the way to their realization; that we must die to conquer; that we must die to gain the rest and the glory that are promised. Why, then, are ye so fearful? Trust to the word-look for its fulfilment; and, rather than be afraid of death, you will be able to adopt the language of the Apostle, and say that you "desire to depart and be with Christ." Be comforted, death is the last shadow that will ever fall upon you; the grave is the very gate of heaven. "The righteous hath hope in his death."

"Far from this world of toil and strife,
They're present with the Lord;

The labours of their mortal life

End in a large reward."

RE we not too apt to think of the present as if it were our home? Is not this, in a great measure, the reason why the believer is so careworn, so cast down? The Word, however, teaches us that, "Here we have no continuing city," that "This is not our rest," that now we are "strangers and pilgrims," crossing the wilderness of this world, where we are exposed to temptations, sorrows, and storms. The fact that we have yet to "walk by faith," is sufficient to assure us that there will be difficulties

and trials, and much that is unsolved and mysterious. Faith is not sight. True peace will be in proportion to its reality, but it is the peace of confidence in relation to "that which is not seen,' -it is the peace of trust. We have the assurance, and that assurance is confirmed by observation and experience, that although we may be adopted into the family of God, and may enjoy the manifold blessings of a Father's love, we are naturally alien and much under the pressure of the antagonism of an evil heart, and hence we need discipline, and we realize chastisement, for "What son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?" Sometimes we are ready to ask why it should be so, or why should it be realized in so marked a degree, by the children of God, while many of the world seem prosperous and know but little of present trial. It

is for such questions that we are furnished with the declarations that "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth," and that "in the world we must have tribulation." If the precious gold were not tried in the furnace there would be no refined and pure treasure. If the faith of the believer were not subjected to the test of all the elements of trial which he realizes by the way, there would be no purity of holiness to the praise of God, no meetness for the inheritance of the redeemed in heaven. All a believer's sorrow and sadness are according to unerring wisdom and unchanging love. The weariness of the present, and the troubles of this life are not the rod held in the hand of One who is angry. The Father loves us so well that He will not permit us to be satisfied here, and hence the weariness. He is so

determined upon our salvation, that He afflicts us, lest we should sleep in the midst of perils, and hence our troubles. It is for "our profit," that we may realize "the peaceable fruits of righteousness"-that we may gain the "white robes" of conquest-and secure the crowns of glory which never fade away the fullest recompense of the reward of promise. Brethren, "think it not strange" concerning these things by the way. It is the old truth,―true of every follower of Him who suffered for us.

"The path of sorrow, and that path alone,

Leads to the land where sorrow is unknown."

If then we have not our weariness

and our troubles, we may well fear that we are not in the way to the "rest which remaineth for the people of God." Why then art thou cast down? "Only believe," and thou shalt find rest, peace, and joy,