THE FAMILY ALTAR

October 17.

"Where is God. my Maker, who giveth songs in the night?"

Job 35:10.

What a wonderful and adorable God we have in the God and

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ! He is in truth the Father of

mercies and the God of all comfort. He does not deal with us

after our sins, nor reward us according to our iniquities. Though

He correct us. He does it as our loving Father, seeking only our

good and never our destruction. With the chastening rod He

always brings the apple of sweet hope and comfort to His weeping

children. He gives them songs in the night, fills their heart with

love and confidence in Him that they can praise and glorify His

great mercy and truth even in their tears. Listen to the deathless

song of Job in the night of his nameless misery: "I know that

my Redeemer liveth !" Hear a song in joyful trust on the

border of the grave : "I will publish the name of the Lord : ascribe 

ye greatness unto our God. He is the Bock, His work is perfect:

for all His ways are judgment ; a God of truth and without iniquity,

just and right is He." (Debt 32. 3-4) Read the immortal psalms

of the inspired singer David and the dear old hymns of cross

comfort in our hymn-book, and behold how the Christian's night

of sorrow is flooded with sweetest melody; for God has ever given

songs in the night to His weeping children. And they are a

for our instruction, our hope, our comfort. So let us make diligent

use of them when trouble and affliction come upon us. Let us

not murmur against God's wise and loving dispensations: let us

not give way to dumb grief and despair; but let us prayerfully

read and sing these swe - and songs, and we shall find there

is divine power in them to lift our hearts out of the slough of

despond and to fill them with abiding peace and '•hope that maketh

not ashamed." I hear it singing, singing sweetly,

Softly in an undertone.

Singing as God's Word bath taught it —

"It is better farther on.''

Night and day unceasing sings it.

Sings it while I sit alone,

Sings it so the heart can hear it —

''It is better farther on."

Farther on ? Then how much farther I

Count the milestones one by one?

No; no counting, only trusting

"It is better farther on.''