November 3

In his favor is life.—Psalms 30:5.

DO I desire, above all things, to have the favor of God, and to be assured, by faith, that I am one of his children? Do I endeavor, by the aid of his Holy Spirit, so to order my life, that the full sunlight of his favor may continually shine in upon my soul? If the light of his countenance is at any time withdrawn and hidden from me, do I prayerfully seek out the reason, and endeavor so to live as to be assured that his promises are mine?

God's favor must be sought in time, if we would enjoy it either in time or eternity. *

Just as the sun gleams over the palace, and into the cottage, flushing alike with its splendor the council-chamber of the monarch and the kitchen of the peasant, so religion illumines at once the heaven of our hopes, and the earth of our cares. Secularities become hallowed; toil brightens with the smile of God; business becomes as the air of heaven, a means of life and growth to us; light from God comes through it to us; and glances from us, go through it up to God. —COLEY.

Show me thy face; the heaviest cross

Will then seem light to bear;

There will be gain in every loss,

And peace with every care.

With such light feet the years will fleet,

Life will seem brief as blest;

Till I have laid my burden down,

And entered it to rest.