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Lord." And again he says, "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ." And St. Peter counsels you in the same strain, "Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward." These are golden words, which you should carry in your memory, and put to use every day. Whatever kind of masters you may have, be faithful to them; serve them well; serve them heartily; if they be gentle you have cause to love and honour them greatly; if they be harsh and hard with you, then look past them and consider in all your service that you are really serving Christ; this thought will help to make you patient when you are tempted to be impatient, gentle and submissive when you are tempted to be hot and angry. There will be trials in service; you cannot be free from them; your whole life on earth is a state of trial; you must not expect all things to be smooth; you must be prepared for difficulties in your path; but

remember that as God has placed you among servants, so He will help you in all trials, by His Holy Spirit, if you give yourself to Him. Your Saviour Himself was amongst men 66 as one that serveth," and He has thus sanctified and honoured a servant's lot; you may well be content to follow your Saviour's steps, and to spend your life in ministering to others.

In short, I pray you always to look up to God, always to look beyond the world to that better world which is above. As the Apostle counsels you, go through your worldly work in a Christian and religious spirit; look upon your service as your appointed path to heaven. Do all to the glory of God; do all "as unto Christ," "as to the Lord," "for ye serve the Lord Christ."

In a little while the trials of service will be at an end. In a few years at the most you will have passed hence; all your earthly labours will be done; all your hardships will have ceased; not for long does Christ Jesus try His own; not for long will the struggle last; soon will the faithful ones of the flock reap their reward; and only think how greatly you will then rejoice if you are able to look back on a devout and holy life, on a meek earnest walk with God through the rough places of this present world.

And now I commend you, my young friend, unto God's most merciful hands; may "the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON.

WILL YOU GIVE THANKS FOR

YOUR RECOVERY?

THERE were ten lepers, and all were cured, and but one gave thanks. Only hear how they prayed for health, when they were sick. When our Lord was entering a certain village they met Him, and "lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." While they were in pain, they were ready to fly to Christ; they besieged Him with earnest, hearty prayers; theirs was no lip-service then; they cried out from the bottom of their hearts for release

from pain. Our Lord, as He is wont, was moved with compassion; He spoke the word, and the pain went; the disease vanished; in an instant their loathsome bodies were made sound. One would have thought that the whole ten who had prayed so anxiously for health, when they found health come so suddenly, so wonderfully, so miraculously, would have fallen on the

ground and wept forth their thanks with tears of joy, that grateful words would have broken forth from their full and overflowing hearts, that they would have clung to the very feet of the merciful Jesus and followed Him all the days of their life.

Alas, only one returned to give thanks, one poor stranger, one despised Samaritan, one out of ten! How sad, how very sad, and how sinful the unthankfulness of the nine!

But how is it in these days? Is it different or better now? It is true that when men are ill, when they are racked with pain, when they are in torment, they fly to God in prayer; they lift up their voices; they feel that He only can help; their pain drives them to Him for help; they cry out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us;" you may hear them begging, craving, beseeching for a little ease, for a little rest, for some release from pain, for the restoration of their broken health. Even those who have been little used to pray, men who have been thinking little about God, think about Him then, and begin to lift up their souls in anxious supplications. There is plenty of praying when men are in pain, and sick, and ready to die. Thank God, men do hasten to Him in time of need; they