June 19

Godliness is profitable unto all things. — 1 TIM. iv. 8.

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

SEEK first, not exclusively: this is no rebuke to intensest business devotion. Nor does "first" mean merely in order of time, — say prayers in the morning, serve God on Sunday, the first day of the week, get religion in early life. "First" means chiefly, — serve God supremely, even in secular matters.

This does not imply that one shall be most of the time thinking about religious things. Our supreme secular purpose in going to business is to provide comfort for our families; yet we hardly think of a loved face in business hours, except as in leisure moments it peers in through the window of the heart. But however absorbed in the scramble of trade, there is always over us a delightful, though vague, impression of home and its loves: just as there is always an impression of the sky over our heads, though we do not look up at it incessantly. So may the delightful sense of the kingdom of God environ us, the sceptre-shadow of his righteousness be always upon our consciences, the benediction of his love upon our hearts! This feeling will add all good things to us, in that it will make all things good. It will mark everything we possess as a souvenir of infinite affection.

James H. Ludlow.

Saviour, happy would I be, If I could but trust in thee, — Trust thy wisdom me to guide; Trust thy goodness to provide; Trust thy saving love and power; Trust thee every day and hour.

EDWIN H. NEVIN.