September 26

Smitten of God, and afflicted. — ISAIAH liii. 4.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? — MATT. xxvii. 46.

STRANGEST as well as saddest words ever uttered. The spotless Son of God passing into the hidings of his Father's face, experiencing that sickening sense of utter desolation, forsaken of God and man; and this that he might know sin's utmost ruin, that man might know love's utmost salvation. Herein is love, not that we loved him, but that he loved us and gave himself for us. He took upon his broad sympathies the burden of a fallen world's sins and sorrows, hiding his Father's face, darkening the heavens, and rolled it off with a bloody sweat and an ex- piring groan, that guilty man might be saved both the one and the other. He took man's place in the darkness of sin and death that man might take his place in the light of holi- ness and life. He was abandoned of God that man might be accepted. He went down to hell that man might ascend to heaven. The philosophy is hidden, the fact is revealed. And thank God the fact is all we need to know for our present peace or future welfare. Let us, therefore, grate- fully accept the fact that "Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteous- ness of God in him."

L. A. McCleary

Weary sinner, keep thine eyes

On the atoning sacrifice.

There the incarnate Deity

Numbered with transgressors see;

There his Father's absence mourns,

Nailed, and bruised, and crowned with thorns.

TOPLADY.