and God sends us trials of another kind to make us watchful over ourselves, and to show us that we must trust in Him if we desire health and safety of body or mind. And as temptation comes in many ways, by the "lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life; " as God tries men alike by giving more than they would dare to ask or think of, and by withholding what they desire; so do these trials and temptations come to men of all ranks, conditions, and ages. None are too good or too bad, none too old or too young, to be so tried and tempted; but of this we may be quite certain, no one is tried beyond his power of endurance, for God, who permits the trial," will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it." Nor is it the least excuse for sin to say, as many do, that they are "so tried," for that is to throw the blame of sin on God-to pretend that He is laying on us more than we are able to bear. No! God knows our tempers and dispositions better than we do, and suffers us to fall into such temptations, and sends us such trials as are best fitted to correct our faults and draw us nearer to Him; and it is our duty to receive His chastisements humbly and cheerfully, as knowing that, even through seeming misfortune, He is seeking to work out our good. If we will give way to temptation, let us blame ourselves, and not Him. And if we would learn to be truly thankful for

His dealings with us, let us think from how much evil we are saved, under which we see others suffer; and, while we thank Him that He has fitted a suitable burden to every back, let us seek to show the goodness of our faith by forbearance towards others, and complete confidence in Him, watching indeed, and praying with all earnestness lest we give way to the attacks of the Evil One, and trying to live as those to whom this life is but a passage to a better.

"T

TRUST IN GOD'S GOODNESS.

HEY that put their trust in the Lord," says

the Psalmist, "shall be even as the Mount Sion, which may not be removed, but standeth fast for ever." How full of comfort is this thought for all mankind! How often does it happen that our plans for advancement on earth fail, health gives way, and sickness comes; or we lose our friends, or are unfortunate in business, or one of a thousand accidents happens, which shows us how unsafe and slight is our hold on all earthly things, and how little confidence we can place in our own power to help in time of trouble. The same is the case all the world over: men may be placed in different ranks and stations by God, and some who appear little deserving of un

happiness may seem to be always in misfortune of one kind or another; but sooner or later the stroke of affliction or the hand of death is laid on everyone, and no one can live long in this world without feeling that it is not all pleasant, nor all its trials easy to bear. Perhaps it is impossible for anyone to avoid feeling disheartened sometimes, when the truth is forced on his notice that he is just as liable to affliction as anyone else, and must suffer whenever God shall please to chastise him. But, happily for us all, we know that even pain or affliction is not all evil: we may not like it, but it comes from God, and He sends it for a good purpose. He is no cruel task-master delighting in the agonies of His miserable slaves, but a good and loving Father, who knows all our weaknesses, and feels for the pains we endure, even while He knows they are necessary for our good. For several reasons He sends trouble, whether to punish us for our want of love and obedience to Him, to try our faith, to teach us how little there is in this world which is really lasting or valuable, or to make us long for that blessed place where no trials can ever come; but for whatever reason He may send it, we may be sure it is for our good, and we should try to be thankful that He thus mercifully shows His remembrance of us, rather than complain that we have not all the health or other blessings we may desire. Only think how often you have deserved

punishment, and He has spared you; how little you have loved Him, and how much He has loved you. Think of the care with which He has watched over you; how He has supplied you with food and clothing and house when perhaps you have thought you had little prospect of getting such things; and then ask yourself if you ought not to trust in Him for the future. Ask yourself if you can think of one single time in your whole life when God has not been very loving and very merciful unto you, and then say whether you ought not to feel sure that He is still watching over you, and will still watch over you as long as He permits you to remain on earth. If you want help in difficulties, if you want strength to resist sin, if you want consolation in trouble, go to God for it, trust Him always. He never yet has failed you, nor anyone in the world who trusted in Him; and He never will fail to help all who come to Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. Earthly friends may fail or die, earthly glories may fade away into dust, but Heaven never will fade, never be less bright than it is now, and God who dwells there for ever will never be tired of listening to our prayers, and will never refuse to answer them, if we approach Him in a full trust in His mercy, in deep sorrow for sin, and in a lively hope of a resurrection to eternal life after the troubles of this life are over, through the merits of His beloved Son.

I

UNEXPECTED ILLNESS A CALL

TO REPENTANCE.

T is but a short time since you were able to go about your work; but a few days ago you had no warning of the sickness which was coming upon you, and now how different is your case! pain and discomfort have taken hold of you, and you cannot tell whether you will ever be free from them again in this life.

Now, whatever other reasons there may be why sickness and trouble are sent to men, there is one reason we may be quite sure of, and that is, because God wishes to remind them of a much worse evil they all suffer from-namely, sin. God is now reminding you of your sins; He is giving you time to think over all you have done wrong, and calling upon you to ask for forgiveness. Oh, do not let this time pass away without making all the use of it you can! do not make up your mind that you will recover this time, and that you will have some other sickness in which you may repent of all your sins! Now is the time for you to make your peace with God; now you ought to look well into your own heart and find out all your wickedness; so that, if it please God to bring you back to health and strength, you