How many pine, how many drink the cup
Of baleful grief, or eat the bitter bread
Of misery; sore pierced by wintry winds.

Amid all such sad scenes this heroine bids us labor on in faith, and
she adds, "_Our labor will not be in vain._" No, never! "For, they
that go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall _doubtless_
return again rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them."

What is faith? Faith is simply taking God at His word. Paul, in the
eleventh chapter of the Hebrews, reveals to us the victories God's
people obtained through faith. There is often something startling to
our sluggish spirits by a critical examination of the almost incredible
account of the power of faith. How tremendously efficacious. Oh! that
the Holy Spirit may reveal to us its vast importance.

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed
about seven days.

"By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not,
when she had received the spies with peace.

"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of
Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jepthae; of David also, and
Samuel, and of the prophets:

"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

"Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of
weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the
armies of the aliens.

"Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection:

"And others had trial of _cruel_ mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover
of bonds and imprisonment:

"They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain
with the sword: they wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins;
being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

"(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in
mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received
not the promise;

"God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us
should not be made perfect."

To lift with tender pitying hand,
Sin's victims, from the dust;
Reproach them not, nor chide their wrong,
Be kind as well as just;
A word may touch a sleeping chord
Of mem'ry pure and sweet,
And bring them, sorry for their sins,
To