June 6

Philippians iv.—1. Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

2. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

3. And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

4. Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice.

5. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9. Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.

10. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

11. Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

What a beautiful picture is this of a perfect, and consequently a blessed life!—a life in which the desire for worldly good is subordinated to the joy that is found in Christ; in which envy, jealousy, resentment, are restrained by the thought that the Lord is at hand, who will remedy all injustice, and put away all evil; a life so centred in God as its strength and portion, that it cannot be disturbed by fear, nor distracted by anxiety; a life, which, in the inmost seat of thought and feeling, is guarded by the peace of God. To a mind kept in this sacred peace, a heart filled with this holy joy, the outward conditions of life are relatively of small account. Such an one appreciates with thankfulness the good gifts of Providence and the ministries of human friendship; yet, if

need be, he can suffer the loss of these without repining, and be content in possessing Christ. The true sent of life, of satisfaction, of power, is in the spirit: and, when Christ satisfies the hunger of the soul, it is full; when Christ energizes the will, it is strong; when Christ abides within the heart, it has everlasting life. But, though the life within is thus "bid with Christ in God," its presence is known by the outward tokens of truth, honor, rectitude, purity, benignity, nobleness: in a word, whatever imparts grace to character, and beauty to life, whatever mankind have agreed to honor as virtue or to praise as loveliness, springs from this indwelling virtue and grace of Christ.

APPROPRIATE Hymns.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 4, 27, 45.

O Lord Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith! we give thee thanks for all thy servants departed in the faith, who, having witnessed a good confession, have entered into rest. Grant us grace, we beseech thee, to be faithful unto death, that we also may receive a crown of life. May we have such a sense of thy presence and glory as shall lift us above the love or the fear of this world!

Assist us by thy grace to do this day such things as are pleasing to thee. Strengthen us to resist and overcome any temptations to which we may be exposed. Preserve us from a worldly mind. O Lord! by the power of thy Holy Spirit, draw our desires and hopes and affections heavenward. Deliver us from anxiety about earthly things, from a discontented and unthankful spirit.

Strengthen, O Lord! our faith in the promises of thy Word. Enable us to stay our minds on thee. Thou knowest our exceeding weakness, and the numberless dangers which every day surround us. Supply all our needs. Beat down every spiritual

enemy under our feet. Let thy Word be our guide, and thy Holy Spirit our sanctifier and comforter. If it should please thee to visit us with affliction, oh! make it work for our real and eternal good, and give us a patient and submissive spirit. Be thou our defender through all the trials of life, our hope in death, and our portion forever.

We thank thee for thy loving-kindness in the night-season. Be pleased, O Lord! to bless all who are near and dear to us. Lead all whom we love into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Bless our neighbors. Look graciously upon this part of thy vineyard; assist all who are laboring for the good of their fellow-creatures; and grant that true godliness may increase and abound among us. Help us to shine as lights in the world, and to commend the religion which we profess by the meekness and gentleness of our conduct, and by the holiness of our lives. Make us happy in our own souls, and useful to all around us. These mercies we ask for ourselves and others in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.