Part 49 (1/2)

Within Thy circling arms we lie, O G.o.d! in Thy infinity: Our souls in quiet shall abide, Beset with love on every side.

ANON.

”The Everlasting Arms.” I think of that whenever rest is sweet. How the whole earth and the strength of it, that is almightiness, is beneath every tired creature to give it rest; _holding_ us, always! No thought of G.o.d is closer than that. No human tenderness of patience is greater than that which gathers in its arms a little child, and holds it, heedless of weariness. And He fills the great earth, and all upon it, with this unseen force of His love, that never forgets or exhausts itself, so that everywhere we may lie down in His bosom, and be comforted.

A. D. T. WHITNEY.

September 22

_The word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it_.--DEUT. x.x.x. 14.

But, above all, the victory is most sure For him, who, seeking faith by virtue, strives To yield entire obedience to the Law Of Conscience; Conscience reverenced and obeyed, As G.o.d's most intimate presence in the soul, And His most perfect image in the world.

W. WORDSWORTH.

What we call Conscience is the voice of Divine love in the deep of our being, desiring union with our will; and which, by attracting the affections inward, invites them to enter into the harmonious contentment, and ”fulness of joy” which attends the being joined by ”one spirit to the Lord.”

J. P. GREAVES.

I rejoice that G.o.d has bestowed upon you a relish and inclination for the inner life. To be called to this precious and lofty life is a great and undeserved grace of G.o.d, to which we ought to respond with great faithfulness. G.o.d invites us to His fellows.h.i.+p of love, and wishes to prepare our spirit to be His own abode and temple.

GERHARD TERSTEEGEN.

September 23

_Show me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths_--PS. xxv. 4.

When we cannot see our way, Let us trust and still obey; He who bids us forward go, Cannot fail the way to show.

Though the sea be deep and wide, Though a pa.s.sage seem denied; Fearless let us still proceed, Since the Lord vouchsafes to lead.

ANON.

That which is often asked of G.o.d, is not so much His will and way, as His approval of our way.

S. F. SMILEY.

There is nothing like the first glance we get at duty, before there has been any special pleading of our affections or inclinations. Duty is never uncertain at first. It is only after we have got involved in the mazes and sophistries of wis.h.i.+ng that things were otherwise than they are, that it seems indistinct. Considering a duty is often only explaining it away.

Deliberation is often only dishonesty. G.o.d's guidance is plain, when we are true.

F. W, ROBERTSON.

September 24