And thy righteousness shall go before thee;

The glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.
Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer;
Thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am.

If thou take away from the midst of thee the

yoke,

The putting forth of the finger and speaking vanity;
And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry,

And satisfy the afflicted soul,

Then shall thy light rise in obscurity,

And thy darkness be as the noonday;

And the Lord shall guide thee continually

And satisfy thy soul in drought,

And make fat thy bones;

And thou shalt be like a watered garden

And like a spring of water,

Whose waters fail not." 27

Good deeds are twice a blessing, benefiting both the giver and the receiver of the kindness. The consciousness of rightdoing is one of the best medicines for diseased bodies and minds. When the mind is free and happy from a sense of duty well done and the satisfaction of giving happiness to others, the cheering, uplifting influence brings new life to the whole being.

Let the invalid, instead of constantly requiring sympathy, seek to impart it. Let the burden of your own weakness and sorrow and pain be cast upon the compassionate Saviour. Open your heart to His love, and let it flow out to others. Remember that all have trials hard to bear, temptations hard to resist, and you may do something to lighten these burdens. Express gratitude for the blessings you have; show appreciation of the attentions you receive. Keep the heart full of the precious promises of God, that you may bring forth from this treasure, words that will be a comfort and strength to others. This will surround you with an atmosphere that will be helpful and uplifting. Let it be your aim to bless those around you, and you will find ways of being helpful, both to the members of your own family and to others.

If those who are suffering from ill health would forget self in their interest for others; if they would fulfil the Lord's command to minister to those more needy than themselves, they would realize the truthfulness of the prophetic promise, "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily."

'Twas Marah yesterday, all rock and sand,
Unshaded solitude and dreariness.
Yet the same desert holds them both, the same
Hot breezes wander o'er the lonely ground;
The same low stretch of valley shelters both,

And the same mountains compass them around.

So it is here with us on earth, and so
I do remember it has ever been;

The bitter and the sweet, the grief and joy,
Lie near together, but a day between.

Sometimes God turns our bitter into sweet,

Sometimes He gives us pleasant watersprings;

Sometimes He shades us with His pillar-cloud,
And sometimes to a blessed palm-shade brings.

What matters it? The time will not be long;
Marah and Elim will alike be passed;
Our desert wells and palms will soon be done,
We reach the "City of our God" at last.

O happy land! beyond these lonely hills,

Where gush in joy the everlasting springs;

O holy Paradise! above these heavens,

Where we shall end our desert wanderings.

-H. Bonar.

THE

Nature

"LET US GO FORTH INTO
THE FIELDS."

THE Creator chose for our first parents the surroundings best adapted for their health and happiness. He did not place them in a palace, or surround them with the artificial adornments and luxuries that so many to-day are struggling to obtain. He placed them in close touch with nature, and in close communion with the holy ones of heaven.

In the garden that God prepared as a home for His children, graceful shrubs and delicate flowers greeted the eye at every turn. There were trees of every variety, many of them laden with fragrant and delicious fruit. On their branches the birds caroled their songs of praise. Under their shadow the creatures of the earth sported together without a fear.

Adam and Eve, in their untainted purity, delighted in the sights and sounds of Eden. God appointed them their work in the garden, "to dress it and to keep it."1 Each day's labor brought them health and gladness, and the happy pair greeted with joy the visits of their Creator, as in the cool of the day He walked and talked with them. Daily God taught them His lessons.

The plan of life which God appointed for our first parents has lessons for us. Although sin has cast its shadow over