so long. Think what the last three
years had been to these men. Jesus had taken them into the most
intimate fellowship with himself--into closest confidential friendship.
They had listened to his wonderful words, seen his gracious acts, and
witnessed his sweet life. Think what a privilege it was to live thus
with Jesus those beautiful years; what glimpses of heaven they had;
what visions of radiant life shone before them.

But now this precious experience was ended. The lovely dream had
vanished. They were back again at their old work. How dreary it must
have been--this tiresome handling of oars and boats and fishing-nets,
after their years of exalted life with their Master! But it is a
precious thought to us that just at this time, when they were in the
midst of the dull and wearisome work, and when they were sadly
discouraged, Christ appeared to them. It showed his interest in their
work, his sympathy with them in their discouragement, and his readiness
to help them.

Then the revealings of his appearance that morning are for all his
friends and for all time. We know now that our risen Saviour is
interested in whatever we have to do, and is ready to help us in all
our dull, common life. He will come to his people, not in the church
service, the prayer-meeting, the Holy Supper only, but is quite as apt
to reveal himself to them in the task-work of the plainest, dullest
day. Susan Coolidge writes:--

"That thy full glory may abound, increase,
And so thy likeness shall be formed in me,
I pray; the answer is not rest or peace,
But changes, duties, wants, anxieties,
Till there seems room for everything but thee,
And never time for anything but these.

"And I should fear, but lo! amid the press,
The whirl and hum and pressure of my day,
I hear thy garments sweep, thy seamless dress,
And close beside my work and weariness
Discern thy gracious form, not far away,
But very near, O Lord, to help and bless.

"The busy fingers fly; the eyes may see
Only the glancing needle which they hold;
But all my life is blossoming inwardly,
And every breath is like a litany;
While through each labor, like a thread of gold,
Is woven the sweet consciousness of thee."

There are duties in every life that are irksome. Young people
sometimes find school work dull. There are faithful mothers who many a
day grow weary of the endless duties of the household. There are good