March 25

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of the obedience;

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of which, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Ever when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before or lauded that we should walk in them

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world;

13 But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made high by the blood of Christ:

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partisan brethren in;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in or-

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dinnances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, is making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby;

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers

and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner of me;

21 In whom all the building faly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord;

22 In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit

Five times over in the course of this Epistle, we meet with the phrase "heavenly places," or literally "the heavenlies."

"When Paul wrote of 'heavenly places' as the lot of Christ's people on earth, it was not to please the imagination or dazzle the fancy with mere spiritual visions—but to show us how near and how available is the source of spiritual and saving strength for daily life. To be 'with Christ,' therefore, 'in the heavenlies,' is to be living at the source of power for new obedience, and to draw from thence for support in that service which is true freedom—freedom from slavish fears, from corroding cares, from every inordinate affection which would hinder you in the doing of His will. Brought nigh to God—living in the fellowship of God, through Jesus—you have a well-spring of new motives of action opened for you in His service, and of strength for patient rest in His will."—J. S. Muir.

"Dr. Preston, when he was dying, used these words, 'Blessed be God, though I change my place I shall not change my company, for I have walked with God while living, and now I go to rest with God.'"—Baxendale.

Closet Promise.—He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.—Psalm xci. 1.

"Come to me, Lord, to-night, And make Thy dwelling in my inmost heart, That never more from Thee my soul may part, Its never failing Light!

"Under the shadow of Thy Wing I'd make my Refuge, till the cares and fears Of life are past; then through its tears, For joy, my soul shall sing!"