September 1

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ,

8 Yes doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffeted the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in any thing ye be of erwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you

16 Nevertheless, where to we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and a bare glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

In this chapter the apostle Paul relates his experience of the utter vanity of anything but Christ to save. If any one had reason to glory in the flesh he had (verses 4-7); but he saw these things were of no use (verses 8-11).

Then he proceeds to lay down the true law of spiritual progress. No one grows who does not mean to grow. Paul made great progress; but Paul had a great purpose; mark his emphatic language: "This one thing I do."

True Christian living is always attaining; so that, with the apostle, the true Christian can say, "Not as though I had already attained;" I have not subdued every faculty and every sentiment: I have not brought all my powers to love spontaneously and intensely the thing which is just, and true, and pure, and right, and noble, and best; I have not yet become such a Christian that I feed upon the bread of heaven; but, "forgetting those things which are behind, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." This is a true Christian life.

Let Paul's motto be ours, "This one thing I do." "Christ must have the whole heart and give the casting vote in every decision, or else we cannot be full-grown Christians. This is the 'one thing.'"—T. L. Cuyler.

Closet Promise.—My times are in Thy hand.—Psalm xxxi. 15.

I do not ask my cross to understand, My way to see; Better in darkness just to feel Thy hand, And follow Thee.

Joy is like restless day, but peace divine Like quiet night; Lead me, O Lord, till perfect day shall shine Through peace to light.

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

Breakfast Motto.—The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.—Psalm xxxiv. 10.

Weekly Proverb.—Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.—Poor Richard.

DAILY BIBLE READING.—THE ISRAELITES IN THE WILDERNESS.

Sunday.—Last Night in Egypt.—Ex. xiii. 17-22; Ex. xiv. 1-14.

Monday.—Crossing the Red Sea.—Ex. xiv. 15-31.

Tuesday.—The Song of Moses.—Ex. xv. 1-22.

Wednesday.—The Bitter Waters.—Ex. xv. 23-27.

Thursday.—Heavenly Manna—Ex. xvi. 1-36.

Friday.—The Smitten Rock.—Ex. xvii. 1-7.

Saturday.—Object Lessons from a Mountain Pulpit.—Ex. xvii. 8-16.

THREE'S COMPANY.

Two's company, we used to say Before the baby came; But now that he has come, you know, Things hardly recite the same.

And as I hold him in my arms, And hear him softly coo.

I wonder how we ever could be Quite satisfied with two.

For since his coming brought such joy, It surely seems to me, Though two is called good company, Still better far is three.

—Selected.

A new heart.—Ezek. xviii. 31.

A teacher asked a little girl in her class, "Do you think you have a new heart?" "Yes, teacher, I hope so," replied the child. "What makes you hope so?" "Because I love the things which I used to hate, and hate what I used to love." A little boy once said, "How hard it is to do right!" and so hard did he find it, that, after awhile, he added, "It's of no use trying." But he was a boy who had learned to read and understand the Bible, and one day he thought to himself, "Why! I have been trying to change myself all this time, and here I read that only God can change me. How foolish I have been not to ask Him!" Dear children, only Jesus can give us a new heart. He can take out of us the naughty heart of sin and give us a clean heart. Can't you make this your prayer, which a little African girl offered: "Lord Jesus, my heart bad too much; me want to love You, me want to serve You, but my bad heart will not let me. O Lord Jesus, me can't make me good. Take away this bad heart. O Lord Jesus, give me a new heart. O Lord Jesus, me sin every day. Pardon my sins, O dear Jesus; let me sin no more."

PRIMROSE-GATHERERS.

The humble primrose' bunny face I meet it everywhere:

Where other flowers disdain to bloom, It comes and nestles there.

Like God's own light, on every place In glory it doth fall:

And where its dwelling-place is made, It straightway hallow all!

The stars are sweet at eventide, But cold, and far away:

The clouds are soft in summer time, But all must be they:

The rose is rich—but pride of place Is far too high for me—

God's simple, common things I love— My primrose, such as thee!

I love the fresher of my home, Because all sympathies,

The feelings fond of every day, Around its circle rise

And while admiring all the flowers That summer sans can give,

Within my heart the primrose sweet, In lowly love doth rise!

—Robert Nicoll.

THIRTY-SIXTH WEEK.

PEARL TEXT.—He that shall humble himself shall be exalted.—Matt. xxiii. 12.

Be wise; Soar not too high to fall, but stoop to rise —Maninger.

Humility is eldest-born of virtue, And claims the birthright at the throne of heaven —Murphy.

The best place to prepare for the duties of life, is that of Mary, at Jesus' feet.—Selected.

I very often think with sweetness and longings and pantings of soul of being a little child, taking hold of Christ, to be led by Him through the wilderness of this world.—Jonathan Edwards.

HELPS FOR THE DEVOTIONAL HOUR.