And let us arise and go to Bethel, and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the days of my distress and was with me in the way which I went. Gen. 35:3. Rest in the Lord to-day and all thy days. Through the uncertainty, and hope, and fear, God will not change: the restless years may bring Joy mixed with grief-sharp thorns with fragrant flowers; But God is true: there is no change in Him. -Edith Dickman Divall. AS not God been with us in the way we went? Was not God with us during the past year preserving our country from disaster, from plague, and from pestilence? Oh! how good God is to us, to our families, and to our church! Let your heart overflow with gratitude, and let your lives be consecrated afresh to His service. Let us not waste time in useless repining; but gird ourselves now for fresh conflicts and for noble victories. God help us to do our whole duty! Let us on the threshold of the new year make this resolution our own: I will attend the house of God; I will make an altar of prayer; I will cherish gratitude to God, and devote my life to Him who was with me in the way which I went. Show me Thy way, O Jehovah; teach me Thy paths. Remember, O Jehovah, Thy tender mercies and Thy lovingkindnesses: for they have been ever of old. All the paths of Jehovah are loving-kindness and truth. Amen. Ps. 25: 4, 6, IO. 1-3 15. ANNIVERSARY DAY-FAMILY WORSHIP 3 As for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah. Josh. 24: O Love divine and tender, That through our homes dost move; Of holy household love; A throne without thy blessing, And cottages possessing Thy blessedness are blest. -Rev. John Samuel Bewley Monsell. T is blessed when the head of the house leads in paths of obedience to God, and when the family with alacrity and joy follow in his footsteps. It is unspeakably sad to see families sit at tables on which no blessing is asked, and live in houses in which the voice of praise and prayer is never heard. Every father should be the religious head of his own house; he should be the high-priest in his own family. He ought to erect the family altar and constantly keep the flame of family devotion brightly burning thereon. The sacred duty of ministering at the family altar, he cannot neglect or even remit without dishonoring himself as well as his Lord. He should be unwilling to give up the high honor and sacred duty which belong to him as the head of the house. O Lord Jehovah Thou art God, and Thy words are truth, let it please Thee to bless the house of Thy servant, and with Thy blessing let the house of Thy servant be blessed forever. 2 Sam. 7: 28, 29. Oh, satisfy us in the morning with Thy loving-kindness, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Amen. Ps. 90: 14, 16. He that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah and rely upon his God. Is. 50: 10. Grow old along with me: The best is yet to be The last of life, for which the first was made; Our times are in His hand, Who saith, a whole I planned, Youth shows but half; trust God; see all, nor be afraid. -Robert Browning. HOSE who trust the God of the universe are never brought to shame. He has marvellous ways of supplying the wants of His people. All the forces of nature and grace are at His command. He can make cyclones His servants, storms His messengers, and peaceful seasons His gentle benedictions. His love is as unexhausted as his power is unlimited; His grace is as abundant as His wisdom is profound and His might omnipotent. heart is the heart of a mother, while His arm is that of Jehovah. Happy, thrice happy, are they who lean upon His heart and who trust His arm. Travelers on the higher Alps have told us they sometimes rise to heights so great that they see beneath them the rolling clouds, the flashing lightning and the rain falling in torrents, but the peaks on which they stand are above the storm and are bathed in unclouded sunshine. Such is the experience of those who make God their refuge. They dwell above earthly clouds, in undisturbed peace, and in unfailing joy. Our soul hath waited for Jehovah: He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Thy loving-kindness, O Jehovah, be upon us, according as we have hoped in Thee. Amen. Ps. 33: 20, 22. 1-5 TRUSTING GOD-SPIRITUAL STRENGTH 5 Jehovah the Lord, the strength of my salvation. Ps. 140: 7. We do not guess what we achieve, HE source of all true strength, we are here taught, is God, and all spiritual blessings are divine gifts. The spiritual blessings come through the Holy Spirit, and the measure of spiritual blessings is according to the riches of His glory, or according to His glorious riches. The measure of blessing is God's eternal fullness and infinite mercy. We may expect the blessing to be according to His infinite ability. We do not expect a peasant to give what a millionaire would bestow. We need strength for daily duty in the glorious measure here indicated. have enemies who are numerous and strong; we have grievous trials to bear; we have great temptations to overcome. We need divine strength to overcome, even as Jesus overcame, that we may with Him sit down on the right hand of the Father. We Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 2 Sam. 22:40. Thou didst encourage me with strength in my soul. Though I walk in the midst of trouble Thou wilt revive me, and Thy right hand will save me. Amen. Ps. 138:3, 7. Where is He that is born the king of the Jews? for we saw His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. Matt. 2:2. That mystic star whose pilot ray Bright wanderer through the fields of air Cradled within a worthless manger Slept on that morn the immortal stranger. Oh, shining worlds above me, in what deep Lies hidden now that star, and where are they -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. HE inquiry of the Magi instantly attracts our attention, excites our curiosity, and evokes our approval. The example of the Magi is worthy of commendation and imitation. There is no ism" in relation to Jesus Christ so dangerous as indifferentism. Herod asked no question regarding the birth of Jesus until he was troubled by the questions of the Magi. The priests and scribes seem to have been ignorant of the wondrous birth until Herod demanded information. The people in the streets of Jerusalem passed to and fro in utter ignorance of the birth of the true king of the Jews. Neither the birth nor the death of Jesus is an object of the slightest interest in the inn, so there is no room for Christ to-day because political ambitions, business ventures, and social aspirations fill the hearts of tens of thousands all over the land. Verily Thou art a God that Israel, the Saviour. Is. 45: 15. hidest Thyself, O God of Oh, that I knew where I might find Him: that I might come even to His seat. Amen. Job 23: 3. |