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.

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.

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.

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

Need we wonder now, at the apparently superfluous entry in the Gospel narrative, "He HAD to go through Samaria?" What would the infant Church, yes, the Church in all ages, have missed, had our Bibles been stripped of this fourth chapter of John? A sweet, silver tone of the jubilee trumpet would have been lost to the trembling, the despairing, the perishing. Oh most memorable incident Oh most honored fountain Well may the 'Israel of God' stand round the stony margin-as did the Hebrew nobles and princes of old with their rugged staves, at Beer, on the borders of Moab, by the brooks of Arnon-and say, in the words of that oldest pilgrim song, "Spring up, O well: sing to it," for a nobler than Hebrew "prince" or "noble" has made you oracular-put a tongue into your depths-and made you speak of "living water springing up into everlasting life." There is one special practical thought which this "had to" of the great wayside Traveler suggests: it is, the peerless value of a single soul in the sight of Christ. It is the truth of His own exquisite parable exhibited in impressive reality: the heavenly Shepherd, when, out of the hundred sheep He had missed one erring wanderer, going amid these mountains of Samaria to seek 'that which was lost.'

Places associated with great minds are always interesting. What a halo of moral grandeur must ever be thrown around that spot which was hallowed above all others by the Lord of glory as the scene of His most cherished earthly friendship However holy be the memories which encircle other localities trodden by Him in the days of His flesh-Bethlehem, with its manger cradle, its mystic star, and adoring cherubim-Nazareth, the nurturing home of His youthful affections-Tiberias, whose shores so often echoed to His footfall, or whose waters in stillness or in storm bore Him on their bosom-the crested heights where He uttered His beatitudes-the midnight mountains where He prayed-the garden where He suffered-the hill where He died-there is no one single resort in His divine pilgrimage on which sanctified thought loves so fondly to dwell as on the home and village of BETHANY.

Into how many millions of aching hearts this saying of Jesus has found entrance, and brought with it the olive-branch of peace? It has formed for six thousand years the response to the cry of weary, care-worn humanity--a cry embracing every nation and every climate, from the yearnings of heathendom to the longings and aspirations of the present hour. From the tumultuous sea of the world's unrest the cry has gone up like a dirge of baffled souls- "Oh, where can rest be found?" "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." This verse has been cherished by fevered toilers in life's weary struggle. Yet in that stern, diversified battle--it may be with the humbling memories, the unrest and agony of conscious sin--in the season of pain and suffering and bereavement, in the loneliness of the supreme hour of all--how often has that word turned the storm into a calm the weary and heavy-laden, the tearful and the fearful, sobbing themselves to rest in the peace of Christ

While the word of God is "profitable for correction and instruction in righteousness," it is also profitable for support and consolation. The Apostle speaks of "the comfort of the Scriptures," and the people of God, in all ages, have realized it in their own happy experience. The great central Object of revelation - in whom all its truths and promises meet, and from whom their vitality and preciousness are derived - is emphatically called "the Consolation of Israel;" and it is only as we look to Him, that we shall have "the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Hence, in endeavoring "to comfort those who mourn," great prominence must be given to his glorious person, and his atoning work. Whether we are dealing with the convinced sinner, or the doubting and disconsolate believer, we cannot do better than point him at once to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

John MacDuff is known as one of the finest devotional writers. These two books, The Morning Watches and The Night Watches are considered two of his finest and will have readers thirsting for Him more with every word. Each book is a 31 day devotional designed to start and end your day on a positive note. Start at the beginning of a month or in the middle, either way you will be inspired and enjoy positive changes in your life. 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.