August 22

Ezekiel xxxiii. — 6. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

7. So thou, O son of man! I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

8. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man! thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

9. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Acts xviii. — 1. After these things, Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

2. And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome), and came unto them.

3. And, because he was of the same craft, he

abode with them, and wrought (for by their occupation they were tent-makers).

4. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

5. And, when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

6. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads: I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

7. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

8. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed, and were baptized.

9. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace;

10. For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city.

11. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Though not fifty miles distant, Corinth was in wide contrast to artistic and philosophical Athens as a city of commerce and luxury; yet it proved to be a more hopeful field for Paul's labors, and he remained there longer than in any other place. Indeed, he identified himself with the Church of Corinth with more of personal feeling than with any other; speaking of them as his children, and giving to them the most earnest and affectionate counsels. Besides being an important and populous city in itself, Corinth was a central point from which the gospel could be diffused over a wide region. So Paul settled down here to his work. And he went very quietly to work: for the gospel was not always to spread by Pen-

tecosts and miracles; and Paul, though an inspired apostle, must needs lay foundations in patience and prayer. According to the wise custom of the Jews, that a son should always learn some trade, Paul had been taught the manufacture of tent-cloth, which was a common business in his native Cilicia; and so he maintained himself by his work through the week, and every sabbath preached the gospel. At the same time, Paul insisted strongly upon the duty of the churches to support the ministry. It is ground of encouragement for great cities, that, in Corinth, Paul made head against all kinds of opposition, and gathered much people to the Lord. More of his faith would now gather more of his fruits.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 36, 99.

We will sing unto the Lord as long as we live; we will sing praises unto our God while we have any being. We bless thee for the light of the day: Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance upon us. We bless thee for the breath of life: Lord, grant us life eternal. We bless thee for the continued use of our faculties: assist us to use all our powers for thy glory. We thank thee for the shelter of our dwelling: be thou our strong refuge to which we may continually resort. We praise thee for the bread that perisheth: feed us, O God! with the bread of life. We thank thee for the love of kindred and friends: may we have the friendship of Him who stieketh closer than a brother! We bless thee for access to thyself: prompt us to pray without ceasing, and in every thing to give thanks. We thank thee for the mis-

sion of the Holy Ghost: may we never grieve the Holy Spirit of God! We worship thee for thine unspeakable gift: may Christ be precious to our souls! We bless thee for the revelation of heaven: O God! grant that we may be daily maturing for the inheritance of the saints in light.

Prepare us for whatever shall befall us; and teach us to walk with God, believing that all things work together for good to them that love thee. And do thou cause all grace to abound toward us, that we may abound to every good work. Exalt thy Church, O God! Make manifest thy saving power. Pity the children of sorrow; heal the wounds of their hearts, and wipe away their tears. Overthrow the dominion of sin; and let thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, for Christ's sake. Amen.