When we lean upon Him, He is glad, but when we transfer our dependence to another, when we rely upon our own wisdom, or the wisdom of a friend-worst of all, when we trust in any works of our own, He is displeased, and will chasten us that He may bring us to Himself. He is also very jealous of our company. There should be no one with whom we converse so much as with Jesus. Let this jealousy which would keep us near to Christ be also a comfort to us, for if He loves us so much as to care thus about our love we may be sure that He will suffer nothing to harm us, and will protect us from all our enemies. Unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.
Faith pulls the black mask from the face of trouble, and discovers the angel beneath.
Faith looks up at the cloud, and sees that 'Tis big with mercy and shall break In blessings on her head. There is a subject for song even in the judgments of God towards us. Faith discerns love gleaming like a jewel on the breast of an angry God. So Faith rides forth on the black horse, conquering and to conquer, trampling down carnal reason and fleshly sense, and chanting notes of victory amid the thickest of the fray. But, exulting, cry, it led me To my blessed Saviour's seat.