January 29

Psalm xv.—1. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.

4. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoreth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

5. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

John i.—43. The day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee; and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

44. Now, Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

45. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Nazareth was an insignificant village, and, for some cause, was in bad repute. The Jews of Southern Palestine, possessing the capital and the temple, held in contempt the region of Galilee, remote from religious privileges, and upon the border line of pagan countries. But, as Nathanael was a Galilean, his question of surprise shows that Nazareth was in disrepute even in Galilee itself. Philip, having obeyed the call of Jesus, sought out his particular friend, that he might bring him to the knowledge of Christ. It is a first duty of a young Christian, and should be a first impulse, to lead others to the Saviour, saying, "I have found him: come and see for yourself also."

Nathanael was already a true servant of God, living in the inner spirit of the Old-Testament revelation; and, in welcoming him with the reading of his heart and life, Jesus revealed his own omniscience. This personal experience drew from

46. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

48. Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee.

49. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

50. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these.

51. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Nathanael the immediate confession of Jesus as the Son of God, the promised Messiah; and our Lord not only accepted this open recognition of his character, but declared that the confession of his disciple should be certified by most glorious signs from heaven, blending in an ineffable dignity the human with the divine, the "Son of man" and the "Son of God."

The incident shows that one may be in spirit a Christian who has not yet heard of Christ; that the heart may be prepared by grace to receive and welcome the Saviour when revealed; that God may see in the heart of an Israelite, or of a pagan, that guileless devotion to truth, that prayerful consecration to duty, that sincere regard for righteousness, which are the precursors of a Christian faith, where, as yet, the grace of Christ is not known. The cases of Nathanael and Cornelius should teach us to be charitable in our judgment of our fellow-men.

APPROPRIATE HIMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 9, 62, 154.

Our voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord! in the morning will we direct our prayer unto thee, and will look up. Oh! lead us this day in thy righteousness; make thy way straight before our face. Grant that we may see and know clearly what things we ought to do; and, whatever we do, may we do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto man.

Keep us from vain self-dependence, from pride, self-will, and presumption. Plant in all our hearts thy holy fear; and may we show such meekness and gentleness and humility as become the true followers of Christ!

Whilst we are this day diligent in business, give us grace at the same time to be fervent in spirit, serving thee. May the continual recollection of thy manifold and great mercies incline us to present our souls and bodies a living sacrifice unto thee! May we not be conformed to this world, but

transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God!

[May the children of this family set thy love before them as their chief portion in life, and make thy Word their guide! May they always speak the truth, and grow up free from guile! May they hear the voice of Jesus, and follow him!] Be gracious, O Lord! to all our kindred. Visit thy Church with thy salvation. Inspire thy people with a readiness to testify of thy love, and to invite others to thy grace. May we behold even greater fruits of thy coming than were seen by thine own apostles! Open thou the windows of heaven, and cause thy glory to shine forth, that all the ends of the earth shall acknowledge thee. And unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, be honor and praise, world without end. Amen.