member that your work comes only moment by moment, and as surely as God calls you to work, He gives the strength to do it. Do not think in the morning," How shall I go through the day?" Each moment, as you need it, the strength will come; only do not look forward an hour; circumstances may be very different to what you expect. Do not worry yourself with misgivings; take each thing quietly. Nothing is such a help to all people, but above all to the sick, as quietness of spirit, selfcontrol, and presence of mind. They may be cultivated to a high degree. Do you sometimes cry out, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I flee away, and be at rest"? Be content; "there remaineth a rest " for you," incorruptible and undefiled, reserved in heaven for you." Yet a little while, and you shall enter into it; in the mean time, let us look upon all circumstances as the expression of His will, and as His own voice speaking to us. SICKNESS, ITS BLESSINGS AND TRIALS. OCTOBER 22. Man never is, but always to be, blest.-POPE. We live not in our moments or our years; Wiser it were to welcome and make ours Whate'er of good, though small, the present brings- And of the griefs unborn to rest secure, TRENCH. OCTOBER 23. He has given us richly all things to enjoy.-1 TIMOTHY Vi. 17. Contentment is perfect rest and perfect peace. It asks for nothing, seeks for nothing, hopes for nothing, wishes nothing but what God gives. It ceases to look about and see how its condition can be bettered, knowing that what God wills, that must be perfection. Contentment does not ask to see the reasons why God does this or that, or why He withholds things which look like blessings; with open hands it receives all His good gifts, and thanks Him for His love and care. It does not look onwards, knowing that God will provide; it has no wants, no cares, but to know Him more and to love Him better. This state is the duty of all, and especially of those who are called by sickness to constant temptations to sins against contentment. God would not make anything to be our duty unless it were possible of attainment, unless it would be for our highest good, unless He would give us the strength to perform what He requires of us. SICKNESS, ITS BLESSINGS AND TRIALS. OCTOBER 24. Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, MONTGOMERY. Do not think that continuous speaking to God is the only kind of true prayer. "Lord, Thou knowest my desire, and my groaning is not hid from Thee.” It is at your heart that He looks. He sees what is there: things which you cannot frame into words, which you cannot express, He fully understands. You cannot tell Him anything; He knows that. You can only say, "Lord, help me!" He hears, and He will surely answer you. You say when you wake in the morning, and in the night, and often in the day, "Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep me this day without sin." That is prayer, most true prayer. He does not measure its worthiness by its length, but by its sincerity. The mere sense of being in His arms, of His understanding you, His loving you and embracing you, that is prayer; for it is the losing yourself in Him.-SICKNESS, ITS BLESSINGS AND TRIALS. OCTOBER 25. But when the shore is won at last, KEBLE. There are but few people who have long known sickness or sorrow, who have not a feeling of dread of all anniversaries. The whole aspect of life is changed, the clouds seem to have gathered black ness, the bright spots in life are become fewer. Those days and seasons which once looked bright and joyous, and were welcomed when they returned, seem now to be full of trouble. There was an unbroken family then; there were voices to be heard, which are heard now only in saddened memory; there was precious sympathy to be had then, joyful greetings, and sharings of our joy. But years went on, and friend after friend passed into the world unseen, and made this life sadder and more lonesome. Then sickness came, and life's aspect was wholly changed. And now the days and seasons return, and often seem but to mock your sorrow. . . . But, even so, you may still make all anniversaries holy days-days which shall draw you nearer to God and to the unseen world—and then by degrees they will lose their sadness, and have a peaceful character instead.-SICKNESS, ITS BLESSINGS AND TRIALS. ... OCTOBER 26. Give me a wise and thankful heart, Nor from His loved correction start. KEBLE, It happens the more frequently that the long discipline of sickness and suffering is given to impetuous and impatient, or over-active spirits. To them, of course, their natural impatience must be as constant fuel to the fire which ever burns within S them, and their discipline will be a very sore one to themselves. Yet fear not, if thus it is with you. "Greater is He that is for you than all they that are against you." The battle is not yours, but God's, and you "shall be more than conquerors, through Him which hath loved us." "Tribulation worketh patience." A quiet, calm frame of mind, ever staying itself on God, is the groundwork of patience. "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength;" which also is expressed by the words, "In patience possess ye your souls." Stillness works patience. We must first get into the posture before we can stay in it. What is patience, but remaining in the posture of stillness? You will say, "How difficult this is!" It would indeed be so if it were not that the God of patience is our refuge, and therefore we need not fear "in the days of evil."-SICKNESS, ITS BLESSINGS AND TRIALS. OCTOBER 27. And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And Solomon slept with his fathers.2 CHRONICLES ix. 22, 31. A man may read a sermon, the best and most passionate that ever man preached, if he shall but enter into the sepulchres of kings. In the same escurial where the Spanish princes live in greatness and power, and decree war or peace, they have wisely placed a cemetery, where their ashes and their glory shall sleep till time shall be no more; and where our kings have been crowned, their |