47. The Patient implores God not to forsake him

EXHORTATION.

"Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her suckling child, that she cannot have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands."—Isaiah xlix. 14, 15, 16. If a poor man rejoices greatly in a rich benefactor, a deserted one in a powerful patron, so may a sick man be greatly comforted in his sufferings by the promise of God that he will not forsake him.

1. But he must remember that every delay of help is not necessarily a desertion. Many patients are ready, so soon as God's help is not promptly afforded according to their calculation, to cry that God has forsaken them. It is not right to think thus. What is prorogued is not always dissolved, and if the Lord does not help every day and hour, he always helps when his help is needed. 2. The believing patient must persist in saying, "God cannot forsake me for I am his child—God cannot forsake me, for so he has promised—God cannot forsake me, he has often helped me heretofore. If he will thus rest his soul in God, he will be favored to suffer pati26*

THE PATIENT IMPLORES GOD ently to the end, and at last to be gloriously convinced that God did not forsake him.

Dearest God and Father! thou who has loved me from all eternity, and out of thy great love hast drawn me to thee, behold I come to thee in sickness, and humbly pray that thou wilt not forsake me in my feebleness. Men tell me they cannot help me, and thus all human help has forsaken me. But I know that by thee I am not forsaken, for God forsakes none of those who put their trust in him; he remains faithful unto his own; though things look strange, yet never fear, thou shalt see with joy how thy God will deliver thee. O my God, do not forsake me! See how long my sufferings endure. In the evening I hope to be better in the morning, and at noon I already long for the close of day; at night I often cry, "Watchman tell us of the night!" My soul yearns for thee from morning watch to morning watch. O my God, do not forget me! thou seest how my sufferings increase. O let not the burden overbear me quite; remove the stone that rests upon me, the rod that smites the pangs that distract me. Whither shall I go, if thou wilt forsake me? If thou wilt not help me, no creature can help me; if thou wilt forsake me, I am without resource and shall remain NOT TO FORSAKE HIM.

so. But I know thou wilt not forsake me; I remind thee of the promise thou hast made: I will not forsake thee, nor forget thee. Those who wait upon the mountains shall not fall, but shall stand firm as Mount Zion. The Hero in Israel doth not deny, he will give strength unto his people, and will save the wretch who has no help, and will be gracious unto the souls of the poor. In this, thy word, I trust, and hope that thou wilt faithfully keep thy word in heaven. Thou canst not forsake me for I am thy child; I am thine own inheritance, purchased by thy precious blood; I am thine, and thou canst and wilt not forsake me, thy child and thy property; thou hast never yet forsaken me in my troubles and sorrows, when woes unnumbered had assailed me, when the waves of affliction beat over my head; and thou wilt not desert me now. In view of this, I am content; on this I rely. I am of good cheer, and say, "Lord, I will not let thee go, except thou help me," in such way and manner as is most pleasing unto thee. Amen. HYMN,

1. I do not bear my cross unaided,

My Jesus carries it with me;

In sickness he is still my brother,

In death and in captivity.

I do not bear my cross alone,

This comfort sweet is still my own.

2. His promise is, that he will help me

And comfort, in his own good tin

And when his hour arrives, my son

Will vanish, as it had its prime.

Then is the comfort all my own,

I do not bear my cross alone.

3. 'Tis God alone, by whose great mercy

I have been spared this day to see;

'Tis he who makes my sufferings harmless,

Although it sorely tortures me;

Yes, I remember, while I groan,

I do not bear my cross alone.

4. And I will suffer all in patience,

Through many a long and weary day,

Why should I doubt the Lord's assistance,

His help will not too long delay;

For heretofore I oft have known,

I do not bear my cross alone.

5. My dearest Lord, I have confided

To thy protection all in all;

Thy love shall be my full reliance,

Until thy welcome voice shall call.

Am I not evermore thine own?

I do not bear my cross alone.

THE PATIENT MEDITATES ON DEATH.