I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face." So is it with believers and their Lord. Though, meanwhile, unseen by them, they yet warmly love him; and with good reason, for it was he who delivered their souls from death, their eyes from tears, and their feet from falling, and has proved himself to be of all friends the truest, surest, and most abiding. On this very account there is no hope sweeter to them than that of one day seeing him face to face, and being for ever with him; and knowing it to be so, it was with this very hope the apostle cheered the bereaved mourners in Thessalonica. When he comes, he said, "the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

When our Lord said to Peter, in reference to John, " If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me;" forthwith, we are told, the saying went abroad among the brethren that that disciple should not die. Whatever error mingled with this saying, it yet clearly showed that in thought and loving expectancy, at least, the early Christians linked the coming of the Lord, not with death, but with life. And so should we, for there is the widest of differences between the coming of death and the coming of Christ. Indeed, there is no death where he is; it flees before him. Dead bodies sprang to life the very moment he touched or spoke to them; and when he sets up his kingdom at the last, there is to be life. for evermore. Just in proportion, therefore, to the intensity of their love and gratitude is the ardour with which believers long and say, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.”

Two centuries ago, Andrew Gray, the M'Cheyne of his time, and who, like him, was early called home, once said at a communion season, "Oh, when shall these blue heavens be rent, and we be admitted to the marriage-supper of the Lamb? I long for the day when all the language of heaven and earth shall be, 'Come, come, Lord Jesus.' But, in a more marked degree still, this was a theme in which Samuel Rutherford ever specially delighted. "All

is night that is here," he said; "therefore sigh and long for the dawning of the morning, and the breaking of that day of the coming of the Son of man! Persuade yourself the King is coming; read his letter sent before him, 'Behold, I come quickly.' Wait with the wearied nightwatch for the breaking of the eastern sky, and think that ye have not a morrow."

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.-TITUS ii. 13.

Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.-REV. xxii. 20.

Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.-PHIL. iii. 20.

May 21.

THEY WHO PRAY MOST THEMSELVES MOST PRIZE THE PRAYERS OF OTHERS.

IT

T was a great day in the history of the Church when the Lord said to Ananias, "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth." This praying on his part, then just begun, was to the very end of his life characterized by a faith, fer

vour, and holy importunity rarely equalled, and never surpassed.

He was constantly pleading for others: "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved"-" For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith."

And as he thus prayed much for others, so he often asked that they in turn should pray for him: "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ"-" Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified." Words like these were no mere words of course with him, or a becoming form only, but the fervent utterance of his whole heart, just because he more than most men believed in the power and efficacy of prayer. Indeed, he attempted nothing and expected nothing without it, but ever carried out to the full the blessed counsel, "In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God,"-words which sweetly suggest the threefold duty, to be careful for nothing, prayerful for everything, and thankful for anything.

Ministers and people greatly need each other's prayers ; but in this mightily helpful duty how manifold are the shortcomings of all! "I would rather know," says Mr. Moody, "how to pray like David than to preach like Gabriel. Prayer moves the hand that moves the universe;

and by the wielding of this powerful weapon some bedridden saint may accomplish more in the sick-chamber than others in the full enjoyment of health, and who are better known." Usually when there is little prayer in the pew there is little power in the pulpit. On this account, devoted men of God in every age have ever earnestly entreated the prayers of their people.

Not long ago George Müller of Bristol said fervently and lovingly to those who heard him, "Believers in Christ, pray for me, for I cannot do without your prayers; pray that the last days of my pilgrimage may be the best days of my life; pray that I may be upheld in the ways of God, strengthened in the inner man, and be made helpful to others."

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers.-COL. iv. 12.

Ye also helping together by prayer for us.-2 COR. i. 11.

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.-ROм. xv. 30.

IN

May 22.

WHAT WE MAINLY NEED.

times of sickness, depression, or straitened circumstances, the frequent thought of many is that if they could only get change of scene, or higher friendships, or ampler means, all would be well with them. In this, however, they deceive themselves; for true happiness depends not so much on things as on thoughts, even as our blessed Lord himself intimates when he says, "A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things

which he possesseth." Though Solomon had everything that heart could wish, it was "all vanity" to him and "vexation of spirit." On the other hand, though the prophet was thoroughly stripped of all, "yet he rejoiced in the Lord, and joyed in the God of his salvation." What we mainly need, therefore, is not so much fuller stores as richer grace; for this would give us sweet contentedness in any sphere, and enable us, as it were, rather to keep looking at earth from heaven than looking at heaven from earth, as though present things were already past and future things already come.

Nothing comes wrong to the soul that is, through grace, at peace with God, and has a trustful, loving confidence in his word and ways; for he feels assured that whether the Lord gives or takes, smites or heals, sends cloud or sunshine, he doeth all things well.

66

"The heart that trusts for ever sings,

And feels as light as it had wings;
A well of peace within it springs,
Come good or ill.

Whate'er to-day-to-morrow brings,
It is His will."

Christians," said Edward Payson, "might avoid much trouble and inconvenience if they would only believe what they profess, that God is able to make them happy without anything else. To mention my own case: God has been depriving me of one blessing after another, but as every one was removed, he has come in and filled up its place; and now, when I am a cripple and not able to move, I am happier than ever I was in my life before, or ever expected to be; and if I had believed this twenty years ago, I might have been spared much anxiety."