and in the calmness engendered by that thought, she lay down to sleep that night, content to leave all to the guidance of Him Who is not only the Everlasting Father--and Prince of Peace; but the Mighty God--and Counsellor. CHAPTER IX A BOND OF UNION In spite of weariness, human frailty, and, sometimes, lack of faith, Margaret's ministry for the King Whom she loved was a real one. She was conscious of unworthiness, and had a sensitive dread of being considered one who talked religion, and posed as a religious person. She knew only too well that she herself was among the sinners who have all fallen short of the glory of God; but she believed in the greatness of the Saviour's redeeming power, and His willingness to accept as His servants all who turn in repentance to Him. Frances Ridley Havergal's lines just expressed her need, and the faith He asks of all of us: "Jesus, I will trust Thee, Trust without a doubt, Whosoever cometh Thou wilt not cast out." She could never have quite said when she first believed that. Gradually the knowledge of God's love had come to her; from His own Word rather than from any other source she had found the truth as it is in Jesus. He Who had stood before the great Galilean crowds of men, boys, women, and young girls, and cried, "Come unto Me all ye that are weary and are heavy laden," so calling all the world to find their happiness in Him--had called _her_--and as a young schoolgirl she had responded to that call, giving Him back the answer He asked: "Jesus, I will trust Thee, help me by Thy Holy Spirit to be Thy faithful servant." She needed no priest to intervene, but, like the woman who met the Lord by the well of Samaria, she found her Saviour alone, and He spoke through His Word to her heart. The natural and only outcome of that meeting of sinner and Saviour was a desire to henceforth live to His honour, and again, like the Samaritan, she felt the desire to tell others of the God Who had won her love by His own. Someone had asked her once to explain what was the difference between the professing Christian and the kind, good-living man or woman who did not profess faith in Christ. "To me it is like this," she had answered. "Before I became His servant, when I did wrong I did not particularly care unless it brought trouble to me personally, but after, when I consciously sinned, I was miserable, because I felt and knew I had dishonoured Christ. As we read of Peter, after his denial of his Master, he went out and wept bitterly--that last word 'bitterly' shows the meaning, I think; his tears were not for his own trouble, but they were tears--bitter tears of shame and regret that he had failed towards the One Who had loved and trusted him."