November 16

Ezekiel viii.—1. And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me.

2. Then I beheld, and, lo, a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the color of amber.

3. And he put forth the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north;

4. And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.

2 Corinthians xii.—1. It is not expedient for me, doubtless, to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth): such a one caught up to the third heaven.

3. And I knew such a man (whether in the

body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth):

4. How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5. Of such a one will I glory; yet of myself I will not glory, but in my infirmities.

6. For, though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth; but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

7. And, lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Many have a craving to communicate with the world of spirits: to gain some definite knowledge of the sphere and the occupations of the departed. But Paul, who in a vision or a trance was caught up into that world, was not suffered to unveil its realities, nor to bring back to us one word of its unattractable mysteries. The discipline of faith is our best preparation for participating in the knowledge and the glory of that world. This rare exaltation did not exempt Paul from mortal weaknesses: on the contrary, lest his vision of good angels should tempt him to spiritual pride, a hostile spirit was permitted to harass him with a painful and humiliating infirmity. And this he could not combat by spiritism,

by seeking to renew his intercourse with disembodied powers. No "medium" could help him; no revelation from the spirit-world could relieve his distemper. No: even after the abundance of the revelations, Paul was reduced to the same trials that we suffer, and must meet these with the same grace which is provided for us all. Let us, then, be content with the knowledge and the helps which God has given us in his Word; let us wain by faith in the grace of Christ. That grace is sufficient for every need: we can never exhaust it, and it will never be withheld. The trial may not be taken away; but the grace shall be provided, and shall never fail.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 155, 179, 181.

O God, who hast taught us in thy Word that there is still laid up a rest for thy people, and who hast given us a promise of entering into it! grant to us, we beseech thee, that we fail not of that promise through unbelief and disobedience. Teach us to look for a house that hath foundations, of which thou art the maker and builder. Lift our hearts thither in earnest desire.

Oh sabbath of eternal peace! Oh haven where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest! When shall we see thee, O Lord! and behold the King in his beauty? When shall we meet the apostles and prophets, and the great multitude whom no man can number? When shall we see again our dear friends who sleep in Jesus?

O God the Father, who hast the times and sea-

sons in thine own power! let not that day come upon us unawares. O God the Son, who art gone to prepare a place for us! in thine own time take us to thyself, that where thou art, there we may be also. O God the Holy Ghost, the pledge of future glory in our hearts! seal us until the redemption of the purchased possession. We bless thee for the help this day received through thy holy Word and the prayers and praises of thy Church. We supplicate thy favor upon all who have heard thy Word, and upon those who have it not. We bless thee for thy mercy to this household, and commit ourselves to thy fatherly protection for the night. Keep us under the shadow of thy wings; and, O Father! bring us, we pray thee, finally to rest in thee, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.