January 12

En whom I am well pleased. — MATT. iii. 17.

For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. — JOHN v. 20.

THE Father loveth the Son even as he loveth himself. One with him in essence and attribute, and at one with him in purpose and operation, the divine Father has loved his divine Son from the innermost eternity with infinite affection. From the Son of his bosom the Father has no secrets. He unveils to his Well-beloved the whole counsel of his will; and the Son comprehends all his intentions, coincides in all his purposes, and co-operates with him in all his actings. The works of the Father, existent in design from eternity, are executed, one after another, in time, through and by the incarnate Son in his official character of mediator. The successive disclosures of divine purpose are caused to progress from the great to the greater in ever-increasing majesty and glory, in order that those who witness them may marvel, — for though they may not constrain to faith, they compel wonder. This marvelling will attain its climax when the great works of Christ shall have reached their culmination in the final quickening of the dead and the last judgment. Then they who have recognized him as the Son of God shall be excited to a joyful ecstasy on being raised to eternal life, while those who have been wilfully blind to his sonship and Saviourhood shall be overwhelmed with everlasting dismay. "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish!"

Robert G. Jeffrey

Behold your Lord, your Master, crowned

With glories all divine,

And tell the wondering nations round

How bright those glories shine.

ANNE STEELE.