his heart for anything but the love of God. He understood, then, how he that separates himself from his fellow by hatred, separates himself, also, from Christ and God, and casts himself into an abyss of diseased self consciousness. In the abyss Jonathan now felt he must have perished of his own lovelessness, if he had not been sought by infinite compassion, and found the mercy of the Merciful One.
It was in this new strength that his eye fell upon a little book of sacred song which lay upon his table, and which had often had a word for him in due season. He opened it in the hope, and this verse answered his inquiry:
"Amidst the mighty, where is he
Who saith, and it is done?
Each varying scene of changeful life
Is from the Lord alone.
"Why should a living man complain,
Beneath the chast'ning rod?
Our sins afflict us: and the cross
Must bring us back to God."
