June 27

Luke iv. — 16. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, and stood up for to read.

17. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And, when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 22. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? 23. And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb: Physician, heal thyself:

whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

24. And he said, Verily, I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26. But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. 28. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath. 29. And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill (whereon their city was built) that they might cast him down headlong. 30. But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way. 31. And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath-days. 32. And they were astonished at his doctrine; for his word was with power.

In the synagogue, it was customary for the director of public worship "to call upon persons of any learning or note to read and explain" the Scripture-le-son for the day. Jesus had already begun to take part in this service, though now for the first time at Nazareth. His townsmen listened to him at first with curiosity; but as they heard the meaning he put upon the text, and felt it coming home with a strange and gracious power to their own case, curiosity gave place to wonder and admiration that such precious words should come from the lips of the carpenter's son. Wondrous words they seemed to a conquered and degraded people, sighing for deliverance, hoping for their Messiah, — blessings for the poor, sympathy for the sorrowing, succor for the oppressed, sight to the blind, relief and healing for the wretched.

But, though such benents would flow from his ministry,

Jesus did not rest in the outward and the temporal for its fruits. His miracles of healing were but signs of the spiritual healing he would impart to humble souls: they served for the introduction of his gospel, but were not the gospel itself. And so he refused to gratify the carnal desire of the Jews for the marvellous, and addressed himself to their consciences with words of searching condemnation. His fan was in his hand; and he would thoroughly sift and winnow them. But they would not stand the test. So fickle is human nature, that they who just now admired, almost worshipped, were niled with rage, and dragged him along the slope of the hill on which the city stood, toward a steep precipice at a distance, that they might hurl him down. Ah! let us take heed lest we reject the grace of Christ, and prove ourselves his enemies, so narrow often is the line between salvation and perdition.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 156, 175, 190.

O Lord our Lord! how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Day unto day uttereth speech; night unto night showeth knowledge of thee. We lift up our hearts in adoration for thy majesty and glory, in thanksgiving for thy goodness and grace. When we consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, Lord, what is man that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Yet thou hast had compassion upon us in our low estate, and hast sent thy Son to redeem us from our iniquities.

O Lord! for Christ's sake, lift upon us the light of thy countenance, and grant us thy peace. As thou hast brought us safely through the night, so may

it please thee to guide and keep us this day; defending us from evil, and prospering us in that which is good. Preserve us from all evil passions that would resist thy grace. May we receive thy Word into willing and honest minds, and gladly learn and do thy will! We pray for a like benediction upon our kindred, friends, and neighbors; upon the Church of Christ, and all who labor for the good of men. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed in mind, body, or estate; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.