(1) He Has Overcome the World "None of these things move me" (Acts20:24). We read in the book of Samuel that the momentthat David was crowned at Hebron, "All thePhilistines came up to seek David." And themoment we get anything from the Lord worthcontending for, then the devil comes to seek us. When the enemy meets us at the threshold of anygreat work for God, let us accept it as "a tokenof salvation," and claim double blessing,victory, and power. Power is developed byresistance. The cannon carries twice as farbecause the exploding power has to find its waythrough resistance. The way electricity isproduced in the powerhouse yonder is by the sharpfriction of the revolving wheels. And so we shallfind some day that even Satan has been one ofGod's agencies of blessing. --Days of Heavenupon Earth A hero is not fed on sweets,Daily his own heart he eats;Chambers of the great are jails,And head winds right for royal sails.--Emerson Tribulation is the way to triumph. The valley-wayopens into the highway. Tribulation's imprint ison all great things. Crowns are cast incrucibles. Chains of character that wind aboutthe feet of God are forged in earthly flames. Noman is greatest victor till he has trodden thewinepress of woe. With seams of anguish deep inHis brow, the "Man of Sorrows" said, "In theworld ye shall have tribulation"--but after thissob comes the psalm of promise, "Be of goodcheer, I have overcome the world." The footprintsare traceable everywhere. Bloodmarks stain thesteps that lead to thrones. Sears are the priceof scepters. Our crowns will be wrested from thegiants we conquer. Grief has always been the lotof greatness. It is an open secret. "The mark of rank in nature.Is capacity for pain;And the anguish of the singerMakes the sweetest of the strain." Tribulation has always marked the trail of thetrue reformer. It is the story of Paul, Luther,Savonarola, Knox, Wesley, and all the rest of themighty army. They came through great tribulationto their place of power. Every great book has been written with theauthor's blood. "These are they that have comeout of great tribulation." Who was the peerlesspoet of the Greeks? Homer. But that illustrioussinger was blind. Who wrote the fadeless dream of"Pilgrim's Progress"? A prince in royal purpleupon a couch of ease? Nay! The trailing splendorof that vision gilded the dingy walls of oldBedford jail while John Bunyan, a princelyprisoner, a glorious genius, made a faithfultranscript of the scene. Great is the facile conqueror;Yet haply, he, who, wounded sore,Breathless, all covered o'er with blood andsweat,Sinks fainting, but fighting evermoreIs greater yet.--SelectedMusic and the Rest "Into a desert place apart" (Matt. 14:13). "There is no music in a rest, but there is themaking of music in it." In our whole life-melodythe music is broken off here and there by"rests," and we foolishly think we have come tothe end of the tune. God sends a time of forcedleisure, sickness, disappointed plans, frustratedefforts, and makes a sudden pause in the choralhymn of our lives; and we lament that our voicesmust be silent, and our part missing in the musicwhich ever goes up to the ear of the Creator. Howdoes the musician read the "rest"? See him beatthe time with unvarying count, and catch up thenext note true and steady, as if no breakingplace had come between. Not without design does God write the music ofour lives. Be it ours to learn the tune, and notbe dismayed at the "rests." They are not to beslurred over, not to be omitted, not to destroythe melody, not to change the keynote. If we lookup, God Himself will beat the time for us. Withthe eye on Him, we shall strike the next notefull and clear. If we sadly say to ourselves,"There is no music in a 'rest,'" let us notforget "there is the making of music in it." Themaking of music is often a slow and painfulprocess in this life. How patiently God works toteach us! How long He waits for us to learn thelesson! --Ruskin "Called aside--From the glad working of thy busy life,From the world's ceaseless stir of care andstrife,Into the shade and stillness by thy HeavenlyGuideFor a brief space thou hast been called aside. "Called aside--Perhaps into a desert garden dim;And yet not alone, when thou hast been with Him, And heard His voice in sweetest accents say:'Child, wilt thou not with Me this still hourstay?' "Called aside--In hidden paths with Christ thy Lord to tread,Deeper to drink at the sweet Fountainhead,Closer in fellowship with Him to roam,Nearer,