July 20

John 3:25. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

26. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

27. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven.

28. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

29. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy, therefore, is fulfilled.

30. He must increase; but I must decrease.

31. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

32. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

33. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

34. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God; for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

35. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

I John 5:9. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

11. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in his Son.

12. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

The disciples of Jesus began to make proselytes, and to baptize them,—probably into the confession of Jesus himself as the Christ. The Pharisees, who had questioned the authority of John's baptism, now stirred up a dispute with his adherents touching this newer baptism, and endeavored to excite John's jealousy by reporting that Jesus was gaining more disciples than he. With a touching humility, John refers their relative position to the appointment of Heaven; accepts thankfully the place of the forerunner and the friend of Christ; and finds his own joy in testifying to the more glorious personality and office of Him, who, having come from heaven, is above all.

How sacred such a friendship! how exquisite such a devotion! Happy indeed will it be for us, if, when we have striven to fulfil our sphere and office in life, we can resign it to some younger or more fortunate, and perhaps more qualified person, and, free from envy, rejoice in the prosperity of the work in his hands. Sooner or later we must learn to say, "He must increase; but I must decrease." The lesson will be easier if we early learn it at the feet of Christ,—first by cultivating the spirit of Him, who, that he might redeem us, "made himself of no reputation;" and next by consecrating our lives, in all their purposes, events, and results, to his blessed and ever-glorious will. The fulness of the divine spirit, of divine power and grace, is in Christ. Uniting ourselves to him by faith, we can give up all things for his sake; for, the more we lose of this life, the more shall we prize the life everlasting. Withholding ourselves from him, we do but bring upon our own souls a loss for which there is no compensation here, and no remedy in the hereafter.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 21, 28, 99.

O Thou who art the light and the life of the world! have compassion, we pray thee, upon those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death; and as thou didst at the first, by the preaching of thine apostles, cause the light of thy gospel to shine throughout the world, be pleased to make thy ways known upon earth, thy saving health unto all nations. Bless thy servants who have gone into distant lands to proclaim the message of salvation. Endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them in all their labors; and give them souls as their reward. And, O thou Lord of the harvest! we pray thee to send forth more laborers into thy harvest. May they both sow the seed and reap the fruit of their labors!

We bring to thee, O Lord! the homage of our

hearts; blessing thee for the mercies of the day, and desiring to worship thee ever in spirit and in truth. We praise and adore thee for thy great mercy in Jesus Christ our Saviour: oh! do thou for his sake take away our sins, and sanctify us by thy truth and thy Spirit. Keep us ever humble, ever faithful; doing all for the love of Christ, and giving unto Christ all honor and glory. Bless to us the reading and hearing of thy Word, the worship and order of thine house. Bless the assemblies of thy people, the communion of thy saints, the instruction of children, the visiting and teaching of thy servants among the poor, by the wayside, and from house to house. Command thy blessing upon Zion,—even life forevermore. Hear us for Christ's sake. Amen.