of every good, of every blessing, of every possession, of every
gladness, of all love--the highest mission is to lead us to Him. But,
just as men will frost a window, so that the light may come in but the
sight cannot go out, so by our own fault and misuse of the good things
which are meant to lead us up to, and to show us, God, we frost and
darken the window so that we cannot see what it is meant to show us. And
then a mighty and merciful hand shivers the painted glass into
fragments, because it has been dimming 'the white radiance of Eternity.'
And though the casement may look gaunt, and the edges of the broken
glass may cut and wound, yet the view is unimpeded. When the gifts that
we have misused are withdrawn, we can see the heaven that they too often
hide from us. When the leaves drop there is a wider prospect. When the
great tree is fallen there is opened a view of the blue above. When the
night falls the stars sparkle. When other props are struck away we can
lean our whole weight upon God. When Uzziah dies the King becomes
visible.

Is that what our sorrows, our pains, losses, disappointments do for us?
Well for those to whom loss is gain, because it puts them in possession
of the enduring riches! Well for those to whom the passing of all that
can pass is a means of revealing Him who 'is the same yesterday, and
to-day, and for ever'! The message to us of all these our pains and
griefs is 'Come up hither.' In them all our Father is saying to us,
'Seek ye My face.' Well for those who answer, 'Thy face, Lord, will I
seek. Hide not Thy face far from me.'

Let us take care that we do not waste our griefs and sorrows. They
absorb us sometimes with vain regrets. They jaundice and embitter us
sometimes with rebellious thoughts. They often break the springs of
activity and of interest in others, and of sympathy with others. But