f his burdened heart to God to have
mercy.

Some one tells of a shepherd in the Far West who, on a dark, stormy
night, found three sheep missing. Going to the kennel where the
faithful shepherd-dog lay with her little family, he bade her go to find
the sheep. An hour afterwards she returned with two. When these had been
put in the fold, he said, "One sheep is yet missing. Go!" The faithful
dog took one mute look of despair at her little family, then was off in
the dark and the storm. In two hours she had returned with the lost
sheep, but was torn and bleeding, and, as she staggered toward the
kennel, fell dead at the door. But if a poor, dumb brute, with no
immortal hope, be obedient, even unto death, what shall we say of men
and women who know the destiny of the soul, and whom the King of kings
has bidden seek the lost, yet are disobedient, indifferent, and
thoughtless as to the dying multitudes about them?

STUDY VII.

THE SUPREME MOTIVE.

Memory Verse: "For the love of Christ constraineth us."--(2 Cor. v, 14.)

Scripture for Meditation: 1 Cor. xiii, R.V.

But the supreme motive in all our efforts to win others should be "the
glory of God." Possessed of an undying love for him who first loved us,
we will have an inspiration to seek the lost for whom he gave his life.
And all our efforts shall be, as Paul puts it in his letter to the
Ephesians, "unto the praise of his glory."

"The love of Christ doth me constrain
To seek the wandering souls of men."

Love never faileth. Love knows no impossibility. He who works for wages
and he who works for love live in two different realms. A lot of men
were entombed in a coal-mine, and great crowds gathered to help clear
away the earth and rescue the miners. An old, gray-headed man came
running up, and, seizing a shovel, began working with the strength of
ten men. Some one asked to relieve the old man. "Get out of the way," he
cried; "I have two boys down there."

Love will triumph; and he whose heart throbs with love to Christ will
find real joy in rescuing from sin those who are the purchase of his
blood, _that his name may be glorified_.

Study his life of self-sacrifice. See again his suffering for sinful
men. Linger in Gethsemane, and behold the agony of Calvary. Then your
heart will begin to throb with love to him "who first loved us."

Get a new vision of your crucified, but now risen, Savior, until the
beauty of his matchless life charms your