March 9

Luke xii.—13. And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

14. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

15. And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

16. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully;

17. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18. And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20. But God said unto him, Thou fool! this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?

21. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

32. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

How base is the greed of gain! Our Lord was discoursing of the ever-watchful, ever-merriful care of our heavenly Father over us, and had given this as a reason for confessing him before the world, when this mercenary man sought to take advantage of his reputation as a prophet to settle a dispute about property. Thus did Mammon not only displace moral truth, but intrude into the presence of Christ.

Again and again did Jesus warn his hearers against covetousness, and always with marked solemnity. Life consists not in things, but in truth: and is sustained, not by possessions, but by prayer. Worldly good can never increase enjoyment in the ratio of its own increase. He took the case of a prosperous man of the world, against whom no want of integrity or morality is alleged; yet he is guilty of a fourfold

33. Sell that ye have, and give alms: provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corropeth.

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

35. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

36. And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord when he will return from the wedding; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

37. Blessed are those servants whom the lord, when he cometh, shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

38. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

39. And this know, that, if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

40. Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

folly: "He forgets the Giver (my fruits, my goods); he greedily reserves all for himself; he imagines such things to be food for his soul: he forgets death, which is every day possible."

By contrast with such a life, and such a fate, Jesus exhorted his disciples to lay aside worldly cares, and seek the kingdom of God, trusting to him for support in this life, and for salvation in the next; to use their property as stewards for the good of others, not setting their affection upon any treasure this side of heaven. There is the chief treasure of the soul, Christ the Lord; and he that waits and longs for his appearing shall be blessed with a princely, a heavenly treasure that cannot fail. To him death can come only as the surprise of an ineffable joy.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 51, 97, 109.

O God, who makest the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice! we lift up our hearts to thee with thanksgiving for the joy of another day; for vigor for its duties, appetite for its pleasures, and readiness for its opportunities of good. Bless us in our labors, keep us pure in our enjoyments, incite us to do thy will; and oh! we beseech thee, preserve us from harm, from temptation, and from sin. Keep us from that love of this world which would estrange us from thee. Oh, may our treasure and our hearts be in heaven! Seeing that we know not what a day may bring forth, we pray, that, if trials and disappointments shall come, we may have grace to meet them, and to profit by them; that in all events we may see

the hand of our Father, and may say, "Thy will be done." Conscious of our own weakness, humbly confessing our sins, we cast ourselves upon thine infinite grace in Christ our Saviour for pardon, strength, and sanctification. May we as a family honor thee in our daily walk and conversation! May old and young alike know the beauty of holiness, the joy of consecration to Christ! Grant thy grace to all who are dear to us; and grant us grace to hold all men dear for Christ's sake, and to win them to the knowledge of his gospel. And may the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.