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198 fusion of mind, and cannot pray as usual, meditate as best you can. And what you cannot accomplish with the understanding, make a violent effort to effect with the will and with words, holding converse with yourself, and with your Lord; for this will have wonderful effects, and thus your heart will gain breath and strength.

You can then in such a case say: "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God." "Why standest Thou so far off, O Lord, and hidest Thy Face in the needful time of trouble? Forsake me not utterly."

And remembering the sacred teaching which God imparted in time of tribulation to His beloved Sarah, the wife of Tobias, make use of it also, and say aloud: "But whoso serveth Thee knows assuredly, that his life, if passed in trial, will be crowned; if in tribulation, will be freed; and if in chastisement, he may fly to Thy Mercy. For Thou delightest not in our destruction; for Thou makest a calm to succeed a storm, and after tears and weeping, Thou infusest joy. Be Thy Name, O God of Israel, blessed for ever!" Tob. iii.

You will remember also your Christ, Who, in