not only on account of the refreshment and comfort and instruction which it provides, but also as being an earnest and foretaste of the 'eternal joy'* and immortal life brought to light by the Gospel. * Always placed before us in our English Liturgy at the commencement of each Service. A Companion for the Lord's Day. I. THE LORD'S DAY. 'I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day.' ST. JOHN refers in the preceding verse to some bonds of union and fellowship, which connected him in a greater or less degree with Christians at all times. Although the last survivor and not the least honoured of the Apostles, he humbly speaks of himself as our brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.' 'I was,' he goes on to say, 'in the isle that is called Patmos,' B banished and imprisoned there for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.' While St. John was thus outwardly in solitary exile and suffering, but at the same time in the enjoyment of that Christian liberty and those spiritual blessings, with which no human power can interfere, he was, as he also adds, 'in the Spirit on the Lord's Day.' We may not be called upon to share in all those bonds of communion with the Church of Christ, which are here mentioned by the Apostle. But we must admit, that we are still united with him in the possession of one great blessing, which he thankfully welcomed. and valued in his prison at Patmos, so long as the Lord's Day returns to us week by week, with its Divine purposes and promises, its Christian memories and hopes. It can also be shown that these are all closely connected with the name, which is here applied by the Apostle to this holy day. It was to be expected |