If

best for us than we know ourselves. for one moment we acknowledge that GOD is love, or that GOD is Almighty, then it necessarily follows that whatever He does, He does well. Some kind of chastening we all need, and we all must have. To some it may be the chastening of a long life-sickness, and to others the chastening of a rapid death-sickness. Still it remains perfectly true that GOD knows assuredly what is best for us, and that, and nothing else, He does to us. Unvaried good health may be a great blessing, or it may be a great curse to us. Never to have had a day's illness, as some say, cannot always be true. There is sure to be one day's illness, or at least that last final day's or hour's illness, which must result in death. And then it is an extremely difficult question to say which of the two, a long sickness, which gives time for preparation for death, or a life's good health, and a short, sharp, sudden summons, is the best for eternity.

It turns upon a very simple point, namely, whether we live to live or live to die. Whose are we? To whom do we belong? If we belong to GOD by right of creation, of preservation, of redemption,

has He, or has He not a right to do what He will with His own? Who hath resisted His Will? do we ask. "Nay, but who art thou, O man, who repliest against GOD?" If death were merely the cessation of life then it would be simple enough. "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." But death really is but the beginning of life. And sickness often is but the beginning of death. And all temporal matters fade into nothing when in sight of eternity. GOD is the arbiter of this eternal life. GOD gives to all who love Him the happy issue out of all affliction, whether that issue be in life through recovery or life eternal through sickness and after death. To live for life eternal is the one sole, simple object of our being, whether in sickness or in health. May GOD grant that we are so living, or so beginning to live, for JESUS CHRIST'S sake. Amen.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE TIME OF SICKNESS.

"In thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the LORD, and He will make thee whole." -Ecclus. xxxviii. 9.

GOD

OD sends us sickness (1) in order to mortify our bodies and to make

them obedient in subduing them to our spirit; (2) to detach us from the love of created things, and to correct or turn our souls to Himself; (3) to prepare us for death, so that we may obtain eternal life.

A good Christian when sickness comes upon him ought (1) to acknowledge it, and to welcome it as coming from GOD; (2) to offer its pain and suffering to Him (3) to ask His grace to turn it to good account, in other words, to make good use of it.

;

The chief things which a good Christian ought to do in time of sickness are (1) to exercise patience in suffering or weariness; (2) gentleness and gratitude to those who wait upon him, and minister to his wants; (3) to repent of his past sins, in offering his sickness to GOD as a satisfaction for his sins; (4) to pray very fervently that GOD may be pleased to give him the grace to suffer patiently, and to grant him the greatest of all blessings, that is the blessing of resignation and conformity to His will; (5) to follow the example of the LORD JESUS in all things; (6) often to lift up his soul to GOD, in some such acts of prayer as these

O LORD, I willingly receive this sickness

at Thy hands, and offer it unto Thee as an act of penitence for my soul. O LORD, help me to suffer this sickness cheerfully and lovingly.

O LORD, I am ready to suffer more if it be Thy Holy Will. May Thy Will be done in me and by me.

O LORD, I am heartily sorry that I have offended Thee; make me to know, and acknowledge, and confess my sins in Thy sight. Thou art ever good and gracious, be merciful unto me, and forgive me my sins.

O LORD, I do love Thee with all my heart, and soul, and strength. I rejoice to suffer for Thy sake, and for love of Thee.

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, unite my light sufferings with the bitter agonies of Thy most Holy Passion.

O LORD, when shall I come to appear before Thy Presence? My soul longeth after Thee in a barren and dry land where no water is. Make me to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth Thee. Let Thy loving Spirit lead me forth from sin, even though it be through much suffering, into the land of righteousness! Amen.

ON SENDING FOR THE PRIEST IN SICK

NESS.

"Is any sick among you? let him call for the Elders of the Church."-S. James v. 14.

THIS is a great duty often most sadly neglected. Strangely enough, two quite opposite causes combine to produce this neglect, an excuse is made that the sickness is not serious enough to require a visit of a Priest or Elder of the Church; or, on the other hand, that the very fact of sending for the clergyman is a sign that the illness will be sure to end fatally.

And so, what with the neglect of the friends of the sick person, and what with the superstitious feeling about the visit of the Priest, and the risk, as it is said, of causing excitement, the poor soul is left spiritually uncared for, unconfessed, unabsolved, uncommunicated. Then the end

comes.

Perhaps there is no one thing that makes the heart of a clergyman in his parish rounds more heavy and discouraged than to see the shutters of a house put up, and he knows that death has been there,