and say,

that a real Christian will receive his affliction with Thankfulness— yes, even with thankfulness.

I doubt not but you now find it very hard to say, "Thank God for this trial." And yet you ought to say it and perhaps the time will come when you will be able to say it from your very heart. And even before this sickness has left you, your happy experience may be-" It is good for me that I have been afflicted. Before I was afflicted I went wrong, but now have I kept thy word."

For the sake of those about you, as well as for your own sake, try and take your trial thankfully and cheerfully. Brighten up. There is good in store for you. Aye, it is even on its way to you, though you may not see it. This illness, or this misfortune, may prove to be among your richest blessings. Ask God

to make it so; and then it will "yield the peaceable fruits of righ

It has been said that there is a rough and a smooth side to every handle, and that we may take hold of things by either. Well is it if you can get into the habit of always choosing the smooth side. And you will be able, if only you can believe that Word, which says that "All things work together for good to them that love God." There is a dark and a bright side to every providence, as there was to the pillar in the wilderness. We naturally fix on the dark side and call it sorrow; but faith sees a ray of light amidst the gloom, and forthwith our sorrow is turned into joy.

Though your sufferings may be

great, think how

many

mercies you

have. Think too how many people

suffer, even more than you do. Above all, think of Him who suffered so bitterly, but yet so cheerfully-and that for your sake-who said, as His darkest hour drew near, "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"

Ah, if Jesus is with you-if He "speaks peace" to your soul-your gloomy chamber will be lighted up, and a peace will be there which the world knows not of. How true it is that "afflictions are blessings to us, when we can bless God for our afflictions."

It was said of a young Christian sufferer that, 66 Notwithstanding the sadness of seeing her suffer, her room was the happiest place in all the house-the place where her sisters were sure to see the bright side of things, and to learn that to the watchful eye and thankful heart

mercies lie thickly strewn along the

path of suffering."

Some murmur when their sky is clear,

And wholly bright to view,

If one small speck of dark appear
In their great heaven of blue.
While some with thankful love are filled,

If but one streak of light,

One ray of God's great mercy, gild
The darkness of their night.

CHAPTER IV.

A FEW HINTS* WHICH CONCERN THE

BODY.

You are now in your sick-room; and if I mention a few little matters which will make that room more comfortable to you, I feel that they will not be out of place in a book like this.

1. A word about Fresh Air. One generally sees a sick-chamber carefully closed up, as if air was the great enemy to guard against. But

* Many of these are taken from a valuable little book called "Plain Words about Sickness."