It is indeed a pleasing thought that what we are called upon to do on earth, to praise and give thanks, the angels in heaven and the redeemed disembodied spirits of the saints are doing also. It is still further pleasing to contemplate the glorious hope that what God wants us to do on earth, we will be engaged in doing throughout an unending eternity. Praise and thanksgiving will be our blessed employment while we remain in heaven. Nor will we ever grow weary of this pleasing task. Joseph Addison sets before us, in verse, this pleasing prospect: “Through every period of my life Thy goodness I’ll pursue; And after death, in distant worlds, The pleasing theme renew. “Through all eternity to Thee A grateful song I’ll raise; But Oh! eternity’s too short To utter all Thy praise.” V PRAYER AND TROUBLE “‘He will.’ It may not be today, That God Himself shall wipe our tears away, Nor, hope deferred, may it be yet tomorrow He’ll take away our cup of earthly sorrow; But, precious promise, He has said He _will_, If we but trust Him fully――and be still. “We, too, as He, may fall, and die unknown; And e’en the place we fell be all unshown, But eyes omniscient will mark the spot Till empires perish and the world’s forgot. Then they who bore the yoke and drank the cup In fadeless glory shall the Lord raise up. God’s word is ever good; His will is best:―― The yoke, the heart all broken――and then rest.” ――CLAUDIUS L. CHILTON. Trouble and prayer are closely related to each other. Prayer is of great value to trouble. Trouble often drives men to God in prayer, while prayer is but the voice of men in trouble. There is great value in prayer in the time of trouble. Prayer often delivers out of trouble, and still oftener gives strength to bear trouble, ministers comfort in trouble, and begets patience in the midst of trouble. Wise is he in the day of trouble who knows his true source of strength and who fails not to pray. Trouble belongs to the present state of man on earth. “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Trouble is common to man. There is no exception in any age or clime or station. Rich and poor alike, the learned and the ignorant, one and all are partakers of this sad and painful inheritance of the fall of man. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.” The “day of trouble” dawns on every one at some time in his life. “The evil days come and the years draw nigh” when the heart feels its heavy pressure.