December 10

Psalm exlvii. — 1. Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is comely.

2. The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. 3. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. 4. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. 5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. 6. The Lord lifeth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. 11. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. 12. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! praise thy God, O Zion! 2 Thessalonians i. — 1. Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus-Christ: 2. Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4. So that we ourselves glory in you in the

churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7. And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, 10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11. Wherefore, also, we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power; 12. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is a day to come which shall be so grand and decisive in its manifestation of the being and the glory of God, that forever after it shall be known as that day. This epithet could be given only to a definite, public, positive occasion or event, signally impressed upon the whole moral universe. Such will be the day of judgment. Its features will be the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory and power with a retinue of angels; the visitation of his displeasure upon those who have disregarded the truth, whether as taught in nature concerning God, or as revealed in the gospel concerning the way of salvation by

Christ, — upon the atheistic and the unbelieving alike: these shall be banished forever from Him whose presence makes the glory and the bliss of heaven. But, in contrast, they who have believed upon Christ and followed him shall then go up with praise and adoration to share in that glory. For such that day shall have no terror: for persecution they shall then have peace; for trouble, rest; for affliction, glory in the kingdom of God. Patience, faith, hope, love, shall then all issue in eternal joy. That day we must meet: its decisions shall fix our eternal state. Oh, may we be found in Him whose grace alone can save!

APPROPRIATE Hymns.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 179, 196, 199.

O Lord! we draw nigh unto thy throne of grace, adoring thee as God over all, blessed forevermore. May we this night enter the inner chamber of thy presence! Draw near to us as we draw near to thee. We bless thee that thou hast spared us during this day, and hast given us the privileges of the sabbath and the sanctuary. We thank thee for the Bible, the Sunday school, the Church, and all the means of grace; and pray that by these helps, this day enjoyed, we may be made more meet for heaven. We thank thee, O Lord! for that home made ready for us, and endeared to us by the thought of many who have gone before us. May we follow their faith, and enter their rest!

While we pray for ourselves, we would remember before thee all whom we ought to bear on our hearts at the throne of grace. Prosper thy cause and kingdom in the world. Bring the wickedness

of the wicked to an end. Bless the young: may they spring up as willows by the water-courses, — trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord! Bless the aged: may they be gathered to the garner of the Great Husbandman as the shock of corn in its season, full of years, and ripe for glory!

Bless us as a family [parent and child]. Let us all own one common Master, one Father in heaven. Whether we wake or sleep, may we live together with thee! There is no darkness to us if thou art with us. Defend us during the unconscious hours of slumber, that we may rise to a new day fitted for duty, happy in the assured continuance of thy favor and love. And all we ask is for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Redeemer; in whose blessed name we ask and offer all. Amen.