ers. They had asked for contrition, and he sent them sorrow; they had asked for purity, and he sent them thrilling anguish; they had asked to be meek, and he had broken their hearts; they had asked to be dead to the world, and he slew all their living hopes; they had asked to be made like unto him, and he placed them in the furnace, sitting by, as a Refiner of silver, till they should reflect his image; they had asked to lay hold of his cross, and when he reached it to them, it lacerated their hands. They had asked-they knew not what nor how; but he had taken them at their word and granted all their petitions. They were hardly willing to follow on so far or to draw so nigh to him. . . They found it easier to obey than to suffer, to do than to give up, to bear the cross than to hang upon it; but they cannot go back. He is fulfilling to them his promise, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me;" and now their turn is come at last and that is all. Before they had only heard of the mystery, but now they feel it. He has fast

ened on them his look of love, as he did on Mary and Peter, and they cannot but choose to follow.

Little by little, from time to time, by flitting gleams, the mystery of his cross shines out upon them. They behold him lifted up; they gaze on the glory that rays forth from the wounds of his holy passion; and as they gaze they advance, and are changed into his likeness, and his name shines out through them; for he dwells in them. They live alone with him above, in unspeakable fellowship, willing to lack what others own, and to be unlike all, so that they are only like him. Such are they, in all ages, who "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."

Had they chosen for themselves, or their friends chosen for them, they would have chosen otherwise. They would have been brighter here, but less glorious in his kingdom. They would have had Lot's portion, not Abraham's. If they had halted anywhere, if he had taken off his hand and let them stray back, what would they

not have lost! what forfeits in the morning of the resurrection! But he stayed them up, even against themselves. Many a time their foot had well-nigh slipped; but he in mercy held them up. Now, even in this life, they know all he did was done well. It was good for them to suffer here, for they shall reign hereafter; to bear the cross below, for they shall wear the crown above; and that not their will but his was done on them.-ANON.

When some belovéds, 'neath whose eyelids lay
The sweet lights of my childhood, one by one
Did leave me dark before the natural sun,
And I astonied fell and could not pray-
A thought within me to myself did say,
"Is God less God that thou art left undone?
Rise, worship, bless Him, in this sackcloth spun
But I answered, Nay!

As in that purple!"

What child his filial heart in words can loose

If he behold his tender father raise

The hand that chastens sorely? Can he choose But sob in silence, with an upward gaze?

And my great Father, thinking fit to bruise, Discerns in speechless tears both prayer and praise.-E. B. BROWNING.

Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed,... that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them, according to their several necessities.

CHAPTER III.

THE SCHOOL OF SORROW.

When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.-Job 23:10.

I have refined thee, but not with silver: I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.-ISA. 48: 10.

Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.-Prov. 3:12.

No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.-Heb. 12:11.

That the mark of rank in nature

Is capacity for pain?

And the anguish of the singer

Makes the sweetness of the strain ?

ANON.