cannot always be alike, though we may rejoice alway. When the glorious future that is set before us in the word of God is brought home vividly to our hearts, or when our saving interest in Christ and our eternal fellowship with Him are realized with more than usual clearass, then we can rejoice in the Lord "with joy unspeakable, and full of glory;" and that, even though at the very time "in heaviness through manifold temptations" or trials. When a quiet peace possesses the soul, and we are enabled, in the midst of suffering, to believe in the love of God to us, and to commit ourselves to Him in faith, even when we can rise no higher than to be of good cheer in the Lord, contented and cheerful though not bright; then too I trust we are regarded as rejoicing "in the Lord," though with so dull and feeble a joy. We serve no hard Master, but a most loving and compassionate Lord. Alas, I find it hard at times to rejoice at all, even with the lowest degree of joy. There are times when my sadness gets the mastery over me, and I cannot feel even cheerful. I feel the force of these words; I know that I ought to rejoice, or at least to be cheerful; but I cannot; all joy and cheerfulness seem fled and gone. Yet here stand the words, "Rejoice in the Lord alway." What must I do? I must turn to Thee afresh, O Lord my God. I must ask Thee to give me joy, and enable me to rejoice in Thee. "Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above; and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Joy in the Lord is a good and perfect gift. O Father in heaven, for my Saviour's sake, bestow it on me! Remove this depression, disperse this gloom; if heaviness has endured for the night, let joy come in the morning, joy in Thee. And Perhaps I fail, because I do not enough fix my thoughts on the Lord as the only ground of rejoicing; perhaps I still look too much to outward sources of gladness. besides, I am sure that I let myself dwell too much on sad things, instead of resolutely turning away from them, and "looking unto Jesus: "-looking off unto Jesus; looking away from other objects unto Him. Lord, help me, I beseech Thee, to think of Thee, look to Thee, pray to Thee, and praise Thee. Then surely joy in Thee will come. For Thou, I know, art my Father, and Jesus is my Saviour, and the Holy Spirit is my Comforter and Sanctifier. How can I but rejoice, when I have Thee? True, I am in pain, but I have Thee; I am weak and weary in body, but I have Thee; I have many apprehensions as to the future, but I shall always have Thee: always in this life, even to the end; but far more completely in the life to come. All pain will be over then, and all weariness and fear; and Thou wilt be all in all, and in Thy presence will be fulness of joy, and at Thy right hand pleasures for ever more. Help Oh, let the prospect make me glad! me to rejoice in Thy promises, in the home which Thou hast prepared for me, in the living way, in the open door, in the assured hope Thou hast given me in Christ my Saviour. Help me to see through the cloud; to look beyond present troubles; to realize Spirit dist react MIT SEITE io vite these words, teach me by the same Spinn to be. receive, and obey them: Lord alway: and again I say, Septe!" away from other objects unto Him. Lord, help me, I beseech Thee, to think of Thee, look to Thee, pray to Thee, and praise Thee. Then surely joy in Thee will come. For Thou, I know, art my Father, and Jesus is my Saviour, and the Holy Spirit is my Comforter and Sanctifier. How can I but rejoice, when I have Thee? True, I am in pain, but I have Thee; I am weak and weary in body, but I have Thee; I have many apprehensions as to the future, but I shall always have Thee always in this life, even to the end; but far more completely in the life to come. All pain will be over then, and all weariness and fear; and Thou wilt be all in all, and in Thy presence will be fulness of joy, and at Thy right hand pleasures for ever more. Oh, let the prospect make me glad! Help me to rejoice in Thy promises, in the home which Thou hast prepared for me, in the living way, in the open door, in the assured hope Thou hast given me in Christ my Saviour. Help me to see through the cloud; to look beyond present troubles; to realize |
