June 4

33 And he came to Capernaum, and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the issue shall be last of all, and servant of all.

36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them.

37 Whosoever shall receive one of such chil-

dren in my name, receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us; and we forbade him, because he followeth not us.

39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

42 And whosoever shall offend one of these

little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck,

and he were cast into the sea.

"As little children." Not like them in ignorance, not in fickleness, not in waywardness. Little children are teachable and ready of belief; are devoid of malignity; are characterized by humility. "Humility is not at all the thing that people suppose it to be. Take Christ's exposition of it. The child humbles himself. How did the child humble himself? He came when Christ called, he suffered himself to be embraced, and he stood where Christ put him, without pretending to be anything more than he was, an honest, fine, healthy-looking boy. Christ calls that humility. People think that going and moping about the world and saying, 'I am very imperfect,' is humility. Protect me from such humility. . . . Humility is that of the boy coming when Christ called, suffering himself to be embraced, standing there as long as Christ wanted him to stand, without endeavoring to appear to be anything that he was not. That is Christian humility."—Thomas Jones.

"He that is in the low pits and caves of the earth, sees the stars in the firmament, when they who are on the tops of the mountains discern them not. He that is most humble, sees most of heaven, and shall have most of it; for the lower the ebb, the higher the tide; and the lower the foundation of virtue is laid, the higher shall the roof of glory be overlaid."—John Trapp.

Closet Promise.—Whosoever shall humble himself as a little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.—Matt. xviii. 4.

The day will come when men have grace To know themselves, and sometimes take An humble task, a lowly place, And use it well for honor's sake

The day will come when men shall know That goodness only can be great, That no man can be mean and low Whose nobleness is his estate.

The day will come when men shall serve One Master, Christ, and own Him King, And unto Him without reserve, Their lives for sacrifice shall bring.

The night is dark, the time is late; We strive and struggle and endure; So much we pray, so long we wait, O, happy day, be swift, be sure! —Marianne Farmingham.