One may fall from his good resolutions, from his profession, from his reputation as a Christian, but surely he cannot fall from the grace of God. The real question is, Whose grip is it that saves us? Are we saved by our clinging to God or by his holding to us? If my salvation depends on my grip alone, then alas for me! But if it depends on the power of a divine hand, then the gates of hell cannot prevail against me.

A life-saver plunges in to rescue a strangling swimmer. "Hold on!" he cries, and the man's hands fasten upon him. But as they swim shoreward, the rescuer feels the man's grasp loosening, and his own tightens accordingly. Thus the lifesaver brings him safe to shore. I am that strangling swimmer. Once assured that God has laid hold upon me, I know I can safely trust in him. For

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
He will not, he will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
He'll never, no, never, no, never forsake.

It is thus that Paul pursues his great argument as to the success of the divine plan for the salvation of souls and the deliverance of the world. Be of good cheer! Nothing can thwart the Father's will.

As Napoleon was setting out on his Russian campaign, a lady of the French Court said to him, "You know that, though man proposes, God disposes." He replied, "Yes; but watch the issue and

you will see that I propose and dispose too." A few weeks later he was fleeing from Moscow with his half-frozen and starving army straggling after him.

It is God who both proposes and disposes in human affairs. The events of history are lines converging toward his throne. The fact that he has intended, from the beginning, to reward the passion of his beloved Son with a multitude of souls "conformed to his image," as "the fruit of the travail of his soul," is clearly revealed. That purpose cannot be defeated. In vain do kings of the earth set themselves and rulers take counsel together, saying, "Let us break his bands asunder and cast away his cords from us!" He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. The decree has gone forth: "Thou art my Son! Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." The marriage-supper is coming; and "the supper shall be furnished with guests." The question of personal moment is, Shall I be there? which is another way of asking, Am I among those who are being conformed to the image of Christ?

8. PRAYER

O God, I rejoice in the thought that thou hast eternally planned for me. Help me to fall in with thy plan so that my will shall not cross thy will. Have thy perfect way with.

me. In mercy grant that the mind that was in Christ Jesus may be also in me, that I may be made wholly comformable to thy holy will. Let me have no purpose in life except to fulfil thy gracious purpose concerning me. Make plain before my feet the path ordained for me; let my chiefest joy be to run in the way of thy commandments. And when my salvation is fully accomplished I will praise thy name forever. Amen.

9. HYMN: "God is love, his mercy brightens." 10. BENEDICTION

Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

TWENTY-SECOND SERVICE

Living as Christ Would

I. INVOCATION

A

'T the dawn of the Sabbath, Lord, my soul would return unto its rest. Put the world far from me and receive me into the secret place of thy pavilion, where thou hast promised to commune with those who seek thee. I wait upon thee, Lord, and invoke thy benediction; for Jesus' sake. Amen. 2. HYMN: "I heard the voice of Jesus say." 3. SCRIPTURE LESSON

Isaiah 6:1-8.

Luke 10:1-37.

4. PRAYER

I thank thee, blessed Lord and Saviour, for the story of thy wonderful birth, wherein thou didst empty thyself of thy transcendent glory and assume our nature, in order to become an High-Priest able to be touched with a feeling of our infirmities. I thank thee for the record of thy wonderful life, in which thou didst exemplify all the graces of human character, showing us in perfect pattern how we ought to live void of offense toward men

and God. "Oh who so calm, so pure, so bright, so fair, so made to live in light!" I thank thee for the record of thy wonderful death, in which thou didst bear our sins in thine own body, being wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, that by thy stripes we might be healed. And I thank thee for thy supreme miracle, wonder of all wonders, in which thou didst triumph over death in our behalf, taking captivity captive and ascending up on high to give gifts unto men. So hast thou brought life and immortality to light, and delivered thy people from the bondage of the King of Terrors. So hast thou opened the gate of heaven to all believers and prepared the way for the great reunion, when those who have parted sadly in the wilderness shall meet again in sweet Jerusalem. I thank thee also for thy wonderful intercession at the throne of the heavenly grace; for thou ever livest to make intercession in our behalf. Plead for me, O strong Son of God, that my prayers for pardon, sanctification and entrance into heavenly glory may be heard. Plead for all thy people to-day, and for the universal Church, that truth and righteousness may prevail and the coming of thy kingdom be hastened among the children of men; for thy Name's sake. Amen.