heaven-rich in the inward light of God's Spirit which dwells in the soul, and, passing through the eye as a prism, throws a sunny radiance of variegated beauty over the external scene. Of such as these is many a Christian labouring man, and many a sleepless Christian mother, and many a father of children whom the world accounts a poverty stricken and hopeless struggler with an evil destiny" (E. White).

They whose poverty brings hunger may be consoled by remembering that our Lord Himself lived many years on daily bread supplied day by day through manual toil, that He knew the pangs of hunger, and how the tempter takes advantage of bodily weakness and privation. They whom God hath chosen rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom," need not envy those to whom He entrusts silver and gold. Every believer possesses more than all the wealth of which any Croesus ever boasted, because God is his, and all God has to give. "For all things are yours; whether the world, or things present or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." The universe belongs to every child of His, not although, but because it is in the Father's keeping. From His infinite store He day by day selects and bestows on every child of His that which He knows to be most suitable. May we not as surely feel that we possess the whole when our Father gives us our portion day by day, as if we ourselves kept the key? Are not His choice and

distribution likely to be more suited to our real welfare than if we selected for ourselves?

To possess God is to possess a treasure satisfying, enduring, infinite. No failure of earthly hopes can deprive a Christian of his inheritance. The writer was preaching on the sufficiency of God for a possession. A stranger in the congregation was overheard repeating to himself, "Forty thousand pounds." As he left the church he was again overheard saying in cheerful tones, "I'm glad I've lost it— I'll have God." "Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." "A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked." ever tempted to repine because some who are not the children of God "have more than heart could wish," he can say, "Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me by Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison with Thee. My heart and my flesh faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."

If

VII. PRAYER FOR THE GIFT.

As we ask only for bread sufficient for the day, this prayer is obviously given us for daily use. In answer to the prayer of to-day I receive bread for

to-day; to-morrow's supply must be sought to-morrow from the same Father in heaven. Ever - recurring need renders necessary ever - renewed petitions. Though the highest privilege of the creature is to hold intercourse with the Creator, it would often be neglected did not necessity prompt. This constantly links earth's little things with heaven. Our Father's bounty never fails, but He would have His children's faith and gratitude nourished. "The tree of promise needs shaking by the hand of prayer." The fruit tastes the sweeter and is more nutritious when sought and received from God. He does not limit the approaches of His children to great crises at distant intervals, but would hear their voice each day. Not as the high priest once a year entering within the veil; not as the worshippers at the annual festivals ; not even as those who on each weekly Sabbath went up to the temple for worship, but day by day we are permitted to appear before Him. Thus graciously

does our Father ordain that His children should never be long out of His company; that their need should be a spur to their devotion; that thus in coming to Him for the Father's bread they may receive much more in a Father's blessing.

It is a social prayer, and implies a company of suppliants. This at once suggests the family. They share the daily supply, and thus are taught to seek it together. Family prayer is not a mere puritan usage, the peculiarity of a party; it is founded in the nature of man, and is universal in its reasonableness and

But

obligation. How seemly, how beautiful, the daily worship of the gathered household; parents and children together looking up to heaven and saying, “Our Father, give us this day our daily bread"! How unnatural the opposite! Instead of any argument being needed in defence of family worship, argument is needed for the neglect of it. Public service in the church, however useful, should not interfere with this more ancient worship of the family. The early Christians met on the first day of the week to commemorate the Resurrection. As circumstances permitted, they might assemble in the church more frequently. each family necessarily met every day to partake of food, and so they met for worship daily, asking and receiving that food from their Father. There is no such argument for daily service in the church, however profitable some may feel this to be, as there is for daily worship in the family; and so far as the former discourages the latter, its claims become questionable. The worship of the household precedes that of the congregation, and the priesthood of the Family has a more ancient title than that of the Church. Enforcing this truth, the late Dean Alford of Canterbury condemned the practice of the head of a household surrendering his position at family worship to a clergyman, who there is officially inferior, "and without any dispute the less is blessed of the better."

The pious practice of "grace before meat" is encouraged by this petition. If we ask for food each day, so when we receive it we should give thanks for

it. This should not degenerate into a mere fashionable form, but, however brief, should be solemn and earnest. How are we "better than sheep and goats who nourish a blind life," if we do not acknowledge the Giver of our food? The beasts of the field unconsciously "seek their meat from God," and we show our superiority to them when with reverence, truth and gratitude we ask our Father for our daily bread. "Carnal men are like swine which raven upon the acorns, but look not up to the cak whence they drop." In this giving of thanks we have the emphatic example of our Lord when He exerted His miraculous power in multiplying the loaves, no less than when at Emmaus "He took bread and blessed it." His giving thanks for the bread He had created seems to have impressed the mind of St. John quite as much as the miracle. Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks." The place was specially signalized by the fact of this thanksgiving, this "grace before meat." If then the Lord Himself gave thanks for bread He had provided by His Divine power, how much more should we who are entirely dependent on Him for it!

Such prayer for bread is fraught with spiritual benefit. It teaches us humility. How preposterous for those to be proud who are daily petitioners for the very bread they eat! As the heathen king said to those who flattered him as a god, "I require sleep every night, I know I am not a god" (Saphir). We