on Mount Moriah was closed when Abraham stood with his uplifted knife. The Voice said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad!" The ram caught in the thicket must needs be brought in to complete the figure of the sacrifice. On Calvary the uplifted hand was not stayed. Christ suffered on, despite the fact that his enemies were crying, "If thou be the Christ, come down from the cross!" and that legions of angels were hovering there to rescue him. He suffered on until the Gospel found its consummation in a full atonement, when with a loud voice he cried, "It is finished!" This is the vision of Providence which Abraham saw. Not until a man perceives the full significance of the atonement as a divine interposition in our behalf does he know the real meaning of Providence. "In the mountain of the Lord it shall be seen!" What shall be seen? This, that the arm of the Lord is not "shortened that it cannot save." Here is the truth which so-called science calls "foolishness," because it is an apparent contravention of the uninterrupted processes of natural law. Yet just here is the very heart of the Gospel. As it is written, "What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.' But who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? The arm of the Lord, thrust in to solve the problem of insensate law vs. Providence, is Christ himself, the Incarnation of omnipotent grace-this is God's arm made bare in the atonement. Abraham saw this afar off. To us, it is presented as an historic fact, accentuated by the story of nineteen centuries of Christian civilization. And still there are those who refuse to believe in Providence! "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" An old Jewish proverb runs, "The secret of Messiah is the secret of man." To see this vision in the mountain is to solve the problem of life. But spiritual things are spiritually discerned. He alone that hath eyes of faith can see it. 8. PRAYER Be pleased, O Lord, to bless this hour of worship and meditation in thy Word. May it minister to my comfort and spiritual growth. Abide with me during the remainder of this Sabbath, and help me to rejoice in thee; through Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Redeemer. Amen. 9. HYMN: "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds." 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. THIRD SERVICE 1. INVOCATION GOD OD of all grace and consolation, who on the Day of Pentecost didst send down thy Spirit upon a multitude, be pleased now to bestow thy grace on a lone worshiper who approaches thee. Help me to realize thy presence in this place and worship thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ. Amen. 2. HYMN: "O God, our help in ages past.' 3. SCRIPTURE LESSON Psalm 16. Matthew 28:1-20. 4. PRAYER Blessed God, I thank thee for the Gospel. How graciously thou didst bow the heavens to come down unto us in the mystery of the Incarnation! Thou didst tabernacle in flesh, so that thou mightst be able to be touched with a feeling of our infirmities. Thou didst speak as never man spake of the great problems of the eternal life. Thou didst go about doing good, healing the sick, comforting the bereaved and directing penitent souls in the way of pardon and peace. And, best of all, thou didst take upon thyself the burden of our sins, bearing them in thine own body on the tree. Then, triumphing over death, thou didst ascend up on high, taking captivity captive; and thou livest forevermore to make intercession for us. But thy dwelling place is not in heaven alone; thou hast left a great promise, "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you; and lo! I am with you alway." Let me, Lord, claim the fulfilment of that promise now. Come to me! Manifest thy presence unto me: for in thy presence is fulness of joy. And not to me only, but to all those who tarry in thy courts to-day, show thyself the Saviour of sinners and the mighty Friend of saints. Prosper thy cause throughout the world; and hasten thy coming in the triumphs of thy grace; for thy Name's sake. Amen. 5. HYMN: "Hark, ten thousand harps and voices." 6. OFFERING 7. THE SERMON The Living, Present Christ "Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her." (John 20: 18.) I am divided betwixt two as to the good fortune which befell the angel who descended from heaven and rolled away the stone, and that of the woman who was sent to say to the disciples, "The Lord is risen indeed!" All heaven, no doubt, was full of volunteers when God said, "Who will go to break the seal of the sepulcher, put principalities and powers to shame and release my well-beloved Son?" The name of the angel who received the commission is not given; but O fortunate angel! He sped on wings of light to his joyous task. We know not by what swift flight such celestial beings surmount the difficulties of time and space; but it would appear that the interstellar distances are traversed in the twinkling of an eye. It was the darkest hour of the night. In Joseph's garden the sentinels were pacing to and fro. The moment was at hand! What sudden light is this? The guards are fallen upon their faces as dead men. The angel touches the stone, and it rolls away. He loosens the shroud, unwinds the napkin from the wounded brow, and lo, Jesus comes forth! His chariot waits. He mounts aloft. God is gone up with a shout! From the distance comes the song, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in!" A little later a woman stood weeping at the empty sepulcher. At the sound of a footstep behind her she turned; and, supposing it to be the |