he, thus led by the Spirit, became the Father of the Faithful and the Friend of God.

The best definition of a Christian is that of Paul: “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Wherefore hear the Voice of the Spirit and be willing to follow it. Bow low, as Elijah did at Horeb, with his head between his knees, and hear "the still small Voice." Then under its direction open your heart to truth and address your hands to duty, for as many as are thus led, obedient to the Voice of the Spirit, these are the sons of God.

8. PRAYER

Come, Holy Spirit, come. Open my ears to hear thy voice. And make me obedient, walking in the light thou givest until the day break and the shadows flee away; for Jesus' sake. Amen.

9. HYMN: “Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove." 10. BENEDICTION

The Lord bless thee and keep thee: the Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace. Amen.

TENTH SERVICE

How Peter was Prayed Out of Prison

I. INVOCATION

BLESSED be thy Name, O God, for this holy

day. May it be full of strength and comfort for all who assemble to worship thee, and for those also who cannot worship in thy courts. Incline the hearts of thy people everywhere to commune with thee in the beauty of holiness; and thy Name shall have the praise. Amen.

2. HYMN: "Awake, my soul, to joyful lays." 3. SCRIPTURE LESSON

Psalm 92.

Acts 12:1-17.

4. PRAYER

Father in heaven, I thank thee for the privilege of making known my desires unto thee. Were it only to approach an earthly king one must needs clothe himself in fine apparel; put upon me now the garment of humility and array me in the imputed righteousness of Jesus which is as fine linen, clean and white. Blot out the sin which alienates from thee; for without holiness no man shall

see God. Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Help me to covet earnestly the best things-the graces of character which made thy Son the ideal Man, his purity and zeal in service, his charity and passion for the good of all. Teach me how to think thy thoughts after thee, how to pray with a reverent but importunate faith, how to undertake great things for thee and expect great things from thee. And bless with me all thy people of whatever name. Fill their hearts with the sweet consciousness of thy presence and benediction. Be kind to those who suffer: comfort the bereaved; give new heart to the discouraged; endue with needed grace all who sit in high places of authority, and reclaim the wandering, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

5. HYMN: "In the Cross of Christ I glory." 6. OFFERING

7. THE SERMON

How Peter was Prayed Out of Prison

"Peter, therefore, was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." (Acts 12:5.)

The time is A. D. 44.

The place is the upper room in Mary's house in Jerusalem. What memories gather about that up

per room! It was here that Christ preached his last sermon, offered his last pastoral prayer and said his last farewell.

But that was fourteen years ago; and many things had happened in the interim. One of these was the muster at Olivet, where the Lord, having delivered his final commission to the disciples, lifted his hands in benediction and returned, through the triumphal arch of the opening heavens, to "the glory which he had with the Father before the world was." Another was the effusion of fire and power at Pentecost, where the disciples were equipped for a campaign of service which is destined to continue until the Tabernacle of God comes down among men. And the fires of persecution had been kindled; already three Emperors had hurled themselves vainly against the bosses of God's shield. Stephen had been stoned; James, the pastor of the Jerusalem Church, had been slain with a sword; and now Peter was cast into prison.

In the upper room the disciples were assembled for prayer. Their immediate purpose was to pray Peter out of prison. Could they do it? God was their helper, they knew that; but the question was, how to reach him; for he "sitteth upon a throne high and lifted up."

The thing works out like a geometrical problem. Given: at the apex of a triangle, the throne of God; at one of the lower angles the upper room, where the disciples are engaged in prayer; and at

the other the prison where Peter lies in peril of death.

Required: to bring that upper room into such telegraphic communication with the throne that the throne may transmit a dynamic current to the prison and sever Peter's chains.

Solution, prayer: "And the disciples made instant prayer for him." (Margin, R. V.) This is the power that "moves the hand that moves the world to bring salvation down."

Let us get the picture before us.

In the Upper Room. The doors are locked for fear, and a handmaid is stationed at the outer wicket. The disciples are on their knees and John is leading them in prayer: "O Lord, leave not thy servant Peter in the power of the enemy! Thou art mighty to save. Deliver him, for thy great mercy's sake." That message traverses the heavenward wire with the speed of an electric flash, and God makes bare his arm.

In the Prison. Peter lies bound with a double chain and guarded by four quaternions of soldiers. He is as secure as imperial power can make him. But, as we shall see, no walls are thick enough, no chains are strong enough, no guards are watchful enough, to hold a man prisoner when God resolves to free him. The excitement of the day has wearied Peter and he sleeps. On a sudden a great light shines in the dungeon; an angel appears, lays his hand on Peter and says, "Arise up quickly!"

In the Upper Room. Andrew, the brother of