January 13

Acts iii. — 12. And, when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

13. The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

14. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15. And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

16. And his name, through faith in his name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know; yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

18. But those things which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

19. Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times

of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

20. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21. Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

22. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren, like unto me: him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

23. And it shall come to pass, that every soul which will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people.

24. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

25. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

26. Unto you first, God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

The sum of all blessings is expressed in this closing verse. To be saved from sin, we saved not only from the evil and condemnation that sin brings upon us, but led by repentance and the grace of Christ to turn from iniquity, — this is blessing, is salvation indeed. The mission of Christ centred in redemption; and we fail to experience the true blessing of a Saviour, except, through faith in his sacrifice, our sins are blotted out. As sin was conquered by his suffering and dying, and death was conquered by his resurrection, so shall

the unbelief and wickedness of the world be conquered through his exaltation at the right hand of God for the restitution of all things by the power of his Spirit. It was in this power that Peter charged his hearers with having "killed the Prince of life," and brought home to them the pungent exhortation to repentance. And this is evermore the power of all true and effective preaching. Greater than all miracles is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 36, 52.

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord! have mercy upon us miserable sinners. For thy dear Son's sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honor and glory of thy name.

Enable us to live in peace with all men. O thou who art the Prince of peace! keep us from envy, malice, and all uncharitableness. Give us unselish hearts. Make us kind to all around us. May we bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ! O Saviour! may we in all things follow thy blessed example, and grow daily more like unto thee! May thy gospel be made

known to all men! May the erring be reclaimed; the ignorant be enlightened; the sick, the dying, and the sorrowing be comforted! Oh, may thy grace pardon and renew the guilty, succor the perishing, save the lost!

Most merciful God, we thank thee for rest and safety in the night-season, and for the health and comfort with which we begin the day. Grant us wisdom in our affairs, success in our labors, prosperity in all lawful undertakings, the conscious guidance of thy providence, and, above all, the experience of thy grace. May this family be ever in thy holy keeping! And now, O heavenly Father! we pray thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of prayer and praise; and as thou hast promised, that, when two or three are gathered together in thy name, thou wilt grant their requests, fulfil now, O Lord! the desires and petitions of thy servants, and keep us this day and always in thy love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.