Part 9 (2/2)

February 22

_Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto G.o.d_.--PHIL. iv. 6.

We tell Thee of our care, Of the sore burden, pressing day by day, And in the light and pity of Thy face, The burden melts away.

We breathe our secret wish, The importunate longing which no man may see; We ask it humbly, or, more restful still, We leave it all to Thee.

SUSAN COOLIDGE.

That prayer which does not succeed in moderating our wish, in changing the pa.s.sionate desire into still submission, the anxious, tumultuous expectation into silent surrender, is no true prayer, and proves that we have not the spirit of true prayer. That life is most holy in which there is least of pet.i.tion and desire, and most of waiting upon G.o.d; that in which pet.i.tion most often pa.s.ses into thanksgiving. Pray till prayer makes you forget your own wish, and leave it or merge it in G.o.d's will. The Divine wisdom has given us prayer, not as a means whereby to obtain the good things of earth, but as a means whereby we learn to do without them; not as a means whereby we escape evil, but as a means whereby we become strong to meet it.

F. W. ROBERTSON.

February 23

_Let the Lord do that which is good in His sight_.--I CHRON. xix. 13.

_Let Thy mercy O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee_.--PS.

x.x.xIII. 22.

I cannot feel That all is well, when darkening clouds conceal The s.h.i.+ning sun; But then, I know He lives and loves; and say, since it is so, Thy will be done.

S. G. BROWNING.

No felt evil or defect becomes divine until it is inevitable; and only when resistence to it is exhausted and hope has fled, does surrender cease to be premature. The hardness of our task lies _here_; that we have to strive against the grievous things of life, while hope remains, as if they were evil; and then, when the stroke has fallen, to accept them from the hand of G.o.d, and doubt not they are good. But to the loving, trusting heart, all things are possible; and even this instant change, from overstrained will to sorrowful repose, from fullest resistance to complete surrender is realized without convulsion.

J. MARTINEAU.

February 24

_These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world_.--JOHN xvi. 33.

O Thou, the primal fount of life and peace, Who shedd'st Thy breathing quiet all around, In me command that pain and conflict cease, And turn to music every jarring sound.

J. STERLING.

Accustom yourself to unreasonableness and injustice. Abide in peace in the presence of G.o.d, who sees all these evils more clearly than you do, and who permits them. Be content with doing with calmness the little which depends upon yourself, and let all else be to you as if it were not.

FRANcOIS DE LA MOTHE FeNELON.

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