March 26

Romans viii. — 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God:

17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope;

21. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22. For we know that the whole creation groaneth, and travaileth in pain together until now;

23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24. For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25. But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27. And he that scarcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Man lost by sin that conscious intercourse with the Father of spirits which was at first his privilege as a son of God. By subjecting his spirit to the rule of his lower appetites, he was thrown out of communion with his Maker. But he who believes on Christ, and turns to God in faith, receives the Spirit of God to restore within him this sense of the divine fellowship, by quickening his own spiritual life, his longings after God, and guiding both feeling and utterance in prayer. To such a soul there comes the consciousness of sonship. Discerning the compassion of God in the forgiveness of sin, feeling the "drawing" of the divine love, he cries, "My Father!" and, in whatever language that cry is uttered, — the Abba of the ancient Hebrew, the Pater of the Greek and Roman, the Father of our English tongue, — the same Spirit bears witness to the believing supplicating soul that he is a child of God.

This sonship, now revealed in the consciousness of all believers, shall hereafter be made manifest in their glorification at the coming of Christ. Then shall creation itself be delivered from the curse of sin, and in the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, shall be displayed the glorious liberty of the children of God.

The Bible represents the lower creation as in sympathetic woe with the tail of man. And certainly the brute creation suffers much through human wickedness: Nature is abused through the foiles and vices of men; and her development has been retarded through man's loss of that spiritual power wherewith he was originally invested for dominion over matter. Man's final redemption — a purified spirit in a spiritual body — will restore the harmony of the whole creation which has been so disturbed and broken by his transgression. What a world of joy and beauty might even this be made by a holy race!

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 20, 41, 105.

Gracious God and Father in Christ Jesus, we lift up our hearts to thee this morning in the love and confidence of children. We acknowledge thy mercy, which hath surrounded our persons and our habitation through the night, and hath made the incoming of the morning to rejoice over us. As a family, we bring to thee our morning sacrifice of prayer and praise. Oh! fill our home with thy peace; fill our hearts with thy love. May we receive thy gifts with humility, and use them as stewards who must give account to their Lord!

Especially do we bless thee for the revelation of thy redeeming love through our Lord Jesus Christ. We praise thee that he loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word; that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. May it be the wish of our souls and the effort of our

lives to be holy, and to be conformed to his divine will in all things!

We pray that He who has so freely loved us, and who has done so much for us, would make us still his peculiar care, keeping us from all evil in this present evil world, and finally taking us to himself.

We adore thee, O our blessed Redeemer! for the great work thou didst on the earth. Hasten the day when those who have not heard thy name nor seen thy glory shall know the truth and be made free, and shall glory in the Lord. Soon may all nations hear of Him in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Then shalt thou, O Lord! see of the travail of thy soul, and be satisfied. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us: God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. Hear these our unworthy petitions, gracious Father, in the name of our Redeemer. Amen.