If we apply the same test to home life, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," we shall find it equally true. For the godly man will be a temperate man, and will not squander away his wages in drink, but will rather employ them in providing comforts, and keeping a respectable home. He will be a prudent man, and will be willing to deny himself some present gratification, that he may lay by for times of distress. He will be a wise father, training his children to habits of industry, of which he and they will reap the benefit in after years. The good wife will not be a spendthrift or waster, but will feel it a sacred duty to employ her money wisely, and make the most of the means at her command: knowing that she will be called to give account of her talents, she will be improving them to the uttermost. The godly man will not be an idler or lover of pleasure, but will do his work cheerfully and heartily; and while the slothful come to beggary and shame, he will be established in honour.

The fear of God brings with it those good qualities which ensure a true prosperity; and I trust the consideration of this text will suggest some thoughts to your minds, and lead you

to see that God does not promise more than . He will perform, when He says, Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." For what is the righteousness of God but justice, truthfulness, temperance, diligence, mercy? And will not the exercise of these ensure sufficiency of needful things?

Contentment will give to a little the value of much. St. Paul says, "Godliness with contentment is great gain. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." Food and raiment, you will observe-the very things promised by your heavenly Father; having them, be content, for "they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition "." Again, Solomon says, "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith "." Love, kindness, and cheerfulness, will sweeten even poverty, while a cross, irritable temper makes a person wretched though surrounded by every luxury that wealth can purchase.

For a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth":" his real life is within; a cheerful disposition will

5 1 Tim. vi. 6. 8, 9.

6 Prov. xv. 17.

7 Luke xii. 15.

make happiness for itself; a mind at peace with God will not be shaken by those little cares and disappointments which irritate and wound the selfish man and the worldling. As our poet Milton says:

"The mind is its own place, and in itself

Can make a hell of Heaven, a Heaven of hell.”

In a few tracts, of which this is the first, it is designed to bring before you some of the duties which should be practised, and some of the evils which should be avoided, in order to secure domestic happiness and well-being; but the one thing most needful, the good part which Mary chose when she sat at our Saviour's feet and heard His Word, must lie at the root of all. The Spirit of the Lord will lead you into all truth

if

you will seek His guidance. The Jews of old honoured the Lord with the firstfruits of their flocks and of their fields, and you may honour Him far more worthily by the firstfruits of your talents and endeavours. Let your first thoughts on rising be directed to Him; let the early days of your life be devoted to His service; let every meaner thought and aim give way to the steady, single-hearted desire to glorify God in your body, soul, and spirit, which are His. And if the anxious thought will arise in your mind sometimes, when you look around upon those depending upon you, "What

shall we eat?" or, "What shall we drink?"

or,

"Wherewithal shall we be clothed?" then think also with faith of that command and promise of our Lord, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you; " and comfort yourself also with these words of the Psalmist, "Put thou thy trust in the Lord, and be doing good: dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." "I have been young, and now am old and yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread 8.

8 99

:

8 Ps. xxxvii. 3. 25.

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TRACTS ON PRACTICAL SUBJECTS,

ADDRESSED TO

THE WORKING CLASSES.

No. II.

MARRIAGE.

"Let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."-EPHESIANS V. 33.

You who are about to enter the holy estate of Matrimony, and take upon you vows binding for your whole life, I would earnestly exhort to reflect upon the sacred nature of that union. Marriage is the closest bond into which two human beings can enter, for a man shall "leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife and they twain shall be one flesh'." It should not therefore be undertaken lightly or wantonly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God, as the Marriage Service tells us. People too often lose sight of the sacredness and solemnity of this bond; they think that when they weary of one another, they can separate. Inconstancy to the marriage

A