Rest and be still: Nought happens thee but of His blessed will. There's not a wind that blows, There's not a lily grows Without His bidding--and His child shall He Forget and leave uncomforted? Nay, see How not a small brown sparrow (sorry thing!) Without His hand can droop or raise a wing! And thou art better far unto thy God! Lo! if He calls thee to a way untrod Where stones and rugged places tear thy feet, And bitter herbs alone are for thy meat, Or if He set thee high, and with a song Fill thy rejoicing mouth, and make thee strong; Yet know thou this: He loves thee just as dear When dimpling laughter lights thy face, or tear With bitter tear goes chasing down thy cheek, And thy poor heart may break but cannot speak! Rest and be still. God hath not good and ill. All that He sends is good, altho' our eye For weeping scarce His rainbow can descry. He is our Father, and His name is Love. E'en when thy grief is greatest--look above! Look up! look up! and thou shalt surely see A Father's loving face down-bent to thee! --_Deborah._ 761 The more a man denies himself, the more he shall obtain from God. --_Horace._ 762 THE LOVE OF GOD. The following beautiful lines were composed in 1779, by a distinguished scholar--at the time partially insane. Could we with ink the ocean fill, Were the whole earth of parchment made, Were every single stick a quill, Were every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God alone, Would drain the ocean dry; Nor would the scroll contain the whole Though stretched from earth to sky. 763 Whoever devotes himself to the veneration of God, whatever road he may choose, will come to God, and that the means to this, is, to avoid hurting any living being. Be true and thou shalt be free; Truth belongs to thee, and thy success to the creator. _From the Persian._ --_By David Shea and A. Troy._ 764 Who comes to God an inch, through doubtings dim, In blazing light God will Advance a mile to him. --_Sayings of Rabia._ 765 A gold key is apt to open every door. --_Massinger._ 766 THE GOLDEN RULE. If I should see A brother languishing in sore distress, And I should turn and leave him comfortless When I might be A messenger of hope and happiness-- How could I ask to have what I denied In my own hour of bitterness supplied?