66 THE PRINCE IN THE MIDST:" JESUS OUR CENTRE. BY SOPHIA M. NUGENT. (Reprinted and Revised from “Christian Progress.") "The Tree of Life, IN THE MIDST of the Garden." "We catch the light, while yet upon its way, Of that bright Morning Star for which we watch, Royal Interviews. LONDON: JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET. THE GRACE. ALTHOUGH I should have preferred that this opening blank page should be left blank, on the principle that a good silence is the best preface to full speech; yet, as a Clergyman, I cannot refuse to say Grace before meat, especially as I cannot but recognise at the first glance the invisible Presence of the Master and the Royal bounty of His Table here spread out before us. Jesus in the Midst" is the glowing theme that threads the whole Bible from end to end as with a track of light. Resume, O Lord, Thy primal place at the centre of all life and joy as "the Tree of Life in the Midst of the Garden; "-Assert, O Lord, Thy purchased place as the Prince of Life in the Midst of the Tree of Death, gathering to Thyself the death looks of all penitent souls, and restoring Paradise with Thy grand, perpetual To-day ;-Reveal, O Lord, Thy permanent place in the Midst of the Throne of Deity;-the Crucified on the Throne of the Uncreated-weakness in the arms of Power! Thou that walkest in the Midst of the candlesticks, rekindle the light of Thy Church! Thou that art in the Midst where two or three are gathered together in Thy Name, link by Thy Presence every two believers together in love, and reside in the heart of each individual disciple, substituting Thyself for himself! So shalt Thou set Thy child in the Midst, in Thine own central place, to minister in Thy Name, and to show forth Thy praise, encircled in the everlasting Arms. Amen. Reader, give this Man place! the Central place for lo! He is come whose right it is to reign. Arise, anoint Him-this is He! CHARLES A. FOX. |