hand and
repeating such promises.

The blessed Lord has condensed it all into one sweet monogram of eternal
comfort in His message to the disciples on the sea of Galilee, "It is I;
be not afraid." He does not say, "It is over," or "It is morning," or "It
is fine weather," or "It is smooth water," but He says, "It is I, be not
afraid." He is the antidote to fear; He is the remedy for trouble; He is
the substance and the sum of deliverance. Therefore, we should rise above
fear. Let us keep our eyes fastened upon Him; let us abide continually in
Him; let us be content with Him; let us cling closely to Him and cry, "We
will not fear though the earth be removed, though the mountains be carried
into the midst of the sea."

FEBRUARY 22.

"He that hath entered into His rest hath ceased from his own works even as
God did from His" (Heb. iv. 10).

What a rest it would be to many of us if we could but exchange burdens
with Christ, and so utterly and forever transfer to Him all our cares and
needs that we would not feel henceforth responsible for our burdens, but
know that He has undertaken all the care, and that our faith is simply to
carry His burdens, and that He prays, labors, and suffers only for us and
our interests. This is what He truly invites us to do. "Come unto Me," He
says, "all ye that labor and are heavy-laden and I will rest you," and
then He adds, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me." He takes our yoke
and we take His and we find it a thousand times easier to carry one of His
burdens than to carry our own. How much more delightful it is to spend an
hour in supplication for another than five minutes in pleading for
ourselves. Are we not weary of carrying our wretched loads?

'Twas for this His mercy sought you,
And to all His fulness brought you,
By the precious blood that bought you,
Pass it on.

FEBRUARY 23.

"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil. i. 21).

The secret of a sound body is a sound heart, and the prayer of the Holy
Ghost for us is, that we "may be in health and prosper even as our soul
prospers."

We find Paul in the Epistles to the Philippians expressing a sublime and
holy indifference to the question of life or death. Indeed he is in a real
strait, whether he would prefer "to depart and be with Christ," or to
remain still in the flesh.

The former would indeed be his sweetest preference, but the latter would
be at the same time a joyful service.