WHO BEARS YOUR SORROWS? "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows."—ISAIAH liii. 4. THE chapter in which those 66 Perhaps you will say, "I go to the Lord for help in time of deep affliction; but this daily cross, though a source of constant sorrow to me, is made up of such trifles as I should be ashamed to tell even to a fellow-creature." It may be so; we do not undervalue human sympathy, it is often very precious, but one is occupied with his own cares, another is strong, and does not know how "to bear the infirmities of the weak," a third may weep with you but have no power to re lieve, and none can fully understand or enter into the feelings of another, for "the heart (alone) knoweth its own bitterness;" and we are often led to exclaim, Miserable comforters are ye all!" 66 But the Lord Jesus Christ is "touched with a feeling of our infirmities," and nothing can be too insignificant for the compassionate notice of Him who declares that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered." When the disciples had buried the body of John the Baptist, Matthew says, "they went and told Jesus," and Mark adds, they "told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught." Doubtless they told Him many things which the Scribes and Pharisees would have treated with derision, and which their own familiar friends would hardly have listened to patiently; but Jesus gave them His unwearied attention, and then said, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert-place and rest awhile." And He has still the same loving, sympathizing heart, dear reader. If you would but go to Him, with whatever causes you perplexity, He would give you sweet relief, and your heart would be no more sad,-for "they looked unto Him and were lightened." Do you know what it is, in the midst of harassing cares, or overwhelming duties, to lift the eye of faith to your heavenly Friend, and whisper in the ear bowed down to listen, "Lord help me!" and then to receive such an assurance of His gracious assistance as will be followed by a great calm? If not, you have never realized the privilege of telling Jesus all things. He may not remove the burden, which His wisdom sees there is a "need be" to continue for the trial of your faith and patience, but He will say, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." And since He "will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able," when He sees that you are "pressed out of measure, above strength," He will say, come ye apart, and rest awhile." And even if that rest be found on a bed of languishing, yet if He, "who Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses," stands by to sustain, you will be constrained to say, "Lord it is good to be here." 66 | When you have committed your cause unto Him, that He may "take the matter into his own hand," you will have little inclination and less reason to trouble your fellow-creatures, for He who has borne your griefs, and to whom you have told your wants and sorrows, will Himself tell them what is needful to incline their hearts to help you in his own time and way; and the relief afforded will often be so suitable, or come through such unexpected channels, that you will plainly recognize in it the hand of "that same Jesus," to whom you have told "all things." Many believers can testify that this is no "cunningly devised fable," for "that which we have seen and heard (and have ourselves experienced). declare we unto you"-"that we may comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." E. F. WOUNDED PRIDE. "I HAD my pride deeply wounded to-day," said Henry Martyn, in his journal, "and I perceived that I was far from humility. Great bitterness and dislike arose in my mind against the man who had been the unconscious cause of it! Prayed for the man, and found my affections return." Martyn was singularly honest with himself, and this was one of the causes of his eminent attainment to piety. He saw his deficiencies in their true light, and called them by their right names. It is seldom that men are honest enough to ascribe the state of mind they are in to the right cause when that cause is wounded pride; and yet, wounded pride is the cause of a large portion of the alienations, dislikes, and strifes which occur. Why is this man opposed to a certain plan which is in progress, designed to benefit the church or the community? H was not consulted in relation to it as early and as deferentially as some others. In consequence, the plan is, in his view, injudicious, and those who are promoting it are influenced by at least doubtful motives. Why does that man have such a keen perception of the deficiencies of his neighbour? Why is he so solicitous about the influence of that neighbour, lest it should be wrong? That neighbour has perhaps received greater marks of confidence from the community, or has, by some unguarded remark, wounded the pride of the anxious watcher for the public good. But to enumerate all the ways in which men's pride is wounded and the effects of the same, were to write a large portion of the heart-history of the race. In our intercourse with men, we (if we have ordinary prudence), are constantly, perhaps unconsciously, on our guard lest we should wound the pride of those with whem we come in contact. It were well if we were equally on our guard against pride in ourselves, that we may not place others under the degrading necessity just alluded to. What a sad commentary on "ARE YOU A YOUNG milliner girl by the name of Susan Grey, was in the habit of walking out into the country every Sabbath morning with a female friend; and we cannot wonder that the command, "Be ye clothed with humility," is furnished by the history of the world, and even of the church! How many professing Christians would, if they spoke truly, be constrained to confess with Martyn, that they are "far from humility!" God's cause very often suffers from man's pride. It leads one to say, "It is of more consequence that I should be honoured than that God's cause should prosper." Of course no Christian ever said this in words. Have not some said it very emphatically by their deeds? As Martyn gave us a hint to be honest with ourselves in relation to pride, so he has told us how to neutralize its effects. He had recourse to prayer, and the feelings awakened by wounded pride were removed. Whenever we think our merit has been overlooked, or our opinions undervalued, whenever we find feelings of dislike arising towards any one for want of due deference to our worth, let us have recourse to prayer, and let us continue to pray till all angry feeling has passed away, and till we are willing to take the lowest place so that God's cause may be advanced. READY?" once a week she was glad to escape from the dusty city, and hot, close air of the shop-room. One Sunday morning she was engaged, as usual, in preparing for her accustomed walk, when Ir is very common with some persons to raise a laugh by means of some ludicrous story connected with a text of Scripture. Sometimes it is a play on the words, a pun; at other times a blunder; and not seldom, a downright impiety. Whatever be its form, even when lightest, it is no venial offence, leading, as it does, to profane contempt of God's word. Those who practice this have never been celebrated for genuine wit. The laughter which they call forth is provoked solely by the unexpected contrasted between the solemn words of Scripture and some droll idea. There is no real wit in the case; and the dullest persons in society are INTERESTING PSALM lx. 4. "Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, and such as turn aside most remarkable for these attempts. The evils arising from the practice are greater than appear at first. It leads, in general, to irreverence for Scripture. No man would jest with the dying words of his father or his mother; yet the words of God are quite as solemn. When we have heard a comic or vulgar tale connected with a text of Scripture, such is the power of association, that we never hear the text afterward without thinking of the jest. The effect of this is obvious. He who is much engaged in this kind of false wit, will come at length to have a large portion of Holy Scripture spotted over by his unclean fancy. EXTRACTS. unto lies."-Ah, let those who desire to hope in the Lord, who see and fear, (ver. 3)—fear to walk in evil ways, broad ways; let them choose the narrow way, where those are upon the rock, whose paths have been made straight. The broad way is a deadly way its width pleases in time, but its end is narrow in eternity, Crowds indeed hurry there, with noise and sounds of mirth and festivity. Imitate them not, be not turned aside, it is vanity and lies. Let the Lord thy God be thy hope: hope not for any other thing than the Lord thy God; but let thy Lord Himself be thy hope. For many hope for riches from God, many hope for fading and fleeting honours from God, one thing or another is sought from God, besides God Himself. But do thou seek for God Himself to be thine: yes, despising other things, seek Him; forgetting other things, remember Him; leaving other things behind, reach forth to Him.-Leave all other desires: fairer than all is He who hath made heaven and earth. Ver. 4. Let our God be our hope. He who hath made all things, is better than all: who hath made things fair, is fairer than all: who hath made things strong and great, is stronger and greater than all: whatever thou hast loved, He will be that to thee. Learn to love the Creator in the creature, and the Maker in the things | made; lest thou shouldest be held fast by that which was made by Him, and shouldest lose Him by whom thou also thyself wert made. Therefore, "Blessed is the man whose hope is in the Lord." Ver. 5. "Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us ward."-He who has turned away from the circus, the theatre, the amphitheatre, yet seeks something that he may behold, he asks something again; we do not leave him without a spectacle. Hear what follows: “Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done." Many wondrous things hath God done, let him look upon these. The charioteer is praised who rules four horses, running their course without slip or hurt: hath not the Lord done spiritual marvels like to this? He rules luxury, sloth, injustice, imprudence, the movements caused by these vices. He rules and subdues unto Himself, and He holds the reins, and is not carried away; leads whither He will, is not led whither He wills not.-God gives such spectacles, holds forth rewards. He speaks from heaven: I behold you; strive, I will aid you; conquer, I will crown you. Now look at an actor. A man has by great effort learned to walk upon a rope, and hanging from it, holds thee in wondering suspense. The man has learned to walk upon a rope, has any one walked upon the sea? (Look at the Giver of greater spectacles.) Forget the theatre, and look upon Peter. Do thou too walk, not on those waters where Peter walked, but on others-the sea of this world. This sea has its |