January 6

‘Now the Jiand of the Lord was upon me in the evening.” Ezek. xxxiii. 22.

T]tN the way of judgment this may be the case, and, if so, be it mine to consider the reason of such a visitation, and hear the rod and Him that hath appointed I am n:t the only one who is chastened in the night sea-; let me cheerfully submit to the affliction, and carefully endeavor to be profited thereby. But the hand of the Lord may also be felt in another manner, strengthening the soul and lifting the spirit upward towards eternal things. Oh that I may in this sense feel the Lord dealing with me! A sense of the divine presence and indwelling bears the soul towards heaven as upon the wings of eagles. At such times we are full to the brim with spiritual joy, and forget the cares and sorrows of earth; the invisible is near, and the visible loses its power over us; the servant-body waits at the foot of the hrll, and the master-spirit worships upon the summit in the presence of the Lord. Oh, that a hallowed season of divine communion may be vouchsafed to me this evening! The Lord knows that I need it very greatly. My graces languish, my corruptions rage, my faith is weak, my devotion is cold: all these are reasons why His healing hand should be laid upon me. His hand can cool the heat of my burning brow, and stay the tumult of my palpitating heart. That glorious right hand which moulded the world can new-create my mmd; the unwearied hand which bears the earth’s huge pillars up tan sustain my spirit; the loving hand which encloses all the saints can cherish me; and the mighty hand which breaketh in pieces the enemy can subdue my sins. Why should I not leel that hand touching me this evening? Come, my sf il, address thy God with the potent plea, that Jesu’s hands were pierced for thy redemption, and thou shalt surely feel that same hand upon ihec which once touched Daniel and set hinj upon his knees tl.at he might see visions of God.