March 10

Jeremiah xxiii. — 24. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.

25. I have heard what the prophets said that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

26. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart,

27. Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams, which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.

28. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.

29. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Luke xii. — 49. I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I if it be already kindled?

50. But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

51. Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

52. For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

53. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

54. And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

55. And, when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

56. Ye hypocrites! ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

57. Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

58. When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

59. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence till thou hast paid the very last mite.

The coming of Christ was announced as "peace on earth, and good will to men," and his parting word to his disciples was, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." He came to reconcile man to God through his cross: to establish a brotherhood of love; he inculcated upon his disciples meekness, humility, and patience; and gave it as a distinctive mark of his kingdom, that his servants would not fight. Yet such is the depravity of man, that the principles of the gospel have become the occasion of discord in families, of strife and persecution in communities, of revolution and war among nations. This grows out of the necessary antagonism between light and darkness, truth and error, holiness and sin. Men of evil deeds shun the light; men wedded to error and sin hate truth and righteousness. The confession of Christ by

one member of an irreligious family is a quiet testimony against the worldliness of the rest, and may excite their violent opposition. The establishment of a church in an ungodly community is a public protest against vice and impiety, and may provoke open persecution. The tendency of the gospel to enlighten and elevate the masses may stir up arbitrary governments to suppress the Bible, and to use the gibbet and the stake against the confessions of Christ. But men of wise and honest judgment will discern that the real cause of strife is, not the gospel, but the sin that it rebukes; and also that a true peace can come only through the triumph of truth. And therefore, as Jesus himself was ready to be baptized unto death for the truth, so should all who love the truth witness a good confession before a gainsaying world.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 40, 82, 90.

Holy Father, who hast brought us to the beginning of another day, mercifully keep us through the same, and surround us with the tokens of thy presence and favor. As we go forth to the active duties of life in dependence on thy promised aid and grace, grant us strength equal to our engagements; and in all things may thy glory be our first and final end! We pray, not that thou wouldest take us out of the world, but that thou wouldest keep us from the evil. In the midst of its defilement, help us to preserve our garments unspotted; amidst its manifold temptations, succor us by thy mighty grace; in all its dangers, let thy shield be over us; in its strifes and conflicts, grant us the peace of God that passeth all understanding,

and victory over all evil. May we be wise to discern the signs of the times, and diligent to follow in the way of thy precepts! Oh, may this family be one in heart and life in the service of God, helping one another in the way to heaven! May we live the rest of our life in the flesh, by the faith, and according to the faith, of the Son of God, who loved us, and gave himself for us!

Keep us to-day from all evil. May we acknowledge thee in all things, and fear to wander from thy paths! Bless all who are in affliction. Have mercy on our country, and continue unto it thy favor. Oh! pour out thy Spirit on all men, and fill the earth with thy glory. We ask these blessings in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.