lovingkindness will He draw you and show you such overwhelming love even in 'the depths,' that you shall be able to rejoice in your tribulation, and to feel that it was well worth while to go down into those bitter depths of anguish and sorrow, for the unutterable joy of hearing Him say, even as the waves and billows went over us, 'Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.'

Dark is the night of sorrow,
As it passeth slowly by,
And we long for some 'to-morrow'
That may dry the weeping eye.

And star by star is fading

From the sky, erewhile so clear,
And the gloom of night is shading
All that once we held most dear.

And the loved of earth are passing

To the strange and 'silent land';
Every day one more is missing

From the once united band.

And the weary heart is sinking,
For the darkness of the way;
All that once was fair and shining
From our path has fled away.

We forget that they are singing
Happy praises now on high;
Where the city bells are ringing

For their welcome to the sky.

They are telling now the story

Of their Saviour's wondrous love;
They have cast their crowns of glory
At His feet who reigns above.

Yet a little while' of sadness
And we too shall enter there;

We shall reach that land of gladness,
We shall see that city fair.

There, earth's parted ones shall never
Speak that weary word 'Farewell!'
We shall gaze on Him together,
And His glorious praises tell.

We shall find each faded blossom
Brightly blooming in the skies,
Where the time is never autumn,
Where the floweret never dies.

And we'll bless the hand that led us
Through the wilderness unknown;
And the love that safely brought us
To our bright and heavenly home.

H. E. B. D.

PSALM CVII. 33-43.

THE LOVINGKINDNESS OF THE LORD.

'He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

'A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

'He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

'And there He maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

'And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

'He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

6

Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

'He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

'Yet setteth He the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

"The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.'

As the shifting of the scene is not renewed in the remainder of the Psalm, 'it seems best to regard these verses as an episode belonging to the last scene, and

containing the praises of the people and their elders. The figures in the 33rd verse are often used, particularly by Isaiah, to denote an entire revolution, whether physical or moral, social or political. In the opening verses we have a striking contrast exhibited in God's dealings with men, ' He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. He turneth the wilderness into standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.' Here, in ver. 33, we have beauty, fertility, and plenty, turned into repulsive saltness and barrenness,' for the wickedness of those that dwell in the land. Such a change as this came upon Sodom and Gomorrah as in a moment; because their 'sin was very grievous,' and the cry of them waxed great before the face of the Lord; and because they were 'wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly,' therefore He was turned to be their enemy and fought against them and when they said 'Peace and safety,' then sudden destruction came upon them and where but a few hours before the sun had shone upon a well-watered plain, fair and beautiful to look upon, there remained nothing but ashes and brimstone, and 'the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.'

Such a change as this, beloved, must, sooner or later, come upon all the ungodly. They may seem to prosper for awhile, and riches, honours, and happiness, appear to follow them; but it is only for a time; nothing can really prosper in the house of the ungodly, and soon all its apparent beauty shall be turned into barrenness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.' 'I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree, yet he passed away, and lo, he was not; yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.' 'Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world, they

increase in riches.' . . . ' When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely Thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation as in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream, when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when Thou awakest, Thou shalt despise their image.' 'Never

theless, I am continually with Thee, Thou hast holden me by my right hand.' 'Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but Thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee; my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.' What a contrast is here, beloved! Truly, the curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, but He blesseth the habitation of the just.' We are sometimes inclined to think it is the very reverse of all this, because the people of God are often chastened while the world goes on in outward prosperity. But it is not really so, beloved; there is nothing but prosperity to the righteous; God's dealings with them are all in love and mercy, and even where they come as trials, are not curses, but blessings in disguise. However strange and mysterious they may seem to us, we know that He only chastens us in love, that we may turn from the broken cisterns of earth, which can hold no water, to the fountain of living waters, and thirst no more. 'He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.' Again they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow. God's people are indeed 'minished;' they are never otherwise than a little band; it seems at times as if not even a remnant remains, and they are brought very low: yet these are the very times when, in God's providence, their spiritual prosperity is greatest.

These are the times when they are learning many deep and blessed lessons, and are being taught to 'glorify the Lord in the fires.' The end is not yet; 'He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.' The wicked may seem to prosper; he may lie in wait to catch the poor,' and in the secret places to murder the innocent, but ‘the needy shall not alway be forgotten, the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.' God will arise and take vengeance upon His adversaries; inasmuch as they have done it unto one of the least of these His brethren He will pour contempt upon them; He will bring them down from their high looks, and will teach them that He alone is Judge, that 'He putteth down one and setteth up another.' 'Yet setteth He the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.' He helps them; yes, even by the very trials which He sends upon them, He leads them in the right way; and blesseth them ever more and more. The blood of the martyrs has often been the seed of the Church; and in the history of every child of God, it will most certainly be found that even when God has called him to pass through great tribulation and sorrow, He has all the time been leading him on step by step, and making him 'families like a flock,' blessing him with untold blessings, and turning his sorrow into joy. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.' The righteous shall see it, and rejoice; and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.' Oh, for the heart of Mary, my dear friends, to keep all these things, and ponder them in our hearts; to consider and observe the ways of the Lord, in their wisdom and love. Do not let us, beloved, pass on through our pilgrimage with an unobservant eye. Let us be truly wise,' and observe these things; and as we come