THE FAMILY ALTAR

October 15.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the

Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected

end." Jer. 29:11.

Known unto God are all His works from the foundation of

the world. He never makes mistakes. He knows why He often

leads us the tearful paths, though we may not know. When great

sorrow and tribulation come upon us, we are so apt to think that

God has forsaken us, that He has hidden His face in wrath from

us, and will not hear our cries for help. Then our sins rise

mountain-high before us, and we think we are doomed. But in the

case of true Christians God's chastisements are never a punishment

for sin. They are always prompted by His saving love. "God is

not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He

should repent; hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath

He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" (Num. 23, 19.) Here

in His ever truthful Word our faithful God assures us that He has

thoughts only of peace in all His dealings with us. "Though He

cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multi-

tude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve

the children of men." (Lam. 3, 32. 33.) Oh, let us in all our

trials and sorrows keep this blessed purpose of our God in mind,

namely, that all His dispensations have but one aim, one object:

to give us an expected end. What end do we expect? Certainly,

that God will one day deliver us from all evil, and graciously take

us from this vale of tears into heaven, where no sin, no sorrow,

no sighing shall ever trouble us again. If that be our hope, our

expectation, we shall resign ourselves to God's good guidance and

not try to go our own way. We should never reach heaven in

that case.

The will of God shall be my pleasure,

While here on earth is mine abode;

My will is wrong beyond all measure,

It doth not will what pleaseth God.

The Christian's maxim e'er must be:

What pleaseth God, that pleaseth me.

My God desires the soul's salvation,

Me also He desires to save;

Therefore, with Christian resignation,

All earthly troubles I will brave.

His will be done eternally:

What pleaseth God, that pleaseth me.