The Bible contains many impressive descriptions of our state of alienation from God. The star wandering from its central sun-"wandering stars." The prisoner bound in fetters of iron pining in his dungeon. The vessel driven from its moorings plunging in the tempestuous sea. The prodigal, self-exiled from the joys and amenities of home, feeding on the garbage of the distant wilderness. But we question if any figure more simply yet more graphically delineates the natural estrangement of the heart than that of the stray sheep. What a graphic two-fold picture of apostasy is here "We all like sheep have gone astray." ALL have strayed from the Shepherd (that is the universal characteristic), and then it is added, "We have turned everyone to his own way." Each has some bye-way or separate track of sin, down which, or along which, he rushes, widening his distance from the Shepherd-love of God.

At that interesting hour we have been contemplating on Mount Olivet, may we not think of this new dispensation being, so to speak, inaugurated. It was a solemn crisis in the world's history. As God the Father had been revealed in the early dispensation--as God the Son had been revealed during His incarnation--so the Holy Spirit was now, in "the last days," (the closing era of the Church, ) to complete the full manifestation of a Triune deity. As the gate of heaven opened to receive the glorified Son, the Dove of peace, and joy, and consolation was ready to take his flight down to earth, and to hover with outstretched wings over the Church of God. The sacrifice made by a nobler than Elijah being completed, the answer was to be "by Fire"--"He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

The writer of the following pages has endeavored to set forth the duty-the privilege-and the blessedness of humble, earnest, persevering prayer. He has attempted no particular arrangement of the subject, but has sought to bring before his readers some of those gracious invitations and sweet promises of the Word of God, which our Heavenly Father has given to allure and attract us to a Throne of Grace. In so doing, he has made it his chief aim to represent Christ Jesus as the only, all-sufficient Savior and High Priest, through whom alone we can draw near to God, and for whose sake alone, God has graciously promised to hearken to our prayers-to pardon our sins-to help our infirmities-and to bestow upon us whatever things He knows in His unerring wisdom to be needful, or expedient for us.

Reader, have you found this blessed repose in the blood and work of Immanuel? Long going about "seeking rest and finding none," does this "word" sound like music in your ears - "Come unto Me"? All other peace is counterfeit, shadowy, unreal. The eagle spurns the gilded cage as a poor exchange for his free-born soarings. The soul's immortal aspirations cannot be satisfied, short of the possession of God's favor and love in Jesus. How complete is the invitation If there had been one condition in entering this covenant Ark, we must have been through eternity at the mercy of the storm But all are alike warranted and welcome, and none more warranted than welcome. For the weak, the weary, the sin-burdened and sorrow-burdened, there is an open door of grace.

The Rainbow in the Clouds is an inspiring work by one of history's finest devotional writers. Covering subjects such as Eternal Joy, Everlasting Love, The Greatest Gift, The Blessed Hope and others MacDuff gives us thirty three scripture topics with insightful commentary. John Ross MacDuff was a Scottish divine and prolific author. MacDuff was educated at the University of Edinburgh, and was ordained as minister of Kettins, a parish in Forfarshire. He left to take charge of Sandyford, a new church in Glasgow where he preached there for fifteen years. His best known books were: The Prophet of Fire; Memories of Bethany: Memories or Gennesaret; The Shepherd and His Flock: Sunset on the Hebrew Mountains.

A Book of Private Prayers is a thirty-one day devotional by John MacDuff, one of the finest devotional writers of all time. Each day includes a morning and evening reading designed to inspire and rejuvenate the reader. The verses of Scripture at the head of each prayer, are made suggestive of thought for the morning and evening prayers which follow. This, it is hoped, will secure greater variety in the subject matter of devotion. To all who have God as their Father, these aids to devotion are inscribed.

Known as one of the finest devotional writers of all time in Communion Memories, John MacDuff presents us with two groups of messages concerning communion: Sermons in preparation for communion and Meditations and addresses with other aids for communion. From messages on Great Resolve to Christ and His Disciples at the Last Supper and Prayer after Communion MacDuff is unparalleled in his insight and inspiration concerning communion. "The Lamb is worthy-the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing " Revelation 5:11-12 What an anthem is this We have, today, been assembled at Christ's Sacramental Table, contemplating the memorials of His dying ever-living love. The sublime passage just read contains also a superb description of a Communion. But the place of convocation is not a Temple on earth, but Heaven-the fellow-guests, not a few perishable mortals, but a glorified multitude which no man can number. It may form no unbefitting theme, surely, for this evening's service, to connect our sacrament below with the Supper of the Lamb above-The eternal festal Sabbath; no mock kiss of pretended friendship to mar-no anticipated hour and power of darkness to ruffle the deep rapture of its joy. How profoundly interesting the thought that we have here depicted what is now transacting in the Upper Sanctuary.

The Morning Watches is designed as a companion to The Night Watches. It is hoped, by the Divine blessing, they may together form a humble auxiliary in promoting what is pronounced in the best of all manuals of devotion to be "a good thing" - the showing forth of God's "loving-kindness in the morning," and His "faithfulness every night" (Psalm 92:2.) Though more strictly designed for private devotion, and therefore expressed in the first person, it is hoped, by the substitution of the plural pronoun, that the following pages may be appropriate for the family altar.

It is our incumbent duty to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, and give earnest heed to the truths which proceeded from His gracious lips. "Never any man spoke like this man " was the testimony of the officers who were sent to apprehend him-a testimony altogether spontaneous and unbribed on the one hand - and most faithful and true on the other. The whole of His instructions have the highest claims upon our devout regards. In every doctrine He taught, every invitation He uttered, every promise He gave - we should "listen to Him " And while we ought to listen to His voice as He speaks to us in words of encouragement and consolation, we are also to be equally attentive when, in a more practical strain, He enforces the various duties we have to discharge as His followers

How striking is the title, "the glorious gospel of the blessed God " 1 Timothy 1:11. And it is as appropriate as it is striking; the most cursory view of its contents will show that it well deserves such a designation. That it is a glorious gospel appears from . . . the truths it reveals, the blessings it imparts, the effects it produces, the consolations it inspires, and especially the prospects it discloses. What would death be, without this divine and glorious gospel? Nothing but a leap in the dark. The passage from life would then be a gloomy one indeed; and the regions beyond the grave would be enveloped in impenetrable clouds and shadows

The following exercises, intended for the daily use of the believer, have immediate reference to the Lord Jesus. The things concerning Him, in his person and work, his character and offices, his perfect obedience and vicarious death, and especially his glorious exaltation - are the subjects set forth in this small volume. May the reader's meditation of Him, as thus exhibited, be sweet and profitable May the Eternal Spirit, the glorifier of Jesus, take of these things, and reveal them in their intrinsic beauty, and apply them in their saving efficacy, to his mind And may both writer and reader, even should they happen to differ on some matters, be one in saying - "Jesus first Jesus last Jesus without end "

If, through the blessing of the Eternal Spirit, this volume shall convey to any child of affliction, one gleam of soothing and hope, it will impart additional sweetness to the dealings of our Heavenly Father, to whom all glory shall be ascribed, even to Him "who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." May grace be imparted to us to improve the various dealings of our Heavenly Father - that our hearts may be purified, our affections raised to the things which are above, and our earthly will brought into conformity with the will of God. May we be kept by faith ever looking up to Christ - dwelling in Him and He in us, so that "beholding, with open face, as in a glass the glory of the Lord - we are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Speculative discussion, attractive illustration, or the systematic treatment of a great theme - will not be found in these pages. They consist mainly of simple meditations on the glories of the Eternal World They are fragmentary thoughts and reflections, written with special reference to the chamber of sickness, the couch of suffering, and the home of bereavement. Nothing surely can so cheer the fainting believer, bowed down with sin and sorrow - as the prospect of Heavenly bliss. It is the thought of the joy in the morning of immortality, which dries earth's bitterest tears. The heart of the child leaps at the sight of his Father's house. The lights in the distant windows cannot fail to revive his spirit and quicken his footsteps.

"After leaving Marah, they came to Elim ('Valleys'), where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the springs." Exodus 15:27 (Elim was an oasis in the desert.) This volume, Palms of Elim, is intended for the comfort and refreshment for God's own children of sorrow-for those in the varied 'valleys' of earthly tribulation. The "palm trees of Elim" afford their grateful shade not in Canaan, but in the wilderness. Pilgrims of eternity weary and travel-worn, fainting under the burden and fear of the day-may you find here in these pages, with their figurative 'palm trees', restful, consolatory thoughts. "This is the resting place, let the weary rest; and this is the place of repose" Isaiah 28:12

Whatever things were written aforetime in the sacred volume - were written for our instruction and admonition. The precepts it inculcates, and the diversified incidents it records - were evidently intended for our learning on the one hand, and for our warning on the other. In the biographies of Scripture this particularly appears. When the things which are pure, and lovely, and of good report - are exemplified in the character of an individual, the practical application is, "Go - and do likewise." While in reference to those of an opposite nature, such as the daring stubbornness of Pharaoh, the ostentatious zeal of Jehu, the worldly-mindedness of Demas, and many others, the exhortation is, "Go - and do otherwise." Almost in every page, both of the Old Testament and the New, are we reminded of what we are to seek - and of what we are to shun; of what we are to flee from - and what we are to follow after.

My dear friends, This little book contains, with a few additions, the substance of what was spoken one Sunday to a number of hearers of your own age. It may serve to recall to those that listened to it, and to unfold to those who did not, some simple and well-known, but precious gospel truths. May He whose NAME it is designed to exalt-bless you in reading it, and enable you from the heart to repeat as your own happy experience, the well-known verse of the beautiful hymn I have put on the title-page.

The Great Journey takes us on a Pilgrimage through the Valley of Tears to Mount Zion, the city of the living God. As I was walking along the Highway of Time, I came to a new milestone; and being wearied with my journey, "I laid me down in that place to sleep; and as I slept, I dreamed a dream."- Methought I saw a dwelling, situated by itself in one of the world's secluded valleys. In front of its simple, rustic lintels stood an aged man, pale and agitated. His eyes were pensively fixed on the ground; or if they were occasionally lifted to take a hurried glance at some distant object, it seemed a relief when he could replace them on the green grass at his feet, and resume his deep and expressive thoughtfulness. The tear which now and then involuntarily fell from his eye, read some unwonted tale of sadness, while the other inhabitants of the household, who were gathered around him, manifested, by word and look, how amply they shared his embittered feelings.

Fourteen Sermons by John Ross MacDuff, Scottish divine and minister of Kettins including: The Incurable Cured, Unforgetting Love , The First Bereavement, Shadows of the Great Rock, and more.

It is our incumbent duty to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, and give earnest heed to the truths which proceeded from His gracious lips. "Never any man spoke like this man " was the testimony of the officers who were sent to apprehend him-a testimony altogether spontaneous and unbribed on the one hand - and most faithful and true on the other. The whole of His instructions have the highest claims upon our devout regards. In every doctrine He taught, every invitation He uttered, every promise He gave - we should "listen to Him " And while we ought to listen to His voice as He speaks to us in words of encouragement and consolation, we are also to be equally attentive when, in a more practical strain, He enforces the various duties we have to discharge as His followers

Known as one of the finest devotional writers of all time John MacDuff brings his insight and inspiration to a month long series of prayers. Gates of Prayers includes a guided thirty one day prayer series including prayers for morning and evening. Each prayer includes a focal interest laying a greater foundation for Biblical study.