If I mistake not, fellow-Christian, there is a special test often connected with the above-mentioned season of our lives. Very much it seems to one sometimes like the descent of the disciples from the top of " the holy mount," where they saw the Lord " transfigured in glory," to contact with the power of Satan at the bottom of it. And how many similar cases does the Word of God record! Next unto Noah's altar of thanksgiving and sweet savor, where he gets God's covenant of " His bow in the cloud,' is his vineyard of wine, and becoming drunken to the exposure of his shame. Next unto Abraham's tent and altar between Bethel (house of God) and Ai (ruins) is his going down to Egypt (the world) because of Canaan's famine, and there his denial of Sarai (grace) and the bringing up of the bondwoman (law). Next unto Moses' " esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt," and "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God," is his estimate of them as a burden that he cannot carry, and later, calling them "rebels." Next unto Israel's song of triumph because of their redemption is, as a sad refrain," they murmured against the Lord " because of Marah; and the time would fail one to tell of all the " Monday mornings," in some sense so, (what they too often, alas! are, rather than what by grace they should and may be,) recorded on the pages of Scripture. But with so much to hint our meaning, we will now turn to our own; and what are they, fellow-Christian? "Down to the depths," is it, as to spiritual experience, when our Lord has said equally for this as for the day before, (in which how often we have found " His joy our strength"!) " My grace is sufficient for Thee," and " as thy days, so shall thy strength be"? How is it thus? Whatever can it be that makes that bright-faced, happy Christian who then praised God for all that Christ is and has done for us, and " worshiped Him in the beauty of holiness," now droop beneath the trials of the way, and join the ranks of "the murmurers and complainers," saying, "All these things are against me"? Is there not a cause? There is, and this it is, I humbly venture to suggest:Then, our faith looked up to Him who is our strength as well as our salvation, and thus our ranks were closed against the enemy; now, our eye is upon the way, ourselves, others, or the world around us-"winds and waves boisterous," and we begin to sink. Or, as Bunyan's "Christian " climbed the hill Difficulty, there to get a good view of all beneath, and a fresh drought of purer air, thus to "thank God and take courage," when, alas! now the arbor placed by the King of the pilgrims for his rest and joy becomes a snare, and he takes his ease, forgets his journey, and loses his precious roll.

"Well, how shall it be otherwise? for things do seem to go so crooked sometimes, and especially then " (Monday mornings), say some who desire to please the Lord, but this special season of ordinary life has oft proved too much for them. Well, how? we echo; and an apostle, speaking of what he knew, and testifying what he had seen, furnishes the divine answer:"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Say not in thine heart (for " the word of faith " dispels all reasonings, where God and His power are in question,) that he knew not your trials, it may be of to-day,-the getting up late-the breakfast half served-family out of sorts-but little time for the morning reading, and then the question rising, "Will a man rob God? " and how little confidence in Him for the path through the day! More than the aggregate of all this he knew, and yet said, "Every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Phil. 4:)

Blessed word this,-"content"! but to how many of us it seems like a far-off shore we even scarce hope to reach. May we not, then, again well ask, Is there not a cause? There is, again we reply,-this:"Content" is chapter four, and the way thereto is well marked out as " the path of the just, that shineth brighter and brighter to the perfect day." Chapter one, " To me to live is Christ;" two, "The mind which was also in Christ Jesus;" three, "This one thing I do:.. . I press toward the mark."Little wonder, then, that four is, " I have learned to be content; I know how to be abased and to abound; I am instructed to be full and hungry, to abound and suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Thus, Christ for life, pattern, object, is-yes, must be, Christ for rest and stay of heart! As in an Old-Testament day with the prophet Habakkuk, who at first says, " O Lord, how long shall I cry . . . . !Why dost Thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me; and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth:for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth."But ere long he learns a lesson as to what seemed a greater calamity still-" a bitter and hasty nation marching through the breadth of the land to possess the dwelling-places that are not theirs," and says, "Art Thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, Thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, Thou hast established them for correction."And later on, betaking himself to his watchtower, as he tells us, " to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved [argued with]," he learns the secret of all true rest of heart for sinner and for saint alike-" The just shall live by his faith." Then, hearing God's sevenfold woes upon the wicked, adds, "The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him," and pours out his heart's plaint there,-"O Lord, I have heard Thy speech, and was afraid:O Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy." Then, in. conclusion, saying, " When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice:rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble:" ending with "Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places." May it be ours, then, beloved brethren, to learn from these " things new and old," and in the strength of our God, equally for this our day as for that, that" this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith," and thus shall our " Monday mornings" become but so many fresh occasions in which to realize the power of His might, and become " more than conquerors through Him that loved us."

Be it so, for our present joy and future reward as well, and above all that " God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen." B.C.G.