November 19

Ephesians vi. — 1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right.

2. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise).

3. That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

4. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

5. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

6. Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7. With good will doing service as to the Lord, and not to men;

8. Knowing that, whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall be receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

9. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening; knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye

may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.

14. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness:

15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19. And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20. For which I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The gospel of Christ would regulate every relation of life in the spirit of love. The full commandment, which carries with it the promise of God's blessing upon obedient children, is enforced by the teaching and the example of Christ. But, as an encouragement to filial obedience, it is required of parents that they shall not irritate children by unreasonable blame or vexatious commands, but by example, as well as by discipline and precept, shall nurture them in the Lord. So, too, while honesty, fidelity, and good-will are enjoined upon servants, all injustice and oppression are forbidden to masters. Both stand upon the same level before God.

All duties are summed up in doing the will of God; and for this we must equip ourselves with the armor which he has provided, — a panoply for the whole man, — truth girding him about with its support; righteousness, wrought for him by

Christ, wrought within him by the Spirit, defending his breast; his feet clothed with the gospel, ready to run swiftly on the errand of peace; in his left hand the shield of faith, broad enough to cover his whole person, and to catch every dart of the enemy; his head crowned with salvation, as a helmet strong and sure; in his right hand the all-penetrating, all-conquering Word of God, which, wielded in the Spirit by the might of prayer, is sharper than any two-edged sword.

At the gate of Pompeii was found the skeleton of a sentinel in armor, who had stood upright at his post, spear in hand, until he was smothered by the ashes — so must the Christian stand firmly at his post, though all the powers of darkness and evil should gather about him, and the world seem buried in night. At the last, he shall have the reward of him that overcometh.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 53, 124.

Thou holy and blessed Son of God, who for our sakes didst endure such contradiction of sinners against thyself, grant us, we pray thee, the spirit of meekness and patience under injury, and of forgiveness toward all who do us wrong. How often have we grieved and offended thee! Have mercy upon us, we beseech thee, and teach us to be merciful unto all men.

[May the children of this family set thy love before them as their chief portion in life, and make thy Word their guide! May they always speak the truth, and grow up free from guile! May they hear the voice of Jesus, and follow him!] Be gracious, O Lord! to all our kindred. Visit thy Church

with thy salvation. Inspire thy people with a readiness to testify of thy love, and to invite others to thy grace; and do thou cause thy glory to shine forth, that all the ends of the earth may acknowledge thee.

O God, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil! grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that, when he shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where, with thee, O Father! and thee, O Holy Ghost! he liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen.