April 14

" T here was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man."

Ecclesiastes 9:14-15

The little city is like Bunyan’s Mansoul. The cruel adversary is Satan, the prince and god of this world. The poor wise man is our blessed Lord Jesus Christ, who by His death on Calvary has delivered those once in fear of death and so held all their lifetime in dreadful bondage. Strange that we should ever forget One who has wrought so mightily on our behalf! Surely He should ever be in remembrance as we consider how much we owe to His wisdom, power, and grace!

Oh, ‘twas wondrous grace that brought Thee

From the glory there on high,

And ‘twas wondrous love that led Thee

Thus to stoop, to bleed and die;

Thou wast e’en from everlasting,

E’er the worlds were brought to light

Ever dwelling with Thy Father,

As His own supreme delight.

Now in life and resurrection

Thou hast link’d us up with Thee,

Standing ‘twixt the cross and glory,

Gladly we remember Thee.

Death and judgment gone forever,

Glory is our portion now,

And, in spirit there already,

We before Thy face would bow.

—L.W.