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mensely longer than the thing that flung it. Put your anxieties into definite speech. It will very often reduce their proportions to your own apprehension. Speaking of them, even to a man who may be able to do little to help, eases them wonderfully. Put them into definite speech to God ; and there are very few of them that will survive.
^ Some weavers were working diligently in an Eastern palace. The men and women wondered to see a little child amongst them, whose work always went smoothly on, without a break or even a snarl in the thread. They asked her how it happened that they could not succeed so well ; their silk constantly got frayed and broken, and the beautiful pattern was worn and soiled by their mistakes and tears. The child answered : " I only go and tell the King." They declared that they did the same, going to Him once a week. " But," she softly answered,
"I go and get the knot untied At the first little tangle."
That is the secret of perpetual peace. If we were only careful always to take our little anxieties to our King — and to leave them there — we should form habits strong enough to carry us triumph- antly through every great crisis.^
We tell Thee of our care, Of the sore burden pressing day by day; And in the light and pity of Thy face
The burden melts away.
We breathe our secret wish, The importunate longing which no man may see; We ask it humbly, or, more restful still,
We leave it all to Thee.
The thorns are turned to flowers; All dark perplexities seem light and fair ; A mist is lifted from the heavy hours.
And Thou art everywhere.^
(3) Thaiiksgiving. — "With thanksgiving." This may be taken to indicate both the general spirit in which suppliants should approach the Throne of Grace, and also an important and indis- pensable part of their worship. It may teach on the one hand that when we go into God's presence, however distressful our
1 Dora Farncomb, The Vision of His Face, 142. ' Susan Coolidge.
PHILIPPIANS IV. 6 433
circumstances may be, we should not be moody, morose, doubtful ; but rather, in respect to Him and His help, full of hope, and full of gratitude. It may teach on the other hand that while engaged in asking new blessings and fresh supplies of grace, we should not fail to call to mind and to record with thanks those that have been already received.
" With thanksgiving " — Paul would never omit that element from his receipt when giving his cure for care. Half our worries would immediately melt away if we began to sing a psalm of praise. Some anxieties can resist everything except thanksgiving. When that begins, they melt away like icebergs in tropical seas. The life that is ungrateful is very cold, and icebergs abound in its atmosphere. Let us raise the temperature and we shall be amazed at the results. A really thankful heart is so crowded with the sense of God's mercies that it can offer no hospitality to worry and care.
^ Thanklessness is a parching wind, drying up the fountain of pity, the dew of mercy, the streams of grace. It is a destruc- tive thing, an enemy of grace, hostile to salvation. As far as I have any insight, most dear brethren, nothing so displeases God in the sons of grace, the converted, as ingratitude. For it blocks up the way against grace, and where it is, thenceforth grace finds no access, no place. Thinkest thou that to such an one greater grace shall be given, and not rather what he seemeth to have be taken from him ? For doth not that rightly seem to be lost which is given to one ungrateful ? or may not God repent to have given what seemeth to be lost ? Grateful then and devout must a man be, who longeth that the gift of grace which he hath received should not only abide with him, but be multiplied.^
^ The circulations of the ocean constitute a plain and per- manent picture of the relations between a human soul and a redeeming God. The sea is always drawing what it needs down to itself, and also always sending up of its abundance into the heavens. It is always getting, and always giving. So, when in the covenant the true relation has been constituted, the redeemed one gets and gives, gives and gets ; draws from God a stream of benefits, sends up to God the incense of praise.^
^ I myself am exceedingly variable in spirits, and I always find nothing is near so delightful and inspiriting when I am in low spirits as praising and thanking God in the midst of His
^ St. Bernard. 2 y^ Arnot, Th^ Anchm- of the Soul, 90.
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434 THE ANTIDOTE TO ANXIETY
works. Often and often at the farm have I stood between the cottage and garden door and thanked God for making the world so fair and myself so susceptible of its beauty. I am generally quite happy after that.^
2. The scope of our intercourse with God. — "In everything." There is absolutely no restriction as to the kind of business that is to bring us to the Throne of Grace ; and correspondingly there is no excuse for keeping any kind of burden to ourselves. It is not about what we call religious matters only, or even about great and important matters, whether sacred or secular, that we are permitted to go to God. It is about all matters whatsoever that concern us. Whatever touches our interests, whatever raises a care within our bosoms, whatever is worth an anxiety or thought, may be made, and should be made, the subject of prayer. ^ He to whom we go is indeed the Infinite Jehovah ; but He is also our Father, deeply interested in all that affects our welfare and comfort ; and as there is nothing too great for His power to accomplish, so there is nothing too small for His condescension to notice.