leading you to repentance, to gaining the forgiveness of your sins, and to securing your everlasting safety.

FAITH.

AITH," says St. Paul, "is the substance

"FA

of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen;" it is, in other words, a belief in things we cannot see. There is a great deal in this present world which we believe because we read it in books, or because others tell us of it, but which we can never see with our own eyes, and in the world beyond the grave nothing is as yet seen, but everything is a subject of belief, or faith. We all SAY we believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ, but it is not all who act as if they believed, even though the future of their souls depends on the way in which men follow out their belief. Now, a true, active faith in God is necessary at all times for all His servants, but for those who are suffering any affliction under His hand, either from family troubles or sorrows, or from sickness, a faith in His wisdom and goodness is able to give the best comfort. It often happens that we cannot see a way out of our troubles, or do not understand why God has sent any particular cause of grief, or why He has taken from us

something we should much like to keep; but it is just when we are in such difficulties that faith is most valuable, for it reminds us of that Almighty Father above us, who is watching over us and caring for all our wants, who does not willingly afflict His children, but sends them a little trouble in this life in order that they may think more of the life to come, and so be better prepared for the hour of death.

We read in the Gospel of a ruler of the Jews, who came to our Lord, to ask that his daughter might be healed from a grievous sickness. While he was talking to Jesus, news came that his daughter was dead, but our Lord said to him: "Fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole;" and the ruler did believe, and so our Lord went and raised his daughter from the dead. Should not this story teach us the power of faith? and should it not show us that God is able even now to raise the sick and give them health and strength if it pleases Him, however serious their sickness may be? But if it does not please Him to restore them, and bring them back into all the activity and bustle of life, is it not a sign that He has some better plan for them-that He wishes to bring about their good, even against their will?

"What must I do to be saved?" was the cry of the Philippian jailer; to which the answer of Paul and Silas was, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house." The same

thing may well be said to us all: there is no other name under Heaven by which men can be saved but this alone; and in a true belief in the mercies of God through His beloved Son is to be found more real comfort and happiness than all the health and strength and riches in the world could give. Are we weary and heavy laden with the cares of this world and the burden of sin? with Him we can find rest; are we worn out by pain or disease? with Him is the best kind of medicine; are we friendless and alone? He is a Friend who never leaves us, never forgets us, and is always able and willing to give help in time of need.

Do not, then, ever think that God has forsaken you. He is still ever near you, providing for your wants and listening to your prayers; and if it seems that His face is for a time turned away, remember that "His wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eye, and in His pleasure is life ;heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning :" and be ready to say with Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." Believe in God and in His mercy with all your hearts; for if you do, He will certainly visit you in the time appointed, and after this life is ended, He will receive you into His rest.

FAITH IN ADVERSITY.

E all believe in God; we believe that

Wh
W there is a mighty Being somewhere, who

is far greater than ourselves; few men have ever lived who have denied Him in word, though many live as though there were no God, or at least as though they had nothing to do with Him. But with those of us who profess more than this, and make some pretensions to being religious, what does their belief amount to ?-with most to a few prayers and a little outward observance; with few to directing their thoughts and actions only by His will. And yet these last alone have a true faith, they alone believe what they ought, they alone believe that God has made and governs all things and watches over all our lives, and will reward or punish us hereafter, accordingly as we have done good or evil. It is not difficult, perhaps, to have such a belief as this, so long as the world uses us well, and we enjoy good health and prosperity, when our own arm seems able to help us, and God gives us all that we require for life and contentment; the difficulty is to hold fast our faith in time of trouble, when clouds gather round us, and one misfortune follows another so quickly that we do not know where it will end, and when

we are able to gain no help from man, or from our own skill or power. Then, I say, a hearty belief in the power, and wisdom, and goodness of God becomes very difficult; and yet it is then, perhaps, that it is most wanted to comfort, to encourage, and to support us, so that we may not fail in the hour of trial.

Some forms of sickness which cast down our spirits, and lead us to think ourselves worse than we really are, make faith particularly difficult, and all kinds of trouble will sometimes make us forget how much good is mixed up with what we think misfortune, and how much worse we might have been off if God had been pleased to afflict us still farther.

It is, however, the part of a true Christian. to resist such temptations, and to watch and pray with all his heart, that his faith fail not. The Psalmist felt his best comfort to be in faith in God's mercy when he said, "Whom have I in Heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of Thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever;" and we may found our hopes of help and consolation on the same belief, for if we wait upon the Lord-if we put our whole trust in Him, however difficult it may be to do so-most assuredly we shall not be disappointed. And remember, we cannot see beyond the present, we do not understand all