March 5

Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart.—Psalms 4:4.

DO I love the hour of quiet, serious meditation, when I can commune with my own heart and with divine truth? Do I not only watch against evil thoughts, but endeavor to cherish those which are good? Do I bring all my thoughts, feelings, inclinations and actions, to the test of God's word? More and more do I desire the Spirit of Christ, and ask for grace that I may be like him, and that my life may show forth his praise?

The external acts of religion, reading God's word, bowing the knee in prayer, going to the sanctuary, are easy. But to examine one's motives and feelings, to turn in upon one's own soul, and know how it stands before God, this is not an easy work. If we will not try ourselves, God will try us.

True self-examination lies in ascertaining how nearly Christ is reproduced in ourselves. His life glows in the gospels, and our hearts are the canvas on which we are to copy it. Let us look long and earnestly upon it, and diligently copy, till our lives reflect the whole divine image.

Lord, I am come alone with thee!

Thy voice to hear, thy face to see,

To feel thy presence near.

It is not fancy's ravished dream,

Though wondrous even to faith it seem,

That thou dost wait me here!

—C. WILKINS.