October 2

Proverbs xvi. — 16. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

17. The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

18. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19. Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20. He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good; and whose trusteth in the Lord, happy to be.

21. The wise in heart shall be called prudent; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

22. Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; but the instruction of fools is folly.

23. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Matthew xvi. — 21. From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things

How little warrant there is in the preceding verses for ascribing to Peter a spiritual primacy is evident from the fact, that he who just before was promised the keys of the kingdom of heaven is here likened to Satan, and rebuked as himself lacking the spirit of heavenly things! Peter, elated with his own spiritual insight and the blessing pronounced upon himself and his confession, with the impetuosity of his nature attempted to take his Lord to account for apparently contradicting that confession by announcing his sufferings and death. But Jesus thus linked his humanity to his divinity, his work of redemption upon earth to his glory as the Son of God. The kingdom of heaven would be opened through his sacrifice upon the cross, and ever after through the preaching of Christ crucified. The confession of Christ, the Son of God, must be coupled with the confession of Jesus, the suffering Re-

of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan; thou art an offence unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

24. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26. For what is a man prefaced if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

deemer. Hence his disciples must follow him in the spirit of self-encrucination, — each for himself taking up his cross. The true life consists in spiritual union with Christ, in the culture of the soul in holiness, and in the realization of fellowship with God. This is the only blessedness. Such wisdom is better than gold; such understanding is a well-spring of life. He who seeks his happiness in this world and its belongings will miss this inner life of the spirit, which is the life eternal, and when he quits the world, and the world itself passes away, all that he had gained of earth will avail nothing for the peace and salvation of the soul. The crucified Son of man shall one day manifest himself as the Son of God in the glory of his Father. They who would then be owned as in his kingdom must here confess and serve, with humility and sacrifice, their crucified Lord.

APPROPRIATE Hymns.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 73, 89, 95.

Our Father in heaven, we come to thee with wants which thou knowest far better than we, and for blessings which thou art more ready to give than we to ask. But thou hast bidden us to pray; and we love to come, saying, Our Father. Oh, may we have the spirit of little children, and show our love and gratitude in lives of devotion! Thou hast kept us in the watches of the night from every trouble, sorrow, and alarm: and now we bless thee for the day, for life and health, for food and raiment, for home and friends, for means of education and of enjoyment, for means of occupation and of support, for means of improvement in the knowledge of thyself from thy works and thy Word, and for opportunities of doing good to others. Oh! grant us grace that we may use to thy glory the lives which thou didst give, and which thy mercy doth continually spare.

We acknowledge, O Lord! our unworthiness and our sinfulness, and beseech thee to pardon our transgressions and heal our infirmities. Help us

this day to live aright. In the business of life may we be diligent, faithful, and true! and do thou, Lord, prosper the labor of our hands. In our intercourse with others, may we manifest the gentleness, the sincerity, the charity, of the gospel of Christ! May we be patient under trials, meek under injuries, firm against temptation, bold for the truth, zealous for thy cause! May we be kind to the poor, helpful to the suffering, gentle toward all men! [Give unto these children, O Lord! grace to serve thee in the morning of life, and in their thoughts and words, their studies and their play, always to please their Father in heaven.] Remember with thy mercy all our friends; visit with thy grace the homes of all who are dear to us. Build up, O Lord! thy Church; prosper thy kingdom in our land, and throughout the world. Ever guide, keep, and bless us. Bring us to the close of the day in peace, and to the close of life in a hope full of immortality, through Jesus Christ. Amen.