Mother: I said, you know, Walter, that we should find, I thought, every day, something fresh to tell us of God's love;-and this watchfulness for you that He has put into your mother's heart to shelter you from sin, and to plan pleasures for you,-how plainly that tells us that He loves you-does it not? And it is just like what He himself does for His children— for me. I, you know, dear children, have no earthly parent to shelter me and help me, but I have a heavenly Parent (as I told you once, long ago, Walter) who takes care for me just in the same sort of manner that I take care for you;-the same sort of manner, I say, but far more wisely, because He knows so much better than I do what is really good for me, and what is not. I feel that He understands me, just as you feel that I understand you,-and that He knows exactly what will trouble me, and what delight me. To-day, for instance, I feel how in His love He has made me able to enjoy this beautiful day-given me eyes that delight to look upon all the pretty things about us, the deep shadows and the cheerful sunshine, the dark leaves against the blue sky, and the sparkling little river; how He has put strength into my legs, so that it is enjoyment to walk along; and given me a happy child-two happy children to walk beside me and talk of all these pleasant things; and, above all, He has given me an untroubled mind, without which I could not enjoy any of these other blessings. It is true I cannot see Him as you do me while I walk beside you; nor can I hear Him speak as I speak to you; but when I find some pleasure planned for me which He knows I love, or some lesson taught me which He knows I need, or when I find that I have been saved from some trouble or some sin that I dreaded, I feel that He understands me that He has known my wants, my wishes, and my fears, and that He has indeed dealt kindly with me. Are you tired, dear children, of listening to me? I dare say you are; but just try and attend for two minutes longer I want to explain to you about one other difference that there is between the way in which I understand you and the way in which God understands me. I can only guess your feelings, though I generally guess right, but God cannot mistake mine. Thus you see He can plan for us better than we can plan for each other, because He understands us better. Psalm cxxxix. 17, 18.-How precious are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand. Psalm ciii. 1-4.-Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies. Matthew x. 29--31.-Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not, therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. LEAD THOU ME ON. H. Newman. Lead, kindly light amid the encircling gloom,- The night is dark, and I am far from home,- Keep Thou : my feet I do not ask to see The distant scene ;-one step enough for me. I was not ever thus; nor pray'd that Thou I loved to choose and see my path; but now I loved day's dazzling light, and, spite of fears, So long Thy power hath bless'd me, surely still "Twill lead me on Thro' dreary doubt, thro' pain and sorrow, till The night is gone; And with the morn those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile. LESSON XIX. GOD'S LOVING KINDNESS IN SENDING TRIALS. Channing's Discourse on the Death of Dr. Follen. Dewey's Serinons: "The Miseries of Life." Now it happened that that morning when uncle Henry came to breakfast, he laid his whip on the side-table when he came in, and forgot to take it with him when he went away again. Walter and Caroline amused themselves in the afternoon with playing with it; and the next morning they ran out into the garden with it. From the garden they ran into the lane, and seeing a bunch of wild strawberries high up on the bank, Walter laid down the whip that he might help Caroline up the bank to reach them. They went on and on, finding more strawberries, and quite forgot the whip till after dinner; and then, when Walter went to look for it, it was gone. His mother was sorry when she heard about it, for she knew that poor Walter would not like to tell his uncle about it, and yet she felt that he ought to do "I can speak for him if I choose," she said to SO. |