ng power, with which He was ready to meet her on
her return.

Having finished this part of his subject, he drew a striking parallel
between the ancient Israel and the multitudes of human beings in every
age, who, instead of loving and serving the living God with all their
soul, are continually setting up for themselves earthly idols of every
variety, which fill up His place in their hearts, and exclude Him from
their thoughts. Wealth, splendour, position, power, fame,
pleasure,--even man's highest earthly blessing, human love
itself,--were set up and worshipped, as if they contained for their
worshipper the highest end and happiness of his soul. What was the
cause of all the broken hearts and blighted lives from which is
continually ascending such a wailing symphony of sorrow without hope?
What but the perverse determination of the heart to find repose
elsewhere than in its true resting-place,--to set up the very
blessings which flow from the hand of its God in the place of the
Giver?

Then, in a few touching, earnest words, he showed how God must often,
in mercy to the soul, send severe judgments and afflictions to bring
the wanderers back to their "Help;" and of the depths of compassion,
of love, of tenderness, of healing, of purest happiness, which were
to be found in that divine Helper, who hath said, "Come unto me, all
ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Never had Lucy heard the speaker more impressive, and she thanked God
in her heart her cousin should have been brought to listen to truths
which she had probably never before heard with any real understanding
of them. Sophy sat back in a corner of the seat, her head resting on
her hand, and her face hidden in her thick black veil. She remained
almost motionless until the sermon was concluded, and then they
silently left the church, Lucy not daring to speak to her.

Before they reached home, however, Sophy suddenly broke the silence by
saying, in a low, agitated voice:

"Lucy, you seem to be what people call a Christian. Can you say, from
your own heart and experience, that you believe all that is true about
Christ giving such peace and comfort in trouble?"

Lucy replied, earnestly and sincerely, that she could,--that she had
felt that peace and comfort when sorrow had been sent her.

"And how does it come? how do you get it?" Sophy asked.

"I don't know any other way, Sophy dear, than by going to Him and
believing His own words