December 13

Luke xv. — 1. Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

2. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

3. And he spake this parable unto them, saying.

4. What man of you having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it?

5. And, when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6. And, when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

7. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance.

8. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

9. And, when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

10. Likewise I say unto you, There is joy in

the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Job xxviii. — 12. But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

13. Man knoweth not the price thereof: neither is it found in the land of the living.

14. The depth saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me.

15. It cannot be gotten for gold; neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

16. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

17. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it; and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

18. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls; for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

19. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it; neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

20. Whence, then, cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

21. Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

22. Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

23. God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof:

28. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding

In the East, women string pieces of silver and gold into necklaces, to be worn around the forehead of the neck, or weave them into head-dresses, bracelets, or anklets. Coin thus appropriated cannot be seized for debt. Sometimes, too, such pieces are souvenirs of friendship. Hence the caverness of this woman to recover a lost coin was more than belonged to its mere value as money. In Palestine sheep are pastured at large, in the rough open country or on the bushy hills; and hence they need the constant watch of the shepherd. A stray sheep would soon be a prey to robbers or wild beasts. When one is missing, the shepherd leaves the flock in the care of the dogs, and goes through the bush and the ravines hunting and calling until he finds it: then, forgetting the trouble it has given him, and his own fatigue, he carries the truant

home with the most tender care and with a heart full of joy. In a country where there are no newspapers to awaken interest in outside affairs, such domestic incidents attract the notice and sympathy of the whole neighborhood. By these familiar examples of friendly sympathy our Lord rebuked the sanctimonious pride of the Pharisees, which would repel the outcast and degraded from the kingdom of God. The angels rejoiced over the recovery of those whom the Pharisees spurned as vile and lost. This very class, who had most need of the gospel, was more accessible to Christ than any other. Their conversion was a strong testimony to the power of the gospel; and they proved an effective agency for the reformation of society. The condescension and grace of Christ were ever conspicuous in his treatment of those whom men despised.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 115, 122, 145.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we acknowledge thy goodness in our creation and preservation, and in the manifold provisions of thy love for the life that now is. Every day we live upon thy bounty; every night we rest under the shadow of thy wing. What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits? For the rest and refreshment of the past night, for the health and comfort with which we greet another day, for the endearments and delights of home, for means of occupation and support, of improvement and usefulness, for all the favors of thy hand so multi-

plied unto us, we render thee most hearty thanks. Freely as we receive may we also give!

O Lord! for Christ's sake have mercy upon us, and take away our sins; and grant that we may prove our gratitude by a loving obedience to thy will. May thy mercy abound toward all classes and conditions of men, and thy salvation fill the whole earth!

Bless this household in each and every member. Oh, may the dove of heavenly peace ever abide in our dwelling! Bless all dear to us; and bring us all at length unto our Father's house, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.