July 8

Luke x.—25. And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26. He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27. And he, answering, said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

28. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

30. And Jesus, answering, said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way; and, when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and, when he saw him, he had compassion on him.

34. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35. And on the morrow, when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?

37. And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Thou said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

The way from Jerusalem down to Jericho lay through a rocky wilderness, which is still infested with robbers, and often unsafe for travellers without an armed escort. Jerome says, that, in his time, "a part of the road was so infamous for murders as to be called the red or bloody way; and there was a fort there, garrisoned by Roman soldiers, to protect travellers." In the parable, the sympathy is in the reverse order of the sanctity. The priest, who represented the highest form of outward sanctity, paid no deed whatever to this suffering fellow-creature. The Levite, who, though belonging to the service of the temple, was less sacred than the priest, halted long enough to look at the sufferer, but did nothing for his relief. The Samaritan, who, in the eyes of the priest and the Levite, was a Gentile and an outcast, ministered to his necessities with the most gentle and provident compassion; making sure of his safety, his comfort, and his recovery. The lesson is one for every-day life,—teaching us that God "will have mercy, and not sacrifice;" and that the truest confession

of love to him is made by deeds of love done to our fellow-men in his name.

The promptness, the gentleness, and the thoroughness with which the Samaritan rendered this service added much to its value as an act of philanthropy. He did not stop to remind himself of the harsh and contemptuous treatment that the Samaritans so often received from the Jews. He did not try to satisfy his conscience by reporting the case at the next cava-ansary, and sending up relief. As soon as he saw a man weltering in his blood, he went to him; soothed his wounds, and stanched them; gave him his time and his means; carried him to a place of rest, and watched over him that night; provided for his wants, and left him in safe keeping; giving a sum of money, which, considering the value of money and the cost of living at that time, was ample. How grateful to his own heart was this deed of kindness as he took up his own journey, exposed to the same perios of the way! The roughest path of life can be made smooth by paving it with deeds of kindness.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 59, 86, 118.

O Thou who never slumberest nor sleepest! we have lain down and slept, and have risen again, because thou, Lord, hast sustained us. Thou hast kept us from the alarm of sickness and death, from deeds of darkness and the hand of violence. Thankful for the mercies of the night, we commit ourselves unto thee with all our wakeful powers, humbly beseeching thee to guide us in ways of truth and righteousness for thy name's sake. Send unto us, we pray thee, such prosperity as thou seest to be best for us; and, above all, grant that our souls, being freed from sin, may prosper and be in peace, through the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. Oh, may his mind be in us! and may we be made like unto him!—holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. Oh! help us to give up all things for Christ; to know the joy of losing ourselves in him, the sweetness of bear-

ing the cross for Him who hath borne our sorrows. May we have the charity of the gospel, and do good in little things, by the word, the look, the act of kindness, in the Saviour's name! Teach us to see in our fellow-men the children of our Father in heaven, and to feel their wants and sorrows as our own. May our philanthropy be pure, free, broad, patient, self-sacrificing, and generous!

We thank thee, O Lord! for the friends thou hast given us, and pray that these may all be joined with us in fellowship of thy redeemed. We supplicate thy favor for the poor and needy, the sick, the afflicted, the dying; for any who are suffering by pestilence, famine, or war; for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldst be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.