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fected. They are blameworthy and are punished accordingly for all that they meant to do. As the chemist in his lab oratory changes something noxious into something harmless by the addition or subtraction of another element, so God brings good out of evil, joy out of sor row, and blessing out of disaster. “ Ill that he blesses is our good, and unblest good is ill.” SATURDAY, April 8. Matt. 2:13-23. God Preserves the Child Jesus. It is written that Herod the king was troubled when he heard of one who was born king of the Jews. He might well be troubled. He was old, feeble, bloody- minded, scourged by conscience and re morse. Had he known the true situa tion, he would have been more troubled than he was. The birth of Christ was a more ominous fact for him than he dreamed. Caesar himself might trem ble. The murder of many innocent chil dren followed. The affair was shrewdly planned and ruthlessly carried out. It failed to accomplish its purpose, for Herod reckoned without God. Joseph took the child and his mother by night and fled into the land of Egypt. It was a memorable flight, the first strategic move in an age-long campaign, a tem porary retreat, preparatory to an ad vance all along the line. SUNDAY, APRIL 9. Psalm 145:10-21. The Preserving Power of God. Eternal security is a doctrine of Divine revelation. Assurance is per-, sónal confidence in a present salvation. Did Christ do enough on the cross to make it possible for God to keep a per son saved as well as to save him in the first place? Is not self-keeping as un- scriptural and impossible as self-saving? There is no promise of keeping the mere professor who is not a possessor of eternal life. It is as discouraging for the believer to tell him that he must keep himself as it is for the unbeliever to tell him that he must save himself. If a sinner is jsaved, it is by the grace of God. If a saint is kept, it is by the power of God. Every true believer is privileged to say, “ The Lord shall de liver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly king dom.” 2 Tim. 4:18. MONDAY, April 10. John 20:1-10. An Empty Tomb. It is marvellous that the enemies of Christ should remember His assurance of resurrection, Matt. 27:63, while His friends forgot it. His disoiples were
priest rescued a throne and perpetuated righteousness. The secret of personal and national safety is always found in obedience to God. WEDNESDAY, April 5. 2 Chron. 23:1-11 The Story Retold. The 'Books of the Kings treat of rule in Israel in its various forms and the mind of God concerning it. The books of the Chronicles, on the other hand, trace the line of the elect from Adam down, giving what the other books are not concerned with, viz.: the genealo gies of the tribes and house of David, even the courses of priests and Levites, the singers, porters, captains and build ers of the house of the Lord, to enable the remnant who should return from Babylon to discriminate the elect from, the mixed multitude who should join them on their return. Ezra and Nehemiah must know with whom 'to worship and whose help they should re ceive in building the wall. There is neither tautology nor redundancy in the Word of God. In Numbers, ch. 1, the sons declare their pedigree and in chapter 2, the soldiers pitch around their standards. THURSDAY, April 6. Exodus 2:1-10. God Preserves Moses. The purpose of God sometimes de pends upon a very little thing. A tear glistening on the cheek of a helpless babe touched the heart of a princess and led to the salvation of the people of God from the house of bondage. There are thousands of contingent means by which God can secure any desired end. There is always a reason for the par ticular one selected. This reason may not be obvious to man, but is always justified by the outcome. “ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” Rom. 11:33. It is most comforting to trust in a God who sees the end from the beginning.. Since wis dom and love have ordered all the past, all shall be blessedness and light at last. FRIDAY, April 7. Gen. 39:1-6. God Preserves Joseph. In Gen. 50:20 Joseph explains God’s overruling Providence in his past life. Referring to the evil he had suffered at the hands of his brethren, he says, “ Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good.” This is an illus tration of what God can do with the plans and purposes of wicked men. Their responsibility is in no wise af
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