July 23

Isaiah xxxv.—1. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

2. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice, even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.

3. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

4. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong; fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.

5. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Matthew xv.—21. Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

22. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David! my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

23. But he answered her not a word. And his

disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

25. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread and to cast it to dogs.

27. And she said, Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

28. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman! great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

29. And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the Sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

30. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:

31. Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see; and they glorified the God of Israel.

The territory of Phoenicia—a narrow plain which lay along the Mediterranean, north of the White Promontory—was never annexed to Palestine, but always remained a pagan country. The two famous seaports of Tyre and Sidon, about twenty miles apart, were often brought into connection with the history of the Jews. This, however, was the only instance in which our Lord set foot upon pagan soil. His personal mission was to the Jews, and through them to all mankind. The woman here spoken of, Mark calls "a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by nation;" that is, one born in Phoenicia, or Canaan, but speaking the Greek language: hence she was a type of the Gentile world, burdened with afflictions, hearing of Christ,

seeking his grace. Her persistence in her petition is a wondrous example of faith,—a faith all the more earnest and confiding, because of the humility of the suppliant, and her sense of utter need and helplessness. Jesus tested her by what seems, at first, a strange severity; but the lesson he would teach was, that his mercy, to be appreciated, must be yearned for as the indispensable good. This woman, not having been trained in the Jewish faith, might have had only a vague notion of Christ as a worker of miracles; but Jesus drew her out until her whole soul was concentrated in this one desire, this one hope. Even so should we pray, if we would have our prayer take hold upon Christ's power, and our desire become his will.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 1, 99, 102.

O Lord, our heavenly Father! we have nothing to bring to thee but our wants, and such poor return of love and gratitude and praise as these hearts can render for thy goodness. As thou dost cause our lives to overflow with thy mercies, so do thou fill our hearts to overflowing with thy Spirit, that we may thank thee and praise thee as we ought. The morning calls us again to praise thee for thy loving-kindness in the night-season; and every day renews the tokens of thy bounty. Every good gift cometh down from thee, the Father of lights; and though we are so changeful in our love, so inconstant in our service, with thee there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Bind us to thyself, O our Father! by the mighty attraction of thy love. May the love of Christ, who died for us that we might live, constrain us to live ever unto thee!

We pray thee keep us this day from temptation, evil, and sin. Prosper us in our lawful undertakings: may we be upright in our dealings, true and kind in our speech, gentle and patient in our spirit, pure and holy in our walk! May we do good to all as we shall have opportunity, and so exhibit in our lives the graces of the gospel, that we shall win others to the love of Christ! And we pray that multitudes may be won to the Saviour; that thy Church may increase; that missions may prosper; that thy Word may be given to all people, and the knowledge of the Lord may fill the earth as the waters fill the sea. We thank thee for our home, and pray thee to bless us with all things that we need as a family. Bless the absent who are dear to us; and bring them, together with us, we beseech thee, unto thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.