ham. (ver. 21.) Here is no disturbance. She does not deal with the necessity as though there was no power or remedy above it. Beloved, when our faith brings us into the presence of God, this same calmness is ours.

Shall I look at the work of Satan, and take the sentence of death into me, and shall I not look at the work and doing of the Lord Jesus for me? 'The woman's conduct was calm; so was that of Abraham in offering up Isaac; he also gets the young man and the ass, and tells them to abide, and he and the lad will go and worship. There was no doubt in his mind as to the certainty of death, but he was calmly talking of life. It is this same spirit which we observe so sweetly in the woman who knew there was relief in the prophet for her. We should cultivate this calmness and composure of soul. We should know that life in Christ is as certain to one who believes, as death through sin is certain. We know that the power of God was enough, and nothing but that power would do.

What a blessed thing, she can say, (ver. 26,) “It is well." The moment we apply to the power and grace in Jesus, that moment we can talk of life in the midst of death. It is not well if we look to the circumstances, but it is well if we look to the power of God. She presses through ordinances, through new moohs and sabbaths, through Gehazi; they will not do, she must come to the feet of the prophet of God. (Ver. 27, so again in ver. 30.) Oh, beloved, I do invite every one to linger here a little moment. What a temptation, "take my staff;" but nothing will satisfy the woman short of the presence of the prophet himself. It is

this that the Spirit of God desires in us. It is Jesus; Jesus Himself, and nothing else will satisfy the conscience of a renewed soul. It is a precious moment when we are brought to know that,

"None but Jesus,

Can do helpless sinners good."

The soul rightly convicted by the Spirit of God can never rest in any ordinance. Though the prophet's own lips propose that the staff should be taken, the woman refuses it, just as before she had refused to listen to her husband when he talks of the new moon and sabbaths. This is what Jesus wants. He came that He should Himself be used, and not another. It is HIMSELF. He has not entrusted His power to any delegate, or vicar, or representative. He wants the conscience to say, 'none but Thou, none but Thou canst do me any good.'

(Ver. 30.) And he arose, and followed her. Jesus only waits, in the history of our conscience, for a moment like this. Ask what you will. Jesus is at the disposal of our necessity, let us tell Him we cannot do without Him, and the Son of God is at our bidding.

(Ver. 31.) I like to see the prophet's staff no better than a piece of wood. This ordinance is rebuked, it is laughed at. If we stop short of Jesus there is no life. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life.

Verses 33, 34 present a blessed picture, the soul of Elisha breathing life into a dead child.

(Ver. 37.) Mark the calmness and the certainty of the woman. She fell at his feet, and bowed. She has no more doubt that the child is living, than she had

before, that it was dead. She does not examine it, or question it. Yes, beloved, the work of Christ is a certain work! She is not amazed with any amazement; her faith is more like Abraham's than Sarah's. Amazement does not belong to faith. We shall have for ever the wonder of adoration, but not the wonder of amazement. She was a happy mother, it is true, but happier as a child of faith who could carry her necessities up to God, and in calmness and certainty have those necessities met.

ENCOURAGEMENT.

"But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."-1 SAM. xxx. 6.

TRIALS and perplexities of no ordinary kind pressed at this moment on the anointed successor of Saul. He was an exile from his country, driven hither and thither in search of that safety which the jealousy of the king denied; and now, in addition to all the sources of disquiet which had distressed him so long, that city which had been given by Achish for an abode for himself and his companions had been treacherously burnt with fire, and all the inhabitants thereof, with their substance, carried away captive. We need not marvel much, that at such a discovery "David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep." But all this was not sufficient; yet deeper woe and fear were to be meted out to him, who, by his more exalted position, was exposed to the fiercest blasts of adversity. Let us read the next "And David was greatly distressed; for all the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all

verse.

the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."

Well was it for him that he had such a refuge to fly to in this day of sore calamity. When earthly help and consolation failed, when those devoted followers who had shared his wanderings and dangers, in so many a perilous hour, rose up in the bitterness of their wounded affections, and "spake of stoning" their leader, whither should he turn for aid if not to the Lord his God? But while we rejoice that the chosen monarch had it thus in his power to draw help and courage from a source of infinite supply, would it not be wise for us to search out and learn the lesson which this narrative is assuredly fitted to impart? "All things were written for our learning," we are told in the Scriptures; shall we not, then, endeavour to extract from the passage before us some of its treasure of instruction?

Are we not all of us, wherever we may be placed, and whatever may be our individual circumstances, subject to many a trial-some arising from outward events, some from inward causes; some, perhaps, brought upon us by the failings of others, while some owe their sole origin to the perverse inclinations of our own rebellious hearts ? The life of the Christian, whatsoever may be the aspect it assumes in the eyes of his surrounding companions, is always, and of necessity must always continue to be, a continual warfare; and as such it will ever be fraught with occasions of trial, of fear, perchance of danger. Then who would not welcome with thankfulness aught that could bestow calmness and faith to pursue the path unflinch

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ingly, whatever may betide? And how can we gain this aid otherwise than by following the example set us by the psalmist king?

The sorrows of this probationary scene are very varied, they differ in their nature as do the individuals who undergo them; but whatever they may be, it is no easy, no pleasant task to endure their provings. Sometimes they are permitted to arise so thickly, and to press so heavily, that the sufferer is well nigh ready to exclaim, "Thy waves and Thy billows have gone over me." Then is the time for the exercise of faith; then is the season for the poor tried one to place his sole dependence on his heavenly Friend; to feel and know that amidst all these assaults, the hand of almighty power is underneath. Then may the believer encourage himself in the Lord his God! Perchance, hope may be inclined to droop and fold her wings, to refuse to buffet any longer with the storm; still let the oppressed spirit draw comfort from the remembrance that "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."

There is something inexpressibly cheering in the remembrance, that the eye of omniscient love is watching over us, wherever we may be; that even the very hairs of our "head are all numbered." Forgetfulness of this is very productive of discouragement. If we could but realize livingly that the Almighty is ceaselessly regarding us for good, that that blessed Saviour, whose sacrifice purchased our redemption, is still our never-slumbering Advocate with the Father, how hopefully, how confidingly should we pass along our daily walk! how calmly should we say, "The Lord is on