February 24

Their strength is to sit still.—Is. xxx, 7.

Steep mountain-sides and cliffs I cannot scale;

Even in sunny fields my footsteps fail.

Here in the valley, Lord, I sit and try

To bring refreshment to the passers-by.

Lord, may the sweeping winds that round me blow,

Cause Thy dear cherished seeds to farther go;

Sown on the breeze, the fruit I cannot see;

O, garner, Lord! I sow them all for Thee.

ANONYMOUS.

That God has circumscribed our life may add a peculiar element of trial, but often it defines our way and cuts off many tempting possibilities that perplex the free and the strong; whilst it leaves intact the whole body of spiritual reality, with the Beatitude thereon, "That if we know these things, happy are we if we do them." We know that God orders the lot; and to meet it with the energies it requires and permits, neither more nor less, to fill it at every available point with the light and action of an earnest and spiritually inventive mind, though its scene be no wider than a sick-chamber, and its action narrowed to patient suffering, and gentle, cheerful words, and all the light it can emit, the thankful quiet of a trustful eye—without chafing as though God had misjudged our sphere, and placed us wrong, and did not know where we could best serve Him—this is what, in that condition, we have to do. J. H. THOM.