WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH?

  In the storm, that sweeps along;
  Blazing fire, and earthquake strong;
  In the lightning’s trackless flight;
  Gathering cloud, and curtain’d night! 
  In the fragrant passing breeze;
  Thunders loud, or raging seas. 
  Stormy worlds, or gentle flower,
  God proclaims His sovereign power. 
  But the still small voice of love
  Softly breathing from above,
  Speaks in spirit tones within—­
  ‘Jesus suffered for my sin;’
  Till my soul—­His hallowed shrine—­
  Melts in melody divine. 
  Let me hear its whisper still;
  Melt, and mould me to Thy will.

“‘I will greatly rejoice in the Lord’ is my motto this day.  I enjoy settled peace, and am striving after the fulness offered in the word of God:  ‘Filled with God;’ ‘Sealed with the spirit of Promise;’ ‘Dead to sin.;’ ’Holy.’—­Disturbed in the night by a person who had a quarrel with her other self.—­My John occupied the pulpit.  At the prayer-meeting after, a person cried aloud for mercy.  The Lord spoke peace to her soul on her return home.  She could not sleep during the night for praising God.  She came to the Thursday class.  We were rejoiced to hear her statement.”

XVIII.

LIGHT IN DARKNESS.

  “FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.”—­2 Cor. v. 7.

In the wisdom of God, and in harmony with the highest purposes of grace, life is so constructed, as to make man feel his own weakness, and his dependance upon Divine power.  The recurrence of seasons of trouble and sorrow, makes a perpetual demand upon our faith.  Reason tries in vain to disentangle the intricate dispensations of Providence, and nature sinks under the force of innumerable trials, which, like successive waves beat incessantly upon it.  The only resource is faith in God; and when once we grasp the sure promise, ‘all things work together for good to them that love God;’ light springs up in the darkness:  and all that comfort, which might arise from a clear discovery of the processes of Providence, is realized in the assurance that all shall be well,—­an assurance given by Him who cannot lie, confirmed by an oath, sealed with the blood of Christ, and verified by the experience of God’s people in all ages.  It is thus the christian’s privilege to rejoice always, if not in His afflictions which are grievous, yet in the Lord, who ruleth all things well.  Mrs. Lyth knew this to be possible, she aimed at it, and though not always with equal success, she walked by ‘faith and not by sight.’