November 3

9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: 11 When goods increase, they are increased the king himself is served by the field. that eat them; and what good is there to the 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with with their eyes? 11 The sheep of a labouring man is sweet. increase. This is also vanity.

whether he eat little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun; namely, richer kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail; and he begeteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, asked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go, and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

17 All his days also be eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him; for it is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

Do not be over-anxious about riches. Get as much of true wisdom and goodness as you can; but be satisfied with a very moderate portion of this world's goods. Riches may prove a curse as well as a blessing.

"I was walking through an orchard, looking about me, when I saw a low tree laden more heavily with fruit than the rest. On a nearer examination, it appeared that the tree had been dragged to the very earth, and broken by the weight of its treasures. 'Oh,' said I, gazing on the tree, 'here lies one who has been ruined by his riches!' . . . When I see so many rich people, as I do, caring so much for their bodies and so little for their souls, I pity them from the bottom of my heart, and sometimes think there are as many ruined by riches as by poverty. 'They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.' The prayer will suit you, perhaps, as well as it does me, 'Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me; lest I be full and deny Thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.'"—Old Humphrey.

Closet Promise.—The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.—Psalm xli 3.

The following lines were written by a lady who laid upon a bed of extreme suffering for many years.

"Shut in!" did you say, my sisters?

Oh no! Only led away

Out of the dust and turmoil,

The burden and heat of the day,

Into the cool green pastures,

By the waters calm and still,

Where I may lie down in quiet,

And yield to my Father's will,

Earth's ministering ones come round me,

With faces kind and sweet,

And we sit and learn together

At the loving Saviour's feet;

And we talk of life's holy duties,

Of the crosses that lie in the way,

And they must go out and bear them,

While I lie still and pray.

I am not shut in, my sisters,

For the four walls fade away,

And my soul goes out in gladness,

To bask in the glorious day.

This wasting, suffering body, With its weight of weary pain, Can never die: my vision, My spirit cannot restrain

I wait the rapturous ending— Or, rather, the entering in

Through the gates that stand wide open, But admit no pain of sin.

I am only waiting, sisters, Till the Father calls, "Come home!"

Waiting, with my lamp all burning, Till the blessed Bridegroom come. --Selected.