complete, filial surrender.

"Relieve and restore,

O God, if my own good permit it; if the good of others permit it, if thine own glory permit it, do thou spare and heal me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Such must be your feeling and your prayer, when, like Christ, you are in an agony, and like him are resigned.

This

Let patience have her perfect work. sickness may prove a peculiarly long and trying one. It may be, that an incurable disease has been sent upon you. Your sufferings may be greatly multiplied in number and intensity. But that will not furnish apology for one murmur. Be watchful against exhibiting fretfulness or peev. ishness to those about you. Let not the Christian name be wounded in this room. Watch and pray that you may suppress all inward risings of discontent. It is God who has closed this door upon you, and it is for a private conference, and perhaps a long one. He now inquires, whether you are truly his child; whether, in full view of the rod that is raised, you will say, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good; whether, in reference to suffering more severely or less severely, for a longer or a shorter time, whether to die now, or to recover, you can calmly say, Thy will be done. The pliant vine is pruned; and it weeps, indeed, yet is it the more fruitful,

while the thorn-tree stands armed against all approaches. The knife does not change its nature, and the very dews of heaven only render it the more vigorously repulsive. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bring forth much fruit.

But, however protracted and severe your sufferings, stay your mind upon the promise, As thy days, so shall thy strength be,— and you will find this continued assurance, The Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day-time; and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. The Jewish Rabbies repeat a tradition, that David had a harp suspended at the head of his bed; and that, whenever the north wind blew upon it at night, it yielded the most agreeable music. Though a figment of the Talmud, this contains symbolically a pleasing truth. The severest blasts which God sends upon the good man, only awaken in his soul the harmony of sanctified emotions. "O, may thy heart in tune be found,

Like David's harp, of solemn sound."

The pains you now feel are sharp monitors of your frailty. Are you ready for the issue? Are you willing to die to-day? Can you, in the calmness of Christian confidence, say, — Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit, — Lord Jesus, receive my spirit? Tell me now, deliberately,

whether you cannot say, I have a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better?

That yes, you would not exchange for ten thousand worlds. There is reason to think, that this room may prove the ante-chamber of heaven. What is death to the believer? It is the beginning of eternal life. It is only opening the door to let a prisoner of hope out into the pure air and sunlight of heaven. It is sending a weary pilgrim home to his everlasting rest. It is the coronation day of one, who shall reign with Christ for ever. O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory?

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory, for ever and ever. AMEN.

SONGS IN THE NIGHT.

PRAYER FOR THE SICK.

"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him."- James v. 14.

O LORD, our strength and righteousness,
Our hope and refuge in distress,
Our Saviour and our God!

See here, a helpless sinner see;
Weak and in pain he looks to thee,
For healing in thy blood.

In sickness make thou all his bed,
Thy hand support his fainting head,
His feeble soul defend;

Teach him on thee to cast his care,
And all his grief and burden bear,
And love him to the end.

If now thou wilt his soul require,
O, sit as a refiner's fire,

Thy love hath quicker wings than Death,
The fulness of thy Spirit breathe,
And bring thy nature in.

If in the vale of tears thy will
Appoints him to continue still,
O, sanctify his pain!

And let him patiently submit
To suffer as thy love sees fit,
And never once complain.

O, let him look to thee alone,
That all thy will on him be done!
His only pleasure be,

Alike resigned to live or die,
As most thy name may glorify,

To live or die to thee.

WESLEY.

SCHOOL OF SUFFERING.

"In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul."- Psalm cxxxviii. 3.

SAVIOUR! beneath thy yoke

My wayward heart doth pine;
All unaccustomed to the stroke

Of love divine:

Thy chastisements, my God, are hard to bear,

Thy cross is heavy for frail flesh to wear.