"There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel."-Numbers xxiv. 17. "I (Jesus) am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."-Revelation xxii. 16. "The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple."-Malachi iii. 1. "They brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord. . . . And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple . . . . when the parents brought in the child Jesus. Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God."—Luke ii. 22, 25-28. .... "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not."-Jer. xxxi. 15. "Herod ... sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."-Matthew ii. 16–18. "Called My Son out of Egypt."-Hosea xi. 1. "The angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young Child and His mother, and flee into Egypt: . . . . for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him. When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called My Son."-Matthew ii. 13-15. "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him."—Isaiah xi. 2. "Behold My servant, whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon Him."Isaiah xlii. 1. "Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."Matthew iii. 16, 17; Mark i, 10, 11'; Luke iii. 21, 22; John i. 32, 33. (To be continued.) A Fragments. I. DEAR child of God lay on her dying bed. Long years had she known and trusted the love of Him who doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the children of men. It was well that it was so, as she was now called to bear excruciating agony. From her lips fell no impatient words, but precious utterances-attesting the faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God, and the fulness and preciousness of the Saviour who had suffered so much for her, and the grace of the comforting Spirit--cheered and taught those who were permitted to share the watch in the sick-room. But once a cloud came, and for a little moment she said it was with her even as with the disciples of old, when "their eyes were holden" that they knew not their Lord, although He was walking at their side. Very soon she was beyond the land of clouds, rejoicing in the unclouded sunshine of that Love which had laid all her sorrows to rest, and carried her safe to the home of the blest. TH Luke xx. 16, 31. John xx. 14, 16. HEIR eyes were holden that they could not see. The form of their loved Master! Change in the Changeless One? Could there be Ah no! I wot The change was in themselves: for one short hour In vanishing He left the savour of His love To rouse their faith and cheer them to their home above. Oft-times our eyes are holden, often dim. Satan, the world, the flesh, are all combined Knows our worst need, and wisely orders all; And, if our heart and flesh are failing now for fear, And oh the entrancing joy of that blessed hour Th' appointed time of trial safely past, With eyes no longer "holden" gazing on for ever The Lord of Life, from whom nought can my soul e'er sever. Ο John xiii. 1. John x. 28. II. Ruth iii. 18. Psa. xxxvii. 5. Psa. xci. 1. Isa. xxx. 7, 18. H! how the spirit often wildly throbs With pain, with weariness, with sore unrest, Tossing and fretting as if ne'er again Aught here below might serve to make it blest. Why is it thus? Why thus so sore opprest? Alone has ventured forth to meet some care. Alone! Then swells that trivial earthborn care Into a burden great; the tiny thorn, Unnoticed else, frets inward rankling there, And wearily the daily cross is borne. Then heeding once again His gentle words, Though He should chide thee, still return, my soul, Spread sins and cares before the mercy-seat; On Him the burden of thy spirit roll Whose dealings with thee are with love replete. Return unto thine only rest, my soul, To that safe shelter of Almighty love; There in that "secret place" may'st thou abide, Sit still content, He will not be in rest Till all His gracious purpose is complete; "The Lord will perfect:" what if He stir thy nest, So for His kingdom He doth make thee meet? Be the path rough or smooth, He chooses it: Look calmly round, and stay upon thy God; Betty and the Two Old Men. N a miserable house, in one of the back streets of Truly wretched she was, in every sense of the word; lonely and poor, with no earthly plea sures, possessions, or friends. At the time that I first heard of her she had not long lost her "old man," who had been her only companion and care for many years. She was much crippled, and almost help |