Captive, in whose narrow cell Lift the heart and bend the knee! X. JT Words of Counsel. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in knowledge.—Proverbs ix. 9. T is not the place that honoreth the man, but the man that honoreth the place. Do not consider thyself a giant, and thy neighbor small as a locust. He who covets things that are not rightfully his, will not only be disappointed in his wish, but even lose the things that are rightfully his. Let a man be yielding like the reed in the wind, not hard and unbending like the cedar; let him be the first to restrain his tongue in a dispute, the first also to forgive and to forget what was spoken hastily and in anger. Even calumniators honor truth, knowing, as they do, that, unless they mix some truth with their falsehoods, they would never be believed at all. He who listens to the talebearer and backbiter, shares his sin; for it is the willing ear that sets the tongue in motion. He who takes no part in the sorrows and burdens of the community, will have no share in the joys and rewards when they come. THE PHARISEES. m Y God, Thou art my glorious Sun By whose bright beam I shine; As Thou, Lord, ever art with me, Let me be ever Thine. Thou art my living fountain, Lord, To whom myself I owe. XI. Disappointments. Thou, O God, bringest down to the grave and bringest up He bringeth low and lifteth up.-I. Samuel ii. 5, 6. 'ND a certain man found Joseph, and, behold, he was wandering in the field, and the man asked him, saying: What seekest thou? and he said: I seek my brethren; tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flock. Poor lad! brethren he sought, murderers he found. What a picture of disappointment! what thoughts must have crowded his brain when he lay bewildered in his pit; and yet was this sinking into the depth the first step to his rising, as he himself acknowledged to his brothers: Ye meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. An Eastern saying affirms: The flames into which Abraham was cast by Nimrod, according to tradition, turned into beds of roses and jessamine. It is not often that we find out at the beginning what God meant when He casts us into the pit of suffering; we must be content to know that He always means something, and what but final and lasting good can that be? K NOW well, my soul, God's hand controls Whate'er thou fearest; Round Him in calmest music rolls Whate'er thou hearest. What to thee is shadow, to Him is day, And not on a blind and aimless way XII. God's Gift, the Spirit's Chrift. G. G. Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Law.-Psalms cxix. 18. Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors.-Psalms cxix. 24. READ and read again (the Bible), and do not despair of help to understand something of the will and mind of God, though you think they are fast locked up from you. Neither trouble your head though you have not commentaries and expositions; pray and read, and read and pray; for a little from God is better than a great deal from men; also what is from men is uncertain, and is often lost and tumbled over and over by men; but what is from God is fixed as a nail in a sure place. There is nothing that so abides with us as what we receive from God; things that we receive at God's hand come to us as things from the minting house, though old in themselves, yet new to us. Old truths are always new to us, if they come to us with the smell of Heaven upon them. JOHN BUNYAN. "HAT is this that stirs within, Loving goodness, hating sin, Always craving to be blest, Finding here below no rest? "What is it? whither, whence, "'Tis the soul,-mysterious name, "Onward, upward to Thy throne, Thee in all, and all in Thee!" XIII. How to Give and to Cake Counsel. Then I said: Wisdom is better than strength; nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. The words of the wise man are heard in quiet, more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.-Ecclesiastes ix. 16, 17. PEAK, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, but let it be with sound knowledge; and hinder not music. Display not thy wisdom out of season. Sum up thy speech, many things in few words. Be as one that knoweth, yet holdeth his tongue. If thou be among great men, behave not as their equal. Before a shamefast man favor shall go forth, as lightning goes before thunder. A Do nothing without counsel; and when thou hast once done, repent not. Be in peace with many; nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand. faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord find him. Forsake not an old friend for a new one; the new is not comparable to him. A new friend is as new wine; when it is old thou shalt drink of it with pleasure. Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire. Jest not with a rude man lest thy ancestors be disgraced. ECCLESIASTICUS. E that is of reason's skill bereft, And wants the staff of wisdom him to stay, Is like a ship in midst of tempest left, Without a helm or pilot her to sway; Full sad and dreadful is that ship's event: |