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stone, of the emery kind. Its ordinary size is one-fourth to two-thirds of 
an inch. When held up to the sun , it loses its deep tinge , and becomes 
exactly of the color of a burning coal . 
Trust in God’s Providence. 
B OD has a special providence which He exercises towards those who love 
Him. lie watches over them with particular tenderness and atten¬ 
tion, as over His favorite friends, His cherished children, and He shows 
Himself to be rich in goodness and mercy towards them. 
Whence it follows, that not to abandon ourselves with full confidence 
to His providence is to misunderstand His power, which can do all things. 
Often, it is true, His reasons are unknown to us, His designs escape our 
short-sightedness; but what we cannot comprehend here below we shall 
understand in Heaven; in Heaven, where we shall sing that God has done 
all things well (Mark. vii. 37). 
Meantime, let us live in a state of abandonment and confidence. 
This abandonment will be a source of peace and consolation for us. 
Persuaded that God watches over us, we shall be at rest; and, looking 
upon ourselves as beloved children in the arms of the best of fathers, we 
shall say: Why distress and trouble myself \ why afflict myself \ Even 
when human means fail, and men are opposed to me, I will rejoice as for 
an opportunity which enables me more perfectly to practise holy abandon¬ 
ment to Providence and confidence in its goodness. 
And even when I may have sinned, I will always have confidence, 
because God is the Eather of the repentant prodigal and has promised par¬ 
don to the publican who humbles himself. 
“Thou art as much His care as if, beside, 
Nor men nor angels lived in Heaven or earth. 
Thus sunbeams pour alike their glorious tide 
To light up worlds, or wake an insect’s mirth. 
They shine and shine with unexhausted store; 
Thou art thy Saviors darling: wish no more 
— Keble. 
