"THE MORNING COMETH AND ALSO

THE NIGHT.”

ISAIAH XXI. 12.

A VOICE from out of Idumea calls earnestly to the prophet in the midst of Israel's night of sorrow, and trouble, and trial, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?" Would that everywhere in the Church of Christ there were that earnest desire to know something of the "night" the Church of Christ and Israel is now passing through. St. Paul, speaking of the coming of the Lord the second time, says," and that knowing the time." But the Church does not know the time, and is careless to ask about it. The coming of the Lord is at our very door, and few are seeking to "know the time," few are asking earnestly "What of the night?"

Turning to the question addressed to the prophet, we observe his answer: "The morning cometh." The morning is put first, though not the natural order, for the night precedes it. That which is the desire and joy of the soul is always first. The "hope of the Church," the Lord's second advent, fills the prophet's soul, and he gives utterance to it. So

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it is with the beloved Apostle in Patmos. the fifth chapter of the book of Revelation we have the night of sorrow, and sin, and trouble brought before us. But the Apostle did not begin with this. The first four chapters are full of the glories and joys of the people of God. It is the same order "the morning cometh;" then "the night."

Looking through all the Epistles we see the same order. It is "that blessed hope" which fills nearly every chapter and takes precedence of every other subject. "Watchman, what of the night?" is the earnest cry of a sorrowing church and a troubled world. "The morning cometh" is the prophet's joyous answer. Then turning to the chronological order for a moment, he says, "and also the night."

Surely, the darkest chapter in the history of Israel and the Church of Christ we are entering upon now. The night is deepening as it has never done before-deepening into its darkest hour. But, on the other side, what a "morning is before us!"

Last Sunday week, July 16th, was the date of the close of the Mohammedan Hegira or twelve hundred and sixtieth year of the reign of the great Eastern Antichrist-" the time, times, and dividing of times" of Scripture prophecy. Strangely enough, the tradition of the Mussulman world, that a Messiah is to appear this year "to make all things new" in their history is also their leading thought

at the present moment. Turning again to the prophet's word, "the morning cometh," we see the position of the passage, and the stirring, startling events with which it is connected. There is from chapter eleven to the end of chapter nineteen, those great events which correspond with chapters sixteen to twenty, in the book of Revelation. There is the destruction of Babylon, and all the great world powers which took their rise in Nebuchadnezzar, at the beginning of Gentile dominion, and which have been, and continue to be to the present hour, the great persecutors of God's ancient people Israel. Along with this, there is associated the restoration of the Jews to national prosperity and spiritual conversion to God in their own land-Jerusalem. (See Isaiah, 11th chap., 11th verse; 14th chap., 1-3rd verses; 18th chap., 7th verse; and 19th chap., 23-25th verses.) Along with all these startling events Egypt is associated (see 19th chap.). Let the reader study these chapters well, and then let him look out in the East and see what is now actually transpiring, and let him look at it in connection with all the many other signs of the Lord's second advent multiplying on every side. He will not fail then to "know the time," and will be able to say with the prophet, "The morning cometh." "Behold I come quickly; blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments; lest he walk naked, and they (the coming Lord and His Church and angels) see his shame."

Oh! soon to be with Jesus,
When every pang shall cease,
And nature's pain and weakness
Give place to sweetest peace.
Yes, soon to be with Jesus,

In yon bright home of day:
Oh! how my spirit yearneth
To leave this house of clay-
This house so full of weakness,
So broken down with pain-
But soon no pang nor sorrow
Shall ever come again.

Oh! soon to be with Jesus-
Him whom my soul adores,
Far more than earth's poor pleasures,
Or its unbounded stores.

My strength when health is failing,
My joy in time of grief;
And when in trouble sinking,
He gives me sweet relief.

My lips may lose their power
His preciousness to tell;
But ah! my heart is happy
As on His grace I dwell.

Oh! soon to be with Jesus,

Who suffer'd in my place,

When I shall know the fulness
Of His unfailing grace.

Adorable Lord Jesus,

Who answer'd every claim,
I know of nothing sweeter
Than Thy most precious name.

By day when pain is racking,
By night when sleep has flown,
I think upon the goodness

And grace that Thou hast shown;

The love and sweet compassion
Extended unto me,

When in my wayward folly
I wander'd far from Thee.

In thankful adoration,

My Lord, to Thee I gaze,
And whilst I bow in worship
My heart is filled with praise.

Through Jordan's deep dark waters
My Lord has pass'd before,
And in the path He opened
I pass to Canaan's shore.

Oh! soon to be with Jesus,
The lowly One who trod
This desert-scene, declaring
The wondrous love of God!

In Him my soul is happy;

And by Him I am blest;

And, freed from Nature's weakness, With Him I soon shall rest.

Oh! precious Jesus, keep me,

Still dwelling on Thy love,

Until the happy moment

Thou callest me above.

G. C.