May 7

Job i. — 6. Now, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord; and Satan came also among them.

7. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9. Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10. Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power: only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

Luke x. — 17. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

18. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20. Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. 21. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth! that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. 22. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. 23. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see. 24. For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The Bible teaches that there is an evil spirit, called Satan, or the Devil, the enemy of God and man. He tempted our first parents; he tempted David to sin; he brought calamity upon Job. The account of Satan in the Book of Job is highly poetic and dramatic in form; but the New Testament gives the same doctrine in literal words. Our Lord taught in many ways the personality of Satan; and he here confirms the doctrine that Satan was originally a spirit in heaven, who was cast out because of sin. In saying that he witnessed the fall of Satan, he announced his own pre-existence.

Scorpions aboard in some parts of Syria, especially among ruins; and are much dreaded on account of their venomous

sting. Serpents and scorpions are a common biblical symbol of evil spirits. But miraculous power over the forces of evil is not once to be compared with the power of faith over the spirit of evil in the heart. It is a greater honor to be enrolled and acknowledged as a disciple of Christ, and an heir of his glory, than to be clothed upon earth with miraculous gifts. The least in the kingdom of grace is greater than the mightiest in the kingdom of nature; and the revelation of God in Christ renders the humblest believer richer and wiser than the kings and prophets of the Jewish state: indeed, if we but use aright the prerogative of faith, we ourselves are made kings and priests unto God.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 159, 166.

O Thou who wast tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, and who for our sakes didst endure such contradiction of sinners against thyself! keep us, we pray thee, both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul. Help us, O Lord! in our inward conflicts with doubts and fears and sins; help us in our conflicts with the temptations and evils of the world; and, oh! help us in our wrestlings with unseen powers of evil, with the great Adversary of our souls. O Lord! increase our faith. Our hope is in thee: our strength is from thee alone. Dwell in us by thy grace; fill us with thy Spirit. This very day, may we gain new victories over evil! May we resist temptations in business to swerve from the truth, to take advan-

tage of others, to act dishonorably, to be covetous and unjust! May we resist temptations in society to envy and evil-speaking, to worldliness and frivolity! May we in all things do that which is right in the sight of God! [May these children grow up, dear Saviour, in thy strength and love, safe from the power of evil!] We thank thee for another night of rest, another day of mercy and of hope. Bless all dear to us; our friends and neighbors: bless thy people. Succor, O Lord! the poor and needy, the sick, the tempted, the dying. Unveil to them the glories of thy presence, the promise of thy coming, that, by faith in thee, they may rise above all trouble and all fear. O Lord Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith! be with us in our last conflict, and make us more than conquerors over death; and to thy name be glory forever. Amen.