January 26

Luke ix.—51. And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.

52. And sent messengers before his face; and they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him.

53. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

54. And, when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

55. But he turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of;

56. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

57. And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

58. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

59. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead; but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

61. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell which are at home at my house.

62. And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

I chanced to be at an inland town at the starting of a regiment to the seat of war. It was a tender hour; for almost every spectator had some relative or friend among the soldiers; but the sympathy of the multitude seemed to be concentrated upon a young captain, whose face wore an expression of peculiar sadness. "That," said my friend, "is the son of one of our most respected and influential citizens. His father died yesterday, and is to be buried to morrow; but the regiment was ordered to hurry to the front, and he goes with it." There was no lack of filial piety in that young man, who thus left the dead to bury their dead, while he went to offer his life, if need be, for his country. In the hour of the nation's peril, there must be no looking back on the part of any who were enlisted for her defence. The love of country was more than the love of kindred and home.

In this spirit of supreme, all-absorbing devotion to the kingdom of God have missionaries gone forth to the heathen. In this spirit of unhesitating, self-sacrificing consecration must every disciple enter upon the service of Christ, with no looking back toward the world, no divided interest between God and Mammon. The Saviour has a right to demand this; since, for our sakes, he left the glory he had with the Father before the world was, and gave himself for us. He came to save us; and, when the time for offering up his life had come, he went steadfastly forward to meet the fate that awaited him at Jerusalem, ready to sacrifice himself even for those who rejected and insulted him upon the way. May the love of Christ constrain us to feel that we are not our own!

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 98, 179, 199.

O Lord our God! we come before thee this evening, trusting only in the name of Christ our Saviour. We are not worthy to lift up our hearts and our voices unto thee; but He is worthy in whose name we approach thee. Though thou art high and holy, yet dost thou humble thyself to behold the dwellers upon earth, and dost hearken to the cry of the needy for thy dear Son's sake.

We thank thee for health and strength, and every earthly comfort and blessing. But we praise thee yet more for the measure of grace which thou hast given to us; for thy holy Word, and for the way of salvation which it points out. Teach us to devote all that we have, and all that we are, to Him who gave himself for us. Oh, may the love of Christ constrain us! May we walk as children of the light! and may our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven!

Give unto us the spirit of self-denial,—the same mind that was in Christ Jesus our Lord. So fill us with the grandeur of thy kingdom, with the reality of things not seen, with the nearness of eternity, that we shall count all earthly things but loss for

thy sake. May we trust thy providence to take care of us while we seek first the kingdom of God!

[May the children of this family grow up in the love of all that is pure and good and holy!] We implore thy blessing upon all who are in any way connected with us, especially those who are in any trouble and sorrow. Comfort those who mourn. Enlighten and sanctify any who are yet far from thee, and who are ignorant of the great salvation.

Bless, O Lord! we beseech thee, all societies formed for the spread of thy gospel. Give wisdom to those who manage them, and grace and zeal to all whom they employ. May their labors be crowned with success! and may they be the means of leading many to the knowledge of the Saviour! And hasten the time, we entreat thee, when all shall know thee, from the least to the greatest.

And now, most gracious Father, we pray thee to watch over and protect us through this night. Let thy love cheer us, and thy Holy Spirit comfort us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Advocate. Amen.