MY dear —:I was very glad indeed to hear from you again, and my heart went to
God in thanksgivings as I read your letter. This scene we are passing through is to us what the desert was to Israel-a place where they were made to prove that their only resource was in God. But if He was their only resource, He was a never-failing one:The manna never failed, the water was ever ready to flow, their garments wore not out, and their foot swelled not. All this telling a story of infinitely deeper things about us who are ' blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.' But there too they learned themselves, and that is the dark side of the picture. However, it is not so dark after all to learn self when we know it is no more a question of acceptance with God, but of acquaintance with Him. Our acceptance was forever settled by the cross-the blood on the door-post, and the crossing of the sea. The first covering our sins, the second our old man, from the eye of God. Thus the only question which remains is, Am I anxious now to get acquainted with the God I have found ? -a God who is light and love !If so, I must taste the lessons of the wilderness. I must learn to 'glory in tribulation, knowing,' etc. (Rom. 5:3-11.)

" In reading Gen. 1. yesterday, I was struck with ver. 15, and the answer it called forth from Joseph at the end of ver. 17. So perfectly was their sin passed from his heart that to recall it made him weep. How comforting when we reflect that this is but the shadow of the heart of Christ toward us! May we learn to think His thoughts. They are Manna indeed. But we sometimes have to pass through great sorrows, to humble us, and put us in a moral condition where we can turn from ourselves and our sins to feed upon the love of God, and lay hold of Himself and His glory through the forgiving and restoring grace He makes known to our souls. Thus our lives, in connection with God, are not, cannot be, lives of ease; but rest-the rest of God is near. ' The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.' What incentive to persevering energy and patience of faith!"