January 21

Acts ix. — 1. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest.

2. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3. And, as he journeyed, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. 4. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6. And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8. And Saul arose from the earth; and, when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 10. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord

The conversion of Saul, like that of the Ethiopian eunuch, was instantaneous; and his confession of Christ was immediate, hearty, and complete. But while the eunuch gilded into the confession of Christ through the humble, reverential study of the word of God, Saul was arrested in a career of opposition to Christianity, in which were enlisted his pride, his passion, and his prejudice, which he mistook for his conscience. Fresh from the lynching of Stephen, inflamed like a wild beast by the taste of blood, he volunteered to go in quest of victims to be dragged to martyrdom at Jerusalem. The miracle arrested and confounded him. The blinding light, the reproving voice, the manifestation of Jesus, cou-

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Father of lights, thou hast dispersed the darkness of another night, and permitted the sun once more to arise upon us. O thou Sun of righteousness! do thou disperse the darkness of sin; cause the scales to fall from our eyes, that we may receive sight; shine on us with the brightness of thy rising; let us enjoy this day the blessedness of peace with God.

Lord Jesus, we commit ourselves anew to thy keeping. In all the concerns of life, teach us what thou wilt have us to do. May it be our sovereign motive so to walk as to please thee! May we diffuse around us the silent influence of a heavenly life! May we deal tenderly with others, remembering the tenderness of Him who would not break

in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus; for, behold, he prayeth, 12. And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem; 14. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16. For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 17. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house, and, putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord (even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest) hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

victed, awed, and humbled him; but his conversion was the submission of his will to do the will of Christ. That this scene was real, was attested by the fact that Paul often referred to it as the beginning of his Christian life, and was ready to die for the Saviour whom he then owned as his Lord. To tame his fiery spirit, he was left blind for three days, that he might give himself to reflection and prayer; then sight was restored, and instruction and baptism administered by one of the very disciples whom he had come to destroy. Thus did Christ honor the agency of his Church, and lead the greatest of apostles into his kingdom by the door of humility, and in the spirit of a little child.

Prayer.

[Nos. 1, 58, 144.

the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax, and whose dying words were words of forgiveness.

We pray for all in sorrow. O thou God of all consolation! be a father to the fatherless, a husband to the widow, the stranger's shield, and the orphan's stay. Enable thy suffering people to rest in thy love. Bless our beloved friends: if there be any among them who are still strangers to thee, make them to know thee in Christ. Preserve us as a household from all danger and sin; hide us in the hollow of thy hand; and may death, when it shall come, find us still doing that which thou hast given us to do, and watching for our Lord! And unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be praise forever. Amen.