78 Tears wiped away. Let us try to be like our Master-tenderhearted, pitiful, sympathising, compassionate. Let us imitate Phoebe, who, we are told, was a succourer of many;' and let us never forget that we have an Elder Brother, who, in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted,' is able to succour them that are tempted. XXXV. TEARS WIPED AWAY. Read Rev. xxi. 1-7. How comforting these words are to the sick and the sorrowful,-how they seem to lift us above the world, and give us a peep into Heaven The apostles Peter, James, and John, had a glimpse of the unseen world when they were on the mount; and sometimes, as we journey through life's wilderness, we can, by the eye of faith, pierce the veil, and see the unseen glories of the New Jerusalem. This world is a Tears wiped away. 79 weeping world, and sometimes our grief is even too deep for tears. I am quite sure, dear sisters, that all of you have shed tears-some more and some less-and for various causes. There are many sources of tears. Sometimes they are caused by social trials: an unkind husband, an undutiful child, has opened the fountain of grief. Sometimes they are caused by secular cares, difficulties in business, or poverty. A mother, a widow, is often at her wits' ends to provide food for her children. Sometimes tears are caused by broken friendships and disappointed hopes. Sometimes they are caused by bodily pains or bitter bereavements. You follow your loved ones to the grave, and your home becomes lonely and desolate. Or, maybe, your tears are caused by the recollection of your sins or the sins of others. These are tears of penitence, such as the angels rejoice over. Such tears bring forth joy. But whatever be the cause of your tears, remember they will all be wiped away. God's own hand will wipe away your tears. The removal of them will be complete and for ever. Remember, too, dear friends, our tears would never have been wiped away but for Jesus. Oh, how much do we owe Him! There are no tears beyond the grave for Christians. But if you are not Christians, you have nothing better to look forward to: the paltry pleasures you have here are your all. Better far to be like poor Lazarus than like Dives. Oh! what folly, what madness, to resign the prospect of heaven for a few passing pleasures in this life! You remember that when Jacob was going to Haran he had a vision : it impressed his mind, and he made a vow. He said that the Lord should be his God, if only He would give him food to eat and raiment to put on. He did not ask God for honour, or riches, or dainties, but only for necessaries. Civilisa Our necessities are really very few. tion gives us many luxuries, but we have many things that we could do without. These luxuries are quite insufficient to make us happy. We see that care enters the homes of the rich. They have much more than food and raiment, and yet are not satisfied. If We all have much more than we deserve. a beggar comes to ask of us, he does not say, 'I must have more, this is not enough; and we are suppliants, we have no more claim upon God. We must not say, 'Is this all I am to have? I want this, and I want that.' Let us think what a Christian really has. He has an inheritance to come; he has sure promises; he is an heir of glory. Oh, can we think of these things, and yet murmur and repine at our lot? Let us think again; it is God's providence that arranges all our affairs. He numbers the hairs of our head; He puts us where we are; He appoints our stations, our comforts, and our trials. He knows just how much we can bear, and makes all things work for our good. Remember, 82 The Fall of Man. we are much safer with little than much. Do you want more snares and temptations? Where much is given, more will be required. We are pilgrims, and we must not want more than travellers' fare. Let us, then, be content with our earthly lot. But with our religion we must not be content. Here we must be ambitious; here we must covet the best gifts; we must seek more faith, more love to Jesus; we must seek to abound more and more in fruit and good works. Dear sisters, let us covet earnestly the best gifts for our children—not more money, not more luxuries, but the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and we shall indeed find by experience that godliness with contentment is great gain. XXXVII. THE FALL OF MAN. Read Gen. iii. 6-15. THE origin of evil is a great mystery. We know that sin is here-around us, and in us. Man |