giving trouble distresses you, clearly to set these things before your mind:

1. Is it really a dislike of giving trouble, unmixed with other feelings? Is there no pride in it? Is there no feeling of disliking to receive all, and to give nothing? Is there no dislike of dependence, and striving for independence?

2. The message is to your friends as well as to yourself. You must not fear lest you should seem the messenger of evil tidings. And even supposing that they look upon it as an intrusion on their comfort, putting out household arrangements, and destroying domestic enjoyment; then they need the message but the more, and you must be content to be the bearer of it.

3. You did not bring yourself into these circumstances: it was the will of God. He is too wise to order His discipline, that it shall bless one, and injure another, of His children. Be assured that what is sent to bless you and to teach you, is sent to bless and to teach all the household also. Do not then say that you are in the way; are causing so much expense to be incurred, that you give so much trouble, and yet you cannot put forth a hand or foot to help. You are God's messenger. Leave it to Him to apply the message to each one. But do not mar it, by trying to persuade yourself or others, that it is your message, and that you bring it very unwillingly.

The greeting which the Church appoints that Clergymen visiting the sick should give, is-"Peace be to this house, and to all that dwell in it." The Son of Peace is in it. He has sent a messenger to you; do not be forgetful to entertain this stranger, for hereby some have "entertained angels unawares."a

4. That lot only is good which God appoints. He has placed you where you are; He has appointed all your circumstances; even to the most minute. It is exactly adapted to your character: nothing else would do so well, or teach you so much.

Answer every suggestion of Satan, who would tempt you to believe that these are not the best circumstances; that others would have suited your character better; with, "Get thee behind me, Satan,'b God has placed me here -It is the will of God."

When any one suggests to you that they wish it were otherwise with you, say, "It is the will of God,"—"the only wise God,"c_" our Father."d When your own heart tempts you, no matter how small the thing it is which it would persuade you to wish otherwise, say, "It is the will of God;" the "God of love."

Heb. xiii. 2.

• 1 Tim. i. 17.

b Matt. xvi. 23.

d Matt. vi. 9.

TEMPTATIONS.

I.

THAT NO ONE CAN SYMPATHIZE.

ALTHOUGH you must ever look upon sickness as a hidden state, fully known only to its wayfarers, beware how you say, "No one can sympathize with me, no one understands me." For, besides that it has a most chilling effect upon those to whom it is said, throws them back, however much they have wished to sympathize, and eventually brings upon you the sad reality, it has also a most injurious effect upon yourself; and produces isolation and loneliness of heart. Few stop at "No one can sympathize:" next comes, "No one will sympathize;" in other words, "I will not let them, I will shut myself up."

Few say this in words; they lay the blame on other people, and think themselves very hardly dealt with. But if they reject sympathy, and always say when it is offered, "You do not understand me, you cannot enter into my trial;" by degrees the attempt to offer sym

pathy will naturally be withdrawn; which bitter trial they have brought wholly on themselves by their own free choice.

If you see in your friends the wish to sympathize, accept it thankfully, even if you feel that it reaches but a short way into your need, and never sounds the depth of your trial. Be assured that by degrees, if you cherish it, it will increase, and adapt itself, by use, more to your needs. At first it may be very awkward. The person offering it may feel this as painfully as you can do; therefore feel for them; give them your help, and you will ere long have theirs.

Neither say, "in many things you can sympathize, but not in this particular trial." It may be so; most things must be felt, in order to be fully understood: but do not say so, it is so discouraging. Tell it all to Him who never fails in understanding, in sympathy, or in love.

Kindness is always precious: do not throw it back; accept each little token of it cheerfully, thankfully.

Sometimes it may be something which you did not wish just at that time. Never mind; accept the kindness, and keep that to yourself: do not give your friend the disappointment, even if it cause you some pain. Having shown yourself to be really grateful, you may courteously ask not to have the same thing brought to you again, if there be any good reason for doing so.

Do not assume that things are your right; but courteously and thankfully receive each kindness, as a kindness; each gift, a flower or whatsoever it be, cheerfully and gratefully. Remembering always that all the kindnesses and love of friends, are gifts from the God of Love.

II.

IRRITABILITY.

It is a great help and blessing to a sick person, to be told when they manifest any of the irritability which is constantly causing them such bitter conflicts, and with which either they are maintaining, or they ought to be, one unbroken, arduous fight. Sometimes without any apparent cause, it will suddenly seem to seize their whole frame, and every nerve will sympathize with the wretched feeling. God only knows how long it has been suppressed, or how often it has offered itself before, and been earnestly resisted. The temptation has been repressed, perhaps, for hours; no trace of irritability has been seen by others. Some trifling thing occurs-perhaps it may be so trifling that you hardly feel it necessary to watch against it; it may be a door shut violently, or not shut at all, or held in the hand for some minutes whilst another person