rom him. And the apostle continues
to say, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us" (v. 37). Love will bear us up as with eagles' wings. It
will make smooth the rough paths. It will give strength to the fainting
heart. It will preserve us while in the midst of temptation; and even when
we have come short of our expectations, when we realize that we have in a
measure failed, that love will not cast us off, but will hold us safe and
secure until the end. Let us look to that love, and be confident, and rest
in full assurance of faith, knowing that

When the storm-winds rage, and the rain falls fast,
And the clouds hang low above,
I shall be secure till the storm is past,
For I trust my Savior's love,
And he knows the way, and he holds my hand,
And he will not let it go;
He will lead me home to that better land
Just because he loves me so.

I will trust his love, for it e'er will last;
It is rich and warm and free;
Through the years of life it will hold me fast,
And my help and comfort be.
To my waiting heart all its treasures rare,
As a sparkling stream shall flow;
In the joy of God I shall ever share,
Just because he loves me so.

TALK THIRTY-FOUR. IN CHRIST AND IN EPHESUS

Paul addressed his Ephesian epistle, "To the saints which are at
_Ephesus_, and to the faithful _in Christ Jesus_." The people addressed
were in Ephesus, and they were likewise in Christ. What did it mean to be
in Ephesus? Ephesus was one of the great centers of paganism. It was
adorned with costly and magnificent temples. It was rich and voluptuous.
Both private and public life were utterly corrupt. Even the religious
practises of the Ephesians were unspeakably vile. This city was a moral
bog, a sink of pollution, filled with all corruption, and reeking with
vileness. It was a second Sodom. Vice stalked abroad everywhere and was
honored and worshiped.

We might therefore well say, "Can any good thing come out of Ephesus? Can
Christianity flourish in such surroundings?" But there were saints in
Ephesus, and faithful ones, too. They were such in their lives and
characters as to win the commendation of that great apostle to the
Gentiles. Out of that obnoxious mud of iniquity were growing the pure
white lilies of Christian character. That is the glory of Christianity and
of Christ. Those who were now Christians were