September 14

We that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord.

PROV. xix. 17.

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. — MATT. xxv. 40.

HOW little we know of what we are and have and do! Faith itself does not remove all blindness to the realities of God's kingdom. Burning though be our zeal, and unremitting our work, the veil is still before our eyes, and we cannot conceive of the glory of our calling. Prompted by the love of Christ, we seek to remove misery, but with our Bibles in our hands and hearts, in which these words are so clearly written, forget that all the time it is really the Lord, and not merely suffering men, whom we have cherished and comforted.

How constant, too, the opportunity for such service! "The least of these my brethren:" that is, the very lowest in knowledge, honor, influence, holiness of life. Though full of faults, he is still a brother in whom Christ dwells, and through whom Christ comes.

Homer tells of Ulysses dwelling for a time unknown in his Ithaca, a beggar, abused, insulted, struck by some of his people but kindly treated by others, until the hour when all had been tested came, and the dishonored beggar was found to be the absent lord. The King is here, and this very day he walks our streets and enters our homes. Happy they who even though they do not recognize him, give him the sympathy of their hearts, and freely administer of whatever they have.

Henry E. Jacobs

Oh, may our sympathizing breasts The generous pleasure know Kindly to share in others' joy, And weep for others' woe!

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.