sendest sorrow, Thou wilt never send "sorrow upon sorrow," never too much sorrow, too many sorrows, one upon another, so as to overwhelm me.

I receive this mercy from Thee with a grateful heart; and I take it as a pledge of mercies yet to come. As Thou dealest with me now, so wilt Thou always; for Thou changest not. I will not be afraid. I never shall be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow; Thou wilt preserve me from it.

A surgeon's hand may slip, and cut too deep; but Thy hand is sure, and it is the hand of perfect love. A doctor may mix the medicine too strong, or give an overdose; but Thou wilt make no mistakes. O Thou great Physician, O Thou Healer of soul and of body, O Thou Who dost order all things in mercy and love, I commit myself and all dear to me, and all that concerns me and them, I commit all to Thee. Still do Thou with Thine own hand mix for me the wholesome medicine of Thy dealings, the sweet and the bitter; and still do Thou measure out to me both sorrow and joy in Thine unfailing

wisdom and love. I would not manage my joys and sorrows for myself; I would leave all to Thee. I might mistake; Thou canst never mistake. I might appoint for myself too much sunshine, and too little cloud; Thou wilt do all for the very best. To Thee, O Father, do I leave all, in grateful trust and love. And do Thou, by Thy Spirit, help me to bear what Thou layest on me, and teach me to see Thy mercy in what Thou doest, and always to trust Thee fully, for Jesus Christ my Saviour's sake. Far from adding sorrow to sorrow, Thou wilt take sorrow quite away, and give back health and strength, if and when it seem good to Thee. Thou dost not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.

CHAPTER XXX.

THE DAY OF TROUBLE.

"And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.”—Psalm 1. 15.

How much do I find in the Bible about "the day of trouble," and the time of trouble, especially in the Psalms: they are a treasury of comfort for those in trouble. No wonder that at this time such words as these should come to my mind; this is my day of trouble ; and now God speaks to me in His word.

Four things strike me here. "The day of trouble," which is appointed for me by God, that is the first; the calling upon Him "in the day of trouble," that is the second, and that is what I am now to do; the promise in answer to the call, "I will deliver thee," that is the third; and the exhortation to

glorify God for His deliverance, that is the fourth.

This "day of trouble" did not come to me without God; I am laid aside by illness, because so it pleased Him. O my God and Father, I am laid on this bed by Thy hand; Thou Thyself didst place me here. Thou hast given me much good health, and many comforts of life; and many, many of my days have been days full of outward blessings; but now it has pleased Thee to change Thy dealing with me, and to send me trouble. I humbly bow beneath Thy hand, I desire to "hear the rod, and Who hath appointed it" (Micah vi. 9).

And now, O my God, what dost Thou bid me especially do at this time? "Call upon Me in the day of trouble:" these are Thy words to me now. This is the time that is marked out by Thee; and this is what Thou biddest me do to-day, "Call upon Me!" I am not to wait till I am a little stronger, or till my trouble has in a measure passed away, or till some one has done me good and brought me relief; no, I am to wait for nothing; I

am to call upon God "in the day of trouble," this very day.

Lord, I thank Thee that I may; I thank Thee that Thou dost invite me, and tell me, to call upon Thee. And therefore I do call upon Thee. Now, from my bed, while no one is near, now, Lord, I call upon Thee. Not in my own name, not as being worthy to come to Thee or speak to Thee; but in the name of Jesus, my Saviour, my Advocate, in His name do I call upon Thee. O my Father, for His sake, hear my cry, look upon my trouble, have compassion on my distress; see me lying here helpless, behold me in such sore trouble that man can do little for me; take notice of all that presses upon me, my pain, my sleeplessness, my weary hours, my desponding feelings; graciously look into my heart, and read my thoughts, and see how anxious I feel at times about myself and those depending on me. I call upon Thee, I cry to Thee, I beseech Thee to have mercy upon me, and forgive, and comfort, and help, and deliver me. I call upon Thee alone, I look to Thee only,