lief in grace enables him to say, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." As the anxious thought of food and raiment vanishes when one reflects upon the manna in the Ark of the Covenant, so the fear of to-morrow and of death disappears when one partakes of the living Christ and lives through him. And this is the promise to him that overcometh; that is, to him who, getting the better of the natural tendency to reject supernatural truth, holds to the two great miracles of providence and grace. The pot of manna is opened to all such believers. God prepares a table before them in the presence of their enemies here and now; but the time is coming when they shall eat of the manna at the King's table. The men of old said it tasted "like fresh oil" or "wafers made with honey;" but how will it seem when we are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb? "Eat, O friends! Yea, drink abundantly, O well beloved!" Shall we believe in providence then? The last tremor of misgiving will vanish when we stand at heaven's gate and looking back on the long journey through the wilderness, remember the provision which he made for us along the way. Will we believe, then, in the miracle of grace? How can it be otherwise when in communion with him we behold his face, the face that was once "so marred more than any man's," but is now "as the sun shineth in his strength"? Then we shall be satisfied, saying, "God has verily been the God of providence and grace; and this God is our God forever and ever!" 8. PRAYER Be pleased, O Lord, to feed me with this hidden manna. Enroll my name among the overcomers; that I may be found worthy to eat and drink at the marriage feast in heaven; for Christ's sake. Amen. 9. HYMN: "Guide me, O thou great Jehovah." 10. BENEDICTION Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. FIFTH SERVICE On Serving Christ in a Lonely Place 1. INVOCATION ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, whose grace hath appeared bringing salvation to all men, help me now to commune with thee in a spirit of reverential love. Let me find light at the entrance of thy Word, comfort in prayer, and joy in thanksgiving; for Jesus' sake. Amen. 2. HYMN: "Sweet hour of prayer." 3. SCRIPTURE LESSON Isaiah 53:1-10. 4. PRAYER O God, in whose hands are the destinies of the children of men, show me thy plan and purpose concerning my life and bring me into happy accord with them. I would serve thee, were it possible, in a large and wealthy place; but if it please thee to put and keep me in a small corner, let my light so shine there that all upon whom it falls may be led to glorify thee. Make me willing to suffer as well as to serve; nay, rather to serve thee in suffering. Make me willing to go or to sit still at thy pleasure, knowing that they also serve who only stand and wait. Bless those, also, who are called to larger fields of privilege and responsibility. Let those who preach the Gospel preach it in simplicity and power; let those who rule administer their office in thy fear; let all thy people, great and small, find their place in thy service and fill it humbly, faithfully and to thy glory; for Jesus' sake. Amen. 5. HYMN: "Jesus, I my cross have taken." 6. OFFERING 7. THE SERMON On Serving Christ in a Lonely Place "The angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise and go toward the south, unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and behold" (Acts 8:26, 27.) The scene is in the wilderness; a treeless, lonely place. It is traversed by two roads leading southward. One of these, known as the Jerusalem road, runs through the Jordan valley and then due westward to the sea. The other, the Samaria road, bearing toward the southwest, meets the former near the Philistine border, and together they make the highway to Gaza. On each of these roads a lone traveller is pur suing his journey. One of them rides in a chariot of state; the other goes afoot, with staff in hand. These two are destined to meet at the juncture of the ways. A "chance meeting"? No! "There's a divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them how we will." Each has heard a Voice from heaven and is following it; and out of their meeting will flow great issues; to one, life and immortality, to the other the generous pleasure of duty done; and from it all, the glory of God. The man on the Samaria road is Chancellor of the Exchequer of Candace the Queen of Ethiopia. He is a black man, but wise, modest and withal a gentleman; and best of all, he is a truthseeker. God had been speaking to him through his Word. In some way a copy of the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Scriptures, had come into his possession; and it had led him out of paganism into Judaism. On becoming a "proselyte of the gate" he had subjected himself to the Jewish form of baptism as an open confession of his devotion to the worship of the true God. He was now returning from Jerusalem, whither he had gone to attend the Passover. He had heard, while there, the singing of the Messianic Psalms by the great Temple choirs. He had witnessed the sacrifices, in which was set forth mysteriously the doctrine of the blood-atonement, or salvation through the Lamb of God. His heart had been perplexed by dim visions of truth, and he was eager |