s a
tottering fence._" The wind and the rain dislodge the fence, it rots at
its foundations, and one day it lies prone upon the ground.

FEBRUARY The Tenth

_REGISTERING A VERDICT_

"_The Lord our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey._"
--JOSHUA xxiv. 22-28.

Here was a definite decision. Our peril is that we spend our life in
wavering and we never decide. We are like a jury which is always hearing
evidence and never gives a verdict. We do much thinking, but we never make
up our minds. We let our eyes wander over many things, but we make no
choice. Life has no crisis, no culmination.

Now people who never decide spend their days in hoping to do so. But this
kind of life becomes a vagrancy and not a noble and illumined crusade. We
drift through our days, we do not steer, and we never arrive at any rich
and stately haven.

It is therefore vitally wise to "make a vow unto the Lord." It is good to
pull our loose thinkings together and to "gird up the loins of the mind."
Let a man, at some definite place, and at some definite moment, make the
supreme choice of his life.

FEBRUARY The Eleventh

_THE HILL COUNTRY OF THE SOUL_

PSALM cxxi.

There should be a hill country in every life, some great up-towering peaks
which dominate the common plain. There should be an upland district, where
springs are born, and where rivers of inspiration have their birth. "I
will lift up mine eyes unto the hills."

The soul that knows no hills is sure to be oppressed with the monotony of
the road. The inspiration to do little things comes from the presence of
big things. It is amazing what dull trifles we can get through when a
radiant love is near. A noble companionship glorifies the dingiest road.
And what if that Companion be God? Then, surely, "the common round and
daily task" have a light thrown upon them from "the beauty of His
countenance."

The "heavenlies" are our salvation and our defence. "His righteousness is
like the great mountains." "The mountains bring forth peace unto His
people."

FEBRUARY The Twelfth

_THE BULB AND THE SOIL_

"_He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them,
he it is that loveth Me._"
--JOHN xiv. 15-24.

Yes, but how can I keep them? Some one sent me a bulb which requires a
certain kind of soil, but he also sent me the soil in which to grow it. He
sent instructions, but he also sent power. And when I am bidden to keep a
commandment I feel as though I hav