cheek of sorrow, and lead the poor and needy to Him who was anointed" to bind up the broken-hearted, to give the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." In acts of piety like these, women find their appropriate sphere of Christian labour, and greatly promote the cause of Christ.

But the piety of Phebe found expression in other ways. She was not only a succourer of many, but of Paul also. Priscilla, with her husband Aquila, were, the apostle says, "my helpers in Christ Jesus: who have for my life laid down their own necks ;" and "Mary bestowed much labour on him." These expressions indicate that these pious women had rendered very substantial assistance to the great apostle of the Gentiles in his arduous enterprise,-assistance which, in one case, had laid all the Churches of the Gentiles, as well as himself, under lasting obligation. The particulars of this special service are not recorded: perhaps it was in the riot raised by Demetrius and the silversmiths, that Priscilla and Aquila rescued the apostle; perhaps an attack was made upon the house where Paul was known to lodge, and the faithful and courageous pair faced the assailants and drove them away;-in some way they had risked their lives for him. The preservation of the life of one who was a chosen vessel unto Christ, to bear His name before the Gentiles, and kings," was most valuable service. There were other times when he needed succour,- -seasons when his mind was discouraged, when his hands hung down, when he was disappointed and depressed by the want of constancy of some of his converts, and by the malignity and violence of his adversaries.

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The foremost servants of God have had their seasons of depression and weakness and want. Elijah had need of the cake which the widow of Zarephath daily supplied. Elisha found the convenience and the comfort of the little chamber which the Shunammite woman set apart for his use. The Saviour derived relief and pleasure from the attentions of the woman who washed His feet and anointed His head. Paul was succoured by the kindness of Phebe, and the ministrations of Priscilla, in whose house for a time he found a home. It may be that Mary, who bestowed much labour on him, was servant in that household, and felt she could never do too much for him. Who can tell how often these women tended the apostle, after he had been beaten with rods, and stoned and scourged? or how often they restored his diminished strength, after the hunger and thirst, the fastings, the cold and nakedness, which were his frequent lot? or how often they shielded him from annoyance, and rallied his fainting courage, after exposure to the numberless perils and deaths which beset his path? It was not only the temporal comforts with which they supplied him that afforded him succour; but their considerate love imparted moral strength and resolution. It is probable that but for them Paul would never have done all he accomplished. If they did not preach the gospel, they encouraged and nerved him to do it. Though they did not stand in defence of Christianity before the judgment-seat, they upheld his hands in that defence. The value of such service cannot be over-estimated. The loss which its lack would have occasioned, it is impossible to compute.

Like service to the cause of Christ the piety of woman has

often rendered. The lives of some of God's most eminent servants have been preserved and prolonged by her thoughtful care and love. Reformers and martyrs, ministers and missionaries, have been upheld and stimulated to their noble work by her courage and zeal. Many a Christian enterprise would never have been begun, or would have been abandoned, but for her earnestness and faith; and many a Christian Church has owed its peace and prosperity mainly to her influence and her prayers. Her zeal has provoked the zeal of many, and her enthusiasm has kindled the enthusiasm of others.

Woman's piety will be crowned with honour and reward.

"God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." The words of the Saviour: "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me;" were spoken with special reference to such acts of piety as women are wont to perform. The Saviour regards that which is done to His people as done to Himself, and He overlooks nothing that is done. The most trivial service, even the widow's mite, and cup of cold water, are noticed, and will be faithfully rewarded. The succour given to the poor, and to His servants, will be remembered and recompensed in the final day of account. In that day the helpers of Paul will enter with the apostle into the joy of their Lord; and she who "hath done what she could" will be greeted with the plaudit awarded to prophets and apostles, to martyrs and to missionaries: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter ye into the joy of your Lord." What will it be to hear the Judge of all the earth ad

dress these words to us. in the crisis of eternity? When the Danish missionaries set some of their converts to translate a passage in which it was asserted that believers became the sons of God, one of them was so affected that he suddenly threw down his pen, and exclaimed, "It is too much! It is too much! Who ever heard of such a thing? Let me rather render it, We shall be permitted to kiss His feet." Similar thought and emotion may well be excited in hearing that of any service you can render unto God, He will be pleased to say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." To be permitted to kiss His feet, to be allowed to occupy the lowliest station around His throne, is a recompense out of all proportion to such defective and sinful service as ours. But since a higher welcome and a more glorious reward is promised, who will not aspire to gain it? "Well done," from the lips of Him who sits upon the throne, is infinitely more than the highest praise of earth; in those delightful words all sense of weariness and privation, of toil and suffering, will be for ever lost. "Well done, good and faithful servant!" the plaudit will kindle the ecstatic rapture of the skies. Who would not aspire after such honour! Who would not gladly spend, and be spent, for such a reward!