July 11

Psalm exlvi. — 5. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help; whose hope is in the Lord his God;

6. Which made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is; which keepeth truth forever;

7. Which executeth judgment for the oppressed; which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:

8. The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:

9. The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieved the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

10. The Lord shall reign forever, even thy God, O Zion! unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.

John ix. — 1. And, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3. Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the

ground, and made clay of the spittle; and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7. And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is, by interpretation, Sent). He went his way, therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

8. The neighbors therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9. Some said, This is he; others said, He is like him; but he said, I am he.

10. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11. He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash; and I went and washed, and I received sight.

12. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

13. They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

14. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.

15. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

16. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

The pool of Siloam lies at the foot of the temple mount, south-east of the city, just at the mouth of the ancient Tyroposon valley; and is fed in part from a spring or fountain in the mountain itself, under the grand mosque. It was formerly believed to possess medicinal properties; but the sending of the blind man to wash in the pool, like the application of saliva to his eyes, was intended to awaken faith, which has been aptly styled "the conductor of the miraculous power." The Jews referred physical infirmities and calamities to moral causes; and, since this man was born blind, the disciples were

disposed to charge his blindness to some sin of his parents. Jesus disowned a theology that would fasten every specific sorrow upon a specific sin, and taught the broader faith, that, in the providence of God, suffering and sorrow may stand related to some wise and beneficent end, and serve to illustrate his glory in the final good of his creatures. The method of this healing affords a beautiful analogy of our spiritual enlightenment. Under the teaching of Him who is the Light of the world, a believing use of the means of grace will cause us to come forth seeing.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 9, 176.

O blessed Saviour! fulfil to us, we beseech thee, thine own promise, that, where two or three are gathered together in thy name, there thou wilt be in the midst of them. As in the beginning of thy gospel thou didst bless the church in the house, oh! make this house thy church through our living communion with thyself. Make our hearts to rejoice whilst we wait upon thee, and whilst we hear the welcome messages of thy grace.

Almighty God, assist and prosper the labors of thy ministers. May they declare all thy counsel! Touch their lips with a live coal from off thine altar. Cause them deeply to feel the truths which they proclaim, and fervently to love that Saviour of whose grace they testify.

Bless the young who shall be gathered this day

for instruction in our Sunday schools. Let the seed of thy truth take root in many a grateful heart; and grant that every teacher may himself be taught of thee. Through the word of thy lips, O Lord! grant that many a child may be kept from the paths of the destroyer.

We bless thee for the mercies of the past week, — for health and comfort, for food and raiment, for friends and knowledge, and all that thou givest us so richly to enjoy. Our hearts go up to thee, the Father of lights, in grateful adoration.

O Lord our God! be with us throughout the day. Graciously help us so to keep thy sabbath on earth, that we may be the more ready and prepared for an eternal sabbath above. Hear us, we pray thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.