Look upon your chastenings, then, no matter how grievous they may be for the present, as God's chariots, sent to carry your souls into the "high places" of spiritual achievement and uplifting, and you will find that they are, after all, "paved with love."--_Smith._ =May 10th.= _The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John i. 7._ Learn a lesson from the eye of the miner, who all day long is working amid the flying coal dust. When he emerges in the light of day his face may be grimy enough; but his eyes are clear and lustrous, because the fountain of tears in the lachrymal gland is ever pouring its gentle tides over the eye, cleansing away each speck of dust as soon as it alights. Is not this the miracle of cleansing which our spirits need in such a world as this? And this is what our blessed Lord is prepared to do for us by His cleansing blood, if only we will trust Him.--_F. B. Meyer._ =May 11th.= _Whatsoever He sayeth unto you, do it. John ii. 5._ Florence Nightingale said: "If I could give you information of my life, it would be to show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led by God in strange and unaccustomed paths to do in His service what He has done in her. And if I could tell you all, you would see how God has done all, and I nothing. I have worked hard, very hard, that is all; and I have never refused God anything." =May 12th.= _I know how to abound. Phil. iv. 12._ It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous. The crucible of adversity is a less severe trial to the Christian than the refining-pot of prosperity. It needs more than human skill to carry the brimming cup of mortal joy with a steady hand; yet Paul had learned that skill, for he declares, "In all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry." When we have much of God's providential mercies it often happens that we have but little of God's grace; satisfied with earth, we are content to do without heaven. Rest assured, it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry, so desperate is the tendency of human nature to pride and forgetfulness of God. Take care that you ask in your prayers that God would teach you "how to be full."--_Spurgeon._ =May 13th.= _Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke xiv. 11._ . . . If you ask the way to the crown--'tis by the cross; to the mountain--'tis by the valley; to exaltation 'tis he that humbleth himself.--_J. H. Evans._ =May 14th.= _For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. John xvii. 19._