departed from God, and when he cried in the anguish of confession, "Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight." We cannot think of tears more painful than those which Peter shed when the look of Jesus reminded him of his departure from his suffering Lord. As the same character of sinful neglect and forgetfulness is but too common, the same painful experience. may be expected to be found. It is a very different experience when we are first convinced of sin, and are disposed to come to the Lord, from that which is known by the penitent, who is anxious to return to the Lord after wilfully departing from the way of His statutes. We may feel distressed as we learn that we are under condemnation, and that we can in no wise merit the forgiveness of sin, when before, we had known nothing of the teeling of sorrow and repentance. It is a far more acute sense of distress, when we have once fled for refuge to Jesus, and have been received by Him, and heard the assurances of pardon and love, but have forgotten His mercy, —have turned away from Him,—have taken part again with His enemies,— and then desire to come back. If the feeling will, in the first instance, press itself upon the heart, that our sins are too great to be forgiven, and that our unworthiness must prevent our reception, how much more so must it be the case in the latter. Such is the experience of those who, having departed from Him, are now exclaiming, in the bitterness of their spirit, "O that I knew where I might find Him." You feel intensely. You know that yours has been grievous sin, and great ingratitude. But there is a fulness of relief. The Lord is "slow to anger D and plenteous in mercy," and "ready to forgive." If you will arise and return, He will meet you by the way. If you will forsake the evil, He will "abundantly pardon." If you will confess your sins, He will remit them. He declares by the prophet, through whom He urges you to return to Him, "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely for mine anger is turned away." You may find your sanctuary in infinite mercy. There is a fulness of love with Him who calls you back into His fold, from which you have strayed. It is a precious promise which Jesus is still giving to all those who are cast down, and "weary and heavy laden," when He says, "Come unto Me, and I will give you rest." "Return, O wanderer, to thy home, Return, return ! Return, O wanderer, to thy home, 'Tis Jesus calls for thee; The Spirit and the Bride say come, O now for refuge flee. Return, return!” CHAPTER VI. Troubled because not Successful in Effort. "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days."-SOLOMON. "The land of triumph lies on high, And finish all the glorious war." OD speaks very plainly to His people, and they cannot but recognise His voice, as it is addressed to them; and as they hear it, they are ever desirous to render obedience. In very many Scriptures He has recorded His |