ABIDETH FOREVER.



WHEN the great traveler, Baron Humboldt, was journeying in South America, there came one day a sudden stillness in the air, which seemed like a hush over all nature. But that was followed by a fearful convulsion of the earth, which made all hearts quake. 

And Humboldt tells us that the earthquake within his soul was as great as that in the world without. All his old views of the safety of the earth were destroyed in a moment. Should he fly to the hills for help? The mountains were reeling like drunken men. The houses were no refuge, for they were crumbling and falling. 

The trees were overthrown; and then his thoughts turned to the sea, but lo, it had fled. Ships, which just before were floating securely on its surface, were now left rocking in the sands. 

Being thus at his wit's end, he tells us he "looked up, and observed that the heavens alone were calm and unshaken."

There are times in every one's life when all earthly help seems to fail. 

Beloved friends, though so near and willing, cannot take away pain and sickness, which seem to overwhelm us. 

Often, too, the very friends we have leaned upon leave us; and we are without human help or sympathy. But whatever the trouble, we may always look up and find above, a help that never changes. Our kind and loving Saviour can more than make up for all our present losses and troubles. If we can see him looking down with love upon us, even pain and death will lose their terrors.

A momentary shock of an earthquake can make the strongest tremble; but in that day when "the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard and shall be removed," how will those rejoice who can calmly look up, knowing that they have a home in the heavens which standeth fast forever. 





 J. E. M.