For wise

naturally we desire to live. purposes He hath given us a strong yearning; and the believer may yearn to live, or wish for health, without in any wise offending God.

2. As the Word speaks,-Is any among you afflicted? let him pray, so if I beseech God to restore me to health, the voice of faith may be heard: I may prevail, if I rightly plead. He who loveth to answer prayer, may say to me as He did to Hezekiah, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee.

I hoped that, with the brave and strong,
My portioned task might lie

To toil among the busy throng,
With purpose pure and high:
But GOD has fixed another part,
And He has fixed it well;
I said so, with my breaking heart,
When first this anguish fell.

These weary hours will not be lost,

These days of misery,

These nights of darkness, tempest-tost,

Can I but turn to Thee;

With secret labour to sustain
In patience every blow,
To gather fortitude from pain,
And holiness from woe.

If Thou should'st bring me back to life
More humble should I be,

More wise, more strengthened for the strife,
More apt to lean on Thee;
Should Death be standing at the gate,

Thus should I keep my vow,

But, LORD, whatever be my fate,

Oh, let me serve Thee now!

Dain.

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.— ST. MATTHEW XXVI. 41.

And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony, He prayed more earnestly.-ST. LUKE XXII. 43.

JESUS, Saviour! sympathize
With Thy servant's agonies!

In Thy life-time Thou hast known
Racking pains, that made Thee moan,—
Pain of body, grief of mind,
Shame and suffering combined.
Comfort was to Thee imparted,
Comfort Thou the broken-hearted.

In this weary solemn hour,
Let me feel, O God of power,

That Thy gentle hand alone

Gives the pain that makes me moan.

Strangers and Pilgrims.

Here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.-HEB. XIII. 14.

In the 11th chapter of this Epistle I read about the Patriarchs, and others of God's people, who had a sure belief in things not seen, living and dying in faith. As strangers and pilgrims on the earth, they desired and looked for a heavenly country. So I read that Abraham spent his days as in a strange country; for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Do I realize that I also am a stranger in the earth? Am I living in remembrance that this is not my home? Am I praying to live as a pilgrim,—as one on a journey, sojourning in a frail tabernacle? Do I feel, and rejoice in the feeling, that I am journeying on towards eternity?

This, I know, is the faithful pilgrim's joy, -he is drawing nearer and nearer to a heavenly home! Nearer to God!

Here, in the body pent,

Absent from Him I roam,

Yet nightly pitch my moving tent
A day's march nearer home.

stranger here.

PRAYER.

ALMIGHTY GOD, teach me that I am a help me to live more nearly as I pray. Bless me with stronger faith. Open Thou mine eyes, that I may have confidence in things not seen. May I live looking for the house not made with hands, the home eternal in the heavens.

In my weakness do Thou, my God, bless me with Thy strength. Lead me in my pilgrimage. Day by day may I feel Thee, O loving Saviour, near; that so in the light of Thy countenance I may journey onward -step by step,-content even when the way is difficult, and joyful in hope of eternal

rest.