the widow of Nain. But He did not raise all the dead. He only gave earnest of His Almighty Power to raise all the dead to life in His own good time, by bringing back the departed spirit in two or three instances. Yet we may be sure that He as deeply compassionated other widows who had lost their only sons, as He did the widow of Nain. What does this teach us? Surely, that sooner or later, He will, as He promised, wipe away all tears from off all faces, raise all the dead to life, make perfect again many and many a broken family-circle, by whose members He was believed in, loved, and adored. Let us wait patiently, my brother. In a little while, when mortality shall have been swallowed up of life, there shall be no desolate mourners. By bringing back the widow's son, Tabitha, and Lazarus to life, the Lord Jesus assures our faith that we, who are equally dear to Him, whose joys and sorrows are equally cared for by Him, shall, in His own good time, be benefited in the same manner. At present Satan is the God of this world, and he has filled it with dark miseries and death. But in a little while the usurper will be chained, and the kingdom will then be the Lord's. And then all that has defiled, and distressed this lovely world, shall be done away. But dwell on those words of might-" Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." That does not read like the mandate of a creature. Well may the multitudes have cried out-"A great prophet is risen up among us: God has visited His people." But could they not see that Immanuel was more than a prophet? Did they not notice the sublime independence of that fiat-"I say unto thee!" Oh look up to Jesus my brother, in life and in death, and fear not while the eyes of your faith are fixed upon Him. Sooner or later, it may be, your body and mine shall be committed to their kindred dust. But we can surely bear to anticipate this calamity, when we know that in His own blessed time the Lord shall re-animate the crumbled clay, and in a moment do away with the repulsive aspect of death by the command-"I say unto thee, Arise." Not a sepulchre can hold the body after that fiat has gone forth. And oh how blessed a truth does that verse shadow forth to the believer "My flesh shall slumber in the ground How awful to those unprepared to die is the thought that, whether they will it or not, they must rise again at His command, Who is the Resurrection and the Life. Prayer. Он blessed Lord Jesus, we would adore Thee for Thine unfailing compassions towards us poor sinners. We pray Thee, Who art the author and finisher of Thy people's faith, so to increase the strength of our confidence in Thee, that, under the pressure of all ills and adversities, we may be fully persuaded that Thou, our Great High Priest, art touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Grant that the knowledge of Thy sympathy with the afflicted, when Thou didst visibly sojourn among men, and faith in Thine unchangeableness, may comfort the heart of this our sick brother. Give him the witness of Thy Holy Spirit, that he may know how tenderly Thou lovest and regardest him in his illness. May it please Thee, if Thou seest it to be best for him, to recover him from his sickness. But if not, do Thou so enlighten his heart and mind with Thy heavenly truth, that he may have firm confidence in Thy will and power to make him perfect, both in soul and in body, in Thine own good time. And grant especially, we beseech Thee, that to whatever depression his mind may be reduced, through the ailments of the decaying body, he may never once tremble at the prospect of death. May he feel with thy servant Job-"I would not live alway" "If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands." Have mercy upon all who are widowed and fatherless, and give them strength and desire to obey Thine own loving command-" Come unto Me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Hear us, oh Lord God, in these our supplications and prayers, for Thine own precious merit's sake, to Whom with The Father and The Holy Spirit be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. XXVIII. DUTIES SPRINGING FROM THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE. ST. JAMES V. 10-18. How many valuable spiritual counsels have we here? Eternity will assuredly make known to both of us their priceless worth. The changes of this mortal life, many of them of so sad a nature, ought long Prayer. ... bat "-if St. James, uninspired, mortality are Он blessed Lord Jesus, we would ador Thine unfailing compassions towards us? We pray Thee, Who art the author an Thy people's faith, so to increase tl our confidence in Thee, that, under all ills and adversities, we may be that Thou, our Great High Priest, the feeling of our infirmities. Gr ledge of Thy sympathy with the didst visibly sojourn among mer unchangeableness, may comfo our sick brother. Give him Holy Spirit, that he may kno lovest and regardest him in please Thee, if Thou seest it recover him from his sicknes so enlighten his heart and truth, that he may have fir and power to make him pe body, in Thine own good ti we beseech Thee, that mind may be reduced, ti decaying body, he may prospect of keeping in mind existence, gives ssisting us in the redness to depart now let us, earnestly ous help, examine |