d through many souls, and from
soul to soul, unite them in one common centre, and thus the bond of
filiation is complete in God. I may not express myself so as to be
understood. May your light supply, what is wanting in clearness of
expression.

LIVE IN THE PRESENT.

Do not expect, my dear E., that the will of God will be made apparent
to you in any extraordinary way. The most remarkable events occur
naturally. It was by an order of the Emperor, that Joseph, being of
the house and lineage of David, went to be taxed at Bethlehem, where
the holy child Jesus was born. The fountain of water was near to
Hagar, when she laid down the child to die with thirst. Behold God, my
friend, in the present arrangement of his providence for you, and
submit wisely to passing events. He sees the end from the beginning,
and plans wisely for his children. O, how good to submit our limited
view to his far sight, reaching through time and eternity!

Remember, the present moment comes to you, as the moment of God. Use
it for his glory, and every succeeding moment. Thus the present
becomes the eternal moment, for which we must render account to God.
May God be All in All to us in every passing moment, now and forever.

HOW TO ADMINISTER REPROOF.

A single word, spoken in the spirit of Christ, with humility and
sweetness, will have more weight, in correcting others, than many words
uttered in our own spirit. The reason is this: when passion mingles
with correction, although the truth may be spoken, Jesus Christ does
not cooperate with us. Therefore, the person is not corrected by what
we say, but, being opposed to the manner of correction, is more
confirmed in the evil. In proportion as Jesus Christ speaks by us,
without us, or without the minglings of self, his word is efficacious,
and turns the heart of the person to whom we speak, to receive what we
say. I know there are some who resist, knowingly, _his_ word, but our
passionate zeal does not correct them.

It is important to wait the moment of God to collect others. We may
see real faults, but the person may not be in a state to profit by
being told their faults. It is not wise to give more than one can
receive. This is what I call _preceding_ the _light_,--the light
shines so far in advance of the person, that it does not benefit him.
Our Lord said to his apostles, "I have many things to say to you, but
you cannot bear them now."

The prophet says, the