y will soon cease to pray； or his prayers will become a formal routine。 When men take themselves out of social life； away from the sphere of Christian duty and cross bearing； when they cease to work earnestly for the Master； who worked earnestly for them； they lose the subject matter of prayer and have no incentive to devotion。 Their prayers become personal and selfish。 They cannot pray in regard to the wants of humanity or the upbuilding of Christ's kingdom； pleading for strength wherewith to work。
We sustain a loss when we neglect the privilege of associating together to strengthen and encourage one another in the service of God。 The truths of His word lose their vividness and importance in our minds。 Our hearts cease to be enlightened and aroused by their sanctifying influence； and we decline in spirituality。 In our association as Christians we lose much by lack of sympathy with one another。 He who shuts himself up to himself is not filling the position that God designed he should。 The proper cultivation of the social elements in our nature brings us into sympathy with others and is a means of development and strength to us in the service of God。
If Christians would associate together； speaking to each other of the love of God and of the precious
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truths of redemption； their own hearts would be refreshed and they would refresh one another。 We may be daily learning more of our heavenly Father； gaining a fresh experience of His grace； then we shall desire to speak of His love； and as we do this； our own hearts will be warmed and encouraged。 If we thought and talked more of Jesus； and less of self； we should have far more of His presence。
If we would but think of God as often as we have evidence of His care for us we should keep Him ever in our thoughts and should delight to talk of Him and to praise Him。 We talk of temporal things because we have an interest in them。 We talk of our friends because we love them； our joys and our sorrows are bound up with them。 Yet we have infinitely greater reason to love God than to love our earthly friends； it should be the most natural thing in the world to make Him first in all our thoughts； to talk of His goodness and tell of His power。 The rich gifts He has bestowed upon us were not intended to absorb our thoughts and love so much that we should have nothing to give to God； they are constantly to remind us of Him and to bind us in bonds of love and gratitude to our heavenly Benefactor。 We dwell too near the lowlands of earth。 Let us raise our eyes to the open door of the sanctuary above； where the light of the glory of God shines in the face of Christ； who 〃is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him。〃 Hebrews 7：25。
We need to praise God more 〃for His goodness； and for His wonderful works to the children of men。〃 Psalm 107：8。 Our devotional exercises should not
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consist wholly in asking and receiving。 Let us not be always thinking of our wants and never of the benefits we receive。 We do not pray any too much； but we are too sparing of giving thanks。 We are the constant recipients of God's mercies； and yet how little gratitude we express； how little we praise Him for what He has done for us。
Anciently the Lord bade Israel； when they met together for His service； 〃Ye shall eat before the Lord your God； and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto； ye and your households； wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee。〃 Deuteronomy 12：7。 That which is done for the glory of God should be done with cheerfulness； with songs of praise and thanksgiving； not with sadness and gloom。
Our God is a tender； merciful Father。 His service should not be looked upon as a heart…saddening； distressing exercise。 It should be a pleasure to worship the Lord and to take part in His work。 God would not have His children； for whom so great salvation has been provided； act as if He were a hard； exacting taskmaster。 He is their best friend； and when they worship Him； He expects to be with them； to bless and comfort them； filling their hearts with joy and love。 The Lord desires His children to take comfort in His service and to find more pleasure than hardship in His work。 He desires that those who come to worship Him shall carry away with them precious thoughts of His care and love； that they may be cheered in all the employments of daily life； that they may have grace to deal honestly and faithfully in all things。
We must gather about the cross。 Christ and Him
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crucified should be the theme of contemplation； of conversation； and of our most joyful emotion。 We should keep in our thoughts every blessing we receive from God； and when we realize His great love we should be willing to trust everything to the hand that was nailed to the cross for us。
The soul may ascend nearer heaven on the wings of praise。 God is worshiped with song and music in the courts above； and as we express our gratitude we are approximating to the worship of the heavenly hosts。 〃Whoso offereth praise glorifieth〃 God。 Psalm 50：23。 Let us with reverent joy come before our Creator； with 〃thanksgiving； and the voice of melody。〃 Isaiah 51：3。
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What to Do with Doubt
Many； especially those who are young in the Christian life； are at times troubled with the suggestions of skepticism。 There are in the Bible many things which they cannot explain； or even understand； and Satan employs these to shake their faith in the Scriptures as a revelation from God。 They ask； 〃How shall I know the right way？ If the Bible is indeed the word of God； how can I be freed from these doubts and perplexities？〃
God never asks us to believe； without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith。 His existence； His character； the truthfulness of His word； are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason； and this testimony is abundant。 Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt。 Our faith must rest upon evidence； not demonstration。 Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity； while those who really desire to know the truth will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith。
It is impossible for finite minds fully to comprehend the character or the works of the Infinite One。 To the keenest intellect； the most highly educated mind； that holy Being must ever remain clothed in mystery。 〃Canst thou by searching find out God？ canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection？ It is as high as heaven； what canst thou do？ deeper than hell； what canst thou know？〃 Job 11：7； 8。
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The apostle Paul exclaims； 〃O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God！ how unsearchable are His judgments； and His ways past finding out！〃 Romans 11：33。 But though 〃clouds and darkness are round about Him；〃 〃righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne。〃 Psalm 97：2； R。V。 We can so far comprehend His dealings with us； and the motives by which He is actuated； that we may discern boundless love and mercy united to infinite power。 We can understand as much of His purposes as it is for our good to know； and beyond this we must still trust the hand that is omnipotent； the heart that is full of love。
The word of God； like the character of its divine Author； presents mysteries that can never be fully comprehended by finite beings。 The entrance of sin into the world； the incarnation of Christ； regeneration； the resurrection； and many other subjects presented in the Bible； are mysteries too deep for the human mind to explain； or even fully to comprehend。 But we have no reason to doubt God's word because we cannot understand the mysteries of His providence。 In the natural world we are constantly surrounded with mysteries that we cannot fathom。 The very humblest forms of life present a problem that the wisest of philosophers is powerless to explain。 Everywhere are wonders beyond our ken。 Should we then be surprised to find that in the spiritual world also there are mysteries that we cannot fathom？ The difficulty lies solely in the weakness and narrowness of the human mind。 God has given us in the Scriptures sufficient evidence of their divine character； and we are not to
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doubt His word because we cannot understand all the mysteries of His providence。
The apostle Peter says that there are in Scripture 〃things hard to be understood； which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest 。 。 。 unto their own destruction。〃 2 Peter 3：16。 The difficulties of Scripture have been urged by skeptics as an argument against the Bible； but so far from this； they constitute a strong evidence of its divine inspiration。 If it contained no account of God but that which we could easily comprehend； if His greatness and majesty could be grasped by finite minds； then the Bible would not bear the unmistakable credentials of divine authority。 The very grandeur and mystery of the themes presented should inspire faith in it as the word of God。
The Bible unfolds truth with a simplicity and a perfect adaptation to the needs