January 7

Luke xvii. — 1. Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come; but woe unto him through whom they come!

2. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3. Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and, if he repent, forgive him. 4. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 5. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye might say unto this sycamino-

tree. Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

7. But which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8. And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9. Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

The sycamine, or sycamore of Palestine — quite another tree from the tall, smooth sycamore of the American river-bottoms — is remarkable for the darkness and wrath of its roots, and the strength with which these are fastened in the soil. When full grown, its trunk is large and firm, and its arms spread out widely only a few feet from the ground. It is a triumphant of stability. To uproot this most fixed and solid of trees, and plant it upon the most unstable of foundations, would be a miracle indeed. But it is almost as great a

miracle in human nature when the proud, envious, selfish, passionate heart is brought to exercise the grace of forgiveness, though offences are repeated daily sevenfold. Yet even such a subjection of self-will, such a wondrous exercise of patience and forbearance, is nothing more than the duty of one who professes to be a follower of the neck and lowly Jesus. We can set up no claim of merit or reward, where, as servants, we are obligated to every duty by the just requirement of our Master. Well may we also pray, "Lord, increase our faith."

APPROPRIATE HYNES.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 30, 57, 153.

Blessed Saviour, who hast said unto us, Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: we cast ourselves upon thy promises, and beseech thee give us faith to serve thee and honor thee in our lives. May we do all our duty in thy strength and through thy love!

O God our Father! look down upon us this morning in mercy. Our cup runs over with blessings. We pray thee to fill our hearts with thankfulness, and our mouths with praise.

We know not how to praise thee or to pray to thee as we ought. Oh! teach us to come before thee aright. Prepare our hearts; draw us to thyself. Enable us in prayer to hold communion with thee as our Father, and with thy Son Jesus Christ.

O thou holy Lamb of God! take away our sins. O thou holy, life-giving Spirit! come thou into all our hearts. Warm and purify and comfort us; and never leave or forsake us until we meet around the throne of God and the Lamb in heaven, and are forever beyond the reach of Satan, sin, and death.

We pray thee, O Lord! to bless us during the day now begun. As a family may we be under thy care, and seek, own, and serve thee in all the duties of the day. Teach us to live as true disciples of Christ, desiring to do his will, and to follow his

example in all things. May thy word be our guide and counsellor! May we be in thy fear all the day long! May we have grace to deny ourselves, and to take up our cross, and follow our blessed Master! Suffer us not by any carelessness of conduct to bring a reproach upon our Christian profession. Give us grace to bridle our tongues, to fight against the risings of sinful passion, to keep careful watch over our thoughts and affections. May we be willing to serve others in thy name! May we have the spirit of forbearance and charity, and be ready to forgive any who offend against us! Oh! keep us unspotted from the world. May we go about doing good, and be useful to all around us! May we be strong in faith, and in the power of the Redeemer's might!

We beseech thee, O God! to look favorably upon our country. Guide those in authority, and give them true wisdom. Make us to be a happy people, fearing and loving thee. Give unto thy dear Son the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. Gather in thine ancient people Israel. Grant that the veil may at length be taken away, and the true light shine into every heart. Hear these supplications, most merciful Father, and graciously answer us, for the sake of our only Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.