August 16

Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. — ACTS xi. 23.

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again: and was lest and is found. — LUKE xv. 10, 32.

AMONG the angels, rather than by men. It is a divine inspiration thus to express the love to which our fallen nature wakes at last, and only after the bitter experiences of life. On the one side we see the idea of the celestial mes- sengers, who always do acceptable service in heaven as they, taught by the "ineffable vision," recognize the possibilities of a new manhood in the faint sparks of genuine repentance, and strike anew their harps in praise of the love which saves that which is lost: on the other side, the father of a prodi- gal son, who has wearied his heart with knowledge of many sins and ingratitude, and felt almost sick unto death with hope deferred, then rushing forth to meet the lost one and take him to his bosom, forgetting the sorrows, blotting out the sins of the past, and lifting the ingrate as near as possi- ble to his old place. Truly, the mind which had learned the heavenly art to join these two thoughts in such harmony and illustrated them in life was the Word of God, — the mind of that which is nearest all that we call God, his only begot- ten Son.

Charles H. Hall.

Through all the courts the tidings flew,

And spread the joy around;

The angels tuned their harps anew, —

The long-lost son is found.

UNKNOWN.