February 17

Matthew vi. — 19. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal;

20. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23. But, if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.

25. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink: nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26. Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns;

But we must think and plan for the morrow if we would get on in the world, would carry on its business, make provision for the support and education of our families. The Scriptures teach us to be "not slothful in business," as well as "ferrent in spirit," in both alike "serving the Lord." The "thought" which our Lord condemns is such as divides the mind with uncertainties, distracts it with anxieties, un-settled with self-trade; in a word, it is care. Each day will bring its own burdens and cares; and it is folly to increase these by anticipating those of to-morrow. The antidote to worldly care is faith in God, and devotion to his will. This gives stability to the mind, unity to its desires, consistency to

yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27. Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28. And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29. And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32. (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek;) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

its purposes, loftiness to its aims, assurance to its hopes. If our hearts are set upon spiritual good, the treasure in heaven, this will hold them up and steady them amid all the fluctuations of life. If we have unreservedly chosen God as our portion, we have an object great enough to fill our thoughts and satisfy our desires, and nothing can really disturb us. If we are the children of God, under his loving care, the goodness that clothes the flowers and feeds the birds will provide for all our necessities. Wherefore let it be our one object, our first care, to serve and honor God, living unto him in all our thoughts, and trusting to him the care of our earthly life.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 32, 56, 68, 118.

Blessed be God, the Father of all mercies, for the daily comforts of his providence and grace. Thy mercies, O Lord! are new every morning. Thou spreadest our table, and fillest our cup. In thee we live and move, and have our being. Grant us grace, we beseech thee, ever to live unto thee, to do thy holy will, and to glorify thee in our bodies and spirits which are thine. Suffer not the cares of this life to distract our minds from thee; but may we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

Give us, this day, our daily bread; and feed our souls with that living bread which came down from heaven, of which if a man eat he shall never die. May Christ be in us the hope of glory, and the power of an endless life! O Lord, the Maker and Ruler of all! we bless thee for all thy marvellous

works, and for thy ways unto the children of men. Thou givest us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. Bless the earth, we pray thee, with abundant harvests, that there may be seed for the sower, and bread for the eater. And, O most merciful Father! do thou visit our land with plentious showers of grace, making thy word fruitful, reviving thy Church, and causing righteousness to flourish and abound. Rule in the hearts of our rulers, and turn the people unto the things of thy kingdom. We commend unto thee all dear to us. We commit our souls unto thee for this day; beseeching thee for Christ's sake to forgive our sins, to keep us unspotted from the world, and pure in thy sight. And to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be glory forever. Amen.