Holiness appeared to me to be of a sweet, pleasant . . . calm nature. It seemed to me . . . that it made the soul like a field or garden of God, with all manner of pleasant flowers—all pleasant, delightful, and undisturbed—enjoying a sweet calm and the gently vivifying beams of the sun.

The soul of a true Christian appeared like such a little white flower as we see in the spring of the year, low and humble on the ground, opening its bosom to receive the pleasant beams of the sun’s glory—rejoicing, as it were, in a calm rapture—diffusing around a sweet fragrancy.

Once I rode out into the woods for my health. Having alighted from my horse in a retired place as my manner commonly had been, to walk for Divine contemplation and prayer, I had a view—that was for me extraordinary—of the glory of the Son of God. As near as I can judge, this continued about an hour; and kept me the greater part of the time in a flood of tears and weeping aloud. I felt an ardency of soul to be—what I know not otherwise how to express—emptied and annihilated; to love Him with a holy and pure love; to serve and follow Him; to be perfectly sanctified, and made pure with a Divine and heavenly purity. JONATHAN EDWARDS

I never thought it could be thus, month after month to know The river of Thy peace without one ripple in its flow; Without one quiver in the trust, one flicker in the glow.

The LORD will . . . satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land. . . . You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Travelers are enthusiastic over a species of palm tree which grows in South America. They call it the rain tree. This tree has the remarkable power of attracting, in a wondrous degree, atmospheric moisture, which it condenses and drops on the earth in refreshing dew. It grows straight up in the parched and arid desert and daily distributes its refreshing showers, with the result that around it an oasis of luxuriant vegetation soon springs up.

The floodgates of heaven refuse to open, the fountains cease to flow, the rivers evaporate —all true, but the rain tree, getting its moisture from above, renews the garden which it has created about its base, and gives the weary traveler shade and fruit, a new life and a delightful rest!

God would have us to be like the rain tree growing alongside the desert highways of the world—sources of new spiritual life. God Himself is our atmosphere, and we carry our atmosphere with us wherever we go.

This atmosphere is proof against all infection, and to breathe it is constant health.

Christ’s power was in His separateness. He did not withdraw Himself from the world but lived in the very midst of it. No man ever came into such close external contact with the devil. Jesus was not a recluse. He was social—mingling with men, yet He kept intact His separateness from the world. He was Jesus! Men felt this! This was His power!

In the secret of Christ’s power, we see the secret of our power. If we are to have any power in the world we must become partakers of His holiness; we must be separated with Him and be kept separated and set apart to the same great life.

The angel, grateful for each borrowed sense, Gazed at the sight: A girl so white, With slender fingers tense Upon the table edge (around his head The smell of new-baked bread) The while unhurried tones fell low, and clear, And near.

Alone, yet not alone, yet not alone, She fell not prone; But leaning a little against the wall, The while the sun grew late, She knew . . . she knew . . . she knew—why all Her life she had been separate.

“THE ANNUNCIATION” BY FLORENCE G. MAGEE

“To reveal his Son in me” (Galatians 1:16).

What aileth thee? Hast thou lost thy way? Art thou entangled in a dark wood and canst thou not find thy paths? Stand still, and see the salvation of God. He knows the way, and He will direct thee in it if thou cry unto Him.

Every day brings its own perplexity. How sweet to feel that the guidance of the Lord is continual! If we choose our own way or consult with flesh and blood we cast off the Lord's guidance; but if we abstain from self-will, then He will direct every step of our road, every hour of the day, and every day of the year, and every year of our life. If we will but be guided, we shall be guided. If we will commit our way unto the Lord, He will direct our course so that we shall not lose ourselves.

But note to whom this promise is made. Read the previous verse: "If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry." We must feel for others and give them, not a few dry crusts, but such things as we ourselves would wish to receive. If we show a tender care for our fellow-creatures in the hour of their need, then will the Lord attend to our necessities and make Himself our continual Guide. Jesus is the Leader, not of misers, nor of those who oppress the poor, but of the kind and tenderhearted. Such persons are pilgrims who shall never miss their way.

He found [Jacob] in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him.

Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

For this GOD is our GOD for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

Who teacheth like him?