Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-05-24

long burrows on his brow. A book lay
open before him, and he read: ''Resi
in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. y
With a sigh he recalled his former long.
ings. He had not obtained them, MOI
did he now regret them. AS formerly
he had perceived the vanity of earthly
riches, SO now he could discern the i'm.
potencc of earthly power While toll.
ing on patiently in his obscure condition
he had observed many rise to great
power. But he had also observed their
decline. Their sun had risen high nj
noontide, but in the end had faded into
the gloom of the night; and If their
power was transitory, it was no less
feeble Compared with other men they
might seem powerful, but when brought
face to face with the realities of life and
death. then their actual weakness be-
came apparent. No; that desire, too,
had been q mistake. What, then, was
there to long forP Long had he bat
tied bravcly by himself, but now the
strife began to tell upon his strength.
Sorrow and care had done their work
He began to feel that he was alone in
the world, and to long for some one to
fill up the void in his life.
Yes that might we'll be his hearts
desire. A pure, true love tina might
enter into his joys and sympathize with
his griefs. A love to last throughout
this life and only begin afresh in the
endless life TO come. That would sure
ly be glorious crown for his patient
waiting. Again twenty years
passed. The SHOWS of old age had
fallen lightly, flake by flake, upon his
head. He bent this time over the poets
words: "All things come round to him
who will but wait" The echoes of old
memories awokc. Gravely, but not
sorrowfully, the old man reviewed his
earlier dreams and wishes-wealth and
power. He had seen their emptiness
and uselessness. And that last dream!
Was that as vain? Is love as idle
show as others? Nay, not so; for love
is eternal.
Yet he seemed to perceive that the
boon might have been withdrawn from
him in mercy. He had seen how the
loved ones of other men had been taken
from them, how the after-solitude had
been doubly bitter, how doubly dark
had been the gloom when the love-light
faded out of their lives. lie had seen,
too how imperfect after all was the
communion of even those hearts that
had loved the best. So, bordering
over Lis mistake, he began to perceive
that onco again he had mistaken for
the deep and enduring hearts desire
something that after years had shown
TO be but poor and fleeing.
Then, though he, that which | most
need is wisdom, true wisdom. That in
itself is wealth and power. Ii must
surely be as eternal as love. 1t will
help me TO bear my griefs. 1t cannot
fail TO enhance my joys. BE this, then,
my hearts desire
So tho old man, still kneeling in the
great cathedral, called up the vision of
days long past and dreams long dead.
But now the familiar words seemed
clothed with new meaning. As the sun
light flashing on the distant landscape
will bring to view beauties unsuspected
before, so the wondrous melody seemed
TO have taught him To find new truth in
the words he had known SO long. He
had found the keynote of the saying and
its harmony became clear to him.
"'Oh! rest in the Lord Yea, gra-
cious Master, Thou hast guided me
hitherto. Whereas | was blind now
see.' Thou hast been showing how
vain and empty were what seemed my
hearts desires. Thou hast caused me to
see that they were not even the true de-
sires of my heart.
"Contentedly, therefore, will | rest
me in Thee, o loving Lord! Patiently
will | wait for Thee. BE Thou my ex-
ceeding great reward. BE Thou my
hearts desire -
What thenP Is this all? Is the Di-
vine Providence but a deceit? After
whole lifetime of patient waiting was
the old man only taught to know a new
desirep
Nay, but the promise was fulfilled.
Not only one desire, but all his desires
were granted him.
Wealth beyond mans conception,
power greater than that of n monarch,
love eternal and boundless, wisdom
deeper and truer than that of the an
clients, and the presence of that Lord
who was his hearts true desire-all
were given him, and that speedily. For,
when the colored glory of the windows
had faded INTO cold gray and the YER
ger came round to close the gates OF the
cathedral for the night, the silyery head
was still bowed in grateful alteration,
but the soul had winged its flight thither
where true joys are TO be found.
He had patiently waited for the Lord
and had obtained
HIS HEARTS DESIRE.