June 21

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters

according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

25 But be that death wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

In the lesson for to-day, in verses 17 and 23, we have stated the great motive which should inspire every Christian to duty.

"Have a broader conception of Christian life than that it consists in merely saying prayers, singing hymns, and talking to men about their souls. These are an important part of Christian duty frequently; but all there are a thousand other things that are essential. There is the beauty of holiness as well as the power of holiness. There is the soothing duty as well as the rousing duty. There is instruction as well as exhortation. There is preparation for future duty as well as the execution of present duty. These are all parts of one Christian character. Every man should live so broadly that day by day he shall find something to do which he wants to do, and which he does with appetite. Then other duties which are regular, which press themselves upon him, let him do because they are duties. And if he cannot do even that, and they are urgent duties, let him do them, whatever the motive may be. So he will rise higher and higher toward the true Christian plane, which is the plane of spontaneity of involuntary activity, of being and doing from the love of that which is essentially true, and beautiful and pure, and right, and good."—H. W. Beecher.

Closet Promise.—Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have; for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.—Heb. xiii. 5.

Dear Lord, this day I would not spend In any other place.

For Thou dost wish me here to-day, And resting in Thy grace I am content

This duty I would not exchange For any other task;

If only its performance please

Thee, Lord, 'tis all I ask, I am content.

I care not what may come to me Of earthly good or ill;

Since where I am and what I do Are ordered by thy will, I am content.

—Christine Ware.