ness in all things than any worldly consideration can supply, who looks forward to an inheritance above. "A servant with this clause Makes drudgery divine; Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws Makes that and the action fine." Noble work, God-glorifying toil is not confined to the higher walks of life. It is not the Queen, the authoress, the teacher, the mistress of a family alone, who can serve the cause of God and Christ, and win the welcome, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter ye into the joy of your Lord." It is not in the saloons of the palace, or the halls of the learned, or the wards of the hospital where soldiers lie suffering and dying, or the cells of the criminal, that women can perform deeds of heroism and display a patience, a courage, and a self-sacrificing love that gains the commendation of Heaven. In the midst of a godless and worthless family; amidst the privations of a home once crowned with plenty, but from which the stay and support has been taken; in the incessant claims of a nursery, and by the sick and dying bed, such service has been rendered as no money could repay, and such true philanthropy shown as God will not fail to reward. It may be that some whose lot it is to serve, have never thought that in their daily life they have to live to God, and have never realized how blessed a thing labour is when done for Christ. You have had no thought beyond your earthly master and your earthly wages; you have lost sight altogether of your heavenly Father and a heavenly recompense. Let the words of the apostles lead you to a more correct and more blessed conception of your position, your duty, and your prospect. Seek, if you have not already sought, reconciliation with God, through faith in the atoning death of Christ; and then seek to serve Him by the faithful discharge of the duties devolving upon you. So shall you merit the honourable title, A good servant, and verily you shall not fail of your reward. "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the Church which is at Cenchrea: that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus: who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the Churches of the Gentiles. "Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. "Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord."-Rom. xvi. VIII. THE PIETY OF WOMAN. HE persons of whom the Apostle Paul thus speaks with THE commendation and affection were Christian women, with the exception of Aquila who was the husband of Priscilla. Phebe, who is mentioned first, was a Christian matron, probably a widow, who resided at Cenchrea, the eastern port of Corinth. She appears to have been a person of considerable property and influence, and was evidently distinguished by sincere and fervent piety. Business, either of a private nature, or connected with the work of the Lord, called her to Rome, and Paul availed himself of the opportunity to send by her hands a letter to the Christians in that city. The subscript of this epistle is "Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe, servant of the Church at Cenchrea." In this letter the apostle commends her to the welcome and regard of the members of the Church as worthy of their esteem and affection, alike on the grounds of her personal Christian character, and the service which she had rendered to the saints. "She hath been," he says, a succourer of many, and of myself also." At the same time he requests that they will render her any assistance in their power, in the business which had occasioned her visit to the imperial city. 66 The other holy women mentioned in this epistle, to whom |