THE FAMILY ALTAR

July 22.

"Happy is lie that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose

hope is in the Lord, his God; who made heaven and earth, the

sea, and all that therein is ; who keepeth truth forever." Ps. 146:5-6.

Even such a hero of faith as Luther was can at times forget

to trust implicitly in his faithful God and His saving help. The

consequence is unhappiness. The story goes of Luther's being in

low spirits for a time. In vain his good wife tried to cheer him.

At last she put on a widow's weeds and went about the house in

deepest mourning. "Who's dead?" asked Luther. "God," replied

Kate. "Don't talk foolish !" retorted the great Eef ormer. "My

dear Doctor," answered Kate, "you act so downhearted and de-

spondent and will listen to no comfort that I naturally concluded

God must be dead, and so I dressed in mourning !" Luther under-

stood the point, laughingly embraced his good wife, and forgot

his "blues." Why should we Christians ever give way to these

feelings of despondency ? Is it not gloriously true what our Psalm

tells us about our God and Savior? Where is there a trouble from

which He cannot help us — the almighty Creator of heaven and

earth? And can we ever doubt His willingness to help and save

when He has given us such clear promises in His infallible Word?

He keepeth truth forever. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but

the Word of our God shall never pass away. Then let us hope and

trust in Him whose helping love no limit knows, with whom

nothing is impossible.