around us, we shall hear that voice which stilleth the tempest, saying in calm clear accents, "Fear not, for I am with thee."

With Christ for our guardian and our guide, with Him beside us to interpose His Presence between us and all the fiery darts of the Evil One, surely we need not fear. Safely under the covering of His wings we may rest, feeling that He that is for us, is stronger than all that are against us. "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee," so that we may boldly say, "the Lord is my helper." "I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."

We must never think or speak lightly of evil or the Evil One; but ever be watchful and prayerful, keeping guard against his attacks; remembering that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the ruler of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

There's a wicked spirit
Watching round you still,
And he tries to tempt you
To all harm and ill.

But you must not hear him,
Tho' 'tis hard for you

To resist the evil
And the good to do.
For you promised truly
In your infant days,
To renounce him wholly
And forsake his ways.

Let us never make light of our great Enemy.

We are in constant danger of the "crafts and assaults of the Devil," and who are we that we can withstand them?

In our own strength we should fail. We should "be led captive at his will." We must acknowledge our weakness, we must be ever aware of our danger, and while we strive earnestly to resist him, let us depend upon God's strength alone for power to conquer.

I knew a man once who was in constant danger of falling into his besetting sin, but he struggled manfully against it, and finally overcame it altogether.

Speaking to me one day he said, "I never could have believed till I tried it that God's

grace could be so strong. I thought that my old sin would get the better of me again and again, but God is stronger than the Devil, and He has come to my aid and fought for me, and conquered. 'His strength is made perfect in weakness.'"

No one knows until they have entered upon the fight how hard it is, and yet how wonderfully God stands by His people, and how tenderly He helps them, and watches over them. If our eyes were opened, like those of the Prophet's servant, we should see the Heavenly armies arrayed on one side to deliver us from evil. We read in the sixth chapter of 2 Kings, how the King of Syria sent forth horses and chariots, and a great host to take Elisha, the man of God, and how even all this great army was powerless to harm him, because he was protected by God.

"And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold an host compassed the city, both with horses. and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee open his eyes, that he may see.

And

the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." So true it is that "the Angel of the Lord campeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them." And has it not been the same in all times and in all ages? God has delivered His servants who trusted in Him. Remember Daniel in the den of lions; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the burning fiery furnace; and S. Peter, when God's Angel came and smote off his chains, and delivered him from prison. Never has God forsaken His people, and He never will, as long as the world lasts, unless we forsake Him. In the hour of danger, in the time of trouble, in sickness, or health, He will stand by us and save us. 'In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our wealth, in the hour of death, and in the day of Judgment, our good Lord will deliver us."

"When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee, when thou walk

I

est through the fire thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee; For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour. Fear not, for I am with thee."

"Oh Master, our foes

Around us close

And louder and louder the tumult grows;
I quake with fear

Those cries to hear,

And to see the beleaguered hosts draw near."

"My servant dear,

Thou need'st not fear

To see the beleaguering hosts draw near,
For more are they

On our side to-day,

Than against us in yonder proud array."

"Oh Master, I see

Only Thee and me

On our part, and on theirs a vast company, Their weapons gleam

In the rising beam,

And high on the wind their proud banners stream."