THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION. O give thy soul to sacred thought, And, from the depths of the mysterious True, Perfect love casteth out fear.-1 John iv. 18. THE fear that is exorcised by love, is all that is opposite to calm and full confidence in the merciful designs of the Deity. And why should I not have this love? Why should I not admit it and let its power expel "the legion" of the demon-thoughts of fear? Is it not plainly enough written that God is good unto all, and that his tender mercies are over all his works? Why should I fear? Our Father, which art in heaven.-Matt. vi. 9. What is it makes God our Father? Not simply that he created us, for he is the creator of the hills, the trees, the animals, and we never call him the Father of these; but the communication of his own Spirit-a kindred nature-is what constitutes him our Father. "God is a spirit;" there is a spirit in man; God is "the Father of the spirits of all flesh." This is the chain of the paternity. The relation is as enduring as the existence of mind; and in this, our spiritual nature, is written the best assurances of ultimate redemption and bliss, and with pious thought we may read them. All things work together for good to them that love God.-Rom. viii. 28. The Apostle does not say all things shall or will work together for good, but that they do work thus now; and that those who have the true love of God in them acknowledge and rejoice in the truth. This is an estimable benefit derived from the cultivation of spiritual love, giving to the trusting soul the full assurance of faith that good is the product of all the working elements in the universe of God. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.James iv. 8. Though, as the Apostle assured the Athenians, God is not "far from every one of us," yet there is a sense in which he may be said to be far from us and we far from him; it is when the soul forgets its highest relations, and lives as a mere earthly being. The cultivation of a nearness to God is the source of sweet comfort. By grateful thought and prayerful meditation we draw nigh to him and he draws nigh unto us-his presence is felt all around us, and we know what the Savior meant when he spake of the Father taking up his abode with the faithful. Affectionate thought has a mystic, but great power, to bring the far off nigh. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.-Eph. iii. 16. When Moses prayed of the Lord, "I beseech thee, show me thy glory," he was answered by the assurance, "I will make all my goodness pass before thee." Thus we are assured that God's glory is his goodness, and "the riches of his glory" must be the riches of his goodnessthe unsearchable riches of his love toward mankind in Jesus Christ. Thought on these, by which they are made to enter the heart, strengthens the inner man, and the soul becomes a victor over many foes-adversity, pain, and bereavement, in all their varied forms and powers. Wearisome nights are appointed unto me.-Job vii. 3. Appointed by whom or what? Not by chance or fate, but by or through the ordinations of a wise being. That they are so appointed is a comfort to cheer the wearied, for if love calls us to the cares of a watch, the remembrance of that love gives us the spirit of patience. There is no night, no weariness in heaven! How sweet that thought! how comforting was it to our Master when he suffered on earth! Dwell on it, and it will soothe thy spirit, O afflicted one! She goeth unto the grave, to weep there.-John xi. 31. The Jews said this of Mary as she went out to meet the Savior-they knew not that she went to greet him. So may it be with thee, child of sorrow. If in thy heart is the love of Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, it may be to commune and mingle thy tears with his sympathies that thou goest, as thy steps are directed toward the grave of the beloved, and the observer regards thee as going thither to weep. Jesus will go with thee, as he went with Mary, and he will comfort thee as he comforted her. Do not go to the grave only to weep; go to hope, as the Truth teacheth of immortal life and reunion. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me.-John xvii. 11. It was with Jesus, as it is with all hearts of affection and sensibility, when life is drawing near its close. Love will feel anxious for its peculiar loves, and desire to assure itself that they will be provided for. May it be with me, in adversity or in death, as it was with Jesus-having in my soul the true spirit to pray, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me. And what is a more precious name, or more abounding in reasons for trust, than "Holy Father?" Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.-Psalm xxiii. 4. And why should I fear? Has God departed from me? O no, for in him I live, and move, and have my being. The passage through the shadowy valley is a part of the pilgrimage allotted me, and I will pursue it with the spirit of thankfulness, that shall subdue, if not expel all fear. Be with me, God of salvation! Let my heart own in humble penitence its sins, and yield its affections in full love toward Thee. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.-Job xiii. 15. A pious servant of God laid on the bed of death, was conscious at the hour of his departure that his earthly life was near its end, and called to his daughter to bring him the Bible. "Turn,” said he, "to the eighth chapter of Romans, and place my finger on the words, 'I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."" "Now is my finger on them?" said the dying man. "It is," was the reply, when he sweetly fell asleep. Precious words indeed are they! In thy light shall we see light.-Psalm xxxvi. 9. All knowledge that can illumine the mind comes from God. We must gain the light of his word, ere nature, our own hearts, or human destiny, can be rightly studied. God said, Let there be light; and there was light;-and by that light earth and heaven became beautiful to the eyes of angels; so when spiritual light is shed into the soul, spiritual beauty is revealed, and we see Christ as the Savior of the world. Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Jesus saith, I say not unto thee, Until seven times, but until seventy times seven.-Matt. xviii. 21, 22. As God is a merciful and forgiving being, it is impossible that his presence should be fully enjoyed by a heart that has not full sympathy with |