Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 2.pdf/271

 are not properly his own, but are divine gifts. When this acknowledgment is made from the heart, then what was good is pronounced and becomes, because it is at once more acceptable to God, and more beneficial to man. We should, therefore, constantly pray and look unto the Lord Jesus Christ, since without Him we can do nothing.

HERE is a strange infatuation which pervades the mind of earthly and sensually-minded people. They wish to see the laws of order set aside, physical wonders displayed; in short, miracles wrought constantly, merely to gratify, for the time, their sense of the marvellous. "Do miracles," say they, "and we will believe." "Let Christ, the king of Israel, now come down from the cross," was the exclamation of one witness of the Saviour's cruel death, "and we will believe him." And yet we can hardly doubt but there were then many present, who had seen some of the miracles wrought by the Lord, who believed for the moment, but who afterwards chimed in with the Pharisaic libel, "He casteth out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils." What did it matter to them that this libel was as transparent as their own rottenness was manifest, although attempted to be concealed within the sanctified garb of a devout exterior?