The Fourteenth of April.

O GOD OF ISRAEL --- Matthew 6:13.

"Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour." --- Isaiah 45:15.

"All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth." --- Psalm 25:10.

"The Lord of hosts is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working." --- Isaiah 28:29.

God is wonderful in all his doings, his ways are past finding out; at the end we can see best the wise and gracious steps he took with us; therefore, when things take such a wonderful turn that we are quite at wits end, and do not know which way to go, we may believe the hand of the Lord is in it, and some good will come of it at last.

As we experience the name of Christ to be wonderful at such times, we may well expect that he will show himself to be our Counsellor and mighty God also.

At first, everything may seem to be against us, and go quite contrary; but, at last, we see plainly that it was highly needful that it should go contrary to our corrupt nature, and thus it went well; for though the ways of God are marvellous, yet they are glorious.

Great God, I would not ask to see
What futurity shall be;
If light and bliss attend my days,
Then let my furure hours be praise.

Is darkness and distress my share?
Then let me trust thy guardian care;
Enough for me if love divine
At length through every cloud shall shine.

Yet this my soul desires to know;
Be this my only wish below,
"That Christ is mine!" this great request
Grant, bounteous God, and I am blest.