oweth that we are but dust: else the spirit would fail before Him, and
the souls which He has made. Think of God as that which He is--a
compassionate God, a long-suffering God, a generous God, a magnanimous
God, a truly royal God; in one word, a Perfect God; who causeth His sun
to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendeth His rain on the just
and on the unjust; a God who cannot despise, cannot neglect, cannot lose
His patience with any poor soul of man; who sets Himself against none but
the insolent, the proud, the malicious, the mean, the wilfully stupid and
ignorant and frivolous. Against those who exalt themselves, whether as
terrible tyrants or merely contemptible boasters, He exalts Himself; and
will shew them, sooner or later, whether He or they be the stronger;
whether He or they be the wiser. But for the poor soul who is abased,
who is down, and in the depth; who feels his own weakness, folly,
ignorance, sinfulness, and out of that deep cries to God as a lost child
crying after its father--even a lost lamb bleating after the ewe--of that
poor soul, be his prayers never so confused, stupid and ill-expressed--of
him it is written: "The Lord helpeth them that fall, and lifteth up all
those that are down. He is nigh to all that call on Him, yea, to all
that call upon Him faithfully. He will fulfil the desire of those that
fear Him, He also will hear their cry and will help them."

Yes. To all such does God the Father, God who made heaven and earth,
hold up, as it were, His only-begotten Son, Christ, hanging on the Cross
for us; and say: Behold thy God. Behold the brightness of God's glory,
and the express image of God's person. Behold what God gave for thee,
even His only-begotten Son. Behold that in which God the Father was well
pleased: in His Son; not condemning you, not destroying you, but humbling
Himself, dying Himself awhile, that you may live for ever. Look; and by
seeing the Son, see the Father also--your Father, and the Father of the
spirits of all flesh; and know that His essence and His name is--Love.

Therefore, when you are in the deep of sorrow, whatever that depth may
be, cry to God. To God Himself; and to none but God. If you can go to
the pure fountain-head, why drink of the stream, which must have gathered
something of defilement as it flows? If you can get light from the sun
itself, why take lamp or candle in place of his clear rays? If you can
go to God Himself, why go to any o