is weary? there is no searching of his understanding." 1 Ps. xiv, 1. 5 Job ix, 4-8, 10. 2 Job xxxvi, 26. 3 Job xxxvii, 5. 4 Job xi, 7, 8. 7 Job xxxvii, 23. 6 Job xxvi, 14. 8 Is. xl, 18, 21-23, 25, 26, 28. The record of our Saviour Jesus Christ. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 2 In Christ was life; and the life was the light of men but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Jesus was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 5 We hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. 8 "It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto hinself; whether they be things on earth, or things in heaven. And Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." 1 John iii, 16. 2 John i, 4. 3 John iii, 19. 4 John i, 10, 11. 5 Is. liii, 3. 6 John i, 12. 7 Col. i, 19, 20. 8 Phil. ii, 5-11. ILLUSTRATION. Elymas struck with blindness. "Paul and his company found at Paphos a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: who was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. "Then Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, 'O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.' And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. "Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord." 1 Acts xiii, 13, 6-12. God's expostulation with the sceptic. "Thus saith the Lord; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself: a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when I made the cloud the garment thereof, and said, 'Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?' Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof? Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, 'Here we are?' Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, when the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? Who provideth for the raven his food when his young ones cry unto God? 4"Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.-Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. Look on every one that is proud and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.-Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee. 5 Thus saith the Lord of hosts: turn ye unto me, and I will turn unto you. "Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you. Hate the evil, and love the good; 'stand in awe, and sin not. 8"Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Be wise: serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling; 10 and be not faithless, but believing." 3 Job xxxviii, 5 Zech. i, 3. 1 Is. xliv, 6, 24. 2 Is. xlv, 21, 22. 6 Amos v, 14, 15. 7 Ps. iv, 4. 4 Job xl, 2, 8-14. 8 Tit. iii, 9. Prayer of the convinced unbeliever. "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief: 2 open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. Iי "Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee: wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. 8"Thou hast commanded me to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Teach me, O Lord, the way, and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Thy |