but, God be praised, it is not an
"all power;" _potent_, but not _omnipotent_. Christ holds him in a
chain. He hath set bounds that he may not pass over. "Satan," we read in
the book of Job, "went out (_Chaldee paraphrase_, 'with a licence') from
the presence of the Lord." He was not allowed even to enter the herd of
swine till Christ permitted him. He only "_desired_" to have Peter that
he might "sift him;" there was a mightier countervailing agency at hand:
"_I_ have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not."

Believer, how often is there nothing but this grace of Jesus between
thee and everlasting destruction! Satan's key fitting the lock in thy
wayward heart; but a stronger than the strong man barring him out;--the
power of the adversary fanning the flame; the Omnipotence of Jesus
quenching it. Art thou even now feeling the strength of thy corruptions,
the weakness of thy graces, the presence of some outward or inward
temptation? Look up to Him who has promised to make His grace sufficient
for thee; "all power" is His prerogative; "all-sufficiency in all
things" is His promise. It is power, too, in conjunction with
tenderness. He who sways the sceptre of universal empire "gently leads"
His weak, and weary, and burdened ones:--He who counts the number of the
stars, loves to count the number of their sorrows; nothing too great,
nothing too insignificant for _Him_. He puts every tear into his bottle.
He paves His people's pathway with love!

Blessed Jesus! my everlasting interests cannot be in better or in safer
keeping than in Thine. I can exultingly rely on the "_all-power_" of Thy
Godhead. I can sweetly rejoice in the _all-sympathy_ of Thy Manhood. I
can confidently repose in the sure wisdom of Thy dealings. "Sometimes,"
says one, "we expect the blessing in _our_ way; He chooses to bestow it
in _His_." But His way and His will must be the best. Infinite love,
infinite power, infinite wisdom, are surely infallible guarantees. His
purposes nothing can alter. His promises never fail. His word never
falls to the ground.

"HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY, BUT _MY WORDS_ SHALL NOT PASS AWAY."

21ST DAY.

"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said"--

"He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show
it unto you."--John xvi. 14.

The Divine Glorifier.

The Holy Spirit glorifying Jesus in the unfoldings of His person, and
character, and work, to His people! The great mi