Part 46

G. TERSTEEGEN,

June 18

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?--MATT. vi. 30.

I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever--PS. lii. 8.

Calmly we look behind us, on joys and sorrows past, We know that all is mercy now, and shall be well at last; Calmly we look before us,--we fear no future ill, Enough for safety and for peace, if Thou art with us still.

JANE BORTHWICK.

Neither go back in fear and misgiving to the past, nor in anxiety and forecasting to the future; but lie quiet under His hand, having no will but His.

H. E. MANNING.

I saw a delicate flower had grown up two feet high, between the horses' path and the wheel-track. An inch more to right or left had sealed its fate, or an inch higher; and yet it lived to flourish as much as if it had a thousand acres of untrodden space around it, and never knew the danger it incurred. It did not borrow trouble, nor invite an evil fate by apprehending it.

HENRY D. THOREAU.

June 19

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul.--PS. cxxi. 7.

Under Thy wings, my God, I rest, Under Thy shadow safely lie; By Thy own strength in peace possessed, While dreaded evils pass me by.

A. L. WARING.

A heart rejoicing in God delights in all His will, and is surely provided with the most firm joy in all estates; for if nothing can come to pass beside or against His will, then cannot that soul be vexed which delights in Him and hath no will but His, but follows Him in all times, in all estates; not only when He shines bright on them, but when they are clouded. That flower which follows the sun doth so even in dark and cloudy days: when it doth not shine forth, yet it follows the hidden course and motion of it. So the soul that moves after God keeps that course when He hides His face; is content, yea, even glad at His will in all estates or conditions or events.

R. LEIGHTON.

Let God do with me what He will, anything He will; whatever it be, it will be either heaven itself or some beginning of it.

WM. MOUNTFORD.

June 20

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; for my soul trusteth in Thee: yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.--PS. lvii. I.

My God! in whom are all the springs Of boundless love and grace unknown, Hide me beneath Thy spreading wings, Till the dark cloud is overblown.

I. WATTS.

In time of trouble go not out of yourself to seek for aid; for the whole benefit of trial consists in silence, patience, rest, and resignation. In this condition divine strength is found for the hard warfare, because God Himself fights for the soul.

M. DE MOLINOS.

In vain will you let your mind run out after help in times of trouble; it is like putting to sea in a storm. Sit still, and feel after your principles; and, if you find none that furnish you with somewhat of a stay and prop, and which point you to quietness and silent submission, depend upon it you have never yet learned Truth from the Spirit of Truth, whatever notions thereof you may have picked up from this and the other description of it.

M. A. KELTY.

June 21

Thou calledst in trouble, and. I delivered thee.--PS. lxxxi. 7.