Calendar:August 16th to Sept. 15th.

DAILY BIBLE READING ……… Aug. 16th, Hos. 4; Aug. 31st, Amos 2; Sept. 15th, Micah 3.

SUPPLEMENTARY READING … Aug. 16th, John 19; Aug. 31st, Acts 13; Sept. 15th, Acts 28.

Our reading during the present month is in the Minor Prophets. It need hardly be said that this designation does not mean that they are of lesser value or importance than those books which we have just gone through, but refers to their size. With the exception of Hosea and Zechariah, each having fourteen chapters, none reach the size of Daniel, which has twelve chapters. Of the Minor Prophets, three were connected with the northern kingdom-Hosea, Amos and Jonah; though the ministry of the latter prophet has a character all its own, and refers to God's mercy to Nineveh. Hosea means "Saviour," and in accord with the name, he tells of God's tender mercy to His people whom He calls to repentance. Joel, "Jehovah is God," prophesies judgment upon the nations; he has also the great prediction of the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost-a foreshadow of the final blessing preliminary to the Millennium. Amos, "burden," or "burden-bearer," appropriately with his name has the burden of judgment to declare, upon the neighboring nations to Judah and Israel, and upon these last for their iniquity. His ministry is chiefly in the northern kingdom. A note of mercy at the close is connected with the "tabernacle of David," which refers doubtless to David's Lord, through whom alone mercy and blessing can come. The single chapter of Obadiah gives God's judgment upon Edom, a type of the flesh, for "the kingdom shall be the Lord's." His name appropriately means, "servant of Jehovah." Jonah is largely narrative, and distinctly typical, as our Lord shows in His reference to his being three days in the belly of the great fish-a figure of His own death, burial and resurrection. His name, "Dove," may suggest the Spirit's testimony and power in resurrection. Micah, "Who is like Jehovah?" might be called a miniature Isaiah, both from the similar prophecy as to the last days (compare Isa.2 and Micah 4) and the Messianic prediction of chap. 5.

It would be a good thing to prepare a table of these prophets, and when they labored, as given in the opening of their prophecy.

Our supplementary reading includes the whole of the book of Acts, that wonderful history of the work of God after the ascent of our Lord. It is the only inspired "church history" we have-though we have abundant provision for its guidance through the whole time of its sojourn in the world, and the prophetic outline of the character and culmination of that sojourn in the first three chapters of Revelation. May we find special help and blessing in our study of the Acts at this time.

Greek Testament Lessons

LESSON 73. Page 68. Write out carefully the whole exercise at top of page-English into Greek. Select two verbs and give synopsis of the first in the Active Voice, and the second in the Middle and Passive Voices.

LESSON 74. John 1:35-38. Parse each word as in previous lessons.
Continue Galatians. -S. RIDOUT.

Meeting of Y. B. D., held, May 4, 1929. Present:40.
Meeting opened with prayer and singing of hymns.
Is Satan Omnipresent?

Different scriptures brought up-Job 2, Eph. 2, "Prince of the power of the air." "Since God is infinite the rest must be limited." According to Job the power is limited. The answer to the question is in the negative, that is, Omnipotence and Omnipresence are attributes of God, and only God is present everywhere. Satan was created, and all creatures have their limitations. Satan called the god of this world, and the prince of the power of the air. Ezek. 28:15; Rev. 20, 27; Rev. 12:9 prove that, as Satan is cast out and bound, he is not omnipresent.

"Satan trembles when he sees,
The weakest saint upon his knees."

Why does a Christian have conflict?

The Church, in the opening days, had a great deal of conflict, and that is when it thrived and had the most remarkable growth.

Satan will be bound in Millennium and there will be no conflict then. Flesh still in Christian and though we are to reckon it dead we do not always do so. Paul given a thorn that he should not be exalted above measure. Another reason for conflict, that we might know the pleasure of being "more than conquerors through Christ Jesus."

Question as to "seven devils being traits in character" to be discussed further.

Some thought "devils" was figurative language, but after discussion it was seen that they were actually spirits cast out, as they could speak, and they recognized the Lord, and said something as to future judgment (Mark 5:8-12).

The Lord was dealing with actual agents of Satan.

Was it a fate of man in that day only to be possessed of devils?

One said, "No, that there were cases" of demon-possession to-day; many in asylums who were in touch with demons, impersonating the departed." All demons not the same kind, some unclean spirits, lying spirits and destructive spirits. When the Lord was here He manifested His power over the demon world. Demon-possession much more common in pagan countries than in civilized lands. The Holy Spirit is in the world to-day and He is a restraining power. Even Antichrist cannot appear until Church and Holy Spirit removed from this scene.

Questions for next time.

From last month:
1.-Are demons the angels cast out with Satan? Given M. R.

2.-Acts 1:12; Explain "Sabbath Day's Journey," its length and why so called. Given L. D., R. S., D. M. and E.M.

New questions:

3.-What is it to be "more than conquerors?"-Rom. 8:27. Given to L. St. L., P. K., H. G.

4.-Is it right to ask that inbred sin be removed, that we be made pure? Given M. DeV., L. D., L.M.

5.-Whether there is one Person with three names or whether three names apply to three distinct Persons in the Trinity. Asked by E.

Given to E. and W. F. for next meeting.

One mentioned that there is a great mystery in the doctrine of the Trinity, but one can get considerable help by getting grounded on the person of Christ. He has manifested God-all fulness of Godhead dwelleth in Christ bodily, but looking upon Christ one could not say, "He is the Father," or, "He is the Spirit," but He has expressed the Father and has given the Spirit. The Father never became man, nor did the Spirit ever take upon Himself flesh, but the Son did. If you get to know the person of the Son it will keep distinct the three Persons. We never can comprehend Him, we can only apprehend Him. We can only touch Him, can never know Him wholly, but we can throw our arms around Christ, and say, "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine."