Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/350

 by Him;  do  not  hinder  His  hand,  He  knows  what  He  is doing;  be  content  not  only  when  He  strokes  you,  but also when  He  employs  the  lancet."

I. "And  Saul  as  yet  breathing  out  threatenings  and slaughter  against  the  disciples  of  the  Lord  "  (Acts  ix.  i), made every  exertion  to  destroy  the  infant  Church. Ponder the infinite  mercy  of  God,  in  regard  to  Saul. He was employed  in  persecuting  the  faithful,  and  crushing the rising  Spirit  of  Christianity,  when  our  Lord,  on  the contrary, not  seeking  revenge,  but  "thinking  thoughts  of peace"  (Jer.  xxix.  11),  mercifully  prevents  him,  and brings him  to  a  sense  of  his  duty. In the  full  career  of his  persecution,  he  casts  him  from  his  horse,  and  calls upon him,  "Saul,  Saul,  why  dost  thou  persecute  Me?" (Acts ix.  6.)  Learn  to  reverence  Christ  in  your  neighbors, and  remember  that  injuries  done  to  them  are  done to Christ  Himself.

II. "Lord, what  wilt  Thou  have  me  to  do?" Ponder his admirable  resignation  to  the  Divine  will. So you ought to  resign  yourself  to  the  Divine  will,  and  to  offer up your  prayers  to  Him. You ought  to  be  ready  for His every  dispensation,  and  do  all  you  can  to  know  His will in  all  things. When you  have  discovered  it,  no earthly  consideration  whatsoever  ought  to  prevent  you from putting  it  into  execution.

III. " Arise,  and  go  into  the  city,  and  there  it  shall  be told  thee,  what  thou  must  do." Although our  Lord,  in  a miraculous  manner,  prostrated  Saul  on  the  ground,  yet He would  not  instruct  him  Himself,  but  sent  him  to