April 29

Luke xvii.—20. And, when he was demanded of the Pharisees when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them, and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation.

21. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, Lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

22. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

23. And they shall say to you, See here! or, See there! Go not after them, nor follow them.

24. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

25. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

26. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

27. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

28. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot:

they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

29. But, the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all:

30. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

31. In that day, he which shall be upon the house-top, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away; and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

32. Remember Lot's wife.

33. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

34. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed: the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

35. Two women shall be grinding together: the one shall be taken, and the other left.

36. Two men shall be in the field: the one shall be taken, and the other left.

37. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Whersoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

At the time of Christ's appearing, the computation of the prophetic periods, the political circumstances of the Jews, and a general state of fermentation in the public mind, had awakened the expectation of the Messiah as a revolutionary leader, a conquering prince and deliverer. The kingdom of God was looked for with some sudden and mighty demonstration of power. More than once, Jesus had refused to pander to this feeling by taking advantage of the excitement caused by his miracles; and now the Pharisees, with a tantalizing air, demanded some positive information of the time and manner of that kingdom. But already that kingdom was among them, —in his presence, in his doctrine, in the hearts of his disciples: it would spread by moral means gentle and silent as the light;

but at last its presence should be manifested through the universal kindling of that light, as when in an instant the lightning illumines the whole heaven. While the kingdom itself should spread through the action of truth and grace within the hearts of men, the providences of God in the outer world would often convert for its manifestation. In this view its coming would be sudden, startling men in the common occupations of life, working in the field or reposing upon the flat roof of the house, or the women pounding the corn with the millstones at the street-door, —according to the customs of Eastern society. May we learn so to consecrate our daily life, that, whenever the Master shall come, we shall be found ready!

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 21, 28, 39.

Blessed be God for the hope and the consolation of the gospel; for that faith which even now is our victory over the world, and which shall make us more than conquerors over death. O Lord! may thy grace enable us to live as faithful and wise stewards who watch for the coming of their lord! We bring to thee this morning the powers which thou hast given us, the lives which thou hast spared, and, with thanksgiving for thy mercies, consecrate all that we are and all that we possess unto thy service and glory.

Heavenly Father, who hast commanded us that we should not be slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving thee, help us ever to remember that our work is thy appointment, and to do it heartily as unto thee. Make us to live with loins girded and lamps burning, looking for our Lord.

Teach us to carry thy Word and thy Spirit with

us into the daily occupations of life. May our household-affairs, our studies, our dealings with the world, our social intercourse, all be in harmony with the gospel of Christ! [Teach these children thus to make life happy in thy service.]

O Lord! to thy merciful providence we commend the wants of all mankind. Cause the light of thy glorious gospel to shine throughout the world. Bless thy whole Church, heal its divisions, and restore unto it the blessings of truth, unity, and peace. Bless our country: defend and preserve all in authority. Bless our schools of learning: fill them with thy light. Hear the cry of the poor and needy; be gracious to all our relations and friends; and grant, O Lord! that we may all at length find rest and peace with thy saints in thine eternal kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.