May 19

2 Kings iv. — 18. And, when the child was grown, it fell, on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.

19. And he said unto his father, My head, my head! And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.

20. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

21. And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.

32. And, when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

33. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord.

34. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.

35. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro, and went up, and stretched himself upon him; and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

36. And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this

Nain was a few hours distant from Capernaum, near Mount Tabor. The tombs of the Jews were commonly outside their cities; and this funeral procession had just reached the place of burial as Jesus drew nigh. The scene was one of most tender sorrow, — a widow following to the grave her only son, her companion, her support, her hope, her all. Jesus, who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, and who loved to make our human sympathies the channel of his divine power and grace, touched with compassion for this broken-hearted stranger, approached her with words of comfort. He identified himself with her grief, and then brought her deliverance. In the eloquent words of Massillon, "Elisha raised the dead, it is true; but he was obliged to stretch himself many times upon the body of the child: he prayed, walked to and fro, was intensely agitated. It was evident that he invoked a power outside of himself; that he would recall from the

Shunamite. So he called her. And, when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.

37. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

Luke vii. — 11. And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

12. Now, when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and much people of the city was with her.

13. And, when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

14. And he came and touched the bier; and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

15. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak; and he delivered him to his mother.

16. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

17. And this rumor of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about.

dominion of death a soul that was not subject to his voice; that he was not in himself the master of death and of life. Jesus Christ raised the dead as he performed the most common actions: he spoke as a master to those who were sleeping the eternal sleep. One feels that he was Lord of the dead as of the living; never more tranquil than when he wrought the mightiest works." This miracle of the resurrection he does not now repeat; but he still meets us at the grave, the sympathizing Saviour, the Resurrection and the Life. To the heart that yearns to receive its dead to life again he gives a consolation greater than the miracle. Though the cry of nature be not heard, faith wins the answer of peace.

It may not be one deed of power Suffered to give the ages faith. Hear what My living gospel saith. And trust Me in the darksome hour.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 106, 158, 167.

Thou art the King of glory, O Christ! Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood: make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting. Oh, may thy wonders among the dead cause us to fear thy name, and to hope in thy mercy! We believe in thee, O Lord Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life!

O Thou who hast brought us again from sleep

to behold the light of a new day! help us so to confide in thee, to keep thee ever so near and so precious to our thought, that we shall live above the fear of death, and look forward with joy to our final rest with thee. Grant us grace to bear all trials, resist all temptations, fulfil all duties, in the hope of thine appearing. As children of the light, may we shun all evil, and show forth thy praise! Comfort all in sorrow. Be the God of the widow and the fatherless. May this household, and all dear to us, be joined to the family of the saints on earth, and finally to the company of the redeemed in heaven, through Him who died for us! — to whom be glory forever. Amen.