Poverty.

POVERTY is undoubtedly a great trial. There is the constant anxiety as to how to "make the two ends meet." Every sixpence, every penny has to be watched. When sick

ness comes there is the loss of work, and money, and the extra expenses to meet. Sometimes there is no work to be had for weeks and months. The little savings soon go, and then perhaps the furniture has to go bit by bit, while the children cry for bread. Health and strength fail, and the heart is like lead. Only those who have gone through it know really what it is—and only those who have seen it face to face have any idea of the bitterness of it.

Then there is the less severe form, a small

wage and a large family-the ceaseless work, well or ill-the constant worry.

Another trial, perhaps as great as these, is to be in "reduced circumstances." To have been brought up to comfort and security, and then to have to face hardship and anxiety.

In a really Christian state there ought to be no cases of undeserved poverty-the needs of Our Brethren ought to be provided for by our willing charity. But, unfortunately, this is not yet the case. Let us then consider what the religion of Christ teaches as to comfort in poverty.

First, the Son of God deliberately chose the life of poverty. In His home at Nazareth He probably had sufficient for His simple needs. But in the three years of His ministry He had no home and no money. He must have depended from day to day on the kindness of those whom He taught. His life gives a dignity to poverty. He, the perfect man, was a poor man-hard-worked:

reduced, probably, of His own free will from comparative comfort to hardship.

Then consider His friends and disciples. He had the whole nation to choose from. He chose one man (St. Matthew) who was well off, but who gave up all and followed Him, and the others were working-men. It is true that at times He mixed with the rich that they also might have their chance of accepting Him-but all through His life his principal companions were poor people. There can, therefore, be nothing really bad or degrading in what the Son of God chose.

Next consider what this life is only a preparation. You do not much mind what the first five minutes of the day are like if the rest be happy. So the sufferings of this life are not worth considering if only we are being prepared for our Heavenly Home. And of the two, poverty is a better preparation for the hereafter than riches. In the Parable, the rich man was made selfish; self-indulgent, careless by his riches, and

was found in torment-Lazarus, so utterly poor, was found in Abraham's bosom. Of course there are many exceptions. Some of the rich use their wealth for God, some of the poor neglect God utterly—but this, I think, we may say that the state of poverty leads people more to God than the state of wealth. If that be so, surely we need not find poverty so hard a trial.

If you look through the texts which refer chiefly to poverty you will notice how the poor are spoken of as God's special care. Of course we are speaking now of those whose poverty is not caused by drink or improvidence but by circumstances which they cannot control. We are led to believe that God has a special love for those who in the trials of poverty are faithful to Him and do their duty. He knows all they have to contend with-He will not leave them nor forsake them.

Above all there is Our Lord's own argument to those who are troubled about food

and clothing and such like. It is briefly this. God has made the world and He rules it. He created all living things, and, last and best, He created man. We know He provides for the beasts and birds, even for the flowers of the field, therefore of course He will provide for the men, women and children, whom He loves so dearly that He was willing to give His Son for them. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."

Try to do your duty to God and man and then have no fear. The word of God and experience, teach the same truth. God never forsakes those who trust Him.

And my soul, be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation. All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto Thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him: yea, the poor, and him that is in misery, from him that spoileth him?— Psalm xxxv, 9, 10.

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