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: — There can be no doubt that winter, as well as the other seasons, speaks to us of God and of His ways. Now, to some of the voices of the winter let us listen a while.

I. WHO CAN RESIST HIS WILL?

1. Nature cannot. The tremendous power of "His cold" the winter makes sternly manifest to men.

2. Man cannot. When Napoleon, in his madness, invaded Russia, the roll of his cannon, the tramp of his legions, the squadrons of his cavalry, and the long train of his military array, seemed so endless that it looked as if the land he had invaded must yield to such irresistible might. But God sent the winter. Softly, silently, relentlessly, day after day, the snow came down. Keen was the cold northern blast, and beneath the might of the winter that vast army crumbled away and perished. "The best generals in my army," said the Russian Emperor, "are Generals January and February."

II. "BE YE ALSO READY." On the heads of many of us the hoar-frost of the winter of life is very visible. Have we harvested in our hearts the love and faith and fear of God? Is all ready for the last long winter that must surely and speedily come?

III. BEHOLD GOD IN ALL WINTERS. Men now are apt to talk overmuch of the laws of nature, of force, of eternal order; and other such phrases are plentiful enough. But they serve, too often, to shut out from men's minds the thought of God. Practically they come to look upon the universe as if it were a great machine, working on and on and on, but without heart or soul or will in it. And we are much exposed to the influence of such thought. Well, therefore, is it to be reminded — as in such simple but august words as these of this psalm we are reminded — that God is the Author of all. "Thou hast made winter" (Psalm 74:17). And what it is so well to recognize in regard to the natural winter is even more important to us to remember in regard to the winter of the heart. For there are moral and spiritual conditions, caused generally by providential circumstances in our lives, which are aptly symbolized by the natural winter. There are such, and they settle down upon the soul with a drear and desolating power. The home bereaved; health failing; our riches making to themselves wings and flying away; poverty threatening, etc. Remember, these are all sent by God. They are in-eluded in His covenant of grace. "Be not afraid; only believe."

IV. "IT IS GOOD FOR ME THAT I HAVE BEEN AFFLICTED." God never tears love out of any severity that He sends. The sternness of God — and He can be stern, as winter shows — is ever a merciful sternness (Romans 11:22). See in history of Manasseh, David, Israel, and in histories manifold, proof that the goodness of God is in the winter as well as elsewhere. "Our light afflictions which... work out for us," etc.

V. "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENETH ME." "Who can stand before His cold?" asks our text. "I can," and "I can," and "I can," reply a multitude of voices. See the speakers. Look at them, how they leap and play; they are ruddy, and comely, and strong; how their merry laughter and joyous shout ring all down the ice over which they are wildly careering. Yes; they can stand the cold, and will, it is likely, be very sorry when the thaw sets in. Now, why is this? It is because they are full of life. Their blood courses healthily through their bodies. They brim over with a joyful vitality. What a lesson this is. Only let us have life — the life Christ gives — and the cold of poverty, trial, sorrow, death — "His cold," in whatever form it comes, as in some form it will come, we shall be able to bear, and to this last voice of the winter we shall be able to add our "Amen."

(S. Conway, B. A.)

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KJV: He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

WEB: He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes.