I heard of them tliat weave rare tapestry
At royal looms — and how they constant use
To work on the rough side, and still peruse
The pictured pattern set above them high ;
So will I set My Copy high above
And gaze and ga/e, till on my spirit grows
Its gracious impress ; till some line of love
Transformed upon my canvass, faintly glows ;
Nor look too much on warp or woof, provide
He whom I work for sees their fairer side ! "

irn
am

11."

s7CA-A'uo.]/ 'JiiorciiTs Am ai.EAxixas.

'X^

NINTH DAY.

UNCKASIXc; JX PKAYKK.

AVo liave not only the command of God to bo unceasing
in prayer; hut weluixo tl.e example of the ancient servant^
of (iod, who successf.dly peifbrm,-d that duty. Abraham was
a man of prayer and (lod ],le.s.sed " Abraham in all thin-s "
Isaac was a man of prayer and God renewed his promis(^ to
him. Jacob was a man of prayer, and lie wrestled with
Hnn ni prayer and j.revailed. Moses also was a mail of
prayer, and he calked with th.. Almighty, face to face, as a
man talketh with his friend, and the hand of the J.ord was
with him and He led the Children of Israel all throi.cdi the
wilderness, until he came in sight of the promised" land
Joshua also was a man of prayer all his days, and he com-
manded the sun to stand still, and it was done, and liis reso-
lution was : " Let others do what they will, as for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord." Elijah was a man of prayer
and although a man of like passions with other men, yet he
prayed that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth
for the space of three years and six months. Faith and
prayer are the weapons of our warfare given us to firdit the
good fight of faith, and finish our course with joy, and
obtain the crown of glory wliich shall never fade away'.

" Always praying. Who? How? Why? When?
Who ? Everybody-men, all men. Rich, poor, young, old'
colored, white, professors and non-professors of religion'
How I Like alters sending up the morning, noon and e^^en-
ing incense. Why ? Because God, your Father and friend
says so. 'No man succeeds in life who is not dili^^ent in

'SICK A'OO.)/ ■J'lIOUGHTS .IXP G/./i.LV/.VG'S.

Idisinoss, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.' The fanner's
brow is liionzed with the summer's sun ; wrinkh'd with tlie
winter's Idast. Th(^ mercliant is always at his counting room,
always studving his ledger. The bank beeonus his sanctuarv,
liis ' books,' his liible. The student burns his niiilnight oil,
and the more precious oil of tlu^ lamp of life. When/
Always. Sick or well, at home or abroad, on land or on sea,
in povei'ty's vale or abounding in wealth ; when sorrow's
clouds gather above; you ; when the sun shines or the rain
pours." — Bev. Thomas IT. WJiUp.

The Captain of our Salvation has not withdrawn to a
safe reti'eat or height, leaving us to tight His battles; but as
the first martyr saw Him standing in attitude of eager sym-
))athy and svvift hel]», so He is with all His struggling ser-
vants a presence nearer than all oth(!rs, and nevi'r withdrawn
from tlie truthful heart. His name is Innnanuel, — God with
us,-- till the end of the ages, when He shall take us from
toil to rest, and * so shall we ever be with the Lord,' who
was ' with us ' while change and sorrow and conflict pressed
us sore." — Alex, McLaren, D. D.

" In a world," writes Archbishop Trench, "where there is
so much to ruffle the s})irit's plumes how needful that enter-
ing into the secret of His pavillion, which will bring us back
from all sin and weariness to composure and peace ! Ii a
world where there is so much to sadden and depress, how-
blessed that communion with Him in whom is the one true
source and fountain of all true gladness and abiding joy !
In a world there's so much overseeking to unhallow our
spirits, to render them common and })rofane, how high the
privilege of consecrating them anew in prayer to God and
holiness to God."

" Each day may be a sacred day.
And every spot a holiest place,
Where Christ doth manifest His grace ;

Each day wherein men trust, obey

And love is an atonement day !

s/CA' A'oo.}/ T/iorcifrs .ix/) c/ /-.ix/xcs.

Their souls are siinctimries wluirc

Close curtained from the worhl of sin,

The covering cherulm lirood within
Making amid eartli's dcsfitH hare
Holiest of ludiost every wifcre."'

~ Af. J. /'n.^fnii.

'Slay Cod Himself aid us with His spirit to draw life,
power, wisdom and i)aticnco in ahundanco from thcM^xhaust-
Icss treasures of (Jod's love. We shall ere long be summoned
before tiie Tlirone of Ood, to enter into tliat city l.y t]i(> com-
manding word of (lod, and w(^ shall meet okf friends with
new faces, and speak old words drawn from tlu' exhaustless
fountain of Hi.s love, and grace with new nuanino, and till
Heaven's high arclies with one glad new son".

!>;.'

S/CA'-A'OU.]/ TlIOCiUlTS .1X1.) i;/./:.lXfiVGS.

TENTH DAY.

FOLLOWINCi Ol K HIIKI'IIKKI).

Sheep are the most innocent, hivrniless, and u.seful of all
tlu! (inadiuped luce : and heoause of this, they hav«! need of
watchful, tender t'lii'e, and recjuin; a watchful, t<!nder shep-
herd. The value and imbecility of the sheep is the strongest
reason why they should not divide from the shepherd's side,
for united they are fornn(lal)Ie antl in their own fold they
are safe.

What a h^sson of di'ty, ol)li<,'ation and gratitude we are
taught to our Divine tShei»herd, and with what force and
beauty are tliese things taught in John x, 27.

Some of us are, and have been, ".shut in " to the deeper
experiences of the sick roou) and the various trials and temi)-
tations of years of extreme sutl'ering ; long, sleepless, weari-
some nights and days of mental and physical pain. There
are moments and hours, yes, and e\en days, when we are
tempted to douV>t the reality of God. We have indeed spir-
itual enemies, and we have been a long time in the valley of
shadows ; and so often our hearts are sore and saddened, and
in hours of grief too deep for words, we have realized that
God knows the weakness of our flesh and " remendjereth
that we are but dust," and God comes to us even among the
shadows and makes us sensible of His power and of His love
and of Himself. Thus comes the "Sun of Righteousness"
and illumines the darkness in our hearts. And after dark-
ness comes the light which will shine in us and on us after
days of sorrow and seeming defeat, and always groweth
brighter and rests in hallowed and lingering benediction on
the very border of time.

.>/rA' />•<>( )i/ ■nrorcnrs jxn c/ /■:.i.v/.vgs.

Thfi Lord my Sli«'pli«'i'(l is 8«'»'kiiijj to loiul nio to-day in
" j,'r('oii iiasturcs." I lun likr the slicf]!, tiled aiid ifstlt-ss,
nnd need to he inadr to lit- down in "j,'i'('rii |»astiir('s."' lit-
restor(!tli my soul j:iid lie Ifatlttli me in the juillis of riglit-
eousm'88.

" RfMiicmlicr tliiit liowcvri' stiiint^c the cliiingcs of lifo
may seem to us — liowovci- dark or sad- \V(; may he consoled
l»y tlic tlioui,dit tiiat Hewlio is wiser tlian the wisest parent,
and kinder tliaii tlte most tender slieplicid, is <,Miidini,' our
atl'airs. lie leads us into tlie wilderness of temptation some-
times, and Me le.ids to ' <,M'een pastures' and causes us to
r"St Ix'sidc the ' still wateis ' of His lo\('." Amui.

After the shower comes tlu! sunshine : after the storm
comes the calm ; after the sowing,' comes tlie renpinj,' ; and
after our eiirtldy pil<,M'image, Ifeaven.

"The great dilliculty is to feel the reality of both woilds,
80 as to teadi its due place in our tliouj,dits and feelings, to
keep our ndn.l's eye fixed and our heaits' eye excr lixed on
tlie land of promise, witliout looking away from the road we
are to tra\('l toward." — AtKjHsftis Hare.

We are following on to meet with tiiose who are "gone
before." We are filled with glad anticipations of sighs done;
tears done ; and rapture uni)aralleled.

" Whoever looks upon a maj) and cnsually reads the
name of an almost unknown city on a foreign shore, cures
but little about it, because he knows l)ut little. But let a
dear friend take up his abode in that city, and that unthouglit
of spot on the map l)ecomes luminous with interest to liim.
He cannot then learn enough about it. So we often oj)en
our BiV)les, not heeding what they say about the city whose
streets are pure gold, whose walls are gasper, having founda-
tions garnished with all manner of precious stones. But
when any one very dear to us has entered that city, and
made his abode in that blissful place in an especial manner

SICK ROOM 'JIIOCGHTS AXD OI.Ii.lXJXGS.

wins oui- tliouglits and allrctions. To leai'u about it is our
(loliglit and joy," — J. M. Greeiw, J). I).

"The Lord is my .Slioj)li(Md, 1 sliall not want ; He mak-
eth nio to lie down in green ])astures ; He leadeth )ue ])eside
tlie still waters. He restoretli niv .soul ; He leadeth mo in
the ])aths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear
no evil ; for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy stali', they
comfort me."

" One of the most beautiful improvements of the Rjvised
New Testament is that which makes Rev. vii — 7. read thus:
' The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall be their
Shepherd, and shall guide theni unto fountains of waters of
life.' Thus you see we follow in our eternal resting places.
This carries into the Heavenly one of the most tender and
profound relations which Jesus boars to His redeemed fol-
lowers. All we, like sheep, have gone astray, and God hath
laid on Him the inicpiity of us all. This tells the whole
story as to the ground of my hope for salvation ; this, too,
establishes such a relation between me and my Shei)hercl that
I am under supreme obligation to follow Him whither He
leadeth.. If we ever expect to be guided by Him to the
fountains of life and living waters in Heaven, we must learn
to submit to His guidance completely." — T. L. Ciiyler, D. D.

" I know not the way I am going,

But well do I know my Guide ;
With a childlike trust I give my hand

To the Mighty Friend at my side.
And the only thing that I say to Him

As He takes it : ' Father hold it fast ;
Suffer me not to lose my way

And lead me home at last.'"

SICK-UOO.]/ THOUGHTS AXI^ G I.T.IXIXCS.

3f>

ELEVENTH DAY.

i
I

KEPT.

Not kq.t from pain, sorrow, trial, temptation, sickness or
dangers ; but kept from the evil that suirounds us on every
side, and kept from yieUling to the evil that is all around us.
While we are in the world, and sin and sorrow is all about
us, we shall be tempted, we shall have sorrow and tribulation
and a,iguish of spirit, and many a crisis hour ; but if we are
faithful to God and obedient, "Casting all our cire upon
Hnii," and all our weakness upon Him, wc shall Ix' " Ke])t
by the power of (Jod."

It should be our daily plea, even our hourly praver, that
God would keep us from all evil in the midst of every
temptation, and keep us from falling ; from the evil juassions
of our own nature, and from the evil in the world. We are
Christ's befor.i the foundation of the world. The word of
Christ hath st)oken it. When Jesus was praying in view of
His coming agony, and the most important hour'of His life,
He prayed, not that we might be taken out of the work{
but that we might 1)e kept from the evil in the world. He
prayed in that crisis hour for His disciples. And He con-
fessed that we were His. The disciples were standing by
listening to that prayer. - How their hearts must have
thrilled in surprise, when He confessed, ' Thine they were,
and Thou gavest them Me.' He called them, 'The men'
which Thou '^avest Me out of the world.' Again and again
He spoke of this source of this discipleship- Through Him
they were one with God. Even to their imperfect^hearts,
there must have been a strangely fascinating power in their

S/CA--/^00.]/ TJIOUGIJTS A.VD Gf.EANINGS.

new conceptions of their calling. It was a relationship
sul)linio, uttered in the words, 'Thine they were ; they all
are Thine; and all ]Mine are Thine.' It seems strange that
before the morrow's sun, Peter should have forgotten such
language so far as to curse and swear as of old. The possi-
Inlitif s of the human heart are declared in the fact that
before the morning's light all should forsake Him. 'Thine
they were;' 'They are Thine.' They wen; vessels not yet
fitted for the :Master's use ; but they should become such."—
Rev. D. D. Mears, D. D.

Dear reader, we are to nuike Christ's light shine over all
the world, '• Like the reflectors of the lighthouses."

" If Christains like their Lord will be,
All men will lose their (loul)ts unci see
How real is Cliristianity ;
Wliat do they see in you, and say of you and mo ? "

— Maranma Farm'mijham.

The story of our lives are quickly told. Three little
words encompass it : Cradle, Altar and Grave ; the inno-
cency of infancy and early childhood, the blush of love and
the pallor of death.

" With Thee, my bord, my God,
I would desire to be
By day, by night, at home, abroad,
I would be still with Thee.

With Thee, when dawn comes in

And calls me back to care ;
Each day returning to begin

With Thee, my God, in prayer.

With Thee, amid the crowd

Tliat throngs the busy mart ;
To hear Tliy voice, 'mid the clamours loud,

8peak softly to my heart.

With Thee when day is done.
And evening calms the mind ;

s/CK-A\n)^r thoughts and gi. taxings.

The setting as the rising sun,
With Thee my heart woulil lin.l.

With Thee, when darkness brings

The se<]uel of repose.
Calm in the shadow of Thy wings

Mine eyelids 1 would close.

With Thee, in Thee, by faith

Abiding I would be :
By day, by night, in life, in death

I would be still with Thee.

-J. D. Barns,

" Tlie only real and truly Christian way of purity is to
live in the world and not bf, of it, and keep the soul
unspotted from the world. There are no fires that will melt
our drossy and corrupt particles like God's refining fires of
duty and trial, living as He sends us to live, in Uie open
field of the world's sins and sorrows, its plausibilities and
lies, its persecutions, animosities and fears, its eager delight
and bitter wants."— //omce Bushnell, D. 1).

S/CA'~A'UO.]/ TJIOUGIITS AXD Gl.KAXlNGS.

TWELFTH DAY.

UNTO STILL WATERS.

Our Sheplierd knows every inch of tlie road we are jour-
neying and He knows tlie shortest way to " green pastures "
and unto the " still waters," and He loves to i)asture His
Hock in cosey nooks and make known unto us the sweetness
of His love. He is especially exceedingly kind to the feeble,
and helpless and suffering ones in His fold, and takes niucli
care to manifest unto us the exceeding sweetness of His.
companionship.

He will provide " resting places " for us ; He will guide us
in a sure path, "though it l)e a rough one ; though shadows
hang ui)on it, yet he will bring us home at last. Throuch
much trial, it may be, and weariness, in much fear and
fainting, in much sadness and loneliness, in griefs that the
world never knows and under burdens that the nearest never
suspects. Yet He will suffice for all. By His eye or by
His voice He will guide us, if we be docile and gentle ; by
His staff* and by His rod, if we wander or are wilful ; any-
how, and by all means. He will bring us to His rest."— Car-
dinal Mann'nig,

"He leads us ou
By paths we did not know ;
Upwards He leads, though our steps be slow,
Though storms and darkness oft obscure the day,
Yet when the clouds are gone
We know ne leads us on."

—From "The Shadou- of the Hock"

Our Saviour and Shepherd leadeth us in green pastures

s/CK-RooM riioccnTs .i\/> a//:.L\7XGs.

and causeth us to lie clown, and refVesl.e.s us In-si,],. the still
waters of His love.

We who are " shut in" \,y reason of our infirn.ity are
prone to thoughts and desires which eentre m the thin.^s of
the earth. Esil is to be feared, not so n.uch from the w.rld
around us as from the world within us. Listen. '• I will
put My Spirit within you, and cause vou to walk in My
statutes .saith the Lor.l," our covenant 'keeping (^.d • thus
we shall have a new heart disposed to do His will. Tis ours
only to ohey Hin, and obey His conditions-obedience and
unquestioning trust. Obedience r.ot of the sinner, but of
CJinst, who has taken up His abode in our hearts, and in
"UUietness and conHdence shall be our strength;" and we
shall walk in the footsteps of our Shepherd, in tlu- paths of
righteousness for His nan.e's-sake, and because of the love He
bears us and we bear Hin.. " The effect of righteousness
shall be quietness and assurance forever.- We sh ill dwell
ma peaceable habitation, and in sure dwelling places and
<iuiet resting places even beside the still waters of His loNe.

THIXE.
Little to me it matters

Whither my feet are led,
If in the burning desert

Or tlie pastures green I'm fed ;
Whether the storm or sunshine

Be in the path I take.
For my hand is in Thine, my Father.

Thou wilt not Thy child forsake.

And it shall not cause me sorrow,

Thougli the path be steep and rough ;
I am Thine, Thine own forever,

And that shall he joy enough.
Thine is the care, my Father—

The work of providing Thine ;
Only the trust, and pleasure,

And the calm content are mine.

44 SICKJWOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS

Neither shall I be anxious

For the dear ones whom I love :
From Thee they are never absent —

Thou reachest them from above.
And, Lor ', I know tliey are dearer

To Thee than they are to me,
So I only ask Thee to take tliem,

And do as it pleases Thee.

But others are only strangers,

And know not the perfect peace,
Of those who beneath 'J'hy banner

Are finding their sorrows cease.
They are away in tlie darkness,

In the gloomy and silent night ;
Oh, Father, receive them also.

And welcome them into the light.

So then, it will not matter,

Whatever the future be ;
( rladly we take our journey,

Leaving the rest to Thee ;
And in darkness, or gloom, or tempest ;

Still shall the best light shine,
And the joy shall come to our spirits ;

For, Father, we all are Thine."

— Marianne Farm'mijham.

sfCA-A'ooM Tiiura/rrs axp crE.iA^Lvcs

THIRTEENTH DAV.

THREE I)E(JREE.S I>f PEACE.

1st. The 2»eace of forgiveness. —VeavG which conies in
answer to the guilty, lost and helplrss sinner's crv of "(Jod
have mercy upon me a sinner ";-thp peace of forgiNcness
which Hoods our souls and permeates our very inmost being ;
peace of reconciliation and pardon, and that peace such as
the world cannot give nor take away. " IVfy peace I give
unto you," saith Jesus.

"There is a fountain filled with Idood,
Drawn from Imniainier.s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath tliat flood,
Loose all their guilty stains."

The God of mercy obliterates all the sins of the past and
removes them "as far as the east is from the west." Ho
erases every record of our sins, and He permeates our
contrite hearts with a sense of His forgiveness.

2nd. The peace of Uvimj in hnnnoni/ n-ith God. Shall

not we who are cleansed in the blood of Christ, and have the
peace of forgiveness penetrating and permeating our inner-
most being, manifest our love and gratitude and ransomed
life, in our daily walk, and deportment, and conversation, in
living that one word " Christ " ] If we would be Christlike
we must live Christ.

If we would be Christ's followers we must be prepared
to make His experience ours, His work our work. His
person our all. In other words, we must be prepared to be
unworldly, consecrated, devoted. In attaching ourselves to
Christ, we attach ourselves to One who held the common

S/CA'-A'OO.]/ TIIOUiillTS AND CI.EAXINGS.

prizes and f,';uiiH of this world absolntoly cheap, and who v/as
scarcely conscious of hai'dships whil(> absorbed in sfjiritiml
aims. This is the experience we must make our own. H*;
bids us also economize our time and spend ourselves on wliat
Ix'lon^'s to tli(! Kingdom. And in His Kingdom and Him-
self }Ie would have us find our all. — J'rofi'ssor Mnrcnx I)o(/m.

And we must u'un to live that one word "Christ." Wci
must remember " He was tenii)ted in all points like as we
are, yet without sin."

Qui' Father ever seeks our highest good ; He sends
blessings to encourage us, trials to jiurify us, obstacles to
<levelop our endurance, and sorrows to swt^eten our spiritual
life. " Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying :
* This is the way, walk ye in it,' when ye turn to the right
liand, and when ye turn to the left. '

Unwavering trust in Hod and love to Him, and a sweet
sense of His triune presence, and of lest and His forgiveness,
keeps the light of peace in the chilrl of (tod's face, even when
one's i'ace is wet with tears. It is (Jod's peace, and comes to
our soul on the wings of His spirit, and permeates our
innermost being.

THE ART OF CHUrSTIAN LIVING,

" \Vlien you think, wlien you speak,
When you read, when you write,
Wlien you sin^, when you seek for delight.
To be kept from all evil at home and abroad,
Live always as under the I^ord.

Whatever you think, both in joy ami in woe.

Think nothing you would not like .leaus to know;

Whatever you say in a whisper or clear,

Say nothing you would not like Jesus to hear.

Whatever you read, though the page may allure,
Kead nothing unless you are perfectly sure

(,'onsternation would not be seen in your look
If God should say solemnly, ' Show Me that book.'

s/cK /<ou.]/ rjioLrcHi's A XI) a/ /■ix/xas.

^Vhateve^ you writo, in haste or with hfo.l,

Write nothing you wouhl not like .lesus to read;

Whatever you KJug in the midst of your glees,
Sing notliing that (ioil's listening ear eouM displease.

^Vherevor you go, never go where you'd fear

<;od"s .luestion being asked you, 'what doest thou here" V
W hatever the jjastinie in whiuh you engage,
^ ^ For the cheering of youth or the solace of age.
Turn away from each pleasure youM shrink from pursuing.
Were (lod to look down and say 'What are you doing" ?

-Mm. Jlublin,

'M(\. The perfert pe.nr.e of oneness in ^'oc/. — "It is a
blessed tliought that from our childl.ood, (^od lias His fatlicrly
liauds upon us, and always in blcs.sing and in benediction ;
that even the strokes of His liand are blessings, and amonj
the chiefest we have ever receiveil. When this feeling is
awake)icd the heart beats with a pulse of thankfulness.
Every gift has its return of praise. It awakens an unceas-
ing daily converse with our Father ; His speaking to us by
the descent of our blessings, we to Him by the ascent of
praise and thanksgiving."— Cr<;-(//i<a; Mamihuj.

" Thou will keep liiui in perfect peace whose mind is
stayed upon Thee." Why '] " Because he trusteth in The.',"
And the peace of (iod which passethall understanding, sliall
keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ."

.^ !

ISICK-KOOM TIIOUGinS AND Gl.EAMNGS.

POl^RTKENTH DAY.

U\FAILIX(i CItUSK.

" Ls the cruse of comfort wasting? Rise and ahare it witli another,
And through all the years of famine, it shall serve thee and thy

brother ;
liOve divine will till thy store-house, or thy handful still renew,
Scanty fare for one will often make a royal feast for two.

For the lieart grows rich in giving, all its wealth is living grain,
Seeds whicli mildew in the garner, scattered (ill with gold the plain,
Is thy burden hard and heavy ? i )o thy steps drag wearily,
Help to bear thy brother's burden, (Jod will Ijcar both it and thee.

Numb and weary on the mountains, would'st thou sleep amidst the

snow ?
Chafe that fro/en form beside thee, and togetlier both shall glow.
Art thou stricken in life's battle ? Many wounded round thee moan
Lavish on their wounds thy balsam, and balm shall heal tliine own.

Is the heart a well left empty ? None but God its void can till,
Nothing but a ceaseless fountain, can its ceaseless longings still ;
Is the heart a living power? Self-entwined its strength sinks low.
It can only live in loving and by serving love will grow.

— Mr^. Chorles.

" Who then is willing to consecrate liis service unto tlie
Lord ? " When a soul sets out to seek God, God sets out to
meet that soul ; so that while we are drawing to Him, He
is drawing near to us. " A sentence of Faber's may sound
unnatural to us, so little spiritually-minded He says, ' God
sometimes draws us to Him, not that He may love us, that
He always does, but in order to make us feel how He loves
us,' " — (I'old Dust.

When God says to you, dear reader, •' I will be thy God,"

sicA' h'oow riionuirs ANn g/ /: lv/ngs.

Cftn yoii douitt Him i Do you not ratlicr whisper, "This
(lod of comfort is my iMithcr and my Saviour ami my (!ttd
forever? " Our (iod in sickness and distress, in adversity or
jtrosperity, nd in many of the so-called waste places of
j)Ovcrty or obscurity or trial ; Fie is our (Jod of comfort for-
ever, and the waste places really becomes a garden of Kdfn,
because God is jiresent soothinii; and comforting His ran-
somed child.

Truly the cruse of comfort and blessing and love is unfail-
ing, (.'on!'', sorrowing one, and be condoi'ted with His love ;
come, weary one, and find icst, such as the world cannot give
you, in Him. (Jod knoweth oui- peculiar weaknesses, and
H<! knows our conditions, circumstances and surroundings,
and knowing as H(; does know, all about our individual
reijuirements and spiritual needs, and ptjculiar temptations^
He will strengthen us with His S[)irit in our weakness, and
when we are self-confident He will weaken us ; thus turning
our lives and spirit into a perfect harmony with His mind,
and Spirit and Will. " The bruised re«!d He will not break,
and the smoking flax He will not quench," and all (!od's
dealings with us arc to develop good and blessing in us.

CJod knows all about us far better than we do ourst^lves,
and He will lay upon us no greater burdcni than we can bear.
God's Spirit nioveth whert; it listeth. But God never wills
to remain absent from a yearning heart.

When {;rod says to you, dear leader, " My Grace is sufK-
eient for thee," and " Lo, I am with you always, even unto
the end of ^);e ages." Can you doul)t His loving interest in
all that concerns you] Do you not long for more power
against sin in your daily walk and conversation and deport-
ment I Shall you let the enemy of your soul have his way,
and induce you to keep away from God? Cast yourself just
as you are " without one plea, but that His blood Mas
shed for thee," and "cast all your care upon (iod " and God
will make His power yours, and you shall be more than

U '

.S7CA" A'(^('.i/ 7//(>rt;//7s .i.y/> c;//../.\7.\'o\y.

•uinni'Tor tlii'itii/^li lliiii who loves yuii with "an rvcilasting

10V(

Aiv you an apt schohir .' \\'v you easily hid hy tl

Conifoitci- ; The Spirit of th(' ti-iuntr (lod, the CfMiifoitcr in
the human soul is fully sullicicnt for all spiritual aial to

lu-

•oral

n('('(is.

(Jur ciuso is indeed unfailin''. (Jodour Father satisfies

<!verv expressed or un(!.\i)resse(

(I Ion;,'

\n<^, wluiU we appropriate

llini in His fulness, wIkju we vield ourselves to lliin and let
liiiu do with us just as lie purposes in His heart of love.

rKLOimiTH NoTKS.

'• Who satisfieth our mouth with good things." Xot rich
things, not many things, not every thing I ask for; 'good
things.'

"All my need fully supplied, and every thing good. < Jood-
nesH is (iod expre.ssed. All His blessings partake* of His
own nature. (Jod can so satisfy the soul, that each chink
ami cranny therein shall he tilled with s[>iritmil joy. 'Y\w.
soul is full of thirsts and longings. No earthly things can
satisfy them. This is the ex|)erience of everyone who has
made the expiniment, even of those who have most that
tlie world can give.

"It is like drinking the salt sea water, which intensify the
thirst instead of satisfying it. (Jod never made a soul so
small that the whole world could give it satisfaction. But
(Jod satisties, because He gives all that worldliness can give
of satisfaction — of worldly satisfaction— in a far better way,
and, besides, bestows His own personal love and presence ; to
be loved with an eternal lov(i. I'here is something in Him
to satisfy every hunger iind thirst of the soul.

" Blessed be God, even our Father and the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ.

** Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, so that wo may
be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the
comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of (lod."

.S7CA ■/>■(>( ).i/ ■inorciirs /.w ci r.ixiXGs.

i'irri:i:NTii day

(I I' l!l, \ltr.llS T(» (»I It KIN(J.

Xclicihiali WMs ill SliusluiM, tlir paliicc or loyul city
of tin' Kill!,' of Pcisiii. H(! wiis tilt' Kind's cuii-lx'iircr.
Altlioiijj;li lit" lived iit cusc, tind licM ii position of iioiior, lio
• lid not cease to rciiieinlicr that lie was an Isriidite. and lie
knew tliiit his l>retliren wiJie in distress. Iitit Nrlnniiali
was ever asking (juestionH concerning,' his lirethien, u ith a
view, if |»ossil)l»', of rendering assistance. Thus we, the
children ot the King of kings, may l»e His cup licareis t(»
His children, to our brethren, in ( 'lirist-lik(! niinistries from
a heart binning with love to (Jhrist and for our brethren in the
Lord. May our m iiistries of lov(M!nianate from His spirit
of love, power and purity, dwelling in our ransomed being,
and exj)res.s in lo\ing sei-vices a little of the gratitude wt;
feel, because of all the triune God of liOve has done, and is
doing for us. To those of us who are helphiss and sutlering
" shut-ins "' to dull companionship of pain and weakness,
then; only remains tlu; ■' waiting service "—tlie endurance of
much intense pain and weariness, night and day, for weeks,
and months, and years, — intense sutlering which utterly
incapacitates — "as seeing Jliiii who is invisil)h;." Thus
we "serve," although wc may only "stand and wait."

We may give; the cheerful smile and leady word of
i'ncouragement, or word of advice, or by our prayers on
behalf of requiring sympathy and love ; all little things,
nevertheless they are cups of water rendered unto Him, and
.shall not lose their reward.

In the voice that pleads for those; little services of love

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AXD Gl.EA.V/NGS.

^
».

to tliose in the lowlic^st stations, as well as the most affluent
in life, I not only hear the sweet tones of Him who taught
the multitudes of Mount Hattin, of Gethsemane, and the dying
agony of the cross, whisj)ering in loving, pleading sweetness,
but I recognize Him pervading and jjenneating my being
with a sense of His divine preseiice and approval, when in
the act of performing sweet ministries to His little ones,
and I hear His own " inasmuch."

He not only asks us to remember the wounds in His
hands and feet — He pushes aside His glistening robes and
discloses the gash in His side, and asks us to remember
Calvary 1

Can we refuse to nainister wnto Him ? He, the Triune
God, died for you, dear reader, and He died for me. Can
we refuse to live for Him ? Cjod's mercy does not wait for
our love, or our services, but spring to meet the need of His
creatures. No matter what position in life they occupy, no
matter whether rich or poor, in the moso influential and
affluent positions, or the most humble ov lowly, God springs
with all His love and His mercy to mett the need of each.

"Every thing does God's pleasun ; winds, stavs, angeLs
of light, the mighty in strength and the delicate in beauty;
every thing but ma::. To man God has given the unique
power of defying God, and doing Him dishonor." — Anios li.
Wells.

Shall not we praise God, not merely with our lips, but
in our Christ-like services and daily living ? Even if it be
simply a cup of cold water in His name, God will bless us.

In the way of means, there are no little things with God.
The simple verse of a comforting hymn repeated — ^ or a text
of scripture, a kind word of encouragement sj)oken, a sun-
shiny smile l)estowed, a ready errand performed for another,
a cheerful ofl"er of assistance given, all these are little things,
little cups of cold water, given in His name, .vhich at various
times, and in most unlooked for ways, have been blessed and

."ilCA'-ROOAf THOUGHTS .LVD GLEANINGS.

will be unto the end of the world. Will yon, my reader,
to-day throw the weight of your influence, be it great or
small, into God's treasury ? God works by human means
and instruments ; by men and women, and even little
children ; we have all some one — it may be many — who
will be acted on by our example, and insensibly led to
love the things that we love to take a pleasure and an
interest in our j)ursuitR. Would those who look upon our
business life, or in our school life, or in our homes, or in our
intercourses, one with another, think without our telling
them in so many words, that we individually revelled in the
light of God.

Are we afraid of the scrutiny of the world? In all the
circumstances of life, stand tirmly in Him, do your share my
reader, of the work and bear your share of the care and
sacrifice. Christ needs you and me, and to us shall come the
richest rewards, and in us abides the sweetest peace. God
make our lives, prove our appreciation of our blessings by
industriously using them in loving ixiinistries to Him, and
unto those yet to be numbered with the redeemed.

" A sense of mutual relationship ought to pervade the
whole membership of tho family of the redeemed. And if
the full light of God's truth shines into our hearts, and shines
about us on those who are our fellow members in that great
family, we shall see so much that they and we have in com-
n\on, that we shall lose sight of minor differences, .md we
shall have fellowship with them in Spirit and in service.
True Christian fellowship is not to be secured by any formal
intermerging of denominalion, but by having the light of
God and walking in it." — U. C .Trumhall.

I I

I ;

S/CA'-Al)(>.]/ 7II0UGIITS AND GLEANINGS.

HIXTEKXTH DAY.

KEKPING HOLY THE SAHBATH.

" Jf thou tuvu away tliy foot from the Sabhatli from doing
thine own pleasure on My holy day ; and call the Sabbath a
delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable, and shalt honor
Him, not doing thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own
words : Then shalt thou delight in the Lord, and 1 will
cause thee to ride upon the high places of the etirth, and feed
thee with the heritage of Jacob thy fathers; for the mouth
of the Lord hath spoken it."' Observation proves to me that
those men on the face of the earth to-day, who observe and
hallow the Sabbath, are the men whom God honors ; more
" abundantly," than those who are negligent in their obser-
vance of the Sabbath day.

"Welcome with joy each week, the day that God has
called His day.

" To each day of the week God has given its special
mission, its share of [)leasure and of pain, necessaiy to purify
and fortify and prepare us for eternity.

" But Sunday is a day of love.

" On Saturday we lay aside our garments faded and
stained by toil, and on Sunday we array ourselves in gar-
ments, not only fresher but more choice and graceful. Why
not prepare the heart, even as we do the body %

" During the w(^ek, has not the heart been wearied with
petty strife and discontent, interests marred, bitter words?

" Then why not shake oS all this, that only chills affection?
On the Saturday let us forgive freely, press the hand warmly,
embrace each otiier, and then peace being restored within^
we await the morrow's awakening.

SICKROOM THOUGinS AXP GI.F.AXIXGS.

t>.>

" Sunday is God's day of tnicc for all. That day, laying
aside all revenge and ill-feeling, we must he tilled with for-
bearance, indulgence and aniiahility.

" Oh ! how good for us to feel tiblhje.d to bo reconciled.
and each Sunday renews the ol)Iigation. Let us leave no
time for coldness, and inditference to grow upon us, it only
engenders hatred, and that once established in the heart oh !
how hard it is to cast out again. It is like a hideous cancer,
wliose ravages no remedies can stay.

" It is as the veneinous plant that the gardner can never
entirely ei'adicate. Only by a miracle can hatred be des-
troyed. At once let us })lace a barrier in our hearts, against
the approach of coolness or indifference, and each Saturday
night the head of the family shall thus address us : 'Children,
to-night we forgive, to-night we foiget, and to-morrow begin
life afresh in love, one towards another.' " — (Johl Dust.

It is a downright shame that so many of the young
people, of both sexes, are so very irreverent in observing
God's holy day. It is sad to think that many prefer spend-
ing the Sabbath in worldly amusements and lustful desires
of the flesh ; when they had much better have been found
waiting in the sanctuary, in the attitude of prayer and eager
watchfulness, and reverent listening for what He " hath to
say " unto them. Sad indeed to reflect upon the vast
number of people, of both sexes, who plead fatigue in excuse
of their non-attendance at the sanctuary of the Lord, where
He is present to bless in an especial manner all those
gathered together to meet and worship Him, the triune God
of Love, our Father. Sad to reflect upon those who are
negligent, irreverent and disobedient in their observance of
God's day.

It is a sad and solemn matter, it is not a matter to laugh
over, or joke about and easily pass by. To neglect the holy
and reverential observance of God's day, is to positively
insult God.

S1CK-N00.\f THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

THE DAY OF REST.
" 0 Day most calm, most bxiglit,

'I'he fruit of this, the next world's bud,
The endorsement of supreme delight,

Writ by a Friend, and with His blood ;
The couch of time, care's balm and bay :
The week were dark but for thy light,
Thy torch doth show the way.

The other days and those

Make up one man, whose face Thou art.
Knocking at Heaven with thy brow ;

The worky-days are the back part ;
The burden of the week lies there,

Making the whole to stoop and bow,
'Till thy release appears.

Man had straightforward gone
To endless death ; but Thou dost pull

And turn us round to look on One,
Whom, if we were not very dull.

We could not choose but look on still ;
Since there is no place so alone.

The which He doth not till.

Sundays the pillars are

On which Heaven's palace arched lies :
The other days fill up the spare

And hollow room, with vanities.
They are the fruitful beds and borders,

In God's rich garden, that is bare,
^Vhich parts their ranks and orders.

The Sundays of man's life.

Threaded together on time's string,
Make bracelets to adorn the wife

Of the eternal glorious king.
On Sunday Heaven's gate stands ope,

Blessings are plentiful and rife —
More plentiful than hope.

This day my Saviour rose,

And did enclose this light for His ;

SIC/iT-A^OOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

That, as each beast his manger knows,

Man might not of His fodder miss.
Christ hath took in this piece of grouud,

And made a garden there for those
Who want herbs for their wound.

The rest of our creation

Our great Redeemer did remove
- With the same shake, wliich at His passion

Did the earth and all things with it move.
As Samson bore the doors away,

C-hrist's hands, though nailed' wrought our salvation
And did unhinge that day."

The brightness of that day

We sullied by our foul offence ;
Wherefore that robe we cast away,

Having a new at His expense.
Whose drops of blood paid the full price

That was required to make us gay
And fit for Paradise.

Thou art a day of mirth ;

And where the week-days trail on ground.
Thy Hight is higher, as thy birth ;

O let me take Thee at the bound,
Groping with Thee from seven to seven.

Till that we both, being tossed from earth.
Fly hand in hand to Heaven ! "

Consider this matter well, dear reader. It is a groat
honor to worship God in His sanctuary; to meet with those
come together to spend an hour with Him in prayer and
praise and exhortation, in God's appointed meeting place •
there is a blessing in united worship which one cannot
receive alone. Why ? Because God is present with His
people m an especial manner to bestow His choicest blessin-
upon tho.se come together to meet Him in His sanctuary ^

- Sunday is a day for worship. It is a day for getting
out of all that drags us down, into a higher and diviner
atmosphere. It is a day for standing face to face with the

S/CA'-A'OChU THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

• V

immortal in man. It is a day for .standing face to face with
God and eternity. I wonder whether, when Peter, James
and John heard Jesus say ; ' Come uj) with ]Me into the
mount of transfiguration.' They went up with laggard
steps, saying ; ' It is a hard hill to climb ; why cannot we
stay below with tlie other nine' % What a day this is that
lifts us out of all the smoky atmosphere, and gives us a view
of the blue sky, that lifts us out of the fetid atmosphere and
gives us a breath of the Heavenly." — Lmnan Ahott, D. D.

"Come not with incense, myrrh and apices bringiiig,
Come to God's Throne with loving hearts and pure ;
Ijift your glad voices, this high praises ringing,
He waits to bless ; His promise standeth sure.

So speak the Church bells in their sweet vibration,
So to God's temple summon th'ey our feet ;

With all the holy, we for His salvation
Will pay our homage at the mercy seat."

—/?«// Palmer, D. D.

Enable us Lord to " worship Thee in the beauty of
holiness."

.S-/CA-A'()^.]/ rilOUGHTS AND GLEAN/NCS.

SEVEXTEENTH DAY.

"overcomp:."

There are seven - overcome " promises to be apj,ro,..iatecI
by us, seven progressive steps.

1st. - He that overcon.etli ^vi]l I give to eat of the tr.e
ot hfe, which is in tlie n.idst of tiie Paradise of Ood."

"0 love surpassing thought,

So bright, so grand, so clear, so true, so glorious •
Love nifinite, love tender, love unsought.

Love changeless, love rejoicing, love victorious •
And this great love for us in boundless store •

Christ's everlasting love ! What wouldst thou more ? "

— F. R. Harer(jal.
Shall not we, dear reader, appropriate the "overcome"
pronases of God to you and to me. Gigantic evils oppose us,
but we shall meet the-m in the power of Christ and we shall
triumph in Him. VVe " shall have life," and we " shall have
1 more abundantly." <« God is able " and willing '> to make
all grace abound toward you ; that ye, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work "

-nd. " He that hath an ear, let him hear what the

Spirit saith unto the churches ; he that overcometh shall not

be hurt of the second death.-Rev. ii. : H. QiS -to him

hat overcometh it is promised that he shall sufier no los.

from the second ^\eB.t\x.~Commentary.

r^, !' -^""f ^^^^^ ^^^ ^»«ll were cast into the lake of fire.
J his is the second death."

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of
lite was cast into the lake of fire."— Rev. xx. : 14-15.

<)0

SICK- ROOM THOUGHTS AM) GLEANINGS.

v.*»

*' There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plagiu;
come ' nigh thy dwelling,' is a promise to the fullest extent
verified in the ease of all who dwell in the secret place of
the Most High.' To them sorrows are not 'evils'; sick-
nesses are not ' plagues,' the shadow of the Almighty extend-
ing far around those who abide under it, alters the character
of all things which come within its influences."— Jwow.

We may appropriate this promise in the triune God of
love, and we " shall not be hurt of the second death."

3rd. " He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches : To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a
white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no
man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." — Rev. ii. : 17.

This name in the stone is a precious secret between
Christ and the soul that overcomes while being fed upon
the " hidden manna." Known onlv to Christ and to be
revealed unto us when we shall approach Him in triumph as
*' moi'e than conquorer" through His blood.

4th. Arid he that overcometh, and keepeth my works
unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations. —
Rev. ii. : 26.

To whom shall " powei' over the nations " be given ] To
you, dear reader, and to me, if we "overcome" in His power,
and obey His commands, keeping close to His side, follow-
ing closely in the footsteps of Christ. And I appoint unto
you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto Me ;

That ye may eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom,
and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." —
Luke xxii. : 29-30.

Overcome in the blood of Christ and conquer in His
power, and being His disciples you shall have power over
the nations.

5th. " He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in

SICK KOOM THOl'GirrS AXn Cl.KANINGS.

(•I

wliite raiment; and I will not blot out his mime out of the
book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father
anil before His iingels,"

White is the emblem of purity, and we shall be pure,
even as He is pure ; we shall partake of the nature and
character of Christ, having overconie in His jiower and
through His blood and being clothed in His vightousness ;
and He will confess us each by name before His Father and
our Father, and before His angels.

0th. '* Him thai overcometh will I make a pillar in the
temple of my (iod, and he shall go no more out, and I will
write upon him the name of the city of My ( Jod, which is the
new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of Heaven from My
(jlod: and I will write upon him my new name." — Rev. iii. :
12.

When Solomon was building the temple "he set up two
j)illars in the i)orch of the tempb : and he set up the right
pillar, and Called the name thereof 'Jackin' : (that is, He shall
establish,) and he set up the left pillar, and called the name
thereof ' Boaz ' : (that is, in it is strength.)" — 1 Kings,
vii. : 21.

And if we "overcome'' in Him, great honor shall be ours,
He shall establish us firmly in Him, and we shall be pillars
of strength in the temple of the triune God, and He will
write upon us the name of our God, and the name of the city
of our God, which is new Jerusalem, and He will write upon
us His new name.

7th. "To him that ovex'cometh will I grant to sit with
Me in My throne, even as I also overcome, and am set down
with My Father in His throne."

"And He that sat upon the throne said; Behold, I
make all things new, and He said unto me, write : for these
words are true and faithful, and He said unto me, it is done,
I am Alpha and Omega, the begining and the end. 1 will
give unto him that is athirst, of the fountain of the waters

S/CA'-A'OCU/ THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

of life freely." " He that overcoiiieth shall inherit all things;
and I will be hi« (Jod, and he shall he My Son." There is
no room for any conuncnt from nie upon the fulness of this
promise, we "shall inherit all things" and "God will be our

(lod " and we shall be His sons and daughters

(ST

S/CA'-A'OO.]/ THOUGHTS .LVD GLE.imXGS.

(;3

EIGHTEENTH DAY.

" TJIOU (;01) SEKST ME."

•' Peneath God's oye, there is something in tho thought
like a shclt^'ring rook, a refreshing dew, a gleam of li.dit "
—Gold D>,st.

The thought of God's watchfulness will be a source of
comfort or of annoyance according to our character. When
the child is doing right, she loves the fhought tliat the mother
is watching ; l,ut when she is disobedient, she desires to avoid
that presence. A^ery vividly does the New Testan.ent picture
the greatest agony of the determined sinner ! To be the
consciousness that God sees him. This is a large part of the
woe of the lost. How important, then, through Christ to
become so reconciled to God that the truth, " Thou God seest
me," will be of secret comfort to xxH:'—Hev. S. W. Adriance.

"There is no joy the soul can meet

Upon lifea various roatl,
Like the sweet luar that sits and shrinks
Under the eye of God.

A special joy is all in love,

For objects we revere ;
Thus joy in God will always be

Proportioned to our fear.

But fear is love, and love is fear,

And in and out they move ;
But fear is an intenser joy

Than mere unrighteous love.

They love thee little, if at all

WHio do not fear thee much ;
If love is Thine attraction. Lord,

Fear is Thy very touch.

t>4

S/CK-KOOM TIIOUCIITS AND Gl.liANINGS.

L(»ve could not lovo thee lialf 8o iiiuoh

If it found tliee not ho near ;
It in 'J'tiy ncarncHs which inakcH luve

The perfectneas of fear.'' — /'. W. Fit\n>r.

'Tis a most solemn thought that the eyo of God our Father
Kce.H our «'v<*ry act.

"Those around us in the? workl, and in our own homes
gauge us by our conversation and deportment. Is it apparent
from our daily living that .lesus is constantly streaming into
our lives the light of His \vond<'rful love, and are we shed-
ding it forth again marked with our own individuality?

The eye of God is upon us as we perform our most trivial
daily duty, as we watch and pray, as we sulfcr and serve
and wait. Are we in the world, but not of it, an; we
strangers to the world, but near and familiar friends to (rod?

'Tis our privilege to live beneatli the eye of God, yes, to
dwell continually in Tiis i)rebence, an 1 experience a deep and
sweet realization of Ki.; Divine approval. Let us strive to
see God, that is to say, be always realizing His presence,
feeling Him near as the friend from whom we would never be
separated, in work, in prayer, in recreation, in repose. God
is not importiinate, He never wearies, He is the gracious and
merciful, His Hand directs everything, and He will not
suffer us to b(! tempt •' above that we are able.

" Listen to ±ii;j commands, be attentive to God, listen to
His coun.sol. His ^varningM , we are privileged to hear His
voice, in these Gospel words that recur to our mind, in
the good thoughts that suddenly dawn on us, the devout
words that meet us in, some book, on a sheet of paper, or
falling from the li[)s of a jireacher or friend, or even a
stranger.

Speak to God, hold converse with Him more with the
heart than with the lips, in the early morning's meditation,
ejaculatory ])rayer, vocal i>rayer, and xbovo all in Holy
Communion.

Love God, be devoted co Him alone, have no affection

s/cA'A'oo.u move I ITS .ixn at /•jxings.

6iV

apart from Him, roHtraiii the love that Mould rstrniigu U8
from llim. lend ourselves to all, hut out of love, give our-
selves to Him alone.

Think of (iod, reject whatever exclude.s tlie thought of
Him. Of course, we must t'uUil our daily duties, accomplish-
ing them with all the j)ertection of which we art- capaljle,
l)ut they uiust be done as beneath tlu; eye of (Jod, with the
thought that Uod has commanded them, and that to do them
carefully, is j)leaHiiig in His sight." --^/o/c/ Dust.

May we live regularly, and continuously beneath the eye
of (tod. 'i'hos(! bodies of ours may decay, they and all their
temporal environments of earth. They perish ; but our life
shall remain, our life which is spiritual shall in the truest
sense remain, and we shall be conscious of our spiritual
identity to all Eternity. Do we regularly and contiuously
trust in God? He will not allow us to be overcome. Jesus
with us shall be our comitanion when the Mames of fiery trial
kindle upon us, if we trust Him.

" Perfect love, which always includes f(;ar of displeasing
God, so great is that love to (iod, includes contidence,
crtsteth out fear. Let us take the comfort of this thought
and tru.st Him to keep us from falling; yes, even from
stumbling. He has promised, "thou shalt not be burneil,"
even when the tiei-y tlames of pain seem to overwhelm us
and .seems to consume us, we "shall not be burned," no foe
shall be found uncourpierable, no danger api)alling if we are
fighting "foes without and fear within" in His power.

" Thy power is in the ocean deeps,
And reaches to the skies ;
Thine eye of mercy never sleeps,
Thy goodness never dies."

Thou God seest us, and Thy tender arm will sustain us
in our weariness, and suffering and weakness. Enable us to
dwell continually in Thy Heart, to listen to Thy sweet voice
while we are in the furnace of affliction, and to live as under
Thine all-seeing eye.

SICK- ROOM Tin ) I 'GUTS .IN/) GI. E. \NINGS

ninkte?:nth day.

SEEING AND KNOWING.

" lleloved now are we the sons of Ood, and it doth not
yet appear what we shall be : but w(^ know tliat, when He
shall appear, we shall be like Hin» ; tor we shall see Him as
He is."— 1 John iii. : 2.

" For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But
when that which is perfect is come, them that, which vt. mi
part shall be done away.

'' When I was a child, I spake as a child, 1 understood
as a child, I thoi'ght as a child : (or " reasoned " as it is in
the margin) but when T became a man I put away childish
things. For now we see through a glass darkly ; but then
face to face : now I know in part ; but theii shall I know
even as 1 am known." — 1 Corin. xiii. : 9-12.

" Do not believe that God offers Himself as a guide in
His ])rovidence, and a guide towards a holy life by His spirit
and yet will leave the mind alone which soberly explores the
dark places of truth in the hope of His aid. How He
oan aid, it is useless to ask ; but that He can aid, who
is truth itself, and has sure access to minds and hearts, you
must not doubt. He may move in all silence : He may act
Qn the soul ; and so en the mind indirectly ; He may cause,
ns often hapi)ens, external things to illustrate truth in some
remarkable manner. But be assured of this, — that if in
obedience and hope you wait on Him, He will bring you to
the sunlight at last." — .S'. D. Woohey.

How has God unveiled Himself to you 1 Have you been
.summoned into the secret chamber of His council 1 Perhaps

S/CA'-A'00.-\/ THOUGHTS .LVD (7/./-.LV/JVGS

He has caused your imagination to spn-ad its wings for higher,
bolder flight, and your spirit has down up, up, on glittering
pinions ; and you have discovered far al)ove yon heights of
blessedness that you could not ivach, but which you were
assured should one day be yours. There are sweet and
sohMun voices speaking with unearthly authority ; coining
back to us as the messages of ancels

''There are few," says an American writer, ''who do not
number in their families those whose places are vacant at
the table and the hearth, and yet m ho are not reckoned as
lost, but only 'gone before.' And when the business of
daily life is for a while suspended, i.nd its cares ar<- put to
rest— nay, often in the midst of the world's tumult— their
voices float down clearly and distinctly from he.weu, and say
to their own 'come up hither.'"

"Beneath every domestic roof," continues the same
author, " there are more than ary counted by the eye of a
stranger. Spirits are there wliich he does not see, but who
are never far from tlie eyes of the household. Steps are on
the stairs, but not for common ears ; and familiar places and
objects restoi-e familiar smiles and tears, and acts of goodness
and words of love which are seen and heard by memory
alone."

Words of admoniuon or counsel, after the lips that uttered
them are sealed in death, acquire a peculiar sacredness.

" ' Look that thou make them after the pattern that was
showed thee in the mount.' This teaches that there are
celestial ways of doing earthly things, and that human
success consists in getting into the secrecies of God's mind,
and working in the direction of His method —men are
enriched with presentiments of the way Gfod would work if
placed in our stead. These i)resentments we call ideals.

Human soil is marked with Divine footprints." C. H.

Parkhxirst.

When I shall have passed away from among those I love

l/i'

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

shall my voice float down in lo\'ing, pleading, tender invita-
tions, "Como up hither'?"

What shall my fricmds say of me after I have passed
away from their midst 1 What will be the effect of my life
upon those who are left behind ?

God knows our motives ; and those wlio love us, trust to
them ; but strangers can only judge of us by our actions. A
solemn thought, and one that should make us very careful
lest there should be anything in our daily life, to bring dis-
credit upon religion.

" There are murniurings in the air," writes a well-known
authoress, speaking of one gone before ; " there are murmur-
ings in the air, soft as the footfalls of angels ; and amidst
them all I fancy that I can distinguish her gentle voice,
bidding me possess my soul in patience until the great sum-
mons comes that shall invite us again for evermore." Yes,
we shall meet again in our Father's Home of love, where
God shall be our Father and we shall be His redeemed
children, and rapture beyond conception shall be ours forever.
We shall see Jesus as He is, and we "shall awake satisfied in
His likeness," but we must obey the commands of God and
fulfil the conditions of His promises. " We shall see Jesus"
and if we are faithful students of Him " we shall be like
Him," we shall bf changed and are being changed into the
same image, as we gaze upon Him, and strive to fulfil His
conditions and observe His commands, His promise to us is
being verified, wo are being changed into the same image.

When we are summoned to pass over the river with those
''gone before" we shall "see the King in His beauty," and
*• we shall be satisfied with His likeness," and " we .shall
know even as we are known."

" Eye hath not seen," yet we shall see the wonders of His
love unfolding through eternity ; " nor ears heard," yet we
shall hear His loving assurances and instructions, and we
shall hear His words of love for us ; " neither have entered

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

<)9

into the heart of man," yet we shall have His spirit or power
given us to understand His wonderful love ar j have grand
conceptions of Him ; upon this condition of GJod's jnomiso
"set thine heart" to conceive His Spirit. " I e shall take of
mine and shall show it unto you ;" we mr«<t s.mply obey His
command " set thine heart upon all that i shall show thee ;"
— not for ourselves alone are we to '* see " and " hear," we
arv-^ to say " come " to others whom we love, and whom we
would have enjoy the " King in His beauty " and " awake
satisfied in His likeness.

hH;

sick-j:oom thoughts and gleanings.

\s\r

TWENTIETH DAY.

"THE LORD SHUT HIM IN'." — (JEN. VIII, 16.

We, too, who have spent years upon tlie bed of severe pain
and extreme weakness, have been shut in by the Lord to
experience keenest sufl'ering.

" CtocI sometimes shuts the door, and shuts us in,
That He may speak perchance thro' grief or pain,
And softly, heart to heart, above the din
May tell some precious thougiit to us again.

God sometimes shuts the door, and keeps us still,
That so our feverish haste and deep unrest,

Beneath His gentle touch may (^uiet, till

He whispers what our weary hearts love best.

God sometimes shuts the door, and though shut in.
If 'tis His hand, shall we not wait and see ?

When worry lies without, and toil and sin,

God'a thought may wait within for you and me."

—Mrs. G. Packard.

" Why should I start at the plough of my Lord, that
maketh deep furrows on my soul 1 I know He is no idle
husbandman, He purposeth a crop." — S. Rutherford.

One cannot grow accustomed to physical and mental
Suffering j we who have spent years upon the bed of sufl'ering,
utterly incapacitated, find it just as difficult to endure, as
though week after week, and month after month, and year
after year, we had not been enduring. We know how " the
vhole head grows sick and the heart becomes faint," because
of " hope deferred," waiting for health which comes not, and
for strength which seems to decrease instead of increase-

S7CA' A'(>i>.)/ THOUGHTS AND GI.KANINGS.

No one knows but Jesus just how difficult it is to endure
physical and mental sufi'ering, and lie jtatiently and passively
beneath His chastening rod. But Jesus who conquered sin,
and pain, and death, " knows,"' and He can understand and
strengthen us to endure as " seeing Him who is invisible,"
and He '"cares" and will b«'ar both us and our burden, and
"loves" as an everlasting love, and sends the pain to prepare
us for all He is preparing foi- us.

"A lady called on a silversmith and begged to know from
him the process of refining silver, which he fully described to
her. * But sir,' said she, ' do you sit while the work of
refining is going on T ' O yes,' replied the silversmith ; ' i
must sit with my eye steadily fixed upon the furnace, for if
the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest
degree, the silver is sure to be injured.' At once she saw
the beauty, and the comfort, too, or the expression, ' He .shall
sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.' As the lady was
leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said
he had still further to mention that he only knew when the
process of purifying was complete, by seeing his own imago
reflected in the silver. Beautiful figure ! When Christ sees
His own image in His people, His work of purifying is
accomplished." — Anon.

Those of us who are in the fieiy furnace of pain, shut in
with the companionship of God, shall one day ere long hear
His summons, " Child come up hither, the process of refining
thee is com])lete, I see Mine own image reflected in thee.
Child come Home, and dwell continually in My presence."

" ' Why,' does any one ask, ' does the battle press hard to
the end 1 ' Why is it ordained for man that he shall walk
all through life, in patience and strife, and sometimes in
darkness ? Because from patience is to come perfection.
Because from strife is to come triumph. Because from the
dark cloud is to come the lightning-flash, that opens the way
to Eternity." — Orville Dewey.

S/CA-A'OO.W THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

', <

" For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant
grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to
the glory of (iod. For which cause we faint not : but
though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is
renewed from day to day. For our light affliction, wliich is
but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding
weight of glory.

" While we look not at the things which arc seen, but at
the things which are not seen : for the things which are
seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen arc
eternal."— 2 Cor. iv. : 15-18.

There are times in our sufiering experience when we are
apt to fjuestion the love of God in His dealings with us,
moments when we are depr«!ssed and desponding by reason
of our many weaknesses and infirmities, when we say
" would to God that I were dead." God is long suffering
with us. but He afflicts us in order to refine and pui'ify, and
make us more like Himself. Do we murmur, knowing our
littleness, and insufficiency, and proneness to sin ? Do we
refuse to see the love of God in His dealings with us % Do
we not rather look up to Him in loving allegience, and grate,
ful thanks to God because He hath not dealt with us after
our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities %

" Hush I oh, hush ! for the Father knows what thou knowest not,
The need and the thorn and the shadows linked with the fairest

lot;
Knows the wisest exemption from many an unseen snare,
Knows what will keep thee nearest, knows what thou could'st

not bear.

Hush I oh, hush ! for the Father, whose ways are true and just,
Knoweth, and careth, and loveth, and waits for thy perfect

trust ;
The cup He is slowly filling, shall soon be full to the brim,
And infinite compensations forever ^e found in Him."

—F. R. Havenjal.

S/CA'-KOO.U THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS. 73

W(^ are shut in to learn more of His Divine love, more
of His will concerning us, more of the sweetness of His
companionship, more of His i)urity, more of His power, more
of Himself. We are shut in to be refined as silver is refined,
to be purified as gold is purified, until we bear His image
and are become pure, even as He is pure. " My bretliem,
count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations ; know-
ing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be
perfect and entire, wanting nothing."— James i. : 24.

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

TWENTY-FIRST DAY.

v.v.

JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHIUST.

"Heirs of God and joiut-heirs with Christ." — •Rom.
vui. : u.

Can mortal man estimate the lengtli and breath and
lieighth and depth of that promise 1 " Heirs of God and
joint-heirs with Christ."

There is a great liush, a holy awe comes over us, we are
utterly overwhelmed with our unworthine.ss of it. He who
knoweth our frame, knows also the possibilities of His
grace. '* For the Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the
lot of His inheritance."

He found him in " a desert land, and in the waste, howl-
ing wilderness ; He led him about, He instructed him, He
kept him as the £\pple of His eye. " So the Lord alone did
le?.d us." As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over
her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth
them on her wings.

Whom did God find in " a desert land, and in the waste,
howling wilderness % " You who reads this page, and me who
writes it. God found us in " a desert land " of sin and
sufiering and woe ; which is " a waste and howling wilder-
ness indeed, where Christ comes not. " " Own Christ's
person, love His name, embrace His doctrine, obey His com-
mands and submit to His cro.ss. His person is lovely, His
name sweet, His doctrines are comfort.^ble, His commands
are rational and His cross honorable. The very angels adore
Him, and shall not we ? "

We are '* heirs of God and joinc-heirs with Christ." To
an inheritance incorruptible and undetiled, and that fadeth

S/CA'-/WOA/ TIIOi'GHTS AND GLEANINGS.

not away, reserved in heaven for you who aic k('[)t hy the
power of (tocI througli faith unto salvation, ready to be
revealed in the last time." — 1 Peter, i.: 4-5. " Learn of nie."
*' Blessed are the meek for they sh.-i'^ ii.htril the earth." —
Matt. V. : 5.

How shall we become meek ? V>y imbibing the spirit of
Christ. Needing nothing less than the preeious blood of
Christ, and a will ])ossessed by His own Divine will, Uiind
and heart. God found us in "a desert land" of sin and
sorrow and woe, " a waste howling wikhirness " where ( 'hrist
cannot come ; but where He sends His ministering ang(!ls
"to minster unto them who shall be heiis of salvation."
His " still small voice " drew us unto " the fountian opened
for sin and uncleanness," and we were cleansed in the
precious blood of Christ. Thus ain; we become " lu^rs of (Jod
and joint-heirs with Oiirist." — Zech. xiii. : 1.

Truly are we rich with a great inheritance, enriched with
all knowledge ; knowing the Lord Jesus; and the power of
His sprinkled blood.

" Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express
image of His person, anJ upholding all things by the word
of His power, when He had Himself purged our sins, sat
down on the right hand of the Majesty on high ; being made
so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance
obtained a more excellent name than they." — Heb. i. : 3-4.

The angels are and ever have been sinless, they have no
need of a Saviour, and consequently they cannot enjoy Christ
to the same extent as we, the redeemed of the Lord, " heirsi
of Cod and joint-heirs with Christ," can.

And we have cost the triune God His precious blood,
and we must be of more value in the sight of God, than are
the angels, and our capacity to receive Jesus Christ is en-
larged, and we may grow and increase " lill we all come in
the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of
the fulness of Christ." — Eph. iv. : 13.

SICK-KOOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS,

• I

I AM CIIUIRTH AND CHRIST IS MINK.

'* liOng (lid I toil, and knew no earthly rwst ;

Kur did I rove, and found no certain home,
At laHt I Bought them in His sheltering lireast,

Who opes His arms, and hida the weary como.
With Him I found a home, a rest divine ;
And I since then am His, and He is mine.

Yes, He is mine ! and naught of earthly tilings,
Not all the charms of ideasure, wealth, or power,

The fame of heroes, or the pomp of kings.
Could tempt me to forego His love an hour :

Go, worthless world, I cry, with all that's thine

(to I I my Saviour's am, and He is mine.

The good I have is from His stores supplied ;

The ill is only what He deems the best ;
He, for n)y Friond, I'm rich with naught beside,

And poor without Him, though of all posst-st ;
Changes may come ; I take, or I resign ;
Content while I am His, while He is mine.

Whate'er ma" liange, in Him no change is seen
A gl'^noiis II, that wanes not nor declines ;

Above the clouds and storms He walks serene.
And sweetly on His people's darkness shines :

All may depart ; I fret not, nor re]>ine,

While I my Saviour's am, wliile He is mine.

He stays me falling, lifts me up when down,
lleclaima me wandering, guards from every foe,

Plants on my worthless brow the victor's crown,
Which, in return, before His feet I throw ;

Grieved that I cannot bt'tter grace His shrine,

Who deigns to own me His, as He is mine.

While here, alas ! I know but half His love.

But half discern Him, and but half adore ;
But when I meet Him in the realms above,

I hope to love Him better, praise Him more :
And feel, and tell, amid the choir divine.
How fully I am His, and He is mine." — H. F. Lyte.

Make us cognizant of our privileges as chil<lren of Thine,
"heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ." Equals with
Thee in all things, joint-heirs with Thee, through Thy blood.

S/CA-A'OOM TIIOUaHTS AM) GLEANINGS.

e,
th
1

TWKNTY-SPX'OND DAY,

BKARim; OUR CROSS.

We, in our littleness and proneness to sin and disol)edi.'nco,
are apt to niunuur at the cross which oui- Saviour is [deased
to put upon us in His gjcat love for us. We do not take
up the cross willingly, helievingly, cheerfully or .suhniis.sively ;
and yet we are cognizant nothing is more acceptable unto
God than our willing, sincere denial of self, and nady obedi-
ence, and cheerful and prompt acquiescence unto Him.

We think, and say, too, veiy lre(|Uently, if n)y cross was
only chajiged, 1 could "deny" my.self so much l.ett«'r, and
"take up the cross" and "follow Christ." But let me
assure you, gentle reader, and let me be assured myself, that
He, the Infinite One, knows just what is needful, and just
what we finite ones can bear.

THE CHANGED CROSS.
"It was a time of sadness, and my heart,
Although it knew and felt the better [)art,
Felt wearied with the confiirt and the strife,
And all the needful discipline of life.

And while I thought on these as given to me —
. My trial tests of faith and love to be —
It seemed to me as if I never could be sure,
That faithful to the end I would endure.

And thus, no longer trusting to His might,
Who says, ' we walk by faith, and not by sight,'
Doubting and almost yielding to dispair,
The thought arose, my cross I cannot bear.

For heavier its weight must surely be
Than tlmie of others which I daily see ;

S/CA'-JWOM THOUGHTS ,L\D Gl.EANLXGS.

Oh, if 1 ini^lit nnotlicr iHinlcn chnoHt!,
Mftliinks I Hlioiiltl not foar my crown to lose,

A Holuuui Kiluuce reigned on all iirouml —
K'en Nuture's voices uttered not a Hound ;
'i'lu! cvi-niiig sliadowH Hoemt'il of peace to tell,
And .slueii i^ton my weary Hiiiiit fell.

A nioinent'H ji.insc, and tlion a heavenly light
Heenied full n))<)n niy wandering rajitured sight;
Angels on silvery wings seemed everywhere,
And angels" music thrilled the balmy air.

Then one, more fair than all the rest to soe —
One to whom all others bowed tlie knee —
Catni; gently to me, us I trembling lay,
And 'follow me,' He said, ' I am tiie way.'

Tiien speaking thus He led me far above ;
And there, b( neath a canopy "f love,
Crosses of divers shaiie and si/e were seen,
Larger and smaller than my own had been.

And one there was nu)st beauteous to behold —
A little one with jewels set in gold :
Ah ! this, methought, I can with comfort wear,
For it will be an easy one to bear.

And so the little cross I quickly took.
But all at once my frame beneath it shook ;
The sparkling jewels, fair were they to see,
But far too heavy was their weight for me.

'This may not be,' I cried, and looked again. .
To see if there was any here could ease my pain,
But one by one I passed them slowly by,
Till on a lovely one I cast my eye.

Fair flowers around its sculptured form entwined,
And grace and beauty seemed in it combined ;
Wondering, I gazed, and still I wondered more
To think so many should have passed it o'er.

But oh, that form, so beautiful to see !
Soon made its hidden sorrows known to me ;
Thorns lay beneath those flowers and colors fair,
Sorrowing, I said, 'This cross I may not bear.'

S/CA'-AOU.]/ THOUGHTS AND GI.KANINGS,

Ami HO it wftM witli t-ach and all around :

Not one to suit my need could tliero bo found ;

Wt.M'pitu,', T laid cacli heavy Imrden down,

As my (hiide j,'ently said, 'No orosH, no crown.'

At Iiiii,'tli to Him T raim'd my naddened liwirt ;
Ho knew its sorrows, hid its douhts depart,
' Bo not afraid,' Ifo Haid, 'hut trust in Me,
My perfect lovf shall now be shown to thee.'

And tlien with lightened eyes and willing feet,
Again I turned my eartidy cross to meet,
With forward f<)otHte[)s, turning not aside
For fear some sudilen evil might betide.

And tlutre, in tiic prepared appointed way —
fastening to liear, and ready to o])ey —
A cross 1 (fuickly found of plainest form,
With only words of love inscribed thereon.

With thankfulness I raised it from the rest,
And joyfully acknowledged it the best ;
Tlif only one of all tiio n)any tliere.
That I could feel was good for me to ])uar.

And while I thus my chosen one confessed,
I saw a heavenly brightness on it rest ;
And as I bent my burden to sustain,
I recognized my own old cross again !

'Vat oh,, how ditFcrent did it seem to be.
Now I had learned its preciousness to see I
Nn 1, v-^k:: could I unV)elieving say,
r>;niapf( ; lother is a l)otter way.

Ah, no lenccforth my own desire shall be,
'XhaX. I: vho knows mc best should choose for me,
,• rrl v<> whatever His love sees good to send.
I'll trawt its best, because He knows the end."

"I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the
Lord. thoBights of peace, and not of evil, to give you an
expected end." — Jeremiah xxix. : 11.

Thus we kairn our diflerent natures and various lonirin'rs

n'lp

I'.'
1 1

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

and desires require different discipline ; and God knows best
how to discipline us, and how to prepare us for all He is
preparing for us. Let us take up our cross cheerfully, will-
ingly, submissively and lovingly ; He went before us "bearing
His cross ; " our Saviour died for us on the cross, and we
ought to bear our cross as a proof of our love and gratitude
to Him and because He would prepare us to receive and
enjoy all He is preparing for us.

" In the cross ia salvation, in the cross is life, in the
cross is jjrotection against our enemies, in the cross is infu-
sion of heavenly sweetness, in the cross is strength of mind,
in the cross is joy of spirit, in the cross the height of virtue,
in the cross the perfection of sanctity." — Thomas A. Kemjns.

SICK-ROOM THOUGirrS AND GLEANINGS. 8i

TWENTY-THIRD DAY.

" IT IS WKLL."

'* And it ft'll on a day that Elisha passed to Shuneni^
where was a great woman ; and she constrained him to eat
bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned
in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband,
' BehoUl now I pci ^eive that this is an lioly man of God,
which passeth by us continually.

Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall ;
and let us set for him there a table, and a bed, and a stool,
and a candlestick : and it shall be when he cometh to us, that
he shall turn in thither. And it fell on a day, that h(! came
thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there."
—2 Kings iv. : 8-10.

There are four lessons to be drawn from this kindness of
the Shunemite woman, typical of the eveilasting love and
everlasting loving-kindness, of God, which He is continually
bestowing upon us, and His kindness in drawing us unto
Himself.

The Shunemite woman said, " Let us make a little
chamber;" t} pical of the "place" which Jesus our Saviour
is preparing for us ; and He is coming again, to receive us
unto Himself, and wo shall dwell forever in His presence,
in the " resting " or abiding " place."

" And let us set for him there a bed," said the Shunemite
woman, typical of the rest and security found in Christ,
namely, "This is the rest wherewith He hath caused the
weary to rest ; " rest of forgiveness, as promised by Jesus.
See Matt. xi. ; 28. " Rest for our souls," as promised iu

'"^"H'l^iKmi

S/CA'-A'OO.]/ rnoUGlITS AND GLEANINGS.

Jereni. vi. : IG. "And the work of rightt'ousncKs shall be
peace ; and the eflect of lighteousness, quietness and assur-
ance forever." — Isaiah xxxii. : 17.

Thus the rest is perfect rest. " And my i)eopl(! shall
dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and
in quiet resting places." — Isaiah xxxii. : 18.

We have sweet security in Him truly. " I give unto
them eternal life; and they shall lusver perish, neitluir shall
any man [)luck tlicnn out of my hand." "And a table,''
typical of our food in Christ. Then said Jesus unto them,
" 1 am the bread of life ; h(» that cometh to Mc; shall never
hunger, and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst."

Let me echo the Saviour's invitation : " Come unto me,"
for saith Jesus, " Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise
cast out." — .lolui vi. : 17.

" And a stool," typical of prayer. " And prayer shall be
made for Him continually, and daily shall He be praised" —
P.salm Ixxii. : If). "Watch unto prayer." — 1 Petisr iv. : 7.
"Praying always with all prayer and sup[)lication in the
spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and sup-
plication for all saints." — Eph. vi. : 18,

" Likewise the spirit also helpeth our inHrmities ; for we
know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the
spirit itself niaketh intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered." " And a candlestick," typical of "Cod is
light," and "Cod is Love." -1 John i. : 5; iv. : 8. We hav(^
li'dit in Christ to see and warmth to live in Him ; " and if
we walk in the light as He is in the light, we liavo fellow-
ship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ, His son,
cleanseth us from all sin." — 1 John i. : 7.

"And h(^ said to Cehazi, his servant, 'call this Sliunemite
woman.' And he called her, and she stood before him. And
said he, 'Say now unto her, ' ehold, thou Jiast bc^en careful
for us, with all this can^ ; wliat is to be done for thee]
Wouldst thou be spoken for to the king, or to the caiitain of

S/CK KUOM 'J'HOl'GIITS AND Gl KAXINGS.

the host 1' And she answered, 'I dwell anionuj iniiic own
peoph\' And ho said, '('all her.' Previous to this, (Johazi
said unto Elisha, ' Verily she hath no child, and h< r hus-
band is old.' Klisha hade (Jehazi call her. And when he
had called her, she stood in the door. And he said ' Ahout
this season, accordin*,' to the time of life, thou shalt enil>race
a son.' And she said, ' Nay, my lord, thou man of CJod, do
not lie unto thine handmaid.' And the woman conceived,
and bare a son at that sea.son that Klisha had said unto her,
according to the time of life. And when the child was born
and grown, it fell on a day that he went to his father, to the
reapers; and he said unto his father, 'My licid, my head.'
And he .said to a by:!, 'cany liim to his mother.' And uheii
he had taken him to his mother, he .sat upo?i her knees till
noon, and then died.

And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of
God, and shut the door upo him, and went out.

And she called unto her husband, and said, ' Send me,
I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that
I may run to the man of God, and come again.'

And he said, ' Wherefor wilt thou go to him to-day I It
is neither new moon, nor Sabbath.' And she .said, ' It shall
be well.'

Then she saddled an ass, and said to lier .servant, ' drive,
and go forward ; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid
thee.'

Ho she went and mme unto Mount Carmel. And it came
to pass, when the man of God .saw her afar off, that he said
to (iehazi, his servant, ' Behold, yonder is that Shunemite :
run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and sny unto her, is it
Avell with thee I Is it well with tiiy husband? Is it well
with the child I ' And she answered, ' It is well ' " Won-
derful faith. " And when she came to the man of (iod, to
the hill, she caught him by the feet : but Gehazi came near

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

to thrust her away. And the man of God said, ' Let her
alone, for her soul is vexed within her : and the Lord hath
hid it from me, and hath not told me. Then she said, ' Did
I desire a son of my Lord; did 1 not say, do not deceive me'?

Then he said to Gehazi, 'Gird up thy loins, and take my
.staff in thine hand, and go thy way : if thou meet any man
salute him not ; and if any .salute thee, answer him not
again : and lay my staff upon the face of the child.'

And the mother of the child said, ' As the Lord liveth,
and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave the*-.' And he arose
and followed her.

And Geha/i passed on before them, and laid the staff
upon the face of the child ; but there war. neither voice nor
hearing. Wherefore he want again to meet him, and told
him, f:aying the child is not awiiktid. And when Elisha was
come into the house, behold the child was dead.

He went in, therefore, and shut the door upon them
twain, and prayed unto the Lord.

And he went up, and laid upon the child and put his
mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his
hands upon his hands ;

And he stretched himself upon the child ; and the flesh
of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked
in the house to and fro ; and went up, and stretched himself
upon him ; and the child sneezed seven times, and the child
opened his eyes.

And he called Gehazi, and said, 'Call this Shunemite.'
So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he
aaid, ' Take up thy son.' Then she ^^ ent in. and fell at his
feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son,
and went out." — 2 Kings viii. : 8-37.

The Shuuemite's faith was .simple and grand, her love
supreme, and her respect and holy awe for Elisha commend-
sble, and lier obedience ntost prompt. The exercise of her
faith was rewarded. Yes, truly • it is well " with the

SICK'-ROOM THOUGHrS AND GLEANINGS.

a")

true child of (^cl ; " it is well " when the tests of our faith
are most fierce and fiery, when our circumstances and sur-
roundings are most adverse to simple child-like trust in God.
It is well with us, becaiise our souls are redeemed in His
blood, and Ave trust Him ibiough His Spirit, even when we
cannot trace Him, and cannot understand His dealings wifh
us. Our minds are finite and ever shall bo so, but He is
infinite and He loveth alway.

8()

S/CK KOOM THOUGHTS ANn GLEANINGS.

TWENTY- FOU RTPI DAY.

HEAVKN OI'KNEl).

J. "And Jacul) dreauuxl, and Ix'hold a ladder set upon
the earth, and the top of it reached lieaven : and behokl, the
angels of God ascending and descending on it."

" And behold, tlu; Lord .stood above it." — Gen. xxviii.: 12.
There is a conmumication betwixt heaven and earth, such as
we too seldom realize. The oonnnon topics of conversation,
between tViendly lu'arts, may furnish a chanrrel for heaveidy
interchange of thoughts in our intercourse, so that our
communications, even while in tin; world, may bo like Jacob's
ladder, whose bottom rested upon the earth, but the top
reached unto the heavens. We can be in touch with those
of our own househohl, those near and dear ones, who are
"gone before.'' They are clothed in tlie garments of Christ
— having been redeemed in His blood. " Therefore are they
before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in
His temple : and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell
among them."

" They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more ;
neither shall ihe sun light on tli<Mn, nor any heat."

" For tlu' Lamb which is in tlie midst of the throne shall
feed tliem, and shall lead them unto living fountains of
waters, and (iod shall wipe away all tears from their eyes,"
— Rev. vii. : 14-17. God, our Father> is eternal, and incom-
prehensible, and of infinite jmwer in heaven and earth, and
His understanuing is ursearchable.

II. " And He saiih unto him, ' Verily, verily, I say
unto you, liereafter ye ahall sf^e heaven opened, and the angels

S/CA-AOO.U TIIOCGIITS AXI^ GlEAXfNGS.

of(Jo(l asecndiiijf -ukI (lescciKliiii; upon the Son of man."
John i.: 'A. There is a oonnminication betwixt the inhuM-
tants of Ijc'tiven and earth.

" Are they not ;ill luinistei ing spirits, sent forth to

minister unto them who shall he heirs of .salvation."'

lieb. i. : 14. When i\w burden of sin and guilt fell oft*
Cliristain at the foot of the Cross, as we read in the Pilgrim x
Proyress, "tliree shining ones came and saluted him with,
' Peace be with thee ;' ' thy sins be forgiven thee ;' the second
stripped him of his rags, and clothed him with change of
ranuent, (the white rol s of Cluist's rightffousness ;) the third
also set a mark on his forehead, and gave him a roll, with a
seal upon it," (the witness of tlie Si>irit, whereby we cry,
Abba, Patiier.) No wonder that he should "go on his way
singing."

III. "But he lieing full of the Holy (Jhost, looked up
steadfastly into lieaven, and .saw the glory of God, and Jesus
standing on the- right hand of God."

And said, behold, J see the heavens opened, and tlie Son
of man standing on the right hand of (iod."— Acts vii. :
55, 50.

" The heavens were opened, and I saw visions of f Jod."
— Ezekiel i. : 1.

Daniel the " Beloved " of the Lord, said, " I saw in the
nigiit visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came
with the clouds of heaven." — Daniel vii. : 1,3.

." Here, 0 my Lord, I see Thee tace to face ;
• Here faith can touch ami handle things unseen ;

Here grasp with firmer hand the eternal grace,
And all my weariness upon thee lean.

Here would I feed upon the bread of God ;

Here drink with Tiiee tlie royal wine of heaven ;
Here would I lay aside each earthly load ;

Here taste afresh the calm of

calm of sin iotfi\\

I have no help but Thine ; nor do I need
Another arm save Thine to lean upon ;

en.

«8

SICK- ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS,

It is enough, my Lord, enough indeed ;

My strength is in Thy might. Thy might alone.

Mine is the sin, hut Thine the righteousness ;

Mine is the guilt, V»ut Thine the cleansing blood ;
Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace.

Thy blood, Thy righteousness, 0 Lord, my Cod."

—H. Uonar.

TV. "And Josus, when He was baptized, went up
straightway out of the water ; and, lo, th(> heavens were
opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of Ctod descending
like a dov<', and ligliting u)>on Jlini. And, lo, a voice from
heaven, saying, * This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.'" — Matt. iii. : 10, 17.

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white hoi'se ;
{emblem of purity), and He that sat upon him was call»>d
Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and
make war." — Rev. xix. : 17.

" Now, I further saw, that betwixt them and the gate
was a river ; y)ut there was no bridge to go over ; and the
river was very deep. At the sight, therefore, of this river,
the pilgrims were much stunned ; but the men that went with
tlieni said, ' you must go through, or you cannot come at the
gate.' The pilgrims, then, especially Christian, began to
despond in their minds, and looked this way and that ; but
no way could be found, by them, by which they might escape
the river. Then they asked the men if the watei's were all
of a dejith. They said, * No ; ' yet they could not help them
in that case ; ' for,' said they, ' you shall find it deeper or
shallower as you believe in the king of the place.' " — Pilgrim^s
Progress.

" Death is another life ; we bow our heads at going out,
we think, and enter straight another golden chamber of the
King's, larger than this we have, and lovelier." — P. J. Bailey.

S/CA'-AOO.U TIlOfCllTS AMD GLEANINGS.

TWENTY- Fl FTH DAY.

HE(;iNNIN(i OF (iOD's I.OVK.

" J liavt^ loved thee with an <!\ (^rlasting love. Therefore
will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though
the mountains be carried into the midst of the uea." — Ps.
xlvi.: I.

" Father, 1 will that they also whom Thou hast given
Me lie with Me where I am ; that they may behold My glory,
which Thou hast given Me : for Thou lovedst Me before the
foundation of the world." — John xvii. : 24.

The triune God of love loved you and me before " tlie
foundation of the world," and H»; hath loved us with an
everlasting love." — Jer. xxxi. : 3.

" Nothing is sweeter than lov(;, nothing more courageous,
nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing
fuller nor better in hea^•en and earth ; because love is born of
(fod, and cannot rest but in diod, al)ove all created things.
He that loveth, flieth, runneth and rejoiceth ; he is free and
not bound. He giveth all for all, and hath all in all ; because
he resteth in One highest above all things, from whom all
that is good flows and proceeds."

He respecteth not th<^ gifts, Vmt tnrneth himself aliove all
goods unto the giver. Love oftimes knows no bounds, but is
fervent beyond all measure.

Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble, attempts
what is above its strength, pleads no excuse of impfissibility ;
for it thinks all things lawful fcr itself. The noble love of
Jesus impels a man to do great things, and stirs hnn up to be
always longing for what is u>oro jiorfect." — Thonuxn A, Kempia.

!l()

S/CA'-AOO.W 'niOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

(iod lovod you and iiir Ix-fort' "tin* foundation of tlir
world." Ho lovfd us with a I<>\c that liad no lic^dnniiig,
l)(!ouus(3 (Jod never hud u Ix-ginnin;,'. His h)V(' is boundless as
the universe, deeper than the deepest ocean, hijjher than the
lii;,diest heaven; yea, (Jod's love is infinite, eternal, and
un(hani;<'al)le.

" Ciod loves us with an (^vitrlastiii'' lov(.',"

" New iiuircios each ri'turiiiiijj <lay,
Hovor ananid us wli'lo wi- pray ;
New perils past, new .sins forgiven,
New tliuuglitH of (J()(l, new hopes of heaven."

■Kehk.

" Oh! what fulness tiiore is in (rod 1 'Able to do exceed-
ing abimdantly above all that we ask or think.' (Kph. iii.: 20.)
Ifad it said 'Able to do above all that we ask,' we should
have said it was ])r(^cious. ]^ut it is 'abundantly above,'
yea, 'exceeding abundantly,' can we ask too much! No.
He can do exciM^ding abundantly above all our asking. ' If
ye abide in Me, and My words aliide in you, ye shall ask
what ye will, and it shall be cIoik; unto you.'" — John
XV. : 7.

(lod liath been real in His mercies, shall not we give Him
proof of our love and gratitude, and be real in our thanks to
Him 1 God will take exact notice of our most trivial action,
flowing from a heai't tilled with lovi; and thankfulness to
Him. And therefore with " loving-kindness" hath He drawn
US. " While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," and
" (Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends." He died to redeem us from eternal woe.
He comes to us, and showing us the marks of His wounds-
He says, " See how I loved thee, sinner, I love thee still."

" There's a wideness in Ood's mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea ;
There's a kindness in His justice.
Which is more than liberty.

S/CA'-A'OOM r/IOCuJUS AM) a/.A.LV/XO'S.

There's a welcome for the Biniicr,
And more graces for llw ^tnnl ;

There is mercy with thi; Suviour ;
There is healing in Hi.s hhtod.

For the love of (lod is broader
Than tin- ineaHiire of niivn'H nund ;

And the heart of the Kterinil
la moMt intinitely kind.

If our love were hut more simple,
We sliojiM take Mim at His Wftrd ;

And (lur lives would he all sunshine
In the favor of the Lord."

r. W. Fahf,

•' For the mountains .shall dppjirt, and the hills l»e n-nioved:
l)Ut My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the
covenant of My peace he n-moved, saith the Lord that Imth
mercy on thee." — Isaiah liv. : 10.

" For thus saith the High and Lofty One, that inhal.iteth
eternity, whose name is Holy : 1 dwell in the high and holy
place, with him also that is of a contrite and humhle sjtiiit,
to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of
the contrite ones." — Lsaiah Ivii.: 15.

" For My tiioughts are not as your thouglits, neither are
your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For afi the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,
and My thoughts than your thoughts." — Isaiah Iv.: 8,lt.

" Thy name is Ix)ve ! I hear it from yon cross ;
Thy name is Love ! I read it in yon tomb ;
All meaner love is perishable dross,

But this shall light me through time's thickest gloom.

It blesses now, and shall forever bless ;

It saves me now, and shall forever save ;
It holds me up in days of helplessness,

It bears me safely o'er each swelling wave.

I am all want and hunger ; this faint heart •

Pines for a fulness which it finds not here.

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S/CJir-A'OOJ/ THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS,

Dear ones are leaving, and as they depart,
Make room within for something yet more dear.

More of Thyself, oh, show me hour by hour
More of Thy glory, O my God and Lord :

More of Thyself, in all Thy grace and power.
More of Thy love and truth, Incarnate Word."

SrCK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

TWENTY-SIXTH DA^

SESING JESUS.

Yes, sinful, helpless, and utterly unworthy, yet we
" would see Jesus." — John xii. : 21.

" There are so many who are saying it to-day !
We would see Jebua,
The Light upon the darkness of the way :
The Guide amid the mazes where we stray :
The Healer of their many, many woes :
The Victor o'er our strong and cunning foea.

We would see Jesus ?
There are sick ones in theii: weariness and pain,
There are troubled ones who sigh for rest in vain,
There are toilers at the empty nets of life,
There are care-worn ones who languish in the strife ;
And the prayers of all arise,
That with clear undimming ayes.
They may see Jesus."

— Wm. Lv,ff.

Have we heard the voice of Jesus saying, " Come unto
Me ? " Do our hearts, still thrilling with the tenderness of
His love, respond, yea. Thou triune God of Love, ''We would
see Jesus ? " Have you heard Him say, '« Come and see *? "
—.John i. : 39. ; Rev. vi. : 1. "Thine eyes shall see the
King in His beauty," and " so shall the King greatly desire
thy beauty."

• "Whom having not seen, ye love ; in whom, though now
ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeak-
able and full of glory." — 1 Peter i.: 8.

He has placed those of us who are lying helpless upon
suffering beds, in a fiery furnace of pain and weariness, and

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

Ht! is sitting by as " a reiiner of silver," till we shall reHoct
His image. We asked Him to sti-engthen us to lay hold of
His appointed cross, and when He reached it to us, it
lacerated our hands.

It is good for us to suffer here, for we shall reign here-
after ; to bear the cross below, for we shall wear the crown
aVjove ; and that is not our will, but His that is being done
in us.

" We see Jesus." — Heb. ii.: 9,

" There are many who are saying it to-day !
We do see Jesus.
They see Him as they ask Hia hallowed grace :
They see Him witli love's smile upon His face :
They see Him with a pardon sealed with blood :
They see Him walking firmly o'er the flood :

Their eyes see Jesus.
Oh, believe not He is very far away :
He ia with ns ; in His presence we may stay :
May be looking unto Jesus every hour,
And enjoy the golden vision of His power :
And the wish becomes the act,
And the longing is the fact,
We now see Jesus ! '

~Wm. Luff.

" Thou wilt show me the path of life : in Thy presence is
fulness of joy ; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forever
more." — Ps. xvi.: 11.

" For now we see through a glass, darkly ; but then face
to face ; now I know in part, but then shall 1 know, even
as also I am known." — 1 Cor. xiii.: 12.

** But we all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, froni
glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord." — 2 Cor.
iii.: 18.

"Thou shalt see greater things hereafter." He has
fastened on us His look of love, and we cannot but choose to

SICA'-A'OOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS. 9')

follow Him. LitM(> by little, from time to time, by flitting
gleams, He gives us an understanding of the mystery of His
cross, and as we gaze, we advance and 9 re changed into His
likeness, and His name shines out through us, for He dwells
in us.

"We shall see Him as He is."— 1 John iii.: 2.

' There are many who are saying it to-day !
We sliall see Jesus, —
We shall see Him n.s we never saw before !
We shall see Him as He is forever more :
We shall see Him in tlie land of shadeless light :
We shall see Him when our faith shall turn to sight.

We shall see Jesus !
And the prospect ever cheers us, even now :
We shall see Him with the crown upon His brow :
When the broken glass is shivered and is gone,
We ahall see Him in the resurrection morn !
And the ' would see ' and the sigiit
End in rapturous delight,

We shall see Him as He is."

— Wm. Liiff.

" 'You are going to be with Jesus, and to see Him as He
is,' said a friend to Rowland Hill, on his death-bed. ' Yes,'
replied Mr. Hill, with emphasis. ' Yes, and I shall be like
Him ; that is the crowning point.' To see Him as He is, and
in Himself, is reserved till we shall have better eyes ; these
eyes we have are carnal and corruptible, and cannot see God
till they have put on incorruption."

" Behold, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not
yet appear what we shall be : but we know that, when He
shall appear, we shall be like Him ; for we shall see Him as
He is."— 1 John iii.: 2.

" As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness : I

will be satisfied when I awake, with Thy likeness." Ps.

xvii.: 15.

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

" Oh, I am my Beloved's,

And my Beloved is mine !
He brings a poor, vile sinner

Into His ' house of wine ! '
1 stand upon His merit,

I know no safer sfand,
Not e'en where glory dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.

I shall sleep sound in Jesus,

Filled with His likeness rise,
To love and to adore Him,

To see Him with those eyes :
'Tween me and resurrection

But Paradise doth stand ;
Then — then for glory dwelling

In Immanuel's land.

•ss%m$

— Rutherford,

S/CK-A'OOM 7' ff OUGHTS AND GLEANINGS. 97

TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY.

PRESSING TOWARD THE MARK.

" I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus. "---Phil, iii.: U.

" O Love, thou bottomless abyss,

My sins are swallowed up in thee,
Covered is my unrighteousness,
Nor spot of guilt remains iu me !
While Jesus' blood through earth and skies,
Mercy, free, boundless mercy cries."

We desire to be "found " in Him, and to '* know" Him,
and His resurrection "power," and to experience "the fellow-
ship of His suffering."

To be found in Him, not "having mine own righteous-
ness." Why? Because " we aie all as an unclean thing, and
all our righteousness are as filthy rags ; and our iniquities
like wind, have taken us away."— Isaiah Ixiv.: 6.

" But He was wounded for our transgressions ; He was
bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was
upon Him ; and with His stripes we are healed.— Isaiah liii, : 5.
He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be
satisfied ; by His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify
many ; for He shall bear their iniquities. "--Isaiah liii.: 11.

" Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness ;
Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing';
Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace,

Thy blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord, my God."

We would be " found " in Him, " And this is life eternal.

S/CK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

ill

that they mif^lit know Him, the only true Ciod, and Jesns
Christ."— John xvii.: 3.

We desire to ** know " Him, and the power of His resur-
rection, and tlie fellowship of His suffering ; and we shall
" know " Him and be raised in resurrection power ; and we
shall experience tlie " fellowship of His sufferings,"

"It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory ; it is sown
in weakness, it is raised in power ; it is sown a natural body,
it is raised a spiritual body. There i", a natural body, and
there is a spiritual body. The first man is of the earth
earthy : the second is the I^ord from heaven. As is the
earthy, such are they also that are earthy : and as is the
heavenly, such are thej' also that are heavenly. And as we
have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the
image of the heavenly. So when this corruptible shall have
put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is
written, ' death is swallowed up in victory.' "

" But thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ."

"Therefore, my beloved brethern, be ye steadfast, im-
moveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; for as
much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
—1 Cor. XV.: 43-49, and 54-58.

And in experiencing tlie " fellowship of Christ's suffer-
ing," we are being made conformable to His death.

" Shrink not from suffering. Each dear blow,
From which thy smitten spirit bleeds,
Is but I messenger to show
The renovation which it needs,

The earthly sculptor smites the rock ;

Loud the relentless hammer rings.
And from the rude, unshapen block

At length imnrisoned beauty brings.

Thou art that rude, unshapen stone,

SICA'/WOM TJIOUGllTS AND GLEANINGS.

Of)

And waitest till the arm of strife
Shall make its crucifixion known,
And smite and carve thee unto life.

The Heavenly Sculptor works on thee ;

Be patient. Soon His arm of might
Shall from thy prison's darkness free,

And change thee to a form of light."

—T. C. U.

" For our convoisatiop is in heaven ; from wliieh also we
look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ ; wlio shall also
change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto
Kis glorious body, according to the working whereby He is
ablo even to subdue all things unto Himself."— Phil, iii.: 1^0-21.

r^w

100 SICK~/WO.U TlIOUGIirs AND GLEANINGS.

TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY.

FALLING SHORT OP THE MARK.

My topic foi' to-day was suggested by a litth^ girl friend
with whom I was chatting to-day. She suddenly looked uj>
from the work with which she was engaged just then, and
asked of me : " What is sin ] " I replied, ** sin " is a break-
ing of the law of God. She said that was one of many an-
swers given at the young people's meeting in the church
where she usually worshipped ; but she liked best of all the
answers given to the question. " what is sin " ? that of her
revered pastor, who said, " to sin " is to " fall short of the
mark." I was much struck with this definition.

"And have omitted," saith Jesus when He was teaching
the multitudes, "the weightier matters of the law, judgment,
mercy and faith : these ought ye to have done, and not to
leave the others undone." — Matt, xxiii. : 23.

" He hath shewed thee, 0 man, what is good ; and what
doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God " % — Micah vi. : 8.

*• For whosoever shall keep the whole law of God and
yet offend in one point, iiL guilty of all."^ — ^James ii. : 10.

"All sinners are guilty of this bringing ' a part of the
price.' They will obey some of God's laws, they -.vill do
some of His good works, they will avoid some sins, but not
all. They being * a part of the price,' and ask God to
accept it as the whole." — From Pelouhet^s Notes.

One sin, the very tiniest, is deadly. It is not the num-
ber of our sins or the greatness of them that oondems us, it

S/CA'-A'OO.]/ THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

101

is the nnture of sin itself. " Tho soul that sinneth it slmll
<lie."— Ezek. xviii. : 20.

" Whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in
one point is guilty of all." — Janus ii. : 10. One s])ark is
enough to set a whole city on tire, and has done so ere now,
Just because that spark is fire, and so it is with sin. "The
wages of sin is death ; " and " death " means eternal separa-
tion from (lod.

It is (juite jjossible for men to live fair and virtuous lives,
as men might judge, and having heard (iod's call to repent-
ance and to faith, yet die in their sin, ))ecause they heed«'d
not God's call, and died without reperting of their sin or
trusting in God. Unnumbered thousands die in their sins,
and receive the wages of their sins. Sin is ** a falling short
of the mark ; to leave undone those things which we ought
to have done," is sin. There must be no "falling short of the
mark " with us, for that is sin, and " we are dead to sin," and
life is to be marked by our allegiance to Christ, by our loving
acceptance of Christ, and by our loyal obedience to Him, and
that not merely from a sense of duty, but rather constrained
by the love of God.

We are to be holy in " all things," even in the common
duties of our daily routine of life, and holy in the most trivial
matter ; " holy " in all our actions ; in our deportment, in
our conversation, in the performance of ser/ices, such as
we may render one to another, in our homes, in our inter-
course with the different members of our family, in the
school experience, in our friendships, and in our social ex-
periences, and in our business connections. We are to be
"holy" unto the Lord "all the days."

Our entire life is to be marked by our daily acceptance
of our Saviour's commands, and by the manner in which we
manifest Christ in us, " we being dead to sin, should live unto
righteousness."

102

iilC/C-A'OOA/ TlfOUGirrs AND GLEANINGS.

OVKR AND OVEU ACAIN.

" Over and over ajjain,

No matter wliich way I turn,
I always find in the book of Life

Some k'HSon I liave to luarn.
I nuiMt take my turn at the mil!,

I nnist grind out the golden grain,
I must work at my task with a resolute will,

Over and over again.

We cannot meaHure the need

Of the tiniest flower,
Nor eheck the (low of the golden sands,

That run through a single hour.
But the morning dews must fall ;

And the sun and the summer rain
Must do their part, and perform it all

Over and over again.

Over and over again,

The brook through the meadow ilowa,
And over and over again

The ponderous mill-wheel goes. ,

Once doing will not suffice,

Though doing be not in vain,
And a blessing, failing us once or twice,

May come if we try again.

The path that has once been trod,

Is never so rough to the feet ;
And the lesson we once have learned,

Is never so hard to repeat.
Though sorrowful tears may fall.

And the heart to its depths be riven
With storm and tempest, we need them all

To render us meet for Heaven."

— Josephine Pollard.

" Keep U8, we pray Thee, God, from falling short of the
mark." And aid us "to press toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." — Phil, iii.: 14.

! )M

S/CA'-h'OOM THOUGHTS AXn GLEANINGS.

104

TWENTY NINTH DAY.

WHEN " DEATH " IS (iAIN.

" If I were told that I must die to-morrow,

Tlmt tlu) next sun
Which sinks should bear iiiu past all fear and sorrow,

For any one, —
All the Jight fought, and all the short journey through.

What should I do ?

1 do not think that I would .shrink or/alter,

But rise, and move, and love, and smile, and pray

For one more day ;
And lying down at night for a last sleeping,

Say in that ear
Which hearkens ever, ' Lord.' within Thy keeping.

How should I fear ?
And when to-morrow brings Thee nearer still,

Do Thou Thy will.

— Susan CooUdfjc

W^hen " to live i.s Clirist," then " death " is gain.

All around lus in the world, in unnoted homes, there are
men, and women, and children, too, living nobly, manifesting
the Christ-like character, the spi.'t, and the life of Christ,
and often with surroundings very terrible.

We have known and read of the death of ' . rif^hteous "

" Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, Irom hence-
forth : yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their
labors, and their works do follow them."— Rev. xiv.: 13.

Blessed ar^ they who sing God's praises as they pass
through the world ; and when they die, like Much-afraid, in
Pilgrim's Progress, " go through the river singing." Here-
after, ♦^hey shall K,and upon the sea of glass, having the harps

I: i '

■■'.! !

lili''

of God in their hands, and singing the song of Moses and
the Lamb.

"Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God
Almighty ; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of
saints." — Rev. xv.: 3.

'•' Blessing and honor, and glory, and power, be unto
Him that sitteth upon the throne forever, and unto the
Lamb forever and ever." — Rev. v.: 13.

" There are saint-like lives and martyr deaths which arc
not recorded, and are worth all the more in heaven's sight,
because unsustaiued by human admiration; men that have
given ambition's hopes, because the paths of success were
crooked and evil ; they who, out of their necessities, have
still found something with which, iii Christ's name, to help
those still poorer ; gentle and believing hearts, that bear for
others what they would not for themselvt s ; enei'getic and
heroic hearts, that do for others what they would not for
themselves : the multitudes scattered among a myriad homes,
whose lives, however imperfect, are governed by an habitual
reference to the Christian law." — ** Betiveen the Lights."

Thus, to such "to live was Christ," and to die is "gain."

There are those unnumbered as the sands -jpon the sea-
shore to whom death was gain.

Let us strive to live Christ, and we shall die " the death
of the righteous," and strive to live as beneath the eye of
God. " Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's," and our
life should be spent in His service, daily given into the
Saviour's keeping, and marked by our intimate communion
with our Saviour. This is no fable ; from multitudes, both
in heaven, and on earth, to-day, goes up the glad testimony
that this saying is a faithful saying and worthy of all accepta-
tion. " The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us
from all sin." We would live Christ, then let us be much
in prayer, and in the attitude of listening. Let our guns be
Always loaded. When we meet our game, aim at it, and

I ■ 1 1^

SICK-/^OOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

105

slioot it instantly; for our game will never wait for us.
When we meet with any occasion to do good to another,
don't let it go ; for we may never have the occasion again!
To shoot wild game is a mere pleasure, but to shoot men for
our Master is a grave business. Let our guns be first loaded
with living powder and bullets from on high, and be always
ready. Many hunters of men carry their guns unloaded.
This e^xplains why Christ's kingdom does not spread faster
among men." — Joseph Neesima.

" Unto Him that loveth us, and washed us from our sins
in His own blood, be glory and dominion forever and ever
more.'

lOG

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

I M

; (

ujt

THIRTIETH DAY.

" HINDRANCES,"

There is a stone of hindrance in every Christian path-
way.

1st. The Walk is Hindered. -- By worldly aUurements.
Lot's wife, looking back to her home, perished. By cher-
ished idols. Jacob's caravan was stopped for the little im-
ages Rachel had secreted. — Gen. xxxi. : 25. By failings of
other Christians. How often it is said : Jeroboam, the
son of Nebat, caused Israel to sin. They need not have fol-
lowed him, but loved to do so.

2nd. The Woi'd is Hindered. — By circumstances. Some-
times God hinders, as when He brought the Israelites to the
Red sea. and hemmed them in on every side. — Exod. xiv. :
2-10. By discouragement from friends, as when Judah
discouraged Nehemiah. — Neh. iv. : 10. By opposition from
foes, as when Samballat and Tobiah, and Greshem derided
the building up of Jerusalem.

3rd. The testimony is Hindered. — By personal sins, as
when Lot seemed to mock his sons-in-law. His character had
been too worldly for them to believe him. The reverse is
also true. Had not the little maid of Naaman been a child
of marked veracity and good behaviour, her extraordinary
testimony to the cure of leprosy never would have influenced
kings and courtiers to undertake the long, expensive journey
to Samaria.

4th. The Prayers (Desii'es) are Hindered. — By lack of
knowledge. " They found the stone already rolled away." —
Mark xvi. : 4. Mary and Martha had not heard Jesus say,

SlCJC-IWOAr TH0UGH7'S AND GLEANINGS.

107

try

ley

lay'

" Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes tliat I was
not there " — John xi. : 15.

Had they, tlieir faith would have revived. By evil
angels, Daniel subsequently learned why he was left to pray
and fast for three whole weeks. An evil angel defied him^
and it took Michael, and another strong one, one and twenty
days to resist him, and prevail for Daniel. — Dan. x.: 2-3,
12-14. Why may not the same be true now*? By unbelief.
— Luke i.: 18-20, John xi.: 40. The priestly intercession of
Jesus will cleanse the daily walk. The Spirit within us will
give energy and direction for work.

"Knowledge of the word will furnish matter for testimony.
Love for Christ will promi)t earnest, constant prayer." — Bible
Briefs.

We meet " various hindrances," within and without, and
we are continually discouraged in our pilgrimage, in our
efforts to live that one word, " Christ,"

But we shall meet and conquer in His power foes within
and foes without ; we shall combat the sins which " doth so
easily beset " us.

If our hearts condemn u^, God is greater than our hearts ;
and if we are sincere in our desire to love God, and to love
our neighbor as ourselves, we shall " become more than con-
querors through Him who loveth us," and whose blood
cleanseth (t. e., and goes on cleansing) us from all sin. Life
may become simplified for us, business worries, cares for
house and raiment, envious criticisms, petty oppositions,
failures, discouragements, disappointments, interruptions, "all
shall work together for our good," when we love God with
all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and
with all our mind. God, we pray Thee, imbue us. with Thine
own Spirit of Love, Purity and Power, until we shall love
Thee with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind ; imbue
and permeate us, until we shall cease to think of self, and

lOS

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

u;;

If !

■1 •

cease to live for self, and live for Thee, and in Thee, the
triune God of Love, only.

"The every-day cares and duties, which men call drudgery,
are the weights and counterpoises of the clock of time, giving
its pendulum a true vibration, and its hands a regular mo-
tion."— Longfellow.

•' Whatever happens to me each day is my * daily bread,*
provided I do tiot refuse to take it from Thy hand, and to
feed upon it." — Feneloiv.

" What various hindrances we meet
In coming to the Mercy-seat !
Yet who that knows the worth of prayer;
But wishes to be often there !

Prayer makes the darkened clouds withdraw ;
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above.

Restraining prayer, we cease to fight ;
Prayer makes the Christian armor bright ;
And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon hi3 knees.

Have you no words ? Ah ! think again ;
Words tiow apace when you complain,
And fill a fellow-creature's ear
With the sad tale of all your care.

Were half the breath thus vainly spent, • h

To heaven in supplication sent,

Our cheerful song would oftener be,

' Hear what the Lord hath done for me.' "

We had better take the hint.

Our surroundings may very largely be made for us, but
our Father must always be greater than His creation.

" We must advance, with Him, who is Light, more and
more into the light. ' He that saith he abideth in Him
ought himself so to walk, even as He walked.' Progress,

I! ■!:

SICA'-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

109

growth in grace, is an instant duty. What a beautiful
figure ! Step by step, like the beautiiul ry thyni of a soldier's
march behind his commander. *I have loved to hear my
Lord spoken of,' said old Stand-fast, in the Pilgrim's story,
as he stopped half way across the river of death ; ' and
wherever 1 have seen the print of His shoe in the earth,
there have I coveted to set my foot, too ; yea, my steps hath
He strengthened in His way."— C. H. Robinson, D. D.

" O thou unpolished shaft, why leave the quiver?
0 thou blunt axe, what forest canst thou hew ?
Unsharpen'd sword, canst tliou the oppressed deliver?
Go back to thine own maker's forge anew.

Wait the appointed time for work appointed,
Lest by the tempter's wiles thou be ensnared ;

Fresh be the oil wherewith thou art anointed ;
Let God prepare thee for the work prepared."

~" The Beautiful Gate "

" It is evident that when Jesus had a day of cri.sis or of
difficult duty lefore Him,Hegave Himself specially to prayer.
Would it not simplify our difficulties if we attacked them in
the same way 1 It would infinitely increase the intellectual
insight with which we tried to penetrate a problem, and the
power of the band we lay upon a duty. The wheels of
existence would move far more smoothly, and our purposes
travel more surely to their aims, if every morning we re-
viewed beforehand the duties of the day with GoV —James
Stalker, D. D.

N 1

110

SICK- N COM rilOUGIITS AND GLEANINGS.

I '
V

;

■i !, i !

If r

THIRTY-FIRST DA.Y.

"five places."

ist. "On the hands of Jesus," — ** Behokl I have graven
thee upon the j)alnis of my hands." — Isaiah xlix. : 16.

This was spoken of the literal Jerusalem, yet is true of
Ood's people in Jesus Chri.st. Hands were branded in ser-
vitude. Jesus is the church's servant. He said, " Lo, I
oome to do Thy will, O God ! " " He took upon Him the
form of a servant." — Phil. iv. : 7. Cattle were branded for
ownership. Jesus, like the patient ox, bears His people's
burdens. They own Him, their Lord. He invites them to
yoke up with Him in service. — Matt. xi. : 28. The hand
is the instrument of power. The hand is continually before
the eye. On the hands of Jesus we are in the place of
security and constant remembrance.

2nd. On the shoulders of Jesus. — " And thou shalt put
the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of
memorial unto the children of Israel ; and Aaron shall bear
their names before the Lord, upon his two shoulders, for a
memorial." — Ex. xxviii.: 12.

" What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose
one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the
wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it ?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shouldens,
rejoicing." — Luke xv.: 4, 5.

The shoulders is the place of strength. It symbolizes the
places of common Christian standing. On the high priest's
shoulders Israel knew no tribal distinction. They were all
alike engraven on the two fiery onyx. So th^ church has

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS. Ill

one common birth-right. One blood redeems, one Spirit
justifies, one common inheritance is given to all the saved.

3rd. On the Heart of Jesus.—" And Aaron shail bear
the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of
judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in into the holy
place for a memorial before the Lord continually." — Exod.
xxviii. : 29.

The heart is the seat of solace and tenderness. Jesus was
made like unto His brethren, that He might be touched
with their infirmities. In the breastplate each tribe had its
own peculiar stone shining out in its own si)ecial lustre. So
each Christian is a, solitary identity, having his own indi-
vidual gift, and duty, and honor before the Lord.

The shoulder-st' les and breast-stones were united by a
chain of gold and lacing of blue. This illustrates how both
power and grace are pledged to uphold God's children.
Hence the double exhortation : " Be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of His might." — Eph. vi.: 10.

" Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."— 2 Tim.
ii. : 1.

" When John looked to see a lion he beheld a lamb, and
that weak animal standing in the midst of a throne as the
emblem of authority." — Rev. v.: 5, 6.

4th. At the feet of Jesus. — Two reasons for beinc at
any one's feet are gi^^en in Scripture, either in prostration or
in communion. The Shunemite cast herself at Gehazi's feet
in adoration. Ruth was at the feet of Boaz as a beggar.
Esther was at Ahasuerus' feet in supplication. Paul was at
Gamaliel's feet as a learner. The Demoniac was at Jesus'
feet in gratitude. Mary was at His feet in communion.
John was at His glorious feet in fear. Mary's approved work
showed how suitable was her place at the Lord's feet.
Ruth's persistency and Esther's humility were both rewarded.
These are types for Christian imitation.

5th. In Heavenly places with Jesus. — We are identified

112 SICK-IWOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

with Him in all things. We died with Him, we rose witli
Him, we live with Him, we shall be glorified together with
Him.

As He is actually in heaven now so our thoughts, our
joys, our jjurposes, should actually bear the stamp of heaven,
and be energized with the life of heaven. " If ye then be
risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitt(?th on the right hand of God. Set your afTection
on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are
dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ,
who is our life, sliall appear, then shall ye also appear with
Him in glory." — Col. iii. : 1, 4.

Five points are the sum of all this : (1) Power is in the
hand of Jesus. (2) Safety is on the shoulder of Jesus,
(3) Comfort is in the heart of Jesus. (4) Knowledge is
found at the feet of Jesus. (5) Hope centres in heaven,
where Jesus is. — From Bible Briefs.

" Behold I have engraved thee upon the palms of my
hands." — Isaiah xlix. : 16.

" May the pleasure of the Lord prosper in our hands
through our Saviour and King." — Isaiah liii. : 9.

" And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us :
and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us ; yea, the
work of our hands establish Thou it." — Psalm xc : 17.

'' The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him ;
and the Lord shall cover Him all the day long, and He shall
dwell between His shoulders." — Deut. xxxiii. : 12.

We who are " graven upon the palms of His hands " are
the " beloved of the Lord " and shall " dwell in safety."

•* Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." —
Matt. V. : 8.

*' As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort
you ; " let us seek to dwell continually in the very heart of
God. Shall we not seat ourselves through the merits of His

S/CA'-h'OOM THOUGHTS AND GLEAN f GS.

li;t

blood whic-li " cleanseth us " at His feet and listen and learn
of Jesus, the meek and lowly in heart.

"And in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, our Saviour,
may we be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the
breadth, and length, and deptli, and height ; and to know the
love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that we might be
tilled with all the fuhiess of God. Now, unto Him that is
able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto
Him l)e glory in the church, by Christ Jesus, throughout all
ages, world without end. '».men."~Eph. iii.: 18, 21.

" My timea are in Thy hand ;
My (tod ! 1 wish them there ;
My life, my freinds, my soul, I leave
Entirely to Thy care.

My times are in Thy hand,

Whatever they may be ;
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,

As best may seem to I'hee.

My times are in Thy hand ;

Why should I doubt or fear ?
My Father's hand will never cause

His child a needless tear.

My times are in Thy hand,

Jesus, the Crucified !
The hand my cruel sins had pierced.

Is now my guard and guide.

My times are in Thy hand,

I'll always trust in Thee ;
And after death at Thy right hand

I shall forever be.

114 SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GI.EANfNGS.

FIRST SUNDAY.

COMIN(i.

"At eveii, or at midnight, or at tlu; cock-crowing, or in
the morning."— Mark xiii.: 35.

" It may be in the evening,

When the work of the day is done,
And you have time to sit in the twilight,

And watch the sinking sun,
While the long, bright day dies slowly

Over the sea,
And the hour grows quiet and lioly

With thoughts of me ;
While you hear the village children

Passing along tlie street.
Among those thronging footsteps

May come the sound of my feet :
Therefore, I tell you : watch

By the light of the evening star,
When the room is growing dusky.

As the clouds afar ;
Let the door be on the latch

In your home.
For it may be through the gloaming

I will come.

It may be when the midnight

Is heavy upon the land,
And the black waves lying dumbly

Along the sand ;
When the moonless night draws close,
And the lights are out in the house ;
When the fires burn low and red,
And the watch is ticking loudly
Beside the bed :

SICA' KOOM THOUGHTS AND GrEANlNGS. 115

Tliougli you Bleep, tired out, on your couch,
Still your heart must wake and watch

In the dark room.
For it may he that at midnight

I will come.

It may he at the cock-crow,
When the night is dying slowly

In the sky.
And the sea looks wilm and holy,
Waiting for the dawn
Of the golden sun
Which draweth nigh ;
When the mists are on the valleys, shading

The river's chill,
And my morning star is fading, fading

Over the hill :
Behold, I say unto you : watch ;
Let the door be on the latch

In your home ;
In the chill before the dawning.
Between the night and morning,
I may come.

It may be in the morning

When the sun is bright and strong.
And the dew is glittering sharply

Over the little lawn ;
When the waves are laughing loudly

Along the shore,
And the little birds are singing sweetly

About the door ;
With the long day's work before you,

You rise up with the sun,
And the neighbors come in to talk a little

Of all that must be done ;
But remember, that I may be the next

To come in at the door.
To call you from all your busy work

Forever more ;
As'you work, your heart must watch.

6/CA'-A'00.\/ THOUGHTS AND CLEANINGS,

For the door ia on tliu latch

In your roon),
And it may bu in tliu morning

I will come.

So he paHHod down tlio cottage garden,

By the path that leads to the uea,
Till he came to the turn of tiie little road,
Where the hirch and the laburnum tree
lican over and urch the way ;
There I saw him a momant stay,
And turn once ntore to me,
Aa I wept at tlie cottage door,
And lift up his hands in bleaaings
Then I saw his face no ntore.

And I stood still in the door-way,

Leaning against the wall,
Not heeding the fair white rosea.

Though 1 crushed them and let them fall ;
Only looking down the pathway.

And looking toward tlie sea.
And wondering, and wondering,

When he would come back for me :
Till I was aware of an angel.

Who was going swiftly by.
With the gladness of one who goeth

In the light of God Most High.

He passed the end of the cottage.

Toward the garden gate—
(I suppose he was come down
At the setting of the sun,
To comfort some one in the village
Whose dwelling was desolate,) —
And he paused before the door,

Beaide my place,
And the likeness of a smile

Was on his face.
' Weep not,' he said, ' for unto you is given
To watch for the coming of His feet.
Who is the glory of our blessed heaven ;

The work and watching will be very sweet.

SICA'-A'OOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS. 117

Even in an earthly home ;
And ia such an hour an you think not,
He will come.

So r am watching <|uiutly

Kvery day.
Whenever the sun whineB brightly,

I risu and nay :
' Surely it is th« shining of His face ! '
And look unto the gates of His high place,

Keyond the sea ;
For I know He is coming shortly

To summon me.
And when a shadow falls across the window

Of my roonii
Where I am working my appointed task,
I lift my head to watch the door, and ask

If He is come ;
And the Angel answers sweetly

In my home ;
' Only a few more shadows.

And He will come.' "

-B. M.

118 SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

SECOND SUNDAY.

immanuel's land.

Samuel Rutherford, a man of great learning and talents,
was first a Professor in the University of Edinburgh, then
minister of the parish of An worth, and subsequently Professor
of theology at St. Andrews, in Scotland. At one time he
was imprisoned for the name of Jesus. His death-bed was
as remarkable as his life had been. Some of his dying ex-
pressions are preserved by Mr. Fleming, in his Fulfilling of
Scripture, who thus concludes his narrative : " A.nd thus,
full of the Spirit, yea, as it were, overcome with sensil)le
enjoyment, he breathed out his soul, his last words being :
' Glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.' "

GLORY, GLORY DWELLETH IN IMMANUEL S LAND.

"The sands of time are sinking.

The dawn of Heaven breaks.
The summer morn I've sighed for,

The fair sweet mom, awakes !
DaiK, dark hath been the midnight,

But dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.

II.

Oh, well it is forever !

Oh, well forever more !
My nest hung in no forest

Of all this death doomed shore.
Yea, let the vain world vanish.

As from the ship the strand,

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

110

n
>r

le
is

•/'

While glory, glory (hvelleth,
In Iininanuel's land.

III.

There the Red Rose of Sharon

Unfolds its heartsome bloom
And fills the air of Heaven

With ravishing perfume :
Oh, to behold its blossom,

While by its fragrance fanned
While glory, glory Iwelleth

In Immanuel's land.

IV.
The King there in His beauty,

Without a vail, is seen :
It were a well-spent journey,

Though seven deaths lay between.
The lamb, with his fair army

Doth on Mount Zion stand,
And glory, glory dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.

Oh, Christ He is the Fountain,

The deep sweet well of love !
The streams on earth I've tasted

More deep I'll drink above :
There, to an ocean fulness.

His mercy doth expand.
And glory, glory dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.

VI.

E'en Anworth was not heaven —

E'en preaching was not Christ ;
And in my sea-beat prison

My Lord and I held tryst :
And aye my murkiest storm-cloud

Was by a rainbow-spanned.
Caught from the glory dwelling

In Immanuel's land.

;-l

120 SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS,

VII.

But that He built a heaven

Of His surpassing love,
A little New Jerusalum,
Like to the one above —
• Lord take me o'er the waters,'
Had been my loud demand ;
' Take me to love's own country,
Unto Immanuel's land,'

VIIL

But flowers ueed night's cool darkness.

The moonlight and the dew ;
So Christ, from one who loved it,

His shining oft withdrew :
And then, for cause of absence

My troubled soul I scanned —
But glory, shadeless, shineth

In Immanuel's land.

IX.

The little birds at Anworth

I used to count them blest,
Now, beside happier altars

I go to build my nest :
O'er these there broods no silence.

No graves around them stand.
For glory, deathless, dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.

Fair Anworth by the Solway

To me thou still art dear,
E'en from the verge of Heaven

I drop for thee a tear;
Oh, if one soul from Anworth

Meet me at God's right hand,
My heaven will be two heavens

In Immanuel's land.

XL
I've wrestled on toward Heaven
' Gainst storm, and wind, and tide :

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

121

Now like a wear> traveler,
That leaneth on his guide,

Amid the shades of evening
While sinks life's lingering sand

I hail the glory dawning
From Immanuel's land.

XII.

Deep waters crossed life's pathway.

The hedge of thorns was sharp V
Now, these lie all behind me—

Oh for a well-tuned harp !
Oh to join Hallelujah

With yon triumphant band,
Who sing, where glory dwelleth.

In Immanuel's land.

XIII.

With mercy and with judgment

My web of time He wove,
And aye the dews of sorrow

Were lustered with His love :
I'll bless the Hand that guided,

I'll bless the Heart that planned,
When throned where glory dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.

XIV.

Soon shall the cup of glory

Wash down earth's bitterest woes,
Soon shall the desert's brier

Break into Eden's rose ;
The curse shall change to blessing.

The name on earth that's banned.
Be graven on the white stone

In Immanuel's land.

XV.

Oh, I am my Beloved's

And my Beloved's mine
He brings a poor vile sinner

Into His ' house of wine' !

122 SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

I stand upon His merit

And know no safer stand,
Not e'en where glory dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.

XVI.

I shall sleep sound in Jesus

Filled with His likeness, rise,
To live and adore Hi<n,

To see Him with these eyes :
T'ween me and resurrection

But Paradise doth stand ;
Then, — then for glory dwelling

In Immanuel's land.

XVII.

The bride eyes not her garments,

But her dear bridegroom's face,
I will not gaze at glory

But on my King of Grace,
Not at the crown he giveth

But on His pierced hand ;
The Lamb is all the glory

Of Immanuel's land.

XVIII.

I have borne scorn and hatred,

I have borne wrong and shame ;
Earth's proud ones have reproached me,

For Chrirt's thrice blessed name :
Where God's seal set the fairest,

They've stamped their foulest brand ;
But judgment shines like noonday

In Immanuel's land.

(sT

T3>

SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

123

THIRD SUNDAY.

KNOCKING, EVER KNOCKING.

BeJ^h^l^S. ''' "-"^"""t's Pictures, "The Li.ht of the W,...,,,-, UanU,
" Heluilil, I stand at the door and knock. "

"Knocking, knocking, ever knocking !
Who ia there ':
'Tis a pilgrim, strange and kingly,
Never such was seen before ; —
Ah, sweet soul, for such a wonder.
Undo the door.

No ! that door is hard to open ;
Hinges rusty, latch is broken ; '

Bid him go.
Wherefore, with that knocking dreary,
Scare the sleep from one so weary ?

Say — Him — no.

Knocking, knocking, ever knocking ?

What! Still there?
Oh, sweet soul, but once behold Him,
With the glory-crowned hair ;
And those eyes, so strange and tender.

Waiting there ;
Open ! Open ! Once behold Him —
Him, so fair !

Ah, that door ! Why wilt Thou vex me,

Coming ever to perplex me ?

For the key is stfHy rusty.

And the bolt is clogged and dusty ;

Many-finger'd ivy vine

Seals it fast with twist and twine ;

Weeds of years and years before, '

Choke the passage of that door. '

124 S/CA'-A'OOA/ THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

¥ • i* 1

Knocking, knocking ! What? still knocking !

He still there ?
What's the hour ? The night is waning —
In my heart a drear complaining,

And a chilly, sad unrest !
Ah, this knocking ! It disturbs me !
Scares my sleep with dreams unblest !

dive me rest :

Rest — ah, rest !

Rest, dear soul. He longs to give thee ;
Thou hast only dreamed of pleasure —
Dream'd of gifts and golden treasure,
Dream'd of jewels thy keeping,
Waked to weariness of weeping ; —
(.^pen to thy soul's one Lover,
And thy nights of dreams is over, —
The true gifts He brings have seeming
More than all thy faded dreaming !

Did she open ? Doth she ? Will she ?
So, as wondering we behold,
f J rows the picture to a sign,
Tress'd upon your soul and mine ;
For in every breast that liveth
Is that strange, mysterious door ; —
The forsaken and betangled.
Ivy-gnarled and weed-bejangled,
Dusty, rusty, and forgotten ; —
There the pierced hand still knocketh,
And with ever patient watching,
With the sad eyes true and tgnder,
With the glory-crowned bair, —
Still a God is waiting there."

SICA'-Z^OOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

125

FOURTH SUNDAY.

NOT KNOWING.
•' I know not what shall befall me ! God hangs a mist o'er n.y eyes •
And thus each step of my onward path He makes new scenes to rise'
And every joy He sends me comes as a sweet and glad surprise.
1 see not a step before me, as I tread on another year
But the past is in God's keeping, the future His mercy shall clear
And what looks dark in the distance, may brighten as I draw near.

For perhaps the dreadful future is less bitter than I think •

The Lord may sweeten the waters before I stoop to drink

Or if Marah must be Marah. He will stand beside their brink.

It may be He keeps waiting till the coming of my feet

Some gift of such rare blessedness, some joy so strangely sweet

That my lips shall only tremble with the thanks they cannot si,eak.

0 restful, blissful ignorance ! 'Tis blessed not to know •
It stills me in those mighty arms which will not let me go
And hushes my soul to rest on the bosom which loves me ^o :

No I go on not knowing ; I would not if I might •

1 would rather walk in the dark with God, than go alone in the light-
I would rather walk with Him by faith, than walk alone by sight. '

My heart shrinks back from trials which the future may disclose
\ et I never had a sorrow but what the dear Lord chose •
.Sol send the coming tears back, with the whispered' word 'He
knows '. " '

" NOBODY KNOWS BUT JESUS.

'• • Nobody knows but Jesus ' !
'Tis only the old refrain
Of a quaint, pathetic slave-song.
But it comes again and again.

126

SICK-KOOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

II.

I only heard it quoted,
And I do not know the rest ;

But the music of the message
Was wonderfully blessed,

III.

For it fell upon my spirit
Like sweetest twilight psalm,

When the breezy sunset waters
Die into starry calm.

IV.

* Nobody knows but Jesus 1 '

Is it not better so,
That no one else but Jesus,

My own dear Lord, should know ?

When the sorrow is a secret
Between my Lord and me,

I learn tlie fuller measure
Of His quick sympathy.

VI.

Whether it be so heavy,

That dear ones could not bear

To know the bitter burden
They could not come and share ;

VIL

Whether it be so tiny,
That others could not see

Why it should be a trouble,
And seem so real to me ;

VIII.

Either, and both, I lay them
Down at my Master's feet.

And find them, alone with Jesus,
Mysteriously sweet.

S/CA'~A-OOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

12i

IX.

Sweet, for they l)riiig me closer

To the dearest, truest Friend ;
Sweet, for He comes the nearer.

As 'neath the cross I bend ;

Sweet, for they are *he channels
Through which His teachings How ;

Sweet, for by these dark secrets
His heart of love I know.

' Nobody knows but .lesup ! '

It is music for to-day,
An<l through the darkest hours

It will chime along the way.

XII.

' Nobody knows but Jesus I '

My Lord, I bless Thee now
For the sacred gift of sorrow

That no one knows but Thou."

— From Loyal Responses,

188 S/CA'-A'OOA/ THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS,

FltTH SUN DA V.

THE CKLKSTIAL COUNTRY.
'I'he world is very evil I

The times are waxing late :
Be sober, and keep vigil,

The Judge is at the gate :
The Judge that comes in mercy.

The Judge that cauies with might,
To terminate the evil.

To diadem the right.
When the just and gt ntle monarch

Shall summon from the tomb,
Let man, the guilty, tremble,

For man, the God, shall doom.
Arise, arise good Christian,

Let right to wrong succeed ;
Let penitential sorrow

To heavenly gladness lead ;
To the light that hath no evening

That knows no moon nor sun,
The light so new and golden.

The light that is but one.
And when the Sole-Begotten

Shall render up once more
The kingdom to the Father

Whose own it was before, —
Then glory yet unheard of

Shall shed abroad its rays
Pesolving all enigmas.

An endless Sabbath day.
Then, then from his oppressors

The Hebrew shall go free.
And celebrate in triumph

The year of Jubilee ;
And the sunlit laud that wrecks not

SJCK A'OOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

I'JIV

Of tempest nor of fight,
Shall fold within itH l>osoiii

Kach happy Israelite :
The If OHIO of fadeless splendor,

Of (lowers that fears no thorn.
Where they shall dwell as children

Who here as exiles mourn ;
'Midst power that knows no limit,

And wisdom free from bound.
The Beatific Vision

Shall glad the saints around :
The peace of all tiie faithful,

The calm of all the blest,
Inviolate, unvaried,

Divinest, sweetest, best.
Yes, peace ! for war is needless, —
Yes, calm ! for storm is past,—
And goal from finished labor,

And anchorage at last.
That peace— but who may claim it ?

The guileless in their way.
Who keep the ranks of battle.

Who mean the thing they say :
The peace tiiat is for heaven,
And shall be for the earth :
The palace that re-echoes

With festal song and mirth ;
The garden, breathing spices,

The paradise on high :
Grrvce beautified to glory.

Unceasing minstrelsy.
There nothing can be feeble.

There none can ever mourn.
There nothing is divided,

There nothing can be torn :
'Tis fury, ill, and scandal,

'Tis peaceless peace below ;
Peace, endless, strifeless, ageless,

The halls of Zion know :
O happy, holy portion.

Refection for the blest :
True vision of true beauty.

i:to

SICK-ROOM rHOUGins AND GLEANINGS,

Sweet euro of all ilistrefln !
Strivu, man, to win that glory ;

Toil, nmn, to gain that light ;
Send hopt! before to grasp it,

Till hope hn lost in night :
Till Jesus gives the portii u

Those blessed souls to till.
The insatiate, yet sutiHtied,

The full, yet craving still.
That fullness and that craving

Alike are free from pain,
Where thou midst heavenly citizens,

A home like tlieir's shalt gain.
Here is the war-like trumpet,

There, life set free from sin.
When to the last Ureat Supper

The faithful shall come in.
When the heavenly net is laden

Witli fishes many and great ;
So glorious in its fulness.

Yet so inviolate :
And the perfect from the shattered.

And the fallen from them that stand
And the sheep-tlock from the goat-herd

Shall part on either hand :
And these shall pass to torment.

And those shall triumph, then ;
The new peculiar nation.

Blest number of blest men.
•Terusalem demands them :

They paid the price on earth
And now shall reap the harvest

In blissfulness and mirth :
The gi< rious holy people.

Who evermore relied
Upon their Chief and Father,

The King, the Crucified :
The sacred randsomed number

Now bright with endless sheen.
Who made the Cross their watch-word

Of Jesus Nazarine :
Who, fed with heavenly nectar.

S/CA'.AOO.U THOUGHTS AiVD CrEANrXGS.

131

Where foul-liko odors play,
Draw out tlio endlcHH leiBuro
Of timt long vernal day :
Ami tln-ough tlie sucrt'd liliea,

And Howtirs on every Hide,
The happy, dear-bought people

(!o wandering far and wide,
'i'lieir hreastH are tilled with gladness,

Their mouths are turned to praise.
What time, now safe forever.

On former sins they ga/e :
The fouler was the error,

The sadder wa« the fall,
The ampler are the praises

Of Him who pardoned all.
Their one and only anthem.

The fulnes.s of H^s love.
Who gives, instead of torment,

Kternal joys above.
Instead of torment, glory ;
Instead of deatli, that life
Wherewith your happy country.
True Israelites ! is rife.

Brief life is here our portion ;

Brief sorrow, short-lived care.
The life that knows no ending,

The tearless life is there,
<) happy retribution !

Short toil, eternal rest ;
For mortals and for sinners

A mansion with the blest !
That we should look, poor wand'rers,

To have our home on high !
That worms should seek for dwellings

Beyond the starry sky .'
To all one happy guerdon

Of one celestial grace ;
For all, for all, who mourn their fall

Is one eternal place :
And martyrdom hath roses

Upon that heavenly ground :

132 SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

And white and virgin lilies

For virgin-souls abound.
There grief is turned to pleasure,

Such pleasure as below,
No human voice can utter,

No human heart can know.
And after fleshly scandal.

And after this world's night.
And after storm and whirlwind,

Is calm, and joy, and light.
And now we fight the battle.

But then shall wear the crown
Of full and everlasting

And passionless renown :
And now we watch and struggle.

And now we live in hope,
And Zion, in her anguish.

With Babylon nnist cope :
But He whom now we trust in.

Shall then be seen and known,
And they that know and see Him

Shall have Him for their own.
The miserable pleasures

Of the body shall decay ;
The b^and and flattering struggles

Of the flesh shall pass away ;
And no'^a shall then be jealous,

And none shall there contend :
Fraud, clamor, guile — what say I ?

All ill, all ill shall end !
And there is David's fountain.

And life in fullest glow,
And there the light is golden.

And milk and honey flow :
The light that hath no evening,

The health that hath no sore,
The life that hath no ending,

But lasteth evermore.

There Jesus shall embrace us,

There Jesus be embraced,
That spirit's food and sunshine

SICK-JWOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

i;«

Whence earthly love is chased
Amidst the happy chorus,

A place however low,
Shall show Him us, and, showing,

Shall satiate evermore.
By hope we struggle onward,
While here we must be fed
By milk, as tender infants.

But there l)y Living Bread.
The night was full of terror.

The morn is bright with gladness,
The Cross becomes our harbor,

An«l we triumph after sadness :
And Jesus to His true ones

Brings trophins fair to see :
And Jesus shall be loved, and

Beheld in Galilee ;
Beheld when morn shall waken.

And shadows shall decay,
And each true-hearted servant

Shall shine as doth the day.
And every ear shall hear it : —

Behold thy king's array ;
Behold thy God in beauty.

The Law hath passed away !
Yes : God, my king and portion,

In fulness of His grace.
We then shall see forever.

And worship face to face.
Then Jacob into Israel,

From earthlier self estranged,
And Leah into Rachel,

Forever shall be changed ;
Then all the halls of Zion

For aye shall be complete,

And, in the Land of Beauty,

All th ings of beauty meet.

For thee, O dear, dear country !

Mine eyes their vigils keep ;
J'or very love, beholding

The happy name, they weep ;

134 SICK-ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

The mention of thy glory

Is unction to the breast,
Ami medicine in sickness,

And love, and life, and rest.
O one, 0 ouely mansion !

O Paradise of joy !
Where tears are ever banished,

And smiles have no alloy ;
Beside thy living waters

All plants are, great and small,
The cedar of the forest.

The hyssop of the wall :
With jasper glows thy bulwarks,

Thy streets with emeralds blaze,
The sardias and the topaz

Unite in thee their rays :
Thine ageless walls are bounded

With amethyst unpriced :
Thy saints build up its fabric,

And the corner-stone is Christ.
The Cross is all thy splendor,

The crucified that praise ;
His laud and benediction

Thy ransomed people raise ;
Jesus, the Gem of Beauty,

True God and Man, they sing
The never-failing Garden,

The ever-golden Ring :
The Door, the Pledge, the Husband,

The Guardian of His Court ;
The Day-star of salvation,

The Porter and the Port.
Thou hast no shore, fair ocean !

Thou hast no time, bright day !
Dear fountain of refreshment

To pilgrims far away !
Upon the Rock of Ages

They raise thy holy tower :
Thine is the victor's laurel.

And thine the golden dower.
Tliou feel'st in mystic rapture,
0 bride that know'st no guile.

;

oi.

SICA-/WO,y THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

\Xy

»'A

The Prince's sweetest kisses,

The Prince s loveliest smile ;
Unfading lilies, bracelets

Of living jjearl thine own.
The Lamb is ever near thee.

The Bridegroom thine alone ;
The Crown is He to guerdon,

The Buckler to protect ;
And He Himself the mansion

-And He the Architect.
The only art thou needest,

Thanksgiving for thy lot :
The only joy thou seekest,

The Life where Death is not.
And all thine endless leisure

In sweetest accents sings,
The ill that was thy merit,
The wealth that is thy king's.

Jerusalem the golden

With milk and honey blest,
Beneath thy contemplation

Sink heart and voice oppressed
I know not, O. I know not,

What social joys are there ;
What radiancy of glory,

What light beyond compare !
And when I fain would sing them

My spirit fails and faints ;
And vainly would it image

The assembly of the saints.
They stand, those halls of Zion,

Conjubilant with song.
And bright with many an angel,

And all the martyr throng :
The Prince is ever in them ;

The day-light is serene ;
The pastures of the Blessed
^ Are decked in glorious sheen.
There is the throne of David, —
And there, from care released.
The song of them that triumph,'

i:{(i S.WK~ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS.

The shout of them that feast :
And they who with their Leader

Have conquered in the fight,
Forever and forever

Are clad in robes of white.

O holy, placid harp-notes .

Of that eternal hymn !
O sacred, sweet refection.

And peace of Seraphim !
O thirst, forever ardent,

Yet evermore content !
O true peculiar vision

Of God cunctipotent I
Ye know the many mansions

For many a glorious name,
And divers retributions

That divers merits claim :
For midst the constellations

That deck our earthly sky,
This star than that is brighter, -

And so it is on high.

Jerusalem the glorious !

The glory of the Elect !
O dear and future vision

That eager hearts expect ;
Even now by faith I see thee ;

Even here thy walls discern :
To Thee my thoughts are kindled

And strive and pant and yearn,
Jerusalem the only,

That look'st from heaven below
In thee is all my glory ;

In thee is all my woe :
And though my body may not,

My spirit seeks thee fain.
Till liesh and earth return me

To earth and flesh again.
O none can tell thy bulworks.

How glorious they rise :
O none can tell thy capitals

SICK'-IWOM 7'nOL-Girrs AND GLEANINGS.

Of beautiful device :
'I'liy lovoliiiess oppresses

Allluunan tlionglit ;iiul heart:
And none, () peace, () Zion,
Can sing thee as thou art.
New mansi(jn of new people,
^ W honi (;ods own Jove and liont
I'n.mott, increase, make holy,

Identify, unite.
'I'hou city of the Angels !
'riiou city of the Lord !
\\'iiose everlasting music

Is the glorious decachord ! *
And tliere tluj l)and of Prophets

United jjraisu a.scriljes,
And there the twelve-fohl chorus
^ ^ Of Israel "s ransomed tribes ;
'I'he lilies heds of virgins,
The rose's martyrs-glow,
The cohort of the Fathers
Who kejit the faith l^elow.

And tliere the Sole- Begotten

Is Lord in regal state ;
He Jndah's mystic Lion,

He, Laml. Immaculate.
<"> tield.s that know no sorrow !

O state that fears no strife !

0 princely bowrs I O land of flowers 1

0 realm and home of life !

Jerusalem, exulting
On that securest shore,

1 hoi)e thee, wisli thee, sing thee,
And love thee evermore !

I ask not for my merit :

1 seek not to deny
My merit is destruction,

A child of wrath am I :
'^^^t yet with Faith I venture

-.njp^f Y '!; t^^'VjSS^^ ^^"H. s...in. i„ the

«>» thf pu.tr.t lianiiunv uf IJeuven " "istniiiK..nts nf tun striMj-s "

I.'IS SICK ROOM THOUGHTS AND GLEANINGS

And Hope upon my way :
For those j)erenniiil guerdons

I labor night and day.
The best and dearest Father

W^lio tnade me and v '.o saved.
Bore witli ine in defilement,

And from defdement laved :
When in liis strength 1 struggle,

l*'or very joy I leap,
\Vhen in my sin I totter,

I weep, or try to weep ;
And grace, sweet grace celestial,

Shall all its love display.
And David's Royal Fountain

Purge every sin away.
O mine, my golden Zion I

O lovelier far than gold 1
With lanrel-girt battalions,

And safe victorious told :
O sweet and blessed country,

Shall I ever see thy face ?

0 sweet and blessed country.
Shall I ever win tiiy grace ?

1 have tlie liope w ithin me
To comfort and to bless 1

.Shall I ever win the prize itself?
O tell me, tell me, yes I

Exult, O dust and ashes I

The Lord shall be tiiy part :
His only; His forever,

Thou shalt be, and thou art !
Exult, 0 dust and ashes !

The Lord shall be thy part :
His only, His forever,

Thou shalt be, and thou art 1

THK KND.

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