rection. I once watched the dawn on the East Coast of England. Before
there was a grey streak in the sky everything was held in grimmest gloom.
The toil of the two fishing-boats seemed very sombre. The sleeping houses
on the shore looked the abodes of death. Then came grey light, and then
the sun, and everything was transfigured! Every window in every cottage
caught the reflected glory, and the fishing-boats glittered in morning
radiance.

And everything is transfigured in the Risen Christ. Everything is lit up
when "the Sun of Righteousness arises with healing in His wings." Life is
lit up, and so is death, and so are sorrow and daily labour and human
friendships! Everything catches the gleam and is changed. "We are no
longer of the night, but of the day." "Walk as children of light." "Awake,
thou that sleepest, arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon
thee."

APRIL The Eleventh

_THROUGH DEATH TO LIFE_

ROMANS v. 1-11.

The Lord went through death to make a path to life. He descended into
shame and suffering, and appalling desolation in order that He might "open
the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers." And the way is now open!

Therefore, "_let us have peace with God_." Let us reverently and willingly
tread the heavenly road, and seek the King's presence, and gratefully
accept "the everlasting covenant." Let us go, as once rebel soldiers, and
let us surrender our arms, and at His bidding take them again, to fight in
His service.

And let us "_glory in tribulation_." If we are in the King's road, at
peace with the King, every stormy circumstance will be made to do us
service. Yes, all our troubles will be compelled to minister to us, to
robe us, and to adorn us, and to make us more like the sons and daughters
of a royal house. "Out of the eater will come forth meat, and out of the
strong will come forth sweetness."

And, therefore, let us "_joy in God_." Don't let us be "the King's own,"
and yet march in the sulks! Let us march to the music of grateful song and
praise.

"Children of the heavenly King,
As ye journey, sweetly sing."

APRIL The Twelfth

_THE LAMB ON THE THRONE_

"_In the midst of the throne stood a Lamb as it had been slain!_"
--REVELATION v. 6-14.

How strange and unexpected is the figure! A lamb--the supreme type of
gentleness! A throne, the supreme symbol of power! And the one is in the
very midst of the other. The sacrificial has become the sovereign: