e
banner of trust and triumph, and bidding us to follow in His victorious
footsteps.

He is the great Pattern Believer. While we must claim our salvation by
faith, the Great Forerunner also claimed the world's salvation by the same
faith.

Let us therefore consider this glorious Leader our perfect example, and as
we follow close behind Him, let us remember where He has triumphed we may
triumph, too.

SEPTEMBER 15.

"Though it tarry, wait for it, for it will surely come, and will not
tarry" (Hab. ii. 3).

Some things have their cycle in an hour and some in a century; but His
plans shall complete their cycle whether long or short. The tender annual
which blossoms for a season and dies, and the Columbian aloe, which
develops in a century, each is true to its normal principle. Many of us
desire to pluck our fruit in June rather than wait until October, and so,
of course, it is sour and immature; but God's purposes ripen slowly and
fully, and faith waits while it tarries, knowing it will surely come and
will not tarry too long.

It is perfect rest to fully learn and wholly trust this glorious promise.
We may know without a question that His purposes shall be accomplished
when we have fully committed our ways to Him, and are walking in watchful
obedience to His every prompting. This faith will give a calm and tranquil
poise to the spirit and save us from the restless fret and trying to do
too much ourselves.

Wait, and every wrong will righten,
Wait, and every cloud will brighten,
If you only wait.

SEPTEMBER 16.

"I will never leave Thee nor forsake Thee" (Heb. xiii. 5).

It is most cheering thus to know that although we err and bring upon
ourselves many troubles that might have been easily averted, yet God does
not forsake even His mistaken child, but on his humble repentance and
supplication is ever really both to pardon and deliver. Let us not give up
our faith because we have perhaps stepped out of the path in which He
would have led us. The Israelites did not follow when He called them into
the Land of Promise, yet God did not desert them; but during the forty
years of their wandering He walked by their side bearing their backsliding
with patient compassion, and waiting to be gracious unto them when another
generation should have come. "In all their afflictions He was afflicted,
but the Angel of His presence saved them; He bare them and carried them
all the days of old." And so yet