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The withdrawal of a friend from our side is a special providence, even for ourselves. Never does the grave take hold of a mortal's feet, but his companion hath an omnipresent eye the while fixed on him in compassion. We should think of that eye, as well as of the hand that taketh away. Meditation on the dead quickens our faith in the unseen; for sorrow hath a sacred efficacy; there being no touch so purifying as that of a dead man's hand; and few living objects having such regenerative power as the sight of a fellow mortal's death. Mountford.

I have sometimes thought that the Lord deals with his friends who are dearest to him, as the ocean does with its waves. Sometimes it pushes them against the rocks, where they break in pieces, sometimes it rolls them on the sand, or dashes them on the mire. And then, in a moment, it retakes them into the depths of its own bosom, where they are absorbed with the same rapidity with which they were first ejected. The more violently they are dashed upon the rocks, the more quickly and impetuously do they return to the great centre. With others he deals more gently. There are many, far the greater number, whom he permits to live by consolations mingled with faith. How few are those, how very rare, who are driven and dashed where the Lord pleases, till their wills are wholly destroyed, and they can no longer demand any thing for themselves.

Upham's Life of Madame Guyon.

Dieu ne défend pas les routes fleuries quand elles servent à revenir à lui, et ce n'est pas toujours par les sentiers rudes et sublimes de la montagne que la brebis égarée retourne au bercail. Chateaubriand.

The Spaniards have a saying "Where evil is, good is ;" and sickness is an occasion to demonstrate its truth. Its sweetness and consolation surpass all the exhilaration and joy of the most vigorous health "as much" says St. Augustin, "as the wisdom of Job in sickness exceeded that of Adam in the strength and freshness of youth wandering in the groves." Ages of Faith.

St. Theresa said to a devout merchant from whom she had received an alms, "I have recommended you in my prayers as you desired, and it has been revealed to me, that your name is written in the book of life, and as a sign of the truth of what I say, you will never prosper again in your worldly affairs." So it turned out; his ships were successively wrecked and sunk; becoming unable to pay his debts, he was delivered from prison only through the esteem which his creditors entertained for his piety; and being thus stript of all worldly goods, but contented with the grace of God alone, he closed his days in the odour of sanctity. Ib.

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One single thanks be to God!' and 'blessed be God!' uttered in adversity, is of more avail than a thousand thanksgivings in the day of prosperity. Ib.

If men in the middle ages pretended not to be able to walk erect on the waves of the tribulation of this life, as our Lord walked on the Sea, at least they felt that they could, as St. Augustine says, be borne over them on the wood of the cross. Ages of Faith.

Even by means of our sorrows we belong to the Eternal Plan. Humboldt.

"Crosses are ladders leading to Heaven." "Every Cross hath its inscription."

Perhaps the dregs of every experience contain its virtue.

God denies a Christian nothing, but with a design to give him something better. Cecil.

The blessed man is he who is under education in God's school. Ib.

The manner in which a youth encounters his first trouble gives often a character to his life; for it decides whether, besides his property, fortune shall have his spirit at her disposal, to exalt, depress, and play with, at caprice. Mountford.

The bad fortune of the good turns their faces up to heaven; and the good fortune of the bad bows their heads down to the earth. Sadi.

"Our voluntary sorrows germinate in us, as the growth of the particular life we lead."

Sterling says, All the sad infernal rivers flow from fountains in this upper world.

I have long been in the habit of viewing every thing around me as in a state of alienation. I have never leaned toward my comforts without finding them give way. A sharp warning has met me. 'These are aliens, and as an alien live thou among them.' comforts by the way.· We may take up the pitcher to drink, but the moment we begin to admire, God will in love dash it to pieces.

Cecil.

We may use our

The heart must be divorced from its idols. Age does a great deal in curing the man of his frenzy ; but, if God has a special work for a man, he takes a shorter and sharper course with him. This grievous loss is only a farther and more expensive education for the work of the ministry; it is but saying more closely, 'Will you pay the price?' Ib.

"Ah," said the imprisoned bird, "how unhappy were I in my eternal night, but for those melodious tones which sometimes make their way to me like beams of light from afar, and cheer my gloomy day. I would myself repeat those heavenly melodies like an echo, until I have stamped them on my heart and then I shall be able to bring

comfort to myself in my darkness." Thus spoke the little warbler, and soon had learned the sweet airs which were sung to it with voice and instrument.

That done, the curtain was raised, — for the darkness had been purposely contrived for its instruction.

Richter.

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