August 3

1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

4 He that observeh the wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou

knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

7 Truly, the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh it vanity.

9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes, but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood, and youth are vanity.

The figure here used is as beautiful as it is striking. There is no rainfall in Egypt; the land is dependent for its fertility on the annual overflow of the Nile. Rice is the staple of food, and this is sown literally upon "the waters," either from boats or by wading in. When the waters subside the seed takes root, and, the soil enriched by the alluvial deposits, the seed springs up and yields a rich harvest.

So every Christian act is an act of faith. It is throwing seed into the river. It is co-operating with God. To sow at any other time than at the annual overflow would be to waste the seed. A wise man will be careful to observe the times and seasons in all his efforts to do good and to get good.

"The outcome, where the conditions are met, is as sure as the laws of nature. So sure as the Nile will rise and overflow its banks at the appointed time; so sure as the rice cast upon the bosom of the turbid waters will seek the bottom and there vegetate and ripen its grain in the sunshine, so sure will bread cast upon the spiritual waters, in faith and in conjunction with the spirit and providence, 'be found after many days.' Weeks, months, years may intervene between the sowing and the reaping—between the act of faith and the divine fulfilment, but there will be no failure! 'Thou shalt find it.' The word of God hath spoken it. The Nile may dry up and the earth refuse her increase, but the word of God shall stand!"

Closet Promise.—The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in Him—Psalm lxiv. 10.

I cannot say, Beneath the pressure of life's cares to-day, I joy in these;

But I can say That I had rather walk this rugged way. If Him it please. —S. G. Browning.