April 20

Isaiah xi. 1. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots; 2. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, 3. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears; 4. But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall unite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

In the preceding chapter, the prophet had likened the kingdoms of this world to his mighty forests that clothed the sides of Lebanon. As well, the oppressor of Israel, had thus fired herself up in the pride of her strength; and, by the side of her, Judah, which represented the kingdom of God, was like the stump of a beard tree, like a root without stem or branches. But to prepare for Christ's kingdom, this great forest of worldly pride and power should be heard down: and from the despised stump of Jesse, the humblest member of the almost extinct family of David, there should spring out of the buried root the merest twig; but this fresh, green shoot should grow to strength, beauty, and fruitfulness.

The Son of David, born of the Virgin Mary, fulfilled this promise. This Heaven-appointed King should be endowed with the highest wisdom of discernment, the highest power of execution, the highest righteousness of decision. He would use his power and authority for the destruction of evil, for the protection of the poor and weak, for the defence of justice and truth. Righteousness should be his very garment.

6. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den. 9. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. 10. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

So much of this prediction as relates to the personal character and qualities of the promised Prince found its counterpart in the just, the meek, the wise, the gracious, the loving, the holy Jesus of Nazareth. So much as relates to the principles that through the Messiah should transform society and rule the world was met in the doctrines and precepts of Christ. The conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity gave promise of the early realization of the whole of this glorious picture; and, though that promise is yet delayed, all things are moving toward its consummation. With the growth of Christ's kingdom, the most hostile and noxious things shall be subdued; the most incongruous elements of his own society shall be harmonized; bloody men, in disposition like the wolf, the leopard, the lion, the bear, deceitful men like the asp and the cockatrice, shall be changed in their nature to the spirit of a little child. There is no reformer like the gospel: it is the kingdom of Christ, filling the earth, that will bring peace and good will to men.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 2, 22, 146.

Almighty and most merciful Father, who of thy tender love toward us didst send thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to be our Advocate and Intercessor, hear us for his sake, and grant us the mercies which we need for another day.

Graciously bestow upon us, O heavenly Father! that Holy Spirit which thou hast promised to give to them that ask thee. Take away our ignorance, our harmless and coldness of heart, and our love of this present world. Enlighten our understandings; give unto us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. May we know thee as our God and Saviour! May we enter more and more into the riches of redeeming love! Grant that, being set free from sin, and made servants to God, we may have our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

We thank thee for all thy goodness and thy care. Thou spreadest our table; thou givest us life and breath and all things. O Lord! our souls, and all that is within us, would bless and praise

thy holy name. As a family, we bless thee for our home, and for all the comforts and joys of our daily life. [May the children whom thou hast so favored in this house remember thee, their heavenly Father, and love and serve thee!] Be with us this day to guide and keep us.

O most merciful Saviour, our compassionate High Priest, who ever liveth to intercede for us! turn from us all those evils which we most justly have deserved; pity our infirmities; heal our souls' sicknesses; give us the joy of thy salvation, and a hope full of immortality. Strengthen us to live and labor for thee. Build up thy Church, O Lord! Hasten that blessed day when war and violence, injustice and deceit, shall vex the earth no more, and the Prince of peace shall reign in righteousness. And at length take us to rest with thee above, for thine own name and mercy's sake; and unto thee, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, now and forevermore. Amen.