February 19

Deuteronomy xxiii.—24. When thou comest into thy neighbor's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill, at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.

25. When thou comest into the standing-corn of thy neighbor, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbor's standing-corn.

Mark ii.—23. And it came to pass, that he went through the corn-fields on the sabbath-day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.

24. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath-day that which is not lawful?

25. And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need and was an hungred, he and they that were with him?

26. How he went into the house of God, in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the show-bread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?

Christ redeemed the sabbath from the superstitious forms and stringent rules by which the Jews had made it a heavy yoke, and restored it to its proper uses, — for the thankful worship of God, and for services of kindness and mercy to men. These two incidents commend works of necessity and works of mercy to be done upon the sabbath.

The first took place during a walk to the synagogue. In Palestine, the fields are not divided by fences; but private property is marked by boundary-stones, and sometimes a path or highway runs through fields of grain. When I entered Palestine from the desert, the wheat was just ripening; and, as our path lay through a large field, my dragoman plucked a handful of ears, rubbed out the grain, and offered it to me to eat, saying, "Good, very good." This any traveller was at liberty to do, according to the law of Moses. The Pharisees accused the disciples, not of taking that to which they

27. And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

28. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Mark iii.—1. And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

2. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath-day, that they might accuse him.

3. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

4. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath-days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

5. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out; and his hand was restored whole as the other.

6. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him how they might destroy him.

had no right, but because they thus satisfied their hunger upon the sabbath! But Jesus set man and his wants above the day and its forms.

In the second instance, these sticklers for rules and forms of their own making, instead of entreating Jesus to heal a poor cripple, or watching with prayerful interest for some token of his mercy, set out to accuse him for deeds of kindness done upon the sabbath. Grieved to indignation at their lack of sympathy for the suffering, at their perversion of the day which God had given as a special blessing to the poor, at their turning religion into red-tape regulations that choked all charity and humanity, he looked round on these hard-hearted hypocrites with anger; then poured forth his compassion upon the cripple at his side. May we learn to keep the sabbath holy, with a devotion to God that blends itself with holy love to man!

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 10, 37. 48.

Almighty God, from whom all good things do come, we thank and praise thee for the mercies of this holy day. Make our hearts so deeply thankful for its many blessings, that we shall be ready to devote ourselves afresh — body, soul, and spirit — to thy service through the coming week.

Give unto us, O God! more of the mind which was in Christ Jesus. May we esteem others better than ourselves! Teach us to pity and to help all who are in want and sorrow. May we show that we are Christians, not in name only, but in deed and truth; and, by our holy and blameless lives, may we adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things! May thy truth make us free!

Almighty Father, teach us to imitate thy love, that we may be sanctified in heart and life, fitted to serve thee here, and to dwell with thee hereafter. May we be temples of the Holy Ghost, and

be sealed by him unto the day of redemption! May his gracious teaching enlighten us, and his holy comfort cheer and refresh our souls! May no cherished sin grieve this blessed Spirit, or quench the flame of love which he would kindle within us!

Bless, O Lord! thy Church with light and peace. Bless our government and our country. Make us a nation fearing thee and working righteousness.

Be gracious to all our dear friends and relatives, and guide their feet into the way of holiness. Bring nigh any who may be yet far from thee. Stablish, strengthen, and settle those who know and love thee.

Hear, O Lord! we beseech thee, these our supplications. Pardon for thy mercy's sake all our iniquities, and do for us exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.