can never succeed. Some of the best of men have occasionally been so sorely buffeted in this very way, that they have been on the point of finally leaving spheres where afterwards they have been most abundantly blessed.

When so tempted, it might be well to remember what is sweetly told of a good mother. "She had a little room of her own, where on a stand always stood open the great family Bible; and when work pressed hard and children were untoward, or when sickness threatened-when the skeins of life were all crossways and tangled-she went quietly to that room, and through faith and prayer took hold of a warm, healing, invisible hand, that made the crooked straight, and rough places plain." Were this oftener done, the tempted would find such light in darkness and strength in weakness, that they would abide. hopefully where the Lord had placed them.

In all these cases we should only pray the more and then work the harder, fully assured that whatever of grace or strength is lacking, the Lord himself will bountifully supply. The Lord's all-sufficiency is ours for constant use, and he never forgets us.

"How often a gleam of glory, sent

Straight through the deepest, darkest night,

Has filled the soul with heavenly light-
With holy peace and sweet content:

Content to wait the will of God;

To cast on him the heavy load;
To walk with him the weary road,-

With patience leaning on the Lord!"

They thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?-NEH. vi. 2, 3.

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.-LUKE xix. 13.

November 24.

FAITH OVERCOMING.

THOUGH David evidently felt the pressure of temp

tation when he said, "How are they increased that trouble me! Many there be which say of my soul, There is no hope for him in God," yet he did not yield to it. On the contrary, he boldly faced every foe, and dared every danger, rather than show any distrust of the Lord his God. He was strengthened in all this, not only by many a blessed promise of the Word, but also by many a bright memory in his own experience. In a very peculiar and critical era of Israel's history, and while David was yet in his youth, Saul said to him: "Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war." He replied: "Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: and I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him." And then he added-" The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." His faith made him fearless. Nor was it put to shame; for, as one says, "In the language of faith there is no such word as impossibility; that martial grace knows how to fight, but she knows not how to flee."

Now, as it was with him, so is it with all who make the Lord their trust. They resist and overcome. They do not, however, always overcome at once.

In great

national conflicts one battle is sometimes so decisive and crushing, that for a whole generation to come there is never any need for another; and it is sometimes thought that it might also be even so in the great Christian conflict. Young believers especially are very apt to indulge in such hopes and expectations; and when they are disappointed in this, and find that, in spite of victory to-day, the battle has to be renewed on the morrow, they are often greatly discouraged and cast down. But it should not be so; for we are always told in the Word that the whole Christian life is more or less a warfare, and that it is not an easy one. True, it is a good fight the Christian is engaged in the very noblest on earth; and it is a peculiar honour to be engaged in it. Nevertheless, it is a hard one; and not unfrequently hardest of all just at the very moment that final and triumphant victory is nearest. A year or two ago a saintly man, when nearing his end, said: "It is a hard battle, but I know the victory is sure; and, thank God, though I have many conflicts, I have no fears." And then, in very homely phrase, he added: "I am just like a package that is all ready to go by train: packed, corded, labelled, paid for-waiting for the Express to take me to glory." A homely expression, truly, but expressing much.

"Beyond the parting and the meeting,

I shall be soon;

Beyond the farewell and the greeting,
Beyond the pulse's fitful beating,

I shall be soon.

Love, rest, and home,

Sweet hope!

Lord, tarry not, but come."

Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus

Christ.-1 Cor. xv. 57.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?-1 JOHN v. 4, 5.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.-HEB. xi. 24-26.

November 25.

GOD IS OUR FATHER.

THE apostle says, in one of his many epistles, "Now

unto God our Father." This precious appellation, especially in its fulness, is peculiar to the Christian dispensation. Till Christ became incarnate, finished his work, and opened up a new and living way of access, there was always somewhat of veil and felt distance between God and his children. But now, in their conscious experience, he is everything to them that the sweet name of Father implies. He provides for them, educates them, guides them, and when burdens press he lovingly sustains and cheers them; and therefore, even in their most desolate times, they need never be afraid to say, " When father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up."

Our Lord, when guarding his disciples against overcarefulness and anxious distrust in connection with daily supplies, gave the sweet assurance, " Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."

"What can these anxious cares avail,

These never-ceasing moans and sighs?

What can it help us, to bewail

Each painful moment as it flies?

Our cross and trials do but press

The heavier for our bitterness.

Many years ago, when in my country charge, I returned one afternoon from a funeral, fatigued with the day's work. After a long ride, I had accompanied the mourners to the churchyard. As I neared my stable door, I felt a strange prompting to visit a poor widow who, with her invalid daughter, lived in a lonely cottage in an outlying part of the parish. My natural reluctance to make another visit was overcome by a feeling which I could not resist, and I turned my horse's head towards the cottage. I was thinking only of the poor widow's spiritual needs; but when I reached her little house, I was struck with its look of unwonted bareness and poverty. After putting a little money into her hand, I began to inquire into their circumstances, and found that their supplies had been utterly exhausted since the night before. I asked them what they had done. "I just spread it out before the Lord!" "Did you not tell your case to any friend?" "Oh no, sir; naebody kens but Himsel' and me! I kent he wadna forget, but I didna ken hoo he wad help me till I saw you come riding ower the brae, and then I said, There's the Lord's answer!" Many a time has the recollection of this incident encouraged me to trust in the loving care of my heavenly Father.

I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.-JOHN xx. 17.

Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.-ROM. viii. 15, 16.

When ye pray, say, Our Father.-LUKE xi. 2.