June 25

God, who quickeneth the dead. — ROMANS iv. 17.

For as the Father rai eth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. — JOHN v. 21.

LIFE is the prerogative and gift of God, alike of Father and Son. So declare these words of Saint John; and all life is essentially one. But to the conscious recipient is there not a difference in the gift suggested by these same words corresponding to the person of the giver? Surely to such a recipient a gift carries with it the personality, the touch, of the hand from which it comes. And it is this personality which gives it most often its highest value and influence. "The gift without the giver is bare." But what is true of our smaller earthly tokens is vastly truer of the high gifts of heaven, and this highest gift of all. Grateful, happy, is it to the devout soul, to recognize in every heart-throb, every function, physical or spiritual, the Father's forethought and provision for his children. But an element of even deeper tenderness and love, as well as responsibility, is added to the gift, as coming from the wounded human hand of Jesus. It glows and breathes with the very spirit of his life and redeeming work.

And this is the gift, this life, which he gives to every earnest seeking heart; for "whom he will," is after all only another expression, according to the gospel, for "whosoever will."

M. M. Wickham

Thou art the life; the rending tomb Proclaims thy conquering arm; And those who put their trust in thee Nor death nor hell shall harm.

BISHOP DOANE.