A beautiful picture was painted by one of the greatest of the European artists: The Consoler. It is a picture of a bedroom in an English cottage. On the bed sits a beautiful little babe, perhaps a year in age, having in his hand a toy soldier that he is holding very lovingly to his body. He is unconscious of anything about him. Back of him on the wall is the picture of a young man in soldier’s dress—the baby’s father. On her knees, her head in her hands, is the young widow robed in deepest black, sobbing her heart out.

One of the saddest pictures the world shall ever know—a baby to forget and never know his father; a young widow to go down through life with burdened, broken heart. But leaning over her, with the light of heaven on His beautiful face, is One who lays His hand lovingly on her shoulder. We do not wonder the great artist has called the picture The Consoler.

With His healing hand on a broken heart, And the other on a star, Our wonderful God views the miles apart, And they seem not very far.

Oh, it makes us cry—then laugh—then sing, Tho’ ’tis all beyond our ken; He bindeth up wounds on that poor crushed thing, And He makes it whole again.

Was there something shone from that healed new heart Made the Psalmist think of stars— That bright as the sun or the lightning’s dart, Sped away past earthly bars?

In a low place sobbing by death’s lone cart, Then a flight on whirlwind’s cars; One verse is about a poor broken heart, And the next among the stars.

There is hope and help for our sighs and tears, For the wound that stings and smarts; Our God is at home with the rolling spheres, And at home with broken hearts.

MAMIE PAYNE FERGUSON

“Let God cover thy wounds,” said Augustine, “do not thou. For if thou wish to cover them being ashamed, the Physician will not come. Let Him cover; for by the covering of the Physician the wound is healed; by the covering of the wounded man the wound is concealed. And from whom? From Him who knoweth all things.”

The Great Lover comes close behind the storm, And whispers softly to the broken mountaintops, And fills their wounds with clean fresh odors.

The Great Lover knows the pain of blasted trees And binds up tenderly their broken arms; The Great Lover has gone through many storms.

MATTHEW BILLER

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.—He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.—Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick.—Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.—Behold, your God . . . will come and save you.

Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O Lord , to deliver me: O Lord , make haste to help me.

Turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died.—A wounded spirit who can bear?

Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?—The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek: he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.—Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Philip preached unto him Jesus.—He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.