May 12

Proverbs viii. — 22. The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

23. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

30. Then I was by him, as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

31. Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

32. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children! for blessed are they that keep my ways.

33. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

35. For whose findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord.

36. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

John vi. — 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39. And this is the Father's will which hath

sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

41. The Jews then murmured at him because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

42. And they said, Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it, then, that he saith, I came down from heaven?

43. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44. No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

45. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man, therefore, that hath heard and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

46. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God; he hath seen the Father.

47. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Luther, in his homely but emphatic way, paraphrases the last four verses as follows: "You wish to subject me to measure and square, and judge my word by your reason; but I say to you, That is not the right way. You will not come to me till the Father opens to you his great mercy, and himself teaches you that from his fatherly love he sent Christ into the world. For the drawing is not as a hangman draws a thief to the gallows; but it is a friendly alluring and drawing to himself." An old Greek father puts it still better thus: "As the magnet does not attract every thing, but only iron; so also, to be attracted by Christ, there must exist a certain frame of mind, — the feeling of what we should be, and are not." This drawing is neither arbitrary nor miraculous, but by all the varied influ-

ences of truth and motive in the word, the providence, and the grace of God.

How many, alas! are drawn who will not come! — by the voice of God in mercies, afflictions, invitations, and warnings, to which they give no heed. But never did a sinner heed that voice, and come to Christ in vain; never was a trembling penitent cast out. Whosoever will may come; and, to every one who trusts in him, Jesus gives everlasting life; not merely the promise of life in the hereafter, but the possession now of that principle of life which can never die. Even his body shall not be hurt of death, but shall be raised up at the last day in the likeness of Christ's glorious body. Redemption shall thus forever destroy both the power and the effects of sin.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 59, 108, 154.

O almighty and most merciful God, who hast delivered us from all the dangers of the past night! of thy bountiful goodness keep us this day, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest, through Jesus Christ our Lord. We lift up our hearts in thanksgiving for the mercies that daily crown our lives, — for home and its comforts; for education, freedom, peace, and general prosperity; for the gratification of our tastes in the beauty and glory of thy works, and of our affections in the joys of human friendship, and in communion with thyself as our Father, and with Jesus our loving Saviour.

We give thee thanks for thy promises to thy Church, and for the hope of salvation for our ruined

world; and we pray thee, bless the efforts of thy people to extend the knowledge of thy gospel, and speedily bring all nations under its power. Help us, O Lord! to live in all things according to the spirit and the precepts of Christ, and by the gentleness and purity of the gospel, illustrated in our daily walk, to commend it to all around us.

We call to mind, O God! before thy throne of grace, all who are near and dear to us, and all for whom we are bound to pray; beseeching thee to remember them for good, and to supply, as may be most expedient for them, all their desires and wants. And we commend to thy mercy all who have wronged us, whether by word or deed; beseeching thee to forgive them all their sins, and to bring them, together with us, to thy heavenly kingdom, though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.