in trustworthy hands. In so far as there are mysteries in the divine providence we may rest calmly in the assurance that the Lord of all the earth doeth right. We are his children; and his name is Love. He does not explain everything; but he makes this perfectly clear, that he loves us. And this is "the Happy End of God's Correction." It is recorded that the Lord turned again the captivity of Job; so that he was greatly blessed in his latter end. At the close of the book we see him sitting in a happy home with wife and children about him, prosperous and content. All's well that ends well. But the conclusion of the story is not always written in this present life. The sequel is beyond. It matters little what befalls us here, so long as interminable æons of felicity are before us. One day we shall look backward and see clearly that the sufferings of this present time were not worthy to be compared with the glory which is revealed in us. Oh, for clearer eyes and a larger faith; a faith to see through "the bright light in the cloud" to that eternal future where clouds and darkness are dissipated and all is light! a faith that can believe without seeing, and rest in God! I think it was Henry Martyn, who, cut off in the midst of his work and dying in pain, said calmly: "God makes no mistakes." Blessed assurance! Let us take him at his word: "All things work together for good to them that love God." 8. PRAYER O Lord, give me a heart to glorify thee in adversity as well as in my brighter days. Let my pains and sorrows, by patient endurance, become a part of my willing service. Be pleased to cast out of thy remembrance all my past offenses and shortcomings, forgiving them in thy boundless mercy and purifying my heart that I may lead a better life. In my chastening forbid that I should faint; in my prosperity save me from pride; under all circumstances keep me mindful of thy Fatherly love. Let all my doings, being ordered by thy governance, be righteous in thy sight. Use me as thou wilt, O Lord, but ever use me to thy glory, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 9. HYMN: "How firm a foundation." 10. BENEDICTION The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you. Amen. TWENTIETH SERVICE The Christian and His Bible 1. INVOCATION JLI LIFT up mine eyes unto thee, O Lord that dwellest in the heavens. Be pleased to bow the heavens and come down, according to thy promise, to commune with me. Make me to know by the warmth of my heart and the quickening of my zeal that thou art here with a blessing, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 2. HYMN: Name." "All hail the power of Jesus' 3. SCRIPTURE LESSON 2 Kings 22. 2 Timothy 3. 4. PRAYER O God, my heart is fixed. I will praise thee; for thy mercy is great above the heavens and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. The heavens declare thy glory and the firmament showeth thy handiwork; but in thy Word thou hast revealed thyself more gloriously as the God of love. The entrance of thy Word giveth light. Put to shame the purposes of all who would destroy the foundations of faith. Forasmuch as I have professed to receive the Scriptures as my infallible rule of faith and practice, help me to show forth my sincerity by defending their truths and exemplifying their precepts in my walk and conversation. Keep me as loyal to the Scriptures as Christ was, who believed, loved, preached and practiced them, and never uttered a word against their entire truth and trustworthiness. Exalt thy Word in the Church and in the pulpit to-day. Bring to the remembrance of thy people everywhere what thou didst say, "Search the Scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." Let them honor thy commandments, heed thine admonitions and love thine exceeding great and precious promises. Give power to thy Word as it is preached to-day; that it may be sharper than any two-edged sword for conviction and as healing as balm of Gilead to such as penitently turn unto thee. Let the luminous shadow of the Cross fall over the world to-day. Show thyself the God of salvation, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 5. HYMN: "Blow ye the trumpet, blow, the gladly solemn sound." 6. OFFERING 7. THE SERMON The Christian and his Bible "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3: 14-17.) There was trouble in Ephesus. The Church there had fallen on "perilous times." False teachers had crept in and were leading away all such of the people as had "itching ears." Paul, the founder and former pastor of the Church in that city, writes to Timothy, his successor, exhorting him to continue in the truth; and he suggests as a sure safeguard, for himself and his people, a profound loyalty to the Scriptures as the word of God. He reminds the young pastor that he had learned the Scriptures in his childhood. In his old home at Derbe his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois had instructed him. Blessed is the man or woman who can look back to such training as this! The father of John Stuart Mill declined to teach religion to his son; the father of David Livingstone required his son to commit the One |