Open with a number of hymns. Psalm 72 read responsively; Gloria Patri; Scripture lesson for topic read by the leader; prayer; special music; topic opened by the leader; hymn; Bible references read; general discussion of topic; hymn; summing up of the discussion of topic by the pastor; announcements; hymn; Lord's Prayer; Doxology and Benediction. Hymns, 106, 110, 196, 156.

(Topic reviewed by Rev. John C. Bowers, D.D.) Paul declares that love is the fulfilling of the law. Other motives may prompt men to obey it. They may be influenced by mercenary considerations, fear or their regard for morality, but these motives are imperfect and any one influenced by them cannot please God. Jesus fulfilled the law in every point because He loved God perfectly. His perfect obedience to death, even the death of the cross, showed that He was God's Son. He was recognized not only as a great Teacher, but as a Teacher come from God. Once a certain lawyer asked Him, "Which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus replied, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind; and the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." We see at once the comprehensiveness of these two commandments, and how impartial must be the love which leads us to endeavor to keep them. When Jesus was only twelve years of age He knew there was a business entrusted to Him by His Father in which He had to be engaged. His first recorded words were: "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" His whole life was a fulfillment of His own declaration, "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me." Christ was always obeying the law. "Thy law is within My heart" was the language of His whole life. His outward life re

flected the perfect harmony between His will and the will of His Father. How often was "I must" spoken by Him! "I must be about My Father's business." "I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work." Though he were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered. Jesus declared, "I can of Myself do nothing." He always recognized His obligation to the will of His Father. Paul could say at the close of His eventful life, "I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith." But Jesus, as He looked back over His ministry among men, could say: "I have glorified Thee on earth; I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do." His love for God was so perfect and His obedience to His will so complete that He went to Jerusalem conscious of all the things that there awaited Him. He told His disciples that all the things that had been spoken by the prophets concerning Him should there be accomplished. It is not hard for us to obey God when His will appoints us an easy and plain path and duty brings worldly honors; but when duty leads to the fiery furnace when God wills that we should suffer loss, face persecution and endure misunderstanding and the reproach of God's enemies, how often do we hear expressions like these, "God is unkind; I have prayed but He has not answered." Jesus always measured His duty by the Scriptures. He met the tempter and rejected the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them by referring him to the Word of God.

It follows naturally because our Lord loved His Father perfectly that He so loved man. Love is tested by what it is willing to do for another. We will render any possible service to one we truly love. We have known people for whom we would gladly make any sacrifice. Because Jesus loved man He sacrificed all worldly comforts and honors for the sake of man. He ministered to the poor and needy. He went about doing good. He came into the world to minister to our spiritual and physical needs. Never was He too tired or so occupied with His own thoughts that He had not time to hear and help those who came to Him. We cannot love God and close our ears to the many appeals that come to us to relieve the

distressed and needy. "If a man love not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Jesus fed the hungry, comforted the sorrowing, healed the diseased and blessed the little children. He looked upon the multitudes as sheep without a shepherd. His love was complete, unselfish, perfect. It was not confined to the young ruler, to the learned, the fortunate and rich, but embraced the outcast and despised because of their social position. He so loved His enemies that He prayed for their forgiveness. He would not have been the Son of God had He not This loved God and served man as He did. world has seen many fire characters, Abraham, Paul, Luther and others, while they are among the outstanding men in history, they had and were conscious of their imperfections. Of Jesus only could it be said, On "He wholly fulfilled the law of God." the Mount of Transfiguration Peter said, "It is good to be here"; he wanted to remain and build three tabernacles, but Jesus said No, God wills that I should go down among men and continue My work of helping, comforting, teaching and saving them. And He did so, even giving his life with all its preciousness, a free will offering and a priceless sacrifice for us and for our salvation. Let us not lose sight of the great fact that Jesus fulfilled the law for us. Through Him only can we have the forgiveness of sins and obtain the righteousness which is necessary for us to possess to enter His heavenly home. Jesus sought not His own will, but the will of His Father. That will is for our good and happiness. The way of the transgressor is always hard "Great peace have they that love Thy law." "Happy is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord: in His law doth he meditate day and night." Let us think often of God's law and endeavor to keep it fully, willingly and constantly. It is perfect, converting the soul. Jesus magnified it for our sake. Not only did he keep it before God, who reads the heart, but that He might show us the absolute rightness of God's will. Let us do whatsoever He commands and go wherever He sends us.

Bible References.

Cp. Jer. 23:5, 6 with I Cor. 1:30; John 5:17; Col. 2:9; Col. 3:13 with Mark 2:7-10; Heb. 7:27; 9:13, 14, 23; Matt. 5:17; Isa. 42:21; Matt. 7:12; Eph. 2:15; Acts 28:23.

We

The mind cannot conceive, pen cannot portray, nor tongue recite the sufferings endured by the sinless Jesus. Not only did He suffer the just for the unjust, the innocent for the guilty in His death, but He suffered for us during His whole life. recognize it as an act of simple justice that when one person has wronged another, he should make atonement and restitution for the wrong done. Without the existence and maintenance of this principle we would have no standard of justice and fairness to influence men in their dealings with one another. If such a principle is equitable and necessary in our human relations, is it not more so in God's dealings with us? Sin is the transgression of God's law and if punishment is necessary to maintain the authority of our civil laws, is it not true that the law of a righteous and just God demands that sin shall be punished and for

made? The teaching of the Old Testament

pointed to the Atonement which would be made by Jesus. These sacrifices of the law could not be a sufficient atonement for sin because it was not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin.

"But Christ, the Heavenly Lamb,
Takes all our sins away,

A sacrifice of nobler name, And richer blood than they." Jesus the Good Shepherd not only gave His life for the sheep, but He taught them, bestowing upon them His divine love and patience. He was persecuted for His unselfish interest in mankind. Think of what He endured-the Son of God, holy and perfect, living in a sinful world, despised by those who were self righteous. Think of Him betrayed by one of His disciples, denied by another at the very time that He stood in strong need of their protection and allegiance. Think of Him seized by His enemies and hurried by a tumultuous mob before unfriendly tribunals. Think of Him as He stands in the midst of a crowd thirsting for His crucifixion, insulting Him, slandering Him, preferring to Him Barabbas, a robber and murderer. Think of the scourging inflicted upon Him by those who had no sense of pity. Think of the lacerating nails driven through His feet and hands and of the soldiers who mocked Him, of the heartless elders who wagged their heads at Him and blasphemed. Hear His cry, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" Yet He died willingly and for our sins. In His death He not only showed His divine patience and how a righteous man could die, but He offered Himself a sacrifice for our sins and satisfied the demand of divine justice.

The cross became His throne. Many poets have sung their sweetest strains about the suffering Christ. His ministry among men and His death on the cross have inspired the world's master artists. Every time we repeat the Apostles Creed we confess our faith in the historical facts of our Lord's suffering and death. "Who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried." Many were eye witnesses of His sufferings and death and were visibly affected by them, yet they could only understand in part the agony of His soul. He declared, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death." Not only did Jesus suffer and die, but He did did so to make expiation for the sins of the whole world. The eyes of thousands on beds of sickness and in the chamber of death have turned to Him and the memory of His sufferings and death has sustained and fortified them dur

ing sleepless nights and in the shadow of death. Our sufferings cannot possibly be equal to His. Today I went to Johns Hopkins Hospital to see one of my young men. As I entered the great institution I paused and looked at that fine statue of Christ in the attitude of "Come unto Me." It not only reminded me of the words of the blessed Christ as He appealed to the weary and heavy laden in the days of His earthly ministry, but of what Christ suffered because of the indifference of men, their evil words and their false accusations. He, the Great Teacher, wanted to help them. I told my friend, who was enduring great bodily suffering, how Christ suffered during His whole life for us and a look of peace and resignation illuminated his face such as I never saw there before. Let us do the will of God and endure the sufferings of this present world that we may enter the world where suffering is unknown.

Bible References.

Gen. 2:17; Ps. 15:5; Job. 14:4; Heb. 9:14; Matt. 7:11; Luke 13:2-5; I Cor. 2:12; 1:20, 21, 27, 28; II Cor. 7:10; Rom. 8:7; 7:17-20; 5:12, 19; Heb. 12:2; Gal. 3:13, 10; Jas. 1:18; John 10:17, 18; I John 1:7; 2:2; Rom. 4:5, 22-25; 5:1, 9.

Hymns. Psalm 23 read responsively and Gloria. Scripture lesson read by the president of the League. Prayer in unison: O God, where is there another like unto Thee, who forgivest sins and dost remit iniquity to the residue of Thy people. Thou dost not keep Thine anger forever, for Thou art merciful and dost pardon our transgressions, and dost cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Do Thou forever continue Thy mercy upon us. that we may walk in the light of Thy word, and escape every peril of Satan and the world, through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Redeemer. Amen.

Hymn. Remarks on Topic by leader. Paper on "What Jesus Suffered" and on "Why He Suffered and Died." Hymn. General discussion and summing up by the pastor. Recitation:

FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST.

By W. S. Coons.

Lord Jesus, may it never be
That I should be estranged from Thee;
That even for one fleeting day
My heart should wander from Thy way.

So much I need Thy presence near, Thy loving smile my soul to cheer! So true and sweet a Friend Thou art, How can I dare from Thee to part? Teach me, O Saviour, to abide Each hour, each moment, by Thy side; Teach me to yield my all to Thee, That Thou mayest sweetly dwell in me. O dear Redeemer, Friend divine, I place my trusting hand in Thine, And, looking up into Thine eyes, With joy to higher levels rise. Troy, N. Y. Announcements. Lord's Benediction.

Prayer,

Doxology and

(Topic reviewed by Rev. John S. Bowers, D.D.) The work of the high priest under the Jewish dispensation was typical of the work of Christ and the lamb he offered was a type of Christ our Paschal Lamb. We see in the Old Testament how God endeavored to educate the Hebrews to realize that He could not look with any degree of allowance upon sin. They were required to solemnly set apart the priests who conducted the service of expiation for their sins. God gave them specific directions for making their sin offerings, also for the yearly atonement by the high priest. (Ex. 29 and Lev. 16.) These offerings could not sufficiently atone for the sins of the people, but they were typical of the real and complete expiation which should be made by Jesus the Saviour of the world. All the rights and sacrifices of the law were inferior to the perfect sacrifice He made, but they typified His person and work. Our eyes turn back to Calvary. The eyes of the officiating high priest and the devout worshipper at the Passover looked forward to the True Lamb of God who should take away the sin of the world. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. His death was not only a demonstration of God's love, not only did it reveal the patience of Christ, His forgiveness and resignation, but the sacrifice He made for the sins of the whole world. He was delivered up for our offences and was raised again for our justification. He voluntarily became our substitute and endured the punishment due us because of our sins. The lamb suffered at the Passover was required to be without blemish, the most perfect in the flock. It thus typified the humility, innocence, gentleness and excellency of Christ our Saviour. He was blameless and without spot. The Passover lamb was separated from the flock and Jesus our Paschal Lamb was separated in thought, words and deeds from all who preceded Him in holiness. The high priest performed his priestly services in a tabernacle made with hands and built of earthly materials, but Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come had a more perfect taber

us.

nacle in which to enter, one not made with hands. He entered with the blood of atoncment into the holy place, into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for Having obtained eternal redemption for us He entered into His tabernacle not by the blood of goats and calves, but through the sacrifice of His own blood. He not only fulfilled the predictions of the prophets in His passion and death, but He made atonement whereby He could take away the sins of the world. This He did publicly. Many were gathered around His cross and witnessed His offering for the sin of the world. The Passover lamb was slain by the high priest before the people, not a bone of it was to be broken. The soldiers broke the legs of the two who were crucified with Christ, but our Lord being already dead they broke not His legs. (John 19:32.) He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and on Him was laid our iniquity. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. When we think of all He suffered for us and why, we must exclaim, "It is high as heaven, what canst Thou do; deeper than hell, what canst Thou know?" He did not appear before God for us without blood, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood. When the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies he did so with blood which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people. Life being forfeited for our sins, it was but just that blood which represented our life should be the medium of our redemption. The blood of Christ was superior to that of a Passover lamb, for it was adequate for the sin of the whole world. These Hebrews to whom Paul wrote the words of our Scripture lesson knew that Christ had been slain at Jerusalem; the Apostle endeavored to show them that His sacrifice was in every respect perfect. It can only become efficacious for us by our personally receiving Him into our hearts and lives through faith and relying upon Him for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. Unless accepted as our Saviour we cannot be saved and become partakers of His glory. The flesh of the Paschal lamb had to be eaten to commemorate the deliverance of God. It was an evidence of obedience and faith on the part of the recipient in Him who had been wronged, and if we desire to live holy and faithful lives we must receive Christ in the Holy Communion and live soberly and righteously in this world. Let us put on the Lord Jesus and walk according to the leading of His spirit.

What is the meaning of my daily life,
Its drudgery, its endless, petty strife,
Oh, deadly certainty of common things!
Oh, hours with heavy, heavy, lagging wings!
Do Thou, O Carpenter of Galilee,
Teach me Thy secret; let me learn of Thee;
Send visions of those days when Thou didst share
The lot of working man, his trials bear.

Help me to feel that Thou dost work with me
In earthly tasks, in heavenly I with Thee;
And yet, dear Lord, with Thee is always heaven-
I see my common lot hath blessed leaven.

-The Interior.

Scripture readings. Remarks on topic by leader, followed by general discussion. Silent prayer. Doxology and Benediction.

(Topic reviewed by Rev. John S. Bowers, D.D.)

However important we may regard the death of Christ and great the sacrifice He made for us, His death can only become efficacious through faith. "He died that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." There is something to be done on our part before His blood can cleanse us from all sin. We must accept Jesus as our Saviour and believe that He alone can save us and that He will do this without any merit on our part. We can accept or reject the salvation which Christ has made possible for us. To accept it we must believe and confess ourselves sinners, we must desire to be forgiven, and believe in the atonement Christ has made for us. There are many who think and speak lightly of sin and try to varnish it over by some charitable deeds or morality. The Scriptures declare that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We cannot free ourselves of this ugly thing, it is in our lives, and while we may try to excuse ourselves because of the weak points and sins of others, we nevertheless stand as sinners uncleansed in the sight of God until we have been cleansed by the precious blood

cf Jesus. It was not a bad man but the saintly St. John who leaned upon the bosom of Jesus, who said, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." It was he who said, "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin." (I John 1:7.) It was the great Apostle Paul, eminent for his unswerving fidelity to duty and his self-sacrificing spirit, who declared, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." Our Bible teaches that God loves to pardon and forgive us our sins. He cannot look with any degree of allowance upon sin. Therefore, He has made provision whereby we may be forgiven and cleansed from all sin. The Scriptures teach that this can only be done through the blood of Christ. "In whom," says Paul, "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7.) Jesus died in our stead, on the cross He bore our sins with their punishment. His death was the same that was due to us. He died that we might be justified by His blood. Our joy in God is secured through His Atonement and our faith in Him to take away our sin and its guilt. By His death expiation was made for our sins. By the sacrifice of Himself He put away sin and so removed every hindrance that we might return to God, but we are not saved until we receive Christ. If we believe in Christ and the sufficiency of His Atonement for our sins, then God looks upon us as though we had done what Christ has done in our stead and for His sake we are justified. We can only have peace with God through Him and it is only by being justified by faith that we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Not only does the blood of Christ cleanse us from sin, but from all sin. Its work is complete, it enables us to walk in the light of faith and live a holy life. There is a strong contrast between one whose sin has been cleansed and the man who is guided by the light of sense. If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship one with another; a fellowship which the uncleansed and unforgiven cannot enjoy or experience. His blood is the only means of obtaining pardon, because it was the blood of the Son of God, it has the power to cleanse us from the greatest as well as from the least sin. We are all alike sinners and have no hope but the death of Jesus. It is not enough for us to know that the blood of Christ has been shed, we must believe that it was shed for us, and walk worthy of the vocation of those who