as come from the heathen philosopher
to the Roman Catholic doctor, and then to the earlier Christian
teacher, and last of all to the Bible itself. For the Bible is the
only open book; and the pale, worn, young monk, who has been reading it
all night, is still bending over it in the early morning, with a
wonderful earnestness in his look. The sunrise outside is an emblem of
the light that is beginning to dawn upon his soul.

Now what can this picture teach you? Two things, I think, at least.

I

The first is _to prize the Bible and study it earnestly_. You can
understand what a surprising and precious discovery the Bible was to
Luther, how glad he was to read it, how he _rejoiced_ in God's Word _as
one that findeth great spoil_. And one of the first things he did when
he had an opportunity was to translate the Bible into the common speech
of the German people, that every one might be able to have it, and that
no one might grow to manhood or womanhood without having seen it or
read it.

Bibles are common and cheap in these days, but I am afraid that there
are still some people who are as old as Luther in our picture, and yet
do not know very much about the truths which the Scriptures contain.
Be sure that you do not despise the Bible because it is so familiar.
It is still the best of all books. Try to take as much interest in it
as if it were a book you had never seen before, and you will always
find something new and fresh in it to reward you.

II

The second is _to discover in the Bible God's message of love and peace
to your own heart_. Luther's case shows that you cannot win God's
forgiveness by punishing yourself, by fasting, and scourging, and
sleeplessness, and things like these, while you can get forgiveness for
nothing just by taking it from God. Jesus Christ has won it for you.
He has loved you and given Himself for you. You simply need to believe
that God pardons you and saves you freely for Jesus Christ's sake.
This was what Luther found in his Bible. It is the best thing you can
find in yours. And when you do find it I am sure that you also will
_rejoice as one that findeth great spoil_.

HERCULES WRESTLING WITH DEATH FOR THE BODY OF ALCESTIS

BY THE LATE LORD LEIGHTON, P.R.A.

[Illustration: HERCULES WRESTLING WITH DEATH FOR THE BODY OF ALCESTIS.
By permission of the Fine Art Society, 748 New Bond Street, London, the
owners of the copyright]

HERCULES WRESTLING WITH DEAT