112 THE EVENING PRIMROSE 



longer than while the sun is absent from our hen 

 isphere. Vanity is written upon all that fixes it . 

 root in this perishing earth ; and man, especially, 

 walketh in a vain shadow, disquieting himself in 

 vain. The best, the dearest, the holiest of our 

 privileges, as regards our fellow-beings, hang but 

 upon a breath ; and that perhaps the breath of Sa- 

 tan, or of most evil-minded men, permitted by Him 

 who suffered the inmates of Bethany to drink the 

 bitter cup of bereavement, in tears and anguish 

 of soul : but only that he might, after exercising 

 their faith and submission, prove the omnipotence 

 of his arm to wrest back the prey, and confounded 

 the opposers of his sovereignty, and shame the 

 doubters of his everlasting love. Against his faith- 

 ful servants, the hand of violence and wrong can 

 do nothing, but pave the way for brighter manifes- 

 tations of his glory ; he whom Jesus loves may be 

 sick — he whom Jesus loves may be persecuted — 

 but his prospect is sure ; and, however foes may 

 triumph for a season, he shall yet be more than 

 conqueror, through Him who has so loved him. 



