A Loving Purpose

The J^ord hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” — Ps. XXXV. 27.

“What is ‘Prosperity?’ Is it the threads of life weaved into a bright tissue? a full cup — ample riches — worldly applause — an unbroken circle? ISTay, these are often a snare — received without gratitude — dimming the soul to its nobler destinies. Often spiritually, it rather means God taking us by the hand into the lowly Valleys of Humiliation; leading us as He did his servant Job of old, out of his sheep, oxen, camels, health, wealth, children, in order that we may be brought to lie before Him in the dust, and say, “Blessed he His name /”

Yes I The very reverse of what is known m the world as Pros;perit’y (generally) forma the back-ground on which the Bow of Pron.ise is seen. God smiles on ns through these raindrops and tear-drops of Sorrows! He loves us too well. He has too great an interest in our spiritual welfare to permit us to live on in what is misnamed Prosperity, “When lie sees duties languidly performed, or coldly neglected — the heart deadened, and love to Himself congealed by the absorbing power of a present world, He puts a thorn in our nest to drive us to the wing, and prevent our being grovellers forever!

I may not be able now to understand the mystery of these dealings. I may be asking through tears, “Why this unkind arrest on my earthly happiness? “Why so premature a lopping of my boughs of promise? Such a speedy withering of my most cherished gourd?” The answer is plain. It is thy Soul Prosperity He has in view. Believe it, thy truest Eben-EZERS will yet be raised close by thy Zare-PHATHS {the place of furnaces). His afflictions are no arbitrary appointments. There is a righteous necessity in all He does. A3 He

10 TPIE BOW IN THi CLOUD.

lays His chastening baud upon thee, and lead a thee by ways thou knowest not, and wliicli thou thyself never wouldst have chosen; Ilfj whispers the gentle accents in thine ear,” Beloved I wish above all things that thou wouldesl prosper and he in health

Best in the quicu consciousness that all is welh Murmur at nothino; which brings thee nearer His own loving Presence. Be thankfal for thy very cares, because thou canst confidingly cast them all upon Him, He has thy temporal and eternal “prosperity” too much at heart to appoint one superfluous pang, one redundant stroke. Commit, therefore, all that concerns thee to His keeping, and leave it there I