August 6

Acts xiii. — 32. We declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

33. God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again: as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

34. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise: I will give you the sure mercies of David.

35. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

36. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption;

37. But he whom God raised again saw no corruption.

38. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins;

39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40. Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the prophets:

41. Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and per-

ish; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

42. And, when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

43. Now, when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

45. But, when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles:

47. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48. And, when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

This speech of Paul at Antioch seems like an echo of the speech which he had heard at Jerusalem from the lips of the martyr Stephen. The very truth against which he then rebelled he now proclaims. He sees Jesus foretold in the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning Christ, and the grand spiritual meaning of the ancient prophets is interpreted by the coming of the Son of God.

Two great truths were the substance of apostolic preaching, — the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and the forgiveness of sins through his name. His death was our redemption, his righteousness is our justification; and both are

made sure by the fact that God raised up Jesus, and so put the seal of the sublimest act of divine power to his life, his doctrine, and his death. And, to enjoy all these benefits of the Saviour's coming, we have only to believe on his name; to commit our souls to him for pardon, for justification, for eternal life.

But it is just this acknowledgment of dependence and need, this humbling confession of guilt, this self-terminating supplication for mercy, against which the heart of man rebels. Surely they who despise this free abounding grace of the Lord Jesus will deserve his judgment.

APPROPRIATE ITEMS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 70, 90, 173.

God of the evening and of the morning, to whom all times and seasons belong, we praise thee for thy watchful care during the past night. May the lives which thou hast prolonged be devoted to thee! As we are not our own, but bought with a price, may we glorify God in our bodies and spirits, which are his! May we be loving and grateful, willing and obedient! Thy service is perfect freedom. Thy commandments are not grievous, but joyous; and, in keeping them, there is great reward. May we enjoy the happiness which thy faithful servants alone can feel, and ever possess the consciousness that we please thee!

We thank thee for good men who have been raised up in every part of the world, and in every age of time, to perform thy will. May their spirit rest upon others, and thus may the name of Christ be

remembered throughout all generations! and may thy salvation go forth unto the ends of the earth!

Forgive, O Lord! for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour, all the offences we have committed against thee.

Hear us while we pray for our land and people. Bless all who are in authority. May righteousness exalt this nation, and pervade all the nations of the earth!

As we now separate to our different employments, we commend each other unto thee and to the word of thy grace. Be our guide in perplexity, our guard in danger, and our unfailing comfort amidst the sorrows and changes of life. May the eternal God be our refuge, and underneath us the everlasting arms! Fulfil these our petitions, O our Father! for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.