sus~ined. There is much to damp the ardour and depress the spirit of the missionary amid all the degraded Rcones of his work. St. Paul had been praying for hie friends at 'fbessalonica; in return be sought their prayers for his work. He so identified himself with his mission as to regiud prayer for the mission as prayer for himself. II. THE EXTERNAL PROGRESS OF THE TRUTH. St. Paul asks for prayer .. that the Word of the Lord may run." Nothing is more striking than the fact that the rate of progress of Christian missions is not at all proportionate to the perfection of the mechanism with which they are organized. The years of biggest subscriptions are not always the years of most numerous conversions. 1. Prayer is '1W'AJ8IV1/1'Y that God may remove obstructions to the progress of Christianity. Governments may hinder missions. Countries are sometimes closed against missionaries. Then we must pray that God would open a way. What doors has he opened in our day I The Word is now free to run through the vast populations of China. "The great dark continent" iY opening up to the light. This is not done by money. "It is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes." 2. Prayer is necessary that God may dispose the minds of men to receive the truth. In a neighbouring Macedonian Church lived the first European resident converted by St. Paul, and of her it is said, "whose heart the Lord opened, to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul" (Acts xvi. 14). Therefore we must pray that God'Y Spirit may go with the Word, to prepare the soil to receive it and to quicken it when it is sown. III. THE INTERNAL FBUITFVLNESS OF THE GOSPEL. The apostle j_q not satisfied with desiring that the Word of the Lord may" run;" he wishes also that it may be "glorified." This further wish strikes a high note. It reminds us that missionary success cannot be measured by the numbers of the converts. The great question is-- what is the character of them? Statistical reports are delusive. The missionary who can make no sensational return of long lists of converts may be doing the moat real, solid, lasting work in laying the foundation of true Christian character in a few. There are nominal Christians in heathen lands who are a dishonour to the name they bear, as there are "'1.so at home. Prayer is necessary that a right character may be cultivated in mission Churches. Christ was glorified when the man who had been a fierce demoniac sat clothed and in his right mind at the feet of his Deliverer. The Christian who has been a savage is the finest witness of the power of the gospel. But it ia very difficult to irradicate the vices of heathenism, as missionaries know to their sorrow. Let us pray for this most hard but most needful work.-W. F. A. Ver. 8.-Security. It is interesting to notice how much anxiety St. Paul spends on the normal and permanent character of his Christian converts. He is not satisfied with having won their first confession of faith, nor is he content that now and a.gain they should flash out with some brilliant display of spiritual energy. His chief concern is with their life throughout, his chief dea,ire for the strength and persistence of its higher character. It is important for all of us to bear in mind that salvation is not an iaolated act, that it is a chronic condition. We are always in danger of falling unleSB we are kept in a continuous Divine security. I. THE TWO ELEMENTS OF SECURITY. 1. Internal stability. We are in danger of falling through our own weakness. Badly built houses do not wait for an earthquake to throw them down; they crumble to pieces. (1) The first requisite for security is a goodfoundaeion. Christia.ns should see to it that they are building on Christ, and not on their own doings and habits. (2) The next requisite is compact, solid building. The building of wood, hay, and stubble is fragile, though it may be erected on a founda- tion of rock. We want :firm principles, sound habits, decided conviction&. 2. Ezt«-na/, protection. .(1) We are in danger from the evil one. In estimating our measure of security we have to take into account the character of our environment. The ship may be well built and yet it may not be able to withstand the pressure of ice-floes. The strongest house may give way before an avalanche. The Christian ia beset by temptations. It is not enough that he is firm in his personal will to do right ; he needs protection from external inducements to go astray. (2) To be securli! against this danger we need to be gvarded. We can never be strong enough to withstand the whole force of an attack of Satan. Some p1.,.vidential warding off of the fiercest blow■ seems to be necessary. St THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. [oR, m. 1-18.
IL THE OREA: GJ_t0trND oF SECURITY. ~t. Paul dnes not wish, or hope, or prny for the sec1'.nty of his friends. He knows and ~s confid~nt, that they have a good gromu\ of sccnnly. Our fenl'I! are due> to our unhehef. Faith has her fret on en immovable rock_.. 1. •1:1:e ~round o_f our s,:ct1~ity is Ch,·ist. (1) He strengt~te"!s us with internal stah1hty. I he indwellmg Christ 1s the source and secret of Chnsuan vi.,our. Weak wavering Christians have too little of Christ in their lives. (2) He guards us eaainst external assaults. Christ has faced and met and defeated the tempter. He inte;poses the presence of his Holy Spirit between the evil spirit and our hearts. 2. The reason for trusting in Christ for security is hisfaithfulness. It should be sufficient for us to have confidence in his goodness. He is so gracious, so kind, so generous to help that we may be sure that he will aid his people in their greatest dangers. But we 'have more than this ass~rance. He has promised help (Matt. uviii. 20) ; he i■ appointed l,y God as our Saviour, and therefore, in fulfilment of his great mission, fidelity leads him to see to the security of his people.-W. F. A.