October 31

Behold, be prayeth! — Acts ix. 11.

I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. — MATT. xi. 25, 26.

WHAT a graceful yet sublime veil of mystery envelops like a glistering robe the person of the praying Saviour! These communings of the incarnate Son with the eternal Father must in some aspects remain inexplicable to finite minds. They constitute a part of that central mystery of the Trinity which it is not given to man to comprehend. God hides even while he reveals.

And yet how precious are the records of the praying as well as the teaching, the acting, the suffering Christ. Four times in his intercessions we hear from his lips that tender word, Father! In this instance it stands in what strange contrast with the judicial utterance just preceding! Here also the prayer changes into an outburst of thanksgiving such as never before or since ascended to the throne where in august sovereignty the Father is seated.

Oh, the sad estate of those from whose eyes the things of God, the precious verities of grace, are hidden! wise and prudent in earthly things, they fail to see heavenly things, and their loss is utter and everlasting. Oh, the blessedness of those who in the simplicity of childhood hear and believe what Christ has spoken! Though babes in the earthly sense, they are the true children of the Father and heirs through Christ of all the promises.

Edward A. Morris.

Glorified apostles raise,

Night and day, continual praise.

Hast thou not a mission too

For thy children here to do?

With the prophets' goodly line

We in mystic bond combine, —

For thou hast to babes revealed

Things that to the wise were sealed.

MILLARD (Translation)