But what, we repeat, were these living stones doing? these partakers of the rock-life--the victorious, resurrection-life of Christ--how did they employ themselves? Well, then, in the first place, as _holy_ priests they offered the sacrifice of praise to God. Yes, "at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God." How precious is this! How morally glorious! How truly refreshing! What are stripes, or stocks, or prison walls, or gloomy nights, to living stones and holy priests? Nothing more than a dark background to throw out into bright and beauteous relief the living grace that is in them. Talk of circumstances! Ah, it is little any of us know of trying circumstances. Poor things that we are, the petty annoyances of daily life are often more than enough to cause us to lose our mental balance. Paul and Silas were really in trying circumstances; but they were there as living stones and holy priests. Yes, reader, and they were there as royal priests, likewise. How does this appear? Certainly not by scattering silver and gold. It is not likely the dear men had much of these to scatter. But oh, they had what was better, even "the virtues of Him who had called them out of darkness into His marvelous light." And where do these virtues shine out? In those touching words addressed to the jailer, "_Do thyself no harm_." These were the accents of a _royal_ priest, just as the song of praise was the voice of a _holy_ priest. Thank God for both! The voices of the holy priests went directly up to the throne of God and did their work there; and the words of the royal priests went directly to the jailer's hard heart and did their work there. God was glorified and the jailer saved by two men rightly discharging the functions of "_the Christian priesthood_." Father! Thy sovereign love has sought Captives to sin, gone far from Thee: The work that Thine own Son hath wrought, Has brought us back, in peace, and free! And now, as sons before Thy Face, With joyful steps the path we tread, Which leads us on to that blest place Prepared for us, by Christ our Head. Thou gav'st us, in eternal love, To Him, to bring us home to Thee; Suited to Thine own thoughts above As sons, like Him, with Him to be. Oh, boundless grace! What fills with joy Unmingled all that enter there; God's Nature, Love without alloy, Our hearts are given e'en now to share! Oh, keep us, Love Divine, near Thee! That we our nothingness may know; And ever to Thy glory be, Walking in faith while here below. J. N. D. FOOTNOTES: