May 23

Hebrews iii. — 1. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

2. Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

3. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house.

4. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

5. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

6. But Christ as a Son over his own house: whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence, and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

7. Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, To-day if ye will hear his voice,

8. Harden not your hearts as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness;

9. When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

10. Wherefore I was grieved with that genera-

tion, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

11. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.

12. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.

13. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;

15. While it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation.

16. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit, not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

17. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?

18. And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

19. So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

This is but an echo of our Lord's repeated warnings against unbelief. Faith is the link of union between our souls and God. It makes him real; it gives us access to him through Christ as our High Priest; it makes us "partakers of Christ" in the confidence and rejoicing of hope; it gives reality to heaven as the home which Christ's love has prepared for us. Hence, to falter in faith is to lose the conception of these realities, the power of these motives, the comfort of these promises and hopes. The deceitful allurements

of sin, which would betray us through that which is near, visible, sensual, can be resisted only by a faith that gives reality to higher things, and keeps God and the Saviour always near. Unbelief is the point of departure from God, the beginning of apostasy, the hardening of the heart. It is not enough to have believed, to have confessed Christ: by prayer and the word of God we must "hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end."

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 50, 59, 109.

O God, who hast spared our lives, and brought us to the beginning of another day! we lift up our hearts to thee. We thank thee for rest during the past night; for life preserved, and strength renewed; and for the many tokens of thy loving-kindness which surround us. May we ever have true gratitude for thy mercies, and never grieve thee by a hard and unthankful heart!

And now, O Lord! prepare us for the duties and trials which this day may bring. Whatever we have to do, may we do it willingly and heartily, as unto thee, and not as unto men! Whatever may be our besetting sins, grant that we may know them, and watch and fight against them. Give us grace to take up, each one of us, our peculiar cross, whatever it may be: to exercise constant self-denial; and in all things to follow our Master, so that each of us may say, "For me to live is Christ." Make us more like him in lowliness and meekness; tender-hearted, forgiving one another; ready to

bear each other's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Oh! give to us a living faith, an earnest faith, a constant faith.

Let not the world with its cares and vanities fill our hearts, and so make us forget the worth of our souls, the love of our Saviour, and the nearness of eternity. Whilst we are busy in the world, may our hearts rise above it!

Lord, watch over us, and all who are dear to us, this day. Defend our souls from the assaults of the Wicked One, and preserve our bodies in health and safety. May all thy wise and merciful inspirations bind us to thee, and fit us better for thy service! May we walk in the light of thy countenance, and know the happiness of those who have the Lord for their God! Finally, prepare us to depart and be with Christ. Hear us, heavenly Father, and when thou hearest forgive, for the sake of Jesus our Saviour, who with thee and the Holy Ghost reigneth evermore. Amen.