Part 63 (1/2)

December 4

_Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called_.--I TIM. vi. 12.

Oh, dream no more of quiet life; Care finds the careless out; more wise to vow Thy heart entire to faith's pure strife; So peace will come, thou knowest not when or how.

LYRA APOSTOLICA.

Who art thou that complainest of thy life of toil? Complain not. Look up, my wearied brother; see thy fellow-workmen there, in G.o.d's Eternity; surviving there, they alone surviving; sacred band of the Immortals, celestial body-guard of the empire of mankind. To thee Heaven, though severe, is _not_ unkind; Heaven is kind,--as a n.o.ble mother; as that Spartan mother, saying while she gave her son his s.h.i.+eld, ”With it, my son, or upon it.” Thou too shall return _home_ in honor; to thy far-distant Home, in honor; doubt it not,--if in the battle thou keep thy s.h.i.+eld!

Thou, in the Eternities and deepest death-kingdoms art not an alien; thou everywhere art a denizen. Complain not.

T. CARLYLE.

December 5

_The G.o.d of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you_.--I PET. v. 10.

_Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be faint-hearted_.--ISA. vii.

4.

How shall thou bear the cross that now So dread a weight appears?

Keep quietly to G.o.d, and think Upon the Eternal Years.

F. W. FABER.

G.o.d forgive them that raise an ill report upon the sweet cross of Christ; it is but our weak and dim eyes, that look but to the black side, that makes us mistake; those that can take that crabbed tree handsomely upon their backs, and fasten it on cannily, shall find it such a burden as wings unto a bird, or sails to a s.h.i.+p.

S. RUTHERFORD.

Blessed is any weight, however overwhelming, which G.o.d has been so good as to fasten with His own hand upon our shoulders.

F. W. FABER.

We cannot say this or that trouble shall not befall, yet we may, by help of the Spirit, say, nothing that doth befall shall make me do that which is unworthy of a Christian.

R. SIBBES.

December 6

_This G.o.d is our G.o.d for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death_.--PS. xlviii. 14.

_For the Lord shall be thy confidence_.--PROV. iii. 26.