Have we not experienced somewhat of this, dear friends, in seasons of bodily weakness? What a painful effort is it found to be, in the early days of returning strength, to put forth whatever little we have, and how we long each day to go a little beyond what we are able to do, like the little child in its eagerness to walk. So is it as regards our spiritual life and with the work of the Spirit in our hearts. If we have been permitted to feed upon the Word and to drink of the river of God, no sooner have we tasted what it is to drink of the river of His pleasures, than we want to drink again. This thirsting is felt in many different degrees. There is the first desire of the soul after God, the thirst for something that it has never found, but which it is now seeking; and there is the thirst of the sincere believer, the true child of God, who has tasted and who has satisfied his thirst at that life-giving stream. Such a man is not satisfied with having drunk once; he must go on to drink again, he thirsts for fresh supplies; he cries, 'My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God.' Then there is the thirst of the soul that has tasted of the stream, and has wandered away; the man who has declined from his Christian walk, who has backslidden from God, and now he thirsts to be restored. I am not sure but that this was the condition of the Psalmist at the time when he spake these words. If we look at the 4th verse we find him saying, When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me for I had gone with the multitude, . . . with a multitude that kept holyday;' 'I went with them to the House of God, with the voice of joy and praise.' This is exactly what he says in another Psalm,' I remembered God and was troubled ;'then he exclaims, 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?' All Christians are more or less familiar with this experience. I remembered God and was troubled.' I remember that very day, that providence, that means

of grace; I remember when I found much joy in the congregation of God's people; I remember when the Word was very precious. I look back upon these things, and my heart sinks within me; I am troubled. There is no feeling of refreshment now in God's ordinances; it is all darkness with me now, deadness, barrenness: nevertheless soul does thirst after God. As the hart panteth my after the water-brooks,' so does my soul long after God. beloved, be not discouraged when the Spirit's teaching takes this form. It is the soul which has experienced the joy of drinking, and not one who has never known that joy; he who has truly refreshed his soul with the stream which makes glad the city of God, shall never be sent away. Remember, if you thirst it is God's Spirit that makes you thirst, and He will never deny His own work, even although He may hide His face for a time, and we may feel as if all were lost. We may have to say, 'My tears have been my meat day and night.' 'Tears' may be drawn forth from the man of God by different causes. We may be in trouble or anxiety. The believer has no immunity from trouble any more than others. But he has this assurance, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.' We must not expect exemption from suffering, but try always to remember that He hath said, 'Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.' Many of us have known, then, what it is to weep bitter 'tears' on account of earthly troubles. There are some who have been exceptionally tried in this way, who might say with truth, 'My tears have been my meat day and night.' But I think it was not on account of any earthly sorrow that David used this expression. We shall be helped in our endeavour to find out the true meaning of his 'tears' if we turn to 2 Sam. xv. 25, 26, which is the record of his flight from Jerusalem on account of his son's rebellion. We find him saying to Zadok, 'Carry back the ark of God into the

city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me again, and show me both it, and His habitation but if He thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him.' There is light shed here upon the saying, 'My tears have been my meat day and night.' To question the Lord's 'delight' in him would be enough to produce in him such a state of mind as is here described. But there comes in the realising of God's presence once more, Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God.' Oh, beloved friends, when we are 'disquieted and cast down,' is it not because we lose sight of God? Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.' Isa. 1. 10. 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul? why art thou disquieted?' Is not the true answer always, 'Because we do not believe'? Ye believe in God,' says our Lord, 'believe also in Me;' 'Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid;' 'Why art thou cast down?' Such a question, dear friends, is best put in the presence of God; not by one to another, for we often fail in giving the comfort we desire to give; but if the one who is 'cast down' put the question as in the presence of God, the answer comes,' Hope thou in God!' If I say, as in His presence and hearing, 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul?' He will extend to me His loving hand to help me, and, withal, return answer to my enquiry, 'It is because you believe not in Me.' Jesus said, 'Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.'

Hope thou in God: yes, poor cast-down soul, you may yet hope in Him; and you may add, for He is the health of my countenance and my God; or, as it is in the 5th verse (margin), 'Hope thou in God. . . for

His presence is salvation.' True, indeed it is, beloved, that 'His presence is salvation.' How sweet to the believer when he can say, 'I was cast down, I was disquieted, but the Lord was the strength of my life, He raised me up, He restored my soul; hope thou then in God, for He is all my salvation, and all my desire.'

May God grant unto you, beloved friends, in all your times of need, to prove the truth of all this. May you be enabled to trust Christ more. Lay all your sins on Jesus; all your weaknesses and shortcomings. Take your infirmities to Him; lay them at His feet; you can never trust Him too much. Trust Him at all times, in darkness and in light, in sunshine and in shade; lean on His arm ; and rest assured that if you do that He will lead you up out of the wilderness, and put a new song in your mouth, even thanksgiving unto our God; and you will be able from your hearts to say, 'He is the strength of my life, and my portion for ever.'

PSALM XLIII. 3-5.

THINE FOR EVER.

'O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles.

'Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise Thee, O God my God.

'Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.'

WE have in these words, (1) an earnest prayer to God; (2) a settled resolution; and (3) a question asked and an answer given.

To touch briefly on each of these. First, we have the earnest prayer, O send out Thy light and Thy truth.' Well may the Psalmist say Thy light and Thy truth;' for very different are they both from anything that we

find in man. If we try to find light or truth in any creature, most assuredly we shall seek in vain, except so far as they are enabled by the grace of God to walk in His way, and shine in His light. The prayer then is to the living God. 'O send out Thy light and Thy truth,' send them out as rays from the Sun of Righteousness, to give light to my darkened soul. darkened soul. As an old writer truthfully expresses it, Light is the fruit of God's favour.' Yes! He has a favour to us in Christ Jesus. This is the manifestation that God hath sent, to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.' The 'truth' of God, beloved, is the performance or fulfilment of His promise as revealed in His word. Not one jot nor one tittle of His promise can ever pass away. Every letter of it shall assuredly be fulfilled. Oh, how blessed to join in this prayer of the Psalmist, as it were to stretch out one hand to God and say, 'Send out Thy light,' and then to stretch out the other and say, 'Send out Thy truth.' It is a large gift that we ask; but He is able, He is willing, and He has promised to grant it. We, beloved, want light on our path and truth in our heart. We want to have His hand firmly grasping ours; we want the blessed assurance that all the promises of God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus.

Then, let them lead me.' This is a prayer for the whole walk of the believer in this world. And this is just what we require, brethren, the constant, gentle, loving guidance of our Father for each day and each hour, to keep us in the right way, to hold up our feeble steps, to lead us by the still waters and in the green pastures of His love. Not for special seasons only do we require this guidance; nay, I think we need it most when we imagine that we need it least. It must be continual guidance; guidance in light and in darkness, in joy and in sorrow, in life and in death. Thou wilt guide me continually.' The prayer does not end here, though would to