riches in glory by
Christ Jesus."--Phil. iv. 19.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain. Who giveth us richly all
things to enjoy."--1 Tim. vi. 6, 17.

"I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or
what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on: is
not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Wherefore, if
God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is
cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little
faith? Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What
shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your heavenly
Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."--Matt. vi. 25,
30-32.

* * * * * *

DISCOURAGEMENT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

She begged this woman not to be discouraged, but to put her trust in
the Lord. How comforting is the word in this connection, "He that
dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the
shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my fortress; my
God, in Him will I trust."

1. Consider the happiness of those who put their trust in the Lord.
Everyone who neglects to do this may reasonably expect that God will
hide his face from them.

2. See the benefits that flow from the reciprocal influence of
religion. She felt encouraged because her husband was interested in
religion.

3. Trials ought to be spiritually discerned. We form a very wrong
estimate of religion if we think that God's gifts of grace are
invariably conferred upon the prosperous. Many have the smiles of His
providence who are not basking in the sunshine of His reconciling
countenance.

* * * * * *

IF WE FORSAKE GOD, HE WILL ALSO FORSAKE US.

_She had not discharged her duty to God, etc._--How quickly she
recognized the vital importance of discharging duty to God as infinitely
superior to all others. Penitence for sin omitted and committed against
a holy Being who has purer eyes than to behold iniquity. This thought is
put in the foreground; sin brings affliction. Repentance was the first
subject selected by John, and Christ himself, to proclaim to the people
of Palestine, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." Why does
it imply simply a change of mind?

_Laments her past life._--Living in the careless neglect of her duty to
God, she censures herself, evidently experienci