November 20. He shall receive me. - Ps. xlix. 15. THE soul has caught a new idea of God's love when it has not only been fed, but rescued by Him. The sheep has a new conception of his shepherd's care when he has not merely been made "to lie down in green pastures," but also has heard the voice of Him who had left the ninety-and-nine in the wilderness and gone after that which had wandered astray until He found it. The weakness of our own nature and the strength of that on which we rely; danger, and its correlative, duty; watchfulness, and its great privilege, trust, come in together, and are the new life of the soul, the active power in its restored peace. PHILLIPS BROOKS. EVENING BRINGS US HOME. UPON the hills the wind is sharp and cold, Among the mists we stumble, and our feet The darkness gathers. Through the gloom no star The clouds are round us, and the snow-drifts thicken. November 21. What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? Ps. viii. 4. AS I was surveying the moon walking in her brightness, and taking her progress among the constellations, a thought rose in me which I believe very often perplexes and disturbs men of serious and contemplative natures. David himself fell into it, in that reflection, "When I consider the heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that Thou regardest him?” In the same manner, when I considered that infinite host of stars—or, to speak more philosophically, of suns which were then shining upon me, with those innumerable sets of planets or worlds which were moving round their respective suns; when I still enlarged the idea, and supposed another heaven of suns and worlds rising still above this which we discovered, and these still enlightened by a superior firmament of luminaries, which are planted at so great a distance that they may appear to the inhabitants of the former as the stars do to us, - in short, whilst I pursued this thought, I could not but reflect on that little insignificant figure which I myself bore amidst the immensity of God's works. In this consideration of God Almighty's omnipresence and omniscience, every uncomfortable thought vanishes. He cannot but regard everything that has being, especially such of His creatures who fear they are not regarded by Him. He is privy to all their thoughts, and to that anxiety of heart, in particular, which is apt to trouble them on this occasion; for as it is impossible He should overlook any of His creatures, so we may be confident that He regards, with an eye of mercy, those who endeavor to recommend themselves to His notice, and in an unfeigned humility of heart think themselves unworthy that He should be mindful of them. JOSEPH ADDISON. THE PRAISE OF GOD. SHOULD Fate command me to the farthest verge In the void waste, as in the city full; And where He vital breathes, there must be joy. Myself in Him, in Light ineffable ; Come, then, expressive silence, muse His praise. THOMSON. November 22. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. - GAL. vi. 10. WHEN 'HEN the love of God has taken possession of the soul, and the whole man is consecrated to His service, life loses its fragmentary character, and one guiding stream seems to run through it. Then all varying and apparently disjointed circumstances and duties find a fixed and appointed place, and though, through the weakness of the flesh, the surface of things may seem to be ruffled, there is a strong undercurrent that cannot be diverted from its object, but is ever flowing on to its one point, widening and strengthening as it goes, and so mastering all that opposes its progress. Many a little rock or eddy that early in its course would turn it aside, are, as it becomes more powerful, swept away or passed over. And still more, perhaps, are the very hindrances that thwarted, turned into ministers to help its course. The stronger and more fixedly the soul is set upon one object, so much the more does it find power to overcome all difficulties, and despise all that may be only outward or accidental. MARIA HARE. BE STRONG. BE strong to hope, O Heart! The stars can only shine Be strong, O Heart of mine, Be strong to bear, O Heart! Strive not, for life is care, Be strong to love, O Heart! Didst thou love, creatures even, Didst thou love God in Heaven, Thou wouldst be strong. ADELAIDE A. PROCTER. November 23. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city. - HEB. xi. 16. THE HE grand difficulty is to feel the reality of both worlds, so as to give each its due place in our thoughts and feelings, to keep our mind's eye and our heart's eye ever fixed on the Land of Promise, without looking away from the road we are to travel toward it. AUGUSTUS HARE. THE LAND BEYOND THE SEA. THE Land beyond the Sea! How close it sometimes seems, When flushed with evening's peaceful gleams; My wistful heart looks o'er the strait, and dreams! Calm Land beyond the Sea! The Land beyond the Sea! Sometimes across the strait, Like drawbridge to a castle gate, The slanting sunbeams lie, and seem to wait Calm Land beyond the Sea! O Land beyond the Sea! When will our toil be done? Slow-footed years! more swiftly run Into the gold of that unsetting sun. Calm Land beyond the Sea! O Land beyond the Sea! But sweeter far that Father's breast, Upon thy shores eternally possest; Calm Land beyond the Sea! November 24. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. — Ps. cxii. 4. MARK that weary disciple, who had a long and sor rowing experience. . . . The hour of redemption at length arrives; the submerging waters are passed, and in an instant the celestial glory stands all revealed. As the darkness settles heavily here, the light opens transportingly there; and, as the body is sending out the last moaning sounds of death, the spirit begins to hear, and even join in those heavenly melodies. GEORGE SHEPARD. |