June 13

Be ready to every good work.—TITUS iii, 1.

It will not do, An idle life to lead, Because I'm small and talents few; Of me the Lord hath need, Some work or calling to pursue, Or do some humble deed.

I must be active every hour, And do my Maker's will: If but a ray can paint the flower, A rain-drop swell the rill, I know in me there is a power Some humble place to fill.

There is nobody that cannot do some good: and everybody is bound to do diligently all the good he can. It is by no means enough to be rightly disposed to be serious, and religious in our closets: we must be useful, too, and take care that, as we all reap numberless benefits from society, society may be better for every one of us. It is a false, a faulty, and an indolent humility that makes people sit still and do nothing, because they will not believe that they are capable of doing much: for everybody can do something. Everybody can set a good example, be it to many or to few. Everybody can in some degree encourage virtue and religion, and discountenance vice and folly. Everybody has some one or other whom they can advise, or instruct, or in some way help to guide through life. Those who are too poor to give alms can yet give their time, their trouble, their assistance in preparing or forwarding the gifts of others; in considering and representing distressed cases to those who can relieve them; in visiting and comforting the sick and afflicted. Everybody can offer up their prayers for those who need them: which, if they do reverently and sincerely, they will never be wanting in giving them every other assistance that it should please God to put in their power.

CATHERINE TALBOT.