September 19

Ye are the salt of the earth.—Matthew 5:13.

BELIEVING the gospel myself, do I seek to lead others to receive it? Trusting to Christ as the only and all-sufficient Saviour, do I endeavor to win others to him? Remembering that example is more powerful than precept, do I seek to be a living example of the blessed effects of the gospel? By a consistent, holy, exemplary life, and conversation, do I strive to adorn the doctrine of Christ, and so to commend his service to others?

Christians are the Bible of the world, to which it looks to judge of the reality of religion. They should so live that all may believe it.

There is an energy of moral suasion in a good man's life, passing the highest efforts of the orator's genius. The seen but silent beauty of holiness speaks more eloquently of God and duty, than the tongues of men or angels. Christianity itself, I believe, owes by far the greater part of its moral power, not to the miracles or precepts or parables of Christ, but to his own character, and the character it is fitted to form in his disciples.—CHALMERS.

Take my soul, and body's powers;

Take my memory and my will;

All my goods, and all my hours;

All I think, or know, or feel;

All I hope, or wish, or do;

All my heart, and make it new.

Take my life, and let it be,

'Wholly consecrate to thee!