se, not to the
mere emotional feeling which weeps itself away in sentimental tears, but
to an earnest desire to _do something_ to mitigate the sufferings of
woe-worn humanity? How vast and world-wide the claims on your
compassion!--now near, now at a distance--the unmet and unanswered cry
of perishing millions abroad--the heathendom which lies unsuccored at
your own door--the public charity languishing--the mission staff dwarfed
and crippled from lack of needful funds--a suffering district--a
starving family--a poor neighbor--a helpless orphan--it may be, some
crowded hovel, where misery and vice run riot--or some lonely sick
chamber, where the dim lamp has been wasting for dreary nights--or some
desolate home which death has entered, where "Joseph is not, and Simeon
is not," and where some sobbing heart, under the tattered garb of
poverty, mourns, unsolaced and unpitied, its "loved and lost." Are there
none such within your reach, to whom a trifling pittance would be as an
angel of mercy? How it would hallow and enhance all you possess, were
you to seek to live as almoner of Jehovah's bounties! If He has given
you of this world's substance, remember it is bestowed, not to be
greedily hoarded or lavishly squandered. Property and wealth are
talents to be traded on and laid out for the good of others--sacred
trusts, not selfishly to be _enjoyed_, but generously to be _employed_.

"The poor are the representatives of Jesus, their wants He considers as
His own," and He will recompense accordingly. The feeblest expression of
Christian pity and love, though it be but the widow's mite, or the cup
of cold water, or the kindly look and word when there is neither mite
nor cup to give, yet, if done in _His_ name, it is entered in the "book
of life" as a "loan to the Lord;" and in that day when "the books are
opened," the loan will be paid back with usury.

"ARM YOURSELVES LIKEWISE WITH THE SAME MIND."

Second Day.

RESIGNATION IN TRIAL.

"Not my will, but Thine be done!"--Luke, xxii. 42.

Where was there ever resignation like this! The life of Jesus was one
long martyrdom. From Bethlehem's manger to Calvary's cross, there was
scarce one break in the clouds; these gathered more darkly and ominously
around Him till they burst over His devoted head as He uttered His
expiring cry. Yet throughout this pilgrimage of sorrow no murmuring
accent escaped His lips. The most suffering of all suffering lives was
one of u