FIFTEENTH DAY. JESUS foretold His disciples, while He was with them on earth, that the time would surely come, when there should be great distress among the nations, "with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." Since the believer can have no doubt that such things will come to pass, it becomes him to seek for his soul's repose a sure refuge -a secure abiding place. However vast or powerful the defences of earth, he will never confide in them with implicit trust. He can have faith only in things which cannot be shaken. And then, there is much need of the continual exercise of Christian humility. When the raging tempest is at its height the mightiest trees of the forest are the first uprooted; while the smallest shrub which grew beneath them lifts up its head in safety. And when the solid globe trembles upon its foundations, the grandest works which art and skill have erected totter in their helplessness, and crumble into ruin! Meanwhile, the believer takes refuge under the Rock which never can be moved, knowing that that arm alone is strong in which he places all his confidence. Nor does he feel surprise at finding that like a sentence which is made up of many words, so the great lesson of life is made up of sorrows and joys-strugglings and repose; of crosses and losses-sunshine and storm; of present vicissitudes, and a bright hope for the time to come. However overcast may be his wintry sky, he well knows that the darkest cloud must conceal a light beyond; and however rough each successive stage of his toilsome journey, he is well persuaded that the end is fast approaching. In this assurance he rests. Anticipating by every E land-mark and sign the nearing of the happy hour when he may lay down the pilgrim's staff, and wave the palm of peace and victory, and ungird the toil-stained garments, to be clothed in the robe of Christ's righteousness. A minister, visiting a young person who was sick, was anxious to know if she felt afraid to die. He asked, "Will it not be a happy change for you, when your pain and affliction is over?" "Oh! yes; and the doctor says it cannot be long first." "Then you have no fear of dying?" 66 'No, not the least fear. I know that I am going home, and there I shall be with Jesus. It will be such a GLORIOUS THING TO DIE!" WE may be poor through all our days, Our lives may lead through rugged ways, And they on earth, the sons of toil, Are heirs of an immortal soil. XVI. Rest for God's People. "THE LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto His people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever."-1 CHRONICLES XXXiii. 25. "THERE remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."—HEBREWS iv. 9. COME, children, let us go! Our Father is our guide; And when the way grows steep and dark He journeys at our side. Our spirits He would cheer; The sunshine of His love Revives and helps us as we rove, Ah! bless'd our lot e'en here! SIXTEENTH DAY. MYS YSTERIOUS were the Lord's dealings with His people of old! Living as they did then, under the direct government of God, and amidst manifestations of the immediate agency of God; they must have felt that their ordinances were meant to be understood as types and 'shadows of better things to come. Much that religion promises to the Believer is set before him in a symbolic form. It was so with God's ancient people. The rest, promised to them, prefigured deeper realities than anything they found in the "good land;" even that rest which the whole "Creation groaneth and travaileth together in pain" for! Doubtless, the idea of possessing the land of Canaan animated the Israelites in all their marchings and wanderings. It was a glorious land. The land of promise, and high expectation! But the patriarchs valued |