THE Lord other any aunt them, whither He Himself would come. Therefore said He unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest. Go your ways behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. -St. Luke x. 1-3. ST T. LUKE is mentioned by name only in three brief passages of St. Paul's writings. From these we learn that he was of Gentile extraction, being born probably at Antioch in Syria; that he was a physician, and the "fellow-labourer" of St. Paul. He is generally allowed to be the author of the Acts of the Apostles, as well as of the Gospel which bears his name. The first historical notice we have of St. Luke is where he joins the Apostle Paul at a period in his career to us intensely interesting. St. Luke is at Troas, whither he had come doubtless to preach the Gospel. Led by the Spirit, St. Paul and his party pass by Mysia and come down to Troas. There the vision of the man of Macedonia appears, and certainly gathering that it was God's Will that the Gospel should be preached in Europe, St. Paul "loosed from Troas," and St. Luke journeyed with him as far as to Philippi. He again is the companion of the great apostle of the Gentiles in his third missionary journey. In the memorable journey to Rome he is again with him, and remains with him during his first imprisonment in the city which was then the mistress of the known world. St. Paul himself testifies that he was again his friend in his second imprisonment, and that he remained faithful to him to the end. This is all the reliable information we have regarding the life of him "whose praise is in the Gospel," who was called to be an "evangelist and physician of souls." As we read these few notices of this tried and valued friend of St. Paul, who shared his labours, and was not driven from his side by the terrors of death, we should earnestly pray that his example may inspire us with courage to be constant to our Master and Friend. THE HESE things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.-St. John xv. 17—19. UR Church commemorates together the two Apostles preached the Gospel together, and that both suffered martyrdom by crucifixion on the same day. The Gospel for to-day refers to the sufferings and doings of all the apostles, and warns them that the world will hate and persecute them; but they should not be left without guidance and comfort: the Spirit of truth should lead them into the truth to which they must bear witness. Their trials, their sufferings should be severe, but not severer than their Master's; and they ought not to expect that "the servant should be greater than his Lord." Trials must not daunt them. They must do the work committed to them, and commend themselves and their work to God. "They knew Whom they believed, and were per suaded that He was able to keep that which they had committed unto Him against that day." They were willing therefore to suffer, neither were they ashamed; for their treasure was with Him to Whom they had committed it, and their reward was sure. Do we commit all that we do into God's safe keeping? Do we, early in the morning, commend ourselves to God; and in the night season do we think over what we have done throughout the day, and commit it to His keeping? There is nothing so small or trifling that we may not commit it to God if it be done from good motives. Do we bear witness to the truth, by our words, and lives, by the manner in which we do our day's work, and by the tone of our conversation during the serious business or the pleasant recreations of our lives? Oh, that these questions and thoughts may lead us to ask for more faith, more confidence in God's strength and mercy, and for more grace to do all our work as in His sight, and to commit everything we do to His safe keeping! was set, ESUS, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain; unto He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.-St. Matthew v. 1-8. NO-DAY we commemorate the birthday into life and immortality, not of any one individual saint, but of all those who "through faith and patience inherit the promises." The lesson we would learn for ourselves is that taught us by St. Paul, and also by the Collect for this day, that we should be "followers of the blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living." To-day, then, we commemorate those whose lives have been lives of self-sacrifice, who have cheerfully and lovingly taken up and borne their daily crosses, whose pious acts, though perhaps unrecorded by man, are nevertheless written in the book of God's remembrance. Our Gospel tells us who they are. They are the poor in spirit, the "meek" souls who "little dream Their daily strife an angel's theme." They are those who mourn, who hunger and thirst after righteousness, who are merciful, who are pure in heart. Here we have the rule of their lives. Earnest striving for personal holiness; constant effort to edify others; and all for Christ's sake." Do we desire "to follow the blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living?" Then we must seek to please God, and "shew our love for His Name's sake by ministering unto His saints," and by works and labour that proceed from love. We must do all for God's glory, and not our own. Whether in speaking or in silence, in our public acts or the comparative concealment of the domestic circle, we should seek the praise of God and not the praise of man. If we desire praise for what we do or leave undone, what we say or feave unsaid, then we rob God of the glory due to Him. FOR ONE WEEK. Sunday Morning. The portion of Scripture appointed for the day, together with the comment thereon having been read, the Master of the house shall say, Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. For a Blessing on Public Worship. offered up this day by Thy Holy Church throughout the world. Bless the preaching of Thy Word and the administration of Thy Holy Sacraments. Give grace to the clergy (especially to the appointed pastor of this parish); let thy blessing rest on those who lead Thy praises: may they do so not to gain the praise of men, but to glorify Thee and to help in rendering more worthy the services in Thy Church. Preserve all the worshippers from coldness or formality, from irreverence or wandering thoughts; quicken them, O Lord, by Thy grace, that they may praise Thee with joyful lips, and with one mind and one heart serve and please Thee; through Thy most blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. (Here may be introduced the Collect for the Day.) Intercession. ETERNAL God, look down in mercy on this parish. Bless the work of the Church here, and grant that all who name the Name of Christ may depart from iniquity. Unite us all together in the bonds of love under our appointed pastor, that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Thee and of Thy Son. Bless the Sunday and daily schools; may the children be early taught to fear Thee. Give power and success to the ministration of Thy Word and Sacraments, and prosper every work carried on here for the spiritual and temporal welfare of Thy people. Pour down Thy blessing upon all our relations and friends, succour the poor and the needy, have mercy on the sick and dying, and help us all to adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour in all things, that our example and precept may be for good and not for evil; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall follow the Lord's Prayer, to be said by all with an audible voice. UR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil : For Thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen. O Lord, save Thy servants; And let our cry come unto Thee. Commendation. NTO Thy hands we commend ourselves and all our relations and friends this day. Be with us even to its close. Grant that we may never lose sight of Thee, but may we think over Thy words and do everything as in Thy sight; for our dear Lord's sake. Amen. THE 2 Cor. xiii. HE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. |