August 13

1 Timothy iii.—1. This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2. A bishop, then, must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient; not a brawler, not covetous;

4. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5. (For, if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6. Not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7. Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

9. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

11. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well;

13. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;

15. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

16. And, without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Two classes of officers appear in the permanent constitution of the primitive churches, — overseers and dancers. The first are commonly called "bishops" in the English version, but were the same persons who are sometimes spoken of as "presbyters," or "elders." There is nothing in the name to identify it with "the office of a bishop" as this exists in any communion of the present day. In the Church at Philippi, for instance, there were several bishops; in the Church at Ephesus there were several elders, who are also called bishops. These appear to have been a board of superintendents, having the general direction of public worship and the spiritual oversight of the Church; while the deacons looked after the more practical affairs. For both offices there were required a

character above reproach, sound discretion, and personal experience in the knowledge and the grace of Christ. It is plain that Paul did not intend that the clergy should practise celibacy: indeed, he elsewhere condemns those who forbid to marry.

But whatever the form of administration in the Church, whatever the number and the titles of its officers, the Church itself is the stay and the witness of the truth, bearing through all the ages her sublime, unbroken testimony to the incarnation of the Son of God, to the boldness of his person and life, to his resurrection and ascension, and to his gospel as the message of grace and salvation to be preached throughout the whole world.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 98, 104.

Heavenly Father, we desire to close this, thy holy sabbath, with thee. Thou hast been as a pillar of cloud before us this day; thou hast again spread for us a table in the wilderness; we have seen again thy glory in thy temple. As the shadows of night are falling around us, do thou still be near us, dispersing all the darkness of sin, and giving us the inner light of thy presence and love.

We entreat thee to forgive the sins that have mingled in our efforts to serve thee this day. Look not on us as we are in ourselves: but behold, O God our shield! look upon the face of thine Anointed. Through him may our wills be absorbed in thine, and thy will become our meat day by day!

We pray for a world lying in wickedness. Oh! look upon the fields already white, and send forth laborers into the harvest. Save thy people; bless thine inheritance; feed them also, and lift them up

forever. Bless abundantly the preaching of thy holy Word. Glorify thyself in the salvation of sinners.

We entreat thee to take under thy merciful protection, this night, all our beloved friends. We commend both present and absent ones to the gracious Shepherd of Israel. Be thou to them all as the shadow of a rock in a weary land. Draw near to the sons and daughters of sorrow; give them everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.

We thank thee for thy many mercies still vouchsafed to us. Watch over us during this night. Grant us the sleep of thy beloved. When we awake, may we still be with thee! And all that we ask is in the name and for the sake of Him whom thou hearest always; to whom, with thee, the Father, and thee, O Eternal Spirit! one God, be ascribed all blessing and honor and glory and praise, world without end. Amen.