THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT.

FINALLY, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the

power of his might.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Ephesians vi.

THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT.

PRESS on, press on! ye sons of light,

Untiring in your holy fight,

Still treading each temptation down,
And battling for a brighter crown.

Press on, press on! through toil and woe,

With calm resolve, to triumph go;

And make each dark and threatening ill
Yield but a higher glory still.

Press on, press on I still look in faith
To him who conquereth sin and death;
Then shall ye hear his word, "Well done."
True to the last, press on, press on I

WILLIAM GASKELL.

LIGHT.

YE

E are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.

Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.

The seed is the word of God.

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when and are choked with cares and riches

they have heard, go forth,

and pleasures of this life,

and bring no fruit to perfection.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

He that doeth truth cometh to the light.

LIGHT.

GOD help us to let shine the light that His own hand

hath kindled; to take away the bushel of our own placing and to put our light on the candlestick God made for it, that it may give light to all that are in the house. The virtue of the light depends upon its power of illumination. Good works are themselves light. Doing comes closer than having. What one has he may lose; but what one does is never lost. No star-lighted heaven speaks to the heart like a heaven-lighted soul, a soul filled with the echoes. of the spirit's voice; a human star, touched with intelligence, warmed with love, knowing the light and love that kindled both. Each soul seems to have a sphere like the atmosphere around the earth, through which there is an outgoing on mystic threads of communication whereby its own light is imparted. There is something in this world to live for that is not riches; something that no flood-tide of prosperity can ever bring, or ebb-tide of adversity take away; something we carry with us wherever we go. It is what we are, our Best. God make that a light to some life!

THE GREAT SUPPER.

THEN thou makest a

dinner or a supper, call not thy

WHEN

friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.

But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

And they all with one consent began to make excuse.
Then the master of the house

said to his servant,

Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

Luke xiv.