April 12

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

PSALM xxiii. 1.

I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat. — MARK viii. 2.

CURIOUS ones have sought for a likeness of the face of Jesus the Christ, but the devout soul looks into the heart of him who reveals the Father and is glad. "I have compassion." His nature compasses our necessity. His heart enfolds us. Nor need one say, "I am left out," because it seems too hard to believe that on thee singly he fixes his love. With the multitude thou mayest stand and still be loved.

"There's a wideness in God's mercy Like the wideness of the sea."

Too much on our guard we cannot be against "the false limits of our own" by which "we make the love of God too narrow." "I have compassion on the multitude."

Who has not found that "man's extremity is God's opportunity"? Blind unbelief asks, "Carest thou not?" Faith's triumph is that "he knows what we have need of." Only let us not misplace our necessities. The soul first — always first. "They have now been with me three days." What soul-feasting during that precious time! But the body has its place and must be cared for; so what he would not do for himself he did for the people, — he wrought a miracle to meet the extreme occasion. Is not every providence a miracle? Were our eyes but anointed with eye-salve, the commonest event of our lives would appear "big with mercy."

O little heart of mine! shall pain Or sorrow make thee moan. When all this God is all for thee, A Father all thine own?

FARER.