ISRAEL had sinned and become corrupt; had strayed far from their God; had forgotten his law, and turned aside to idolatry. Even the priests of the Lord's house had departed from God, for the sons of Eli, the high priest, had made themselves vile, and yet Eli was mild with them, and did not restrain them. Bad as they were, there were those who valued the word of God. It was precious because there was no open vision. Yes, low as Eli had fallen, he was ready to receive the word of the Lord, even though given first to a little boy. But now, O how different! Hand to your brother Methodist, or Baptist, or Presbyterian, or to almost any of the members of the so-called churches, a vision, and they will probably say, "This is all humbug." How fallen! if that vile age of Eli was so far in advance of this, Alas! it is just so. Here we are. We cannot deny it. Here are signs of the last days. The prophecies, like rich clusters of grapes just ripe, hang directly over us, within reach. Every day the clusters drop at our feet, and yet the noble, the wise, the gifted, trample them under foot, and mix the sweet juice with the dust. A few despised ones pick up these grapes, and find them life-giving and refreshing, and then the Lord of the vineyard causes other clusters to shoot forth, unexpectedly and kindly, and then these despised ones reach forth and pluck them, and are inspirited anew, and as they travel onward their steps are quicker and more firm, for there is life in the clusters. They are just what they need, "meat in due season," and so they thank God and take courage to ask for more.
J. CLARKE.