He is our Brother, cheering us in our difficulties."

Here is another beautiful extract: it is from Gotthold:

"For my part, my soul is like a hungry and thirsty child; and I need
His love and consolation for my refreshment. I am a wandering and
lost sheep; and I need Him as a good and faithful shepherd. My soul
is like a frightened dove pursued by the hawk; and I need His wounds
for a refuge. I am a feeble vine; and I need His cross to lay hold
of, and to wind myself about. I am a sinner; and I need His
righteousness. I am naked and bare; and I need His holiness and
innocence for a covering. I am ignorant; and I need His teaching:
simple and foolish; and I need the guidance of His Holy Spirit. In no
situation, and at no time, can I do without Him. Do I pray? He must
prompt, and intercede for me. Am I arraigned by Satan at the Divine
tribunal? He must be my Advocate. Am I in affliction? He must be my
Helper. Am I persecuted by the world? He must defend me. When I am
forsaken, He must be my Support; when I am dying, my life: when
mouldering in the grave, my Resurrection. Well, then, I will rather
part with all the world, and all that it contains, than with Thee, my
Saviour. And, God be thanked! I know that Thou, too, art neither able
nor willing to do without me. Thou art rich; and I am poor. Thou hast
abundance; and I am needy. Thou hast righteousness; and I sins. Thou
hast wine and oil; and I wounds. Thou hast cordials and refreshments;
and I hunger and thirst.

Use me then, my Saviour, for whatever purpose, and in whatever way,
Thou mayest require. Here is my poor heart, an empty vessel; fill it
with Thy grace. Here is my sinful and troubled soul; quicken and
refresh it with Thy love. Take my heart for Thine abode; my mouth to
spread the glory of Thy name; my love and all my powers, for the
advancement of Thy believing people; and never suffer the
steadfastness and confidence of my faith to abate--that so at all
times I may be enabled from the heart to say. 'Jesus needs me, and I
Him; and so we suit each other.'"

CHAPTER IX.

_BACKSLIDING_.

"I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely: for Mine
anger is turned away."--Hosea xiv. 4.

There are two kinds of backsliders. Some have never been converted:
they have gone through the form of joining a Christian community and
claim to be backsliders; but they never have, if I may use the
expression, "slid forward." They may talk of backsliding;