A Goodly Heritage

If the first pair had not entered into a covenant with the wicked one , there would not have been a fall.Neither at the first nor at any subsequent period has the enemy come forward as an enemy, declaring war , and depending on the use of force. Not the power , but the wiles of the Devil have we cause to dread. If either he or we should assume the attitude of adversary, our cause were won. Knowing that he lacks power to destroy God's creature's , he simulates friendship , and persuades them to destroy themselves. On the other hand , if we count and treat the devil as an enemy, we shall overcome him. The principle is expressed in the Psalm-"When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back . This I know , for God is for me."(Psalm 61v9.) The turning point is , "when I cry." It means ,when I am no longer in with my destroyer, I have the omnipotent on my side. It is when we are traitors to ourselves that the adversary gains the advantage. Rev. W.

A Book of Private Prayer for Morning and Evening

"There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water.Jesus saith unto her , give me to drink." John.4. 7. Each one of us must come , at one time or another, to have a personal dealing with Christ.  It may be at one of those crisis - hours of existence, of which few are ignorant, when the even flow of life's current is arrested; when, to use the suggestive simile of this narrative , the pitcher is drained and emptied, and we are summoned away from our Shechem-homes and broken cisterns to seek supplies of some better 'living water'.  It may be at a dying hour : it MUST be on the great day of judgement.  Blessed for us if that solemn and all momentous conference and interview has already taken place;  if we have already listened  to His words of wondrous mercy,  let down our vessel for the draught in the deep well of His love, and drank of that perenial stream which quenches and satisfies the soul's thirst forever!

From "Lochaber and its Evangelical Traditions. " ""Anne (Boyd) has been already mentioned as one of Mr. Macbean's admirers and followers . She held very definite convictions and acted upon them. One of her intimates was Anna Mhor Sheiseadair from Lewis , the sister of Ruairidh Dubh, who was one of the religious leaders of his day in Lewis . Anne Macleod, or Mrs Campbell, used to come to Lochaber and Fort Augustus waiting on Mr Macbean's preaching , and she was known in Lochaber as "Bean Mhor Lheodhais". Once it happened that perforce and without their cognisance Mr Macbean overheard their joint devotions as they prayed aloud together . He said afterwards that he felt ashamed to preach to hearers that had such insight into the truth. ""

Psalm 15 v 2. He walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. His walk is rectitude. His ear drinks in the mighty mandate, "Walk before me and be thou perfect." A constant effort restrains from devious ways. His delight is in the study of God's holy law, and his whole life evinces effort to obey . His heart is guileless and his lips give proof . Pure is the inward fountain , and pure the flowing stream . Law

Let this be our prayer, "Show me thy ways O Lord, teach me thy paths;" "Lead me in thy truth and teach me ;" " Lead me in the way everlasting ;" Whether it be amid the groves and singing streams and sunshine of Gerizim, or amid the "blackness and darkness and tempest, " of Ebal, I will hear the guiding voice saying , "Follow thou me ;" - "This is the way , walk ye in it ." "Lead, kindly light;amid the encircling gloom Lead Thou me on : The night is dark ,and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on . Keep Thou my feet, I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me. "I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldest lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path, but now Lead Thou me on . I loved the glare of day, and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will; remember not past years. " So long Thy power hath blessed me , sure it still Will lead me on. O'er vale and hill, through stream and torrent , t

Jesus glorified God by obeying Him . In giving His commandments to Israel , God continually said , "Be ye holy , for I am holy ;" In keeping them they would be transformed into a life of harmony with Him, they would enter into fellowship with Him as the holy one . In His conflict with sin and Satan, in the sacrifice of His own will , in His waiting for the Father's teaching , in His unquestioning obedience to the word , Christ showed that He counted nothing worth living for, but that men might understand what a blessed thing it is to let the holy God really BE God , His will alone acknowledged and obeyed. Because He alone is holy, His will alone should be done , and so His glory be shown to us. A. Murray

Athanasius, referring to Christ being stripped of his garments, remarks, "It became Him when leading man into paradise to put off the garments which Adam received when he was cast out ." As if Christ thus took more completely our shame as well as our sin upon Him.