July 12

Psalm xx. — 1. The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

2. Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

3. Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt-sacrifice;

4. Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

5. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.

6. Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed: he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

7. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

8. They are brought down and fallen; but we are risen, and stand upright.

I Peter v. — 1. The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint,

If Peter was the predecessor and type of modern popes, this exhortation is in strange contrast to their pretensions. Instead of commanding the pre-eyers as their superior, he exhorts them as one of their own number, who needs the same grace and counsel with themselves. That he had is in the glory of Christ in the transfiguration, and been an eye-witness of his sufferings, gave a special warrant to his testimony; but he did not rest this upon official supremacy. None must assume to lord it over the heritage of God. On the other hand, such exhortations to humility came with especial grace from one whose self-confidence had brought him to so sad a fall. Humility and hope, dependence and faith, go together. When we cease to set ourselves foremost, and learn to commit our interests to God, then a sensitive pride and a ranking care alike vanish. The word "care," in verse 7, as applied to men,

but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3. Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4. And, when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fudeth not away.

5. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

8. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

11. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

denotes that which divides the mind, and hence distracts it with doubts, fears, anxieties. — a distressed state of feeling, the sense of being burdened, the apprehension of evil. But, as applied to God, it is another word, though rendered in our English Bible by the same: it denotes thinking upon one, having regard for him, with a view to taking care of him. We are exhorted to lay aside our anxieties, and to rest in his loving care. A true faith, a humble trust in God, will remove the burden of cares by annulling the spirit of anxiety. We are exhorted to throw off upon God, in filial confidence, all our care, and to gain stability within ourselves by resting implicitly upon him; and this stability of mind will give us steadfastness against evil. To be humble is to be vigilant, peaceful, strong, victorious.

APPROPRIATE HIMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 11, 15, 32.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who hast graciously opened for us sinners a way by which we may approach thee with acceptance, we thank thee for all thine unnumbered gifts and mercies; but, above all, for thine unspeakable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ. O Lord! give us grace to live as thy people; to walk before thee in newness of life; and to seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at thy right hand. Deliver us from over-carefulness about earthly things. Strengthen our confidence in thy providence and thy grace; and dispose us to seek first thy kingdom and righteousness, knowing that all things needful for this life shall be added unto us.

Grant thy Holy Spirit, O Lord! to all thy min-

isters. Fill them with light and wisdom, with zeal and love; and give thy Word power and unction from their lips. Remember the Sunday school. O blessed Jesus! feed thy lambs with thine own truth and grace. Visit this house, we beseech thee, with thy salvation. Thankful for the mercies of the day, we commit ourselves, O Lord! and all that concerns us, to thy gracious care. Make all the dealings of thy providence to work for our good. If thou shouldst appoint trials and afflictions for us, make us patient and submissive to thy holy will. If we enjoy comfort and prosperity, make us humble and thankful. Lead us safely through this world of sin, and bring us at last to thy heavenly kingdom, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.