the dulling
of our heart's sensibilities so that we shall not feel the pain so
keenly. God's comfort is strength to endure in the experience. If we
put our life into the hands of Christ in the time of sorrow, and with
quiet faith and sweet trust go on with our duty, all shall be well. If
we resist and struggle and rebel, we shall not only miss the blessing
of comfort that is infolded for us in our sorrow, but we shall receive
hurt in our own life. When one is soured and embittered by trial, one
has received hurt rather than blessing; but if we accept our sorrow
with love and trust, we shall come out of it enriched in life and
character, and prepared for better work and greater usefulness.

There is a picture of a woman sitting by the sea in deep grief. The
dark waters have swallowed up her heart's treasures, and her sorrow is
inconsolable. Close behind her is an angel striking his harp,--the
Angel of Consolation. But the woman in her stony grief sees not the
angel's shining form, nor hears the music of his harp. Too often this
is the picture in Christian homes. With all the boundlessness of God's
love and mercy, the heart remains uncomforted.

This ought not so to be. There is in Jesus Christ an infinite resource
of consolation, and we have only to open our heart to receive it. Then
we shall pass through sorrow sustained by divine help and love, and
shall come from it enriched in character, and blessed in every phase of
life. The griefs of our life set lessons for us to learn. In every
pain is the seed of a blessing. In every tear a rainbow hides. Dr.
Babcock puts it well in his lines:--

The dark-brown mould's upturned
By the sharp-pointed plough--
And I've a lesson learned.

My life is but a field,
Stretched out beneath God's sky,
Some harvest rich to yield.

Where grows the golden grain?
Where faith? Where sympathy?
In a furrow cut by pain.

CHAPTER XII.

JESUS AND HIS SECRET FRIENDS.

How many souls--his loved ones--
Dwell lonely and apart,
Hiding from all but One above
The fragrance of their heart.
PROCTER.

Not all the friends of Jesus were open friends. No doubt many believed
on him who had not the courage to confess him. Two of his secret
friends performed such an important part at the close of his life,
boldly honoring him, that the story of their discipleship is worthy of
our careful study.

One of these is me