July 4.

PATIENCE, THOUGH PAINFUL IN EXERCISE, IS PRECIOUS IN RESULT.

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N their present circumstances, so full of trial and conflict, there is perhaps no grace that believers more need than patience; and it is one very frequently enjoined: "In your patience possess ye your souls"—" Let us run with patience the race that is set before us Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord." The word in such places denotes that tenacity of spirit which still holds on, and perseveres, and waits God's time, whatever the present pressure of evil, or the delay of expected deliverance. And so serviceable, under God, has it often been in furthering the Redeemer's cause on the earth, that one of the early fathers said of it: "It defeats all its enemies without toil. Its repose is more efficacious than the movements and deeds of others. It subdues the greatest courage, and converts the most obstinate. It is the strength and the triumph of the Church." It is often even as the prophet saith: “In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength."

It was so prized by the apostle that he earnestly prayed that the Colossian believers " might be strengthened unto all patience and long-suffering, with joyfulness." And in connection with this grace, such strengthening specially needs to be prayed for, because in times of delay, disappointment, and privation, believers have often, silently and unobserved, to wait and not weary, to want and not murmur, to toil and not faint, and to face, if need be, even

exile and death for Jesus' sake. Yet all this, through the Spirit, has again and again been beautifully exemplified by the saints in every age. In the patience of faith the Hebrews took joyfully the spoiling of their goods; the apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name; and others loved not their lives unto the death.

Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.-HEB. X. 36.

Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.-HEB. vi. 12.

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.-JAMES i. 3, 4.

July 5.

A PECULIAR TITLE SOMETIMES YIELDS PECULIAR
ENCOURAGEMENT.

JACOB, we would have thought, was the last man to be

singled out for any special distinction; for though, without doubt, he had really the root of the matter in him, yet no Old Testament saint, perhaps, had his character stained with so many blemishes. In early life he acted with great selfishness and duplicity, and took most ungenerous advantage of a father's weakness and a brother's folly. In any man such conduct would merit censure, but it was specially offensive in him, because he knew better, and had solemnly vowed to act otherwise. In these circumstances, while quite prepared to hear the Lord addressed as the God of Abraham or Isaac, or Moses or Joshua, it does seem strange to hear him spoken of as the God of Jacob, the man of whom he had such reason

to be ashamed. In spite of his unworthiness, however, the Lord assumed this very title. True, he did, with marked severity, visit Jacob's transgression with the rod, and his iniquity with stripes; nevertheless, his lovingkindness he did not utterly take from him, nor suffer his faithfulness to fail. On the contrary, he forgave his iniquities, healed his backslidings, loved him freely, and was not ashamed to be called his God. Such merciful graciousness may well encourage despairing backsliders to return to the Lord in hope.

But the title yields an additional encouragement. In ordinary life, it is no unusual thing to hear it said, “If he succeeded, why might not I?" Probably the Psalmist had this very thought when he said, “Give ear, O God of Jacob." His so using Jacob's name might imply that he had found encouragement in Jacob's example: and well he might, for in trustful supplication Jacob held a high place. Indeed, he had scarcely any superior in this respect; for in pleading with the Lord no delays seemingly could discourage nor difficulties baffle him. He kept resolutely to his purpose: "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me;" and as "a prince he had power with God and prevailed." Happily, we too, through a like persistency and faith, may be privileged with a like honour.

And prayer can still accomplish great things. We are told that when the Diet of Nuremberg were signing the edict which gave deliverance to Protestants, that very moment Luther was kneeling down in his favourite room praying for the accomplishment of the object. Without any communication between their hall and his room, Luther rose from his knees with a shout, rushed out into the street, and cried, "We have got the victory,—the

Protestants are free!" That was prayer getting its answer straight from the throne. It is ever found that when there is faith enough, the Lord not only does wonders for his people, but delights to do them.

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy...Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.-MICAĤ vii. 18, 20.

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July 6.

MEN MAY BE THOROUGHLY BOND, YET THINK
THEMSELVES FREE.

HEN Jesus said to the Jews, "If ye continue in my

word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," they indignantly replied, "We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" So is it still with multitudes. Though doubly enslaved through guilt and corruption, they not only think themselves free, and resent all hints to the contrary, but deliberately put away from them every gracious offer of deliverance through the blood of the Lamb and the Spirit of all grace.

What blindness could be greater? Can he be free who is the servant of sin-who approves better things and follows worse-and who, instead of being ruled by the dictates of conscience, is swayed only by the cravings of lust? As one of the early fathers said: "A good man, though he were a slave, is yet free; whereas a wicked man, though he were a king, is yet enslaved, and not to

one master only, but worse far, to as many masters as he has lusts." Every sin that rules us is a cruel taskmaster, and many are the stripes they inflict on the spiritually bond.

Now, this much is equally clear and indubitable, that there is no help whatever for us in ourselves. Do what we may, we cannot atone for sin; and strive as we may, we can never, in our own strength, break asunder our bonds and secure the joyous liberty of the sons of God. Indeed, seemingly the more we strive, we only rivet our chains the more. It was once said, and some one, perhaps, may be saying it again now: "I have been bound with many resolutions, but sin, like Samson, has snapped them as though they were but green withes. I have been shut up with many professions, as though once for all I were a prisoner of morality; but I have taken up posts and bars, and every other restraint, and have gone back to my old impurities. Can I be saved from these inbred corruptions?"-Yes, verily, if only you will apply to Him who is infinitely stronger than all your corruptions, and who has been anointed for the very purpose proclaiming liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. If the Son of God make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.-JOHN viii. 34.

His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.-PROV. v. 22.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me...to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.-ISA. lxi. 1.