THE FAMILY ALTAR 

June 27.

"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?" Matt. 16, 26.

Here our Savior again reminds us that we carry about with

us in our bodily tabernacle a priceless and irretrievable treasure

which we must zealously guard against harm or loss — our im-

mortal soul. All work we do, all pleasure we enjoy, all suffering

we endure, all company we select, all habits we indulge, every

sin we commit, — all this affects and influences our soul. Daily,

hourly, our soul is in danger of being besmirched and injured

by sin. But what would we be profited, if we should lose our soul

out of love for the pleasures, and treasures, and honors of the

world? "If for a world a soul be lost, Who can the loss supply?

More than a thousand worlds it cost One single soul to buy."

Our Lord Jesus has redeemed our souls, purchased and won them

from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil with

His holy, precious blood. But whoever loses his soul by gaining

the world forfeits his redemption by Christ. "As we love our

souls, let us beware of loving the world. Love of the world has

slain its thousands and tens of thousands. What ruined Lot's

wife? The world. What ruined Achan? The world. What

ruined Haman? The world. What ruined Judas? The world.

What ruined Simon the sorcerer? The world. What ruined

Demas? The world. Then 'what is a man profited, if he shall

gain the whole world, and lose his own soul V " Oh, the terrible

blindness of the human heart! Man is so careful not to suffer

any bodily harm or financial loss, but is so grossly indifferent to

the welfare of his immortal soul ! May we by the help of God's

Holy Spirit remember every day that we carry our souls in our

hands and have no greater, no holier duty in life than to save

our souls alive by sincere faith in our Savior.