them, We may be mietaken, Our trust may rest on a deceitful founoation. Our staff may break and pierce our hand. But we 11lw11ye know that the character of Gorl is tmassailable. He bas an assured ground of confidence who trusts in the Name of the Lord, whose repose is in the Divine character. Absolute goodness, perfect wisd0m, infinite love,-these form the warrant of faith. III. It is right and wise, therefore, THAT FAITH BE DECLARED, Let him who has learnt where the soul may find refuge and help declare it to others. Let him glorify God by his feeble tribute. It is his best, if his lowliest, offering. How great an indignity we feel if any one disputes our vemcity I But be who confides in our word and character, even in times when both are aspersed, pays to us the highest tribute of friendship and of faith. So let us bring our humble offerings of trust, of thankfulness, and love-our spiritual gold, frankincense, and myrrh-and lay them at the feet of the everlasting King. Though he lay the heaviest burdens upon me, I will not doubt his goodness; though he treat me as a dog, yet will I cleave to him. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." IV. Such a faith is BUBE TO BE REWARDED. 1. It has its reward in the peace of mind which it brings. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed 011 thee: because he trnsteth in thee." The driven sparrow finds its house, and the swallow its nest. The dove returns to the ark. When there is no rest for the wounded spirit, it turns and finds its rest in God. Here it hides and waits in an assured hope. Job was brought to the very earth; but the Lord, who seemed to be slaying him, raised him up and gave him an abundant reward. 2. A further reward is secured in the character gained. 3. And yet a further one in the final Divine approbation of the faithful, trusting, submissive, obedient servant. Such faith shall not lose its reward. -R.G. Ver. 24.-The reasons/or sorrow. It has ever been a longing of the suffering heart of man to know why afflictions are permitted. Job is a striking example of the sufferer reduced to questioning. He makes his appeal for the reasons. " Wherefore hidest thou thy face?" Others have urged this inquiry. Even the Exemplar of all patient, submissive, trustful, obedient sufferers cried a.loud, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" But the answer comes not to Job with the quickness he may have desired. Yet though he giveth none account of his ways, all may be assured his purposes are wise and good. In the light of later teachings we may read "the end of the Lord." That which we " endure " we know " is for chastening." This, then, is the a.newer in general to the cry, "Wherefore hidest thou thy face?" Then, as far as we can interpret the answer to the cry to which no answer is immediately given, we may say- I. A reason for sorrow may be found in ITS FITNESS TO BE A TEST OF FAITH. That faith should be tested, and so developed and perfected, is an obvious propriety. But for such testing it would be a dead, inoperative faculty. As the wing of the young eagle is strengthened by the demands made upon it when borne aloft, and then committed to its own unaided effort, so faith grows in strength by every appeal made to it. It is here experience is gained. By this men grow. The heart is made acquainted with "the ways of the Lqrd." The exercised faculty becomes familiarized with its duties. It learns to bear a heavier strain. Each successful performance of duty leaves it better fitted to act in future. The strong faith is the faith that has borne the severe test. II. A second reason may be found in THE NECESSARY DEVELOPMENT OF PATIENCE. The heroic fortitude of the soul that can endure "as seeing him who is invisible " is not gained with suddenness. By slow steps is this height reached. By slow accretions is this grace perfected. The man unaccustomed to discomfort is unwilling to leave his freedom and ease, and to undertake toilsome and painful service. Sorrow oppresses the soul, but it thereby develops that power by which the soul is upheld. The slothful, self-indulgent spirit is unfitted for hard toil; and the world needs the willing labourer. There is a schooling of the soul by self-denial, by fasting. The substitute for the self- imposed training is the divinely imposed trinJ. The trial of faith is very precious if i~ leaves the soul steadior in patient endurance. By such trained souls is the world's great work to be done. III. SonROW PERFECTS THE SOUL IN A LOW LY SUBWSSION TO THE DIVINE WILL. "It 238 THE BOOK OF JOB. [oe:. XIII, 1-28,
ie the Lord: let him do I\B eeemeth him good," ml\y be a defiant ory of rebellion: "Do thy worst;" or it ml\y be" lowly, trustfnl, resigned committll of the life to the Divine purpoll4!8 : "Whl\t he wills is best." The school of affliction iis " hard sohool, but its patient scholars are well taught. .And though "no affliction for the present eeemeth to he joyous, but grievous, nevertheloss afterwnrd it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby." IV. SoRllOW MAY BE THE MEANII OF EVOKING THE MOST SINCEB'I AND BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLES oF onEDIENCE. The histories of human suffering present us with examples of consummate and unflinching obedience, rendered in unquestioning acquiescence in the Divine purpose and in the pure love of the heart. The highest point ever reached by the obedient spirit was that of our great Pattern, who, in the depth of darkest affliction and sorrow of soul, patiently reiterated the sublime expresMion of a wholly consecrated service," Neverthel6SS not my will, but thy will, be done."-R. G.