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WHY IS IT?

"WHY is it?" said a friend of mine; "How comes it to pass that the people who love this world leave the people who love God so much to themselves? God's children are lovely in their conduct, and full of kindness even to their enemies. Why, then, does the world look shy at them?"

"There are many reasons," replied I; "for 'the friendship of the world is enmity with God;' James iv. 4; but I will give you one: listen to me, and I will tell you a story. Some time ago, I spent a few days with a young friend, a relation of mine, who was about to put on her bridal robe. Now, I loved her; for she was a timid, gentle, and amiable maiden: but, for the first time in my life, I was tired of her company. She told me all about her intended marriage, and there was no end to the subject. There was one thought in her head, one name on her lip, and one love in her heart. How they met, when they parted, and where they met again, with the ups and the downs,

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the doubts and the fears, the sunshine and the shade, which they had passed through-all was told me. I can bear much; but this I could not bear, for there was no end to it!

"To change the subject, I spoke of God's glorious creation, of gay flowers and of green leaves, of sun, moon, and stars; but it was useless: there was not a flower that looked to the fair face of heaven, not a leaf that fluttered in the wind, but it reminded her of something of that one neverending subject. The sun, moon, and stars seemed only remembered by her as having lighted up the skies under which she had walked with her lover. There was, as I said before, one thought in her head, one name on her lip, and one love in her heart. grew weary of my amiable relative, and I left her to herself.

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Now, lovely as God's children are, kind, good, and gentle as they are, it is not much to be wondered at that they should be deserted; for they are almost always dwelling on one subject. The love of God is their continual theme; when once it is begun, there is no end to it: they have one thought in their heads, one name on their lips, and one love in their hearts.

The rolling orbs proclaim in heaven
His goodness every hour,

And glowing proofs of love are given
In every leaf and flower.

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Worldly people have so many subjects to occupy their attention, that they cannot be confined so much to this one, and therefore it is that they leave God's people to themselves,”

A PRECIOUS PROMISE.

THOUGH YOU may not, like me, have grey hairs on your head, yet you may have made the remark, that there are many of the comforts of this life suited only to particular seasons and circumstances; some for summer, and some for winter; some for day, and some for night; some for health, and some for sickness but the precious portions and promises of the Book of Truth seem calculated for all times, and for all situations in which we can be placed.

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Let us take up one of them. "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God," Heb. iv. 9. What a blessed portion is this for the soul that hungers after righteousness! What a blessed expectation for the weary pilgrim who is toil-worn, and faint with his journey! What a blessed haven for the tempest-tost Christian mariner! What a sustaining staff! What a firm rock to tread on! What a blessed encouragement to the discouraged, to be assured, notwithstanding

A PRECIOUS PROMISE.

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every fear and every disappointment, that "there remaineth a rest to the people of God."

Are you one of these people? Have you the mark in the forehead? the token in the heart? the witness in the spirit? Rejoice, then, with exceeding great joy. You may have been buffeted, and you may be buffeted again. Weary you may be of worldly toil and trouble, and weary you will be; but what of that? The hand of the Eternal has graven the sentence, "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God;" and that rest shall assuredly be yours.

This is a precious portion and promise for the beginning or the latter end of the year. It will do for the spring, the summer, the autumn, and the winter. It is an elixir of life, that will keep without injury in all climates, and may be taken at night or morning with equal advantage: nay, it may be a comforting cordial to you every hour of the day, and every minute of the hour. Let come what will, riches or poverty, health or sickness, joy or sorrow, life or death, the promise still holds good, "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."

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