Morning by Morning

ISRAEL’S weary wanderings were all over, and the promised rest was attained. No more moving tents, gery serpents, fierce Amalekites, and howling wildernesses, they came to the land which flowed with milk and honey, and they ate the old corn of the land. Perhaps this year, beloved Christian reader, this may be thy case or mine. Joyful is the prospect, and if faith be in active exercise, it will yield unalloyed delight. To be with Jesus in the rest which remaineth for the people of God, is a cheering hopeindeed, and to expect this glory so soon is a double bliss. Unbelief shudders at the Jordan which still rolls between us and the goodly land, but let us rest assured that we have already experienced more ills than death at its worst can cause us. Let us banish every fearful thought, and rejoice with exceeding great joy, in the prospect that this year we shall begin to be “forever with the Lord.”

A part of the host will this year tarry on earth, to do service for their Lord. If this should fall to our lot, there is no reason why the New Year’s text should not still be true. “We who have believed do enter into rest.” The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance. He gives us “glory begun below.” In heaven they are secure, and so are we preserved in Christ Jesus; there they triumph over their enemies, and we have victories too. Celestial spirits enjoy communion with their Lord, and this is not denied to us: they rest in His love, and we have perfect peace in Him; they hymn His praise, and it is our privilege to bless Him too. We will this year gather celestial fruits on earthly ground, where faith and hope have made the desert like the garden of the Lord. Man did eat angels’ food of old, and why not now? 0 for grace to feed on Jesus, and o to eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan this year.

IT is interesting to remark bow large a portion of ?V1 Sacred Writ is occupied with the subject of prayer, V/i either in furnishing examples, enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely open the Bible before we read, “Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord; “and just as we are about to close the volume, the “Amen “of an earnest supplication meets our ear. Instances are plentiful. Here we find a wrestling Jacob — there a Daniel who prayed three times a day — and a David who with all bis heart called upon his God. On the mountain we see Liias; in the dungeon Paul and Silas. We have multitudes of commands, and myriads of promises. What does this tt-ach us, but the sacred importance and necessity of prayer:” We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in His Word, He intended to be conspicuous in our lives, if He has said much about prayer, it is because He knows we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities, that until we are in heaven we must not ccdse to pray. Dost thfu want nothing? Then, I fear thou dost not know thy poverty. Hast thou no mercy to ask of God? Then, may the tjord’s mercy show thee thy misery! A prayerless soul is a Ohristless soul. Prayer is the lispiiiy of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honor of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father’s face, and live in thy Father’s love. Pray that this year thou mayest be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of His love. Pray that thou mayest be an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayest live more to the glory of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, “Continue in prayer.”

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