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A ROD OR A CROWN.

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observe that nature suffered less because grace triumphed the more. And hence arises, as I take it, the glory of the Christian sufferer: he feels affliction more intensely than a bad man, or grace would not have its perfect work; as it would not be difficult to subdue that which it is not difficult to endure." Faith can make the darkest providences bright, and, as an old writer says, "is exceedingly charitable and thinketh no evil of God; nay, whether God come to his children with a rod or a crown, if he come himself with it, it is well." Many afflictions would be unendurable without the Comforter. In the dark night of sorrow we still feel sure that "He who sends the storm steers the vessel." When the heart is crushed, it is hard to see the good for which the trial is designed; but, as Locke beautifully remarks, " Beyond all this we may find another reason why God hath scattered up and down several degrees of pleasure and pain, in all things that environ and affect us, and blended them together in almost all that our thoughts and senses have to do with, that we, finding imperfection, dis

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USES OF SORROW.

satisfaction, and want of complete happiness in all the enjoyments which the creatures can afford us, might be led to seek it in the enjoyment of Him with whom there is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore." This experience of the great reasoner is confirmed by an extract from one of our most beautiful poets,-perhaps so beautiful because chastened by the sorrow he describes : "He who best knows our nature (for He made us what we are) by such afflictions recals us from our wandering thoughts and idle merriment; from the insolence of youth and prosperity, to serious reflection, to our duty, and to Himself: nor need we hasten to get rid of these impressions: time, by the appointment of the same power, will cure the smart, and in some hearts blot out all the traces of sorrow; but such as preserve them the longest (for it is partly left in our own power) do perhaps best acquiesce in the will of the Chastiser."

If my weak hand could keep back sorrow from every young heart, I should do it; but my kindness would be injudicious, my judg

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READY TO WORK.

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ment erring. I rejoice that your happiness is in the keeping of One whose wisdom cannot mistake, whose power will never falter, whose love can never fail. Do not dread the future. The troubles we anticipate rarely come. Many a parent who dreads leaving a delicate child in a lonely world of sin lives to do the last acts of love for that child. Though you may prepare for storms, pray for fair weather." The fair weather will be fairer for the storms. And now in the sunny time, when, having learned your own powers, having found the instruments to work, and the greatness of the labour, you look out into the harvest-field of the world,—when, in the fulness of your yet fresh strength, yet relying on Him who sends forth the labourers, you long to go forth and gather in a few sheaves for the Lord of the harvest,sing the pleasant song a gentle heart hath sung before you :

"When morning wakes the earth from sleep,

With soft and kindling ray,

We rise, Life's harvest-field to reap,

'Tis ripening day by day.

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LIFE'S HARVEST.

"To reap, sometimes with joyful heart,
Anon with tearful eye;

We see the Spoiler hath a part,

We reap with smile and sigh.

"Full oft the tares obstruct our way,

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Full oft we feel the thorn;

Our hearts grow faint, we weep, we pray,-
Then Hope is newly born.

Hope that at last we all shall come,
Though rough the way and long,
Back to our Father's house, our home,
And bring our sheaves with song."

THE END.

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