[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":4},["ShallowReactive",2],{"reading-1029":3},"OCTOBER 29\r\nHe shall sit as a refiner and purifer of silver (Mal. 3.3).\r\nOur Father, who seeks to perfect His saints in holiness, knows the value of the refiner's fire. It is with the most precious metals\r\nthat the assayer takes the most pains, and subjects them to the hot\r\n\r\nfire, because such fires melt the metal, and only the molten mass releases its alloy or takes perfectly its new form in the mould.\r\nThe old refiner never leaves his crucible, but sits down by it,\r\nlest there should be one excessive degree of heat to mar the metal. But as soon as he skims from the surface the last of the dross, and  sees his own face reflected, he puts out the fire. --Arthur T.\r\nPierson.\r\nHe sat by a fire of seven-fold heat,\r\nAs He watched by the precious ore,\r\nAnd closer He bent with a searching gaze As He heated it more and more.\r\nHe knew He had ore that could stand the test, And He wanted the finest gold\r\nTo mould as a crown for the King to wear, Set with gems with a price untold.\r\nSo He laid our gold in the burning fire,\r\nTho' we fain would have said Him \"Nay,\"\r\nAnd He watched the dross that we had not seen. And it melted and passed away.\r\nAnd the gold grew brighter and yet more bright,\r\nBut our eyes were so dim with tears,\r\nWe saw but the fire-not the Master's hand, And questioned with anxious fears.\r\nYet our gold shone out with a richer glow, As it mirrored a Form above,\r\nThat bent o'er the fire, tho' unseen by us, With a look of ineffable love.\r\nCan we think that it pleases His loving heart To cause us a moment's pain?\r\nAh, no! but He saw through the present cross The bliss of eternal gain.\r\nSo He waited there with a watchful eye, With a love that is strong and sure,\r\nAnd His gold did not suffer a bit more heat, Than was needed to make it pure.",1783499793987]