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 influence of the spiritual principle; then shall we realize in our souls the Divine benediction, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance."

OW often is this the condition of man even to this day. Every one imagines his own distresses to be greater than his neighbour's. Despondency often presses the soul, nearly to overwhelming, and, Would that "I could fly away and be at rest!" is the frequent expression of the tried and regenerating Christian. It is at such seasons when man feels his utter weakness, that the goodness of the Lord, displaying the wonder-working power of his providence, operates as a shield between him and the infestations of evil spirits, who are the origin of ali doubts and all murmuring, and who strive, by inducing despondency, to create a belief that salvation is hopeless. Thus, in the case of the Israelites—whose murmurings originated in the belief that they should all perish of hunger—they were often ready to stone their conductor; but the Lord gave them bread to eat, which they knew not. And thus with regard to Elijah—the angel or messenger from the Lord touching him, is a striking figure of the Divine protection, through the ministry of angels, vouchsafed through the ministration