SEPTEMBER 26.

T is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good. -I SAM. iii. 18.

IT

Thou wearest not the crown,

Nor the best course can tell;
God sitteth on the throne,
And guideth all things well.
Trust Him to govern then!
No King can rule like Him!
How wilt thou wonder, when
Thine eyes no more are dim;
To see those paths which vex thee,
How wise they were and meet;
The works which now perplex thee,
How beautiful, complete!

P. GERHARDT.

Great is our Lord, and great in his power: yea, and his wisdom is infinite.-PSA. cxlvii. 5.

SEPTEMBER 27.

RECEIVE the gift that is given you, and be glad,

the heavenly kingdom.-2 ESDRAS ii. 37.

There is the land of peace!

There, where the tempest hath no longer sway,
The shadow passes from the soul away,

The sounds of weeping cease.

In that divine abode

Change finds no pathway, memory no dark trace,
And oh! bright victory! death, by love no place!
Come, spirit, to thy God.

HEMANS.

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.-1 St. JOHN V. II.

SEPTEMBER 28.

HE spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.-
ST. MATT. xxvi. 41.

THE

A thought within me to myself did say,

"Is God, less God, that thou art left undone ? Rise, worship, bless Him, in this sackcloth spun, As in that purple!" but I answered "Nay! What child his filial heart in words can loose If he behold his tender Father raise The hand that chastens sorely? can he choose But sob in silence with an upward gaze? And my great Father, thinking fit to bruise, Discerns in speechless tears both prayer and praise." E. B. BROWNING.

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.-PSA. ciii. 14.

SEPTEMBER 29.

ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS.

Fkeep thee in all thy ways. PSA. Xci. 11.

OR he shall give his angels charge over thee: to

Then may they not unseen around us hover,

With gentle promptings, and sweet influence yet? Though the fresh glory of those days be over

When midst the palm-trees man their presence met? Are they not near when faith and hope rise high, When love by strength o'ermasters agony?— Yes! but a deeper thought our souls may fill : One, One is near,- -a holier Spirit still.

HEMANS.

And let all the angels of God worship him.HEB. i. 6.

SEPTEMBER 30.

'OME; for all things are now ready.-ST. LUKE

COM
C xiv. 17.

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
Because Thy promise I believe !

O Lamb of God, I come!

C. ELLIOTT.

Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.-REV. i. 5.

OCTOBER I.

LIGHT to lighten the Gentiles: and the glory of

A thy people Israel.-ST. LUKE ii. 32.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.-2 COR. iv. 6.

A

OCTOBER 2.

ND God saw everything that he had made, and,
behold, it was very good.-GEN. i. 31.

For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day, and of the night,
Hill, and vale, and tree, and flower,
Sun, and moon, and stars of light:
Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
This, our sacrifice of praise.

PIERPOINT.

Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.-PSA. ciii. 22.

ΑΝ

OCTOBER 3.

ND they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee for thou, Lord, hast never failed them that seek thee.-PSA. ix. 10.

None was ever left a prey,
None was ever turned away,
Who had given himself to God,

And on Him had cast his load.

Who in God, his hope hath placed,

Shall not life in pain outwaste,

Fullest joy, he yet shall taste.

Lyra Germanica.

For mine angel is with you, and I myself caring for

your souls.-BARUCH vi. 7.

OCTOBER 4.

ET will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.-EZEK. xi. 16.

YET

Within these walls each fluttering guest

Is gently lured to one safe nest.
Without, 'tis moaning, and unrest.
By all the grace Thy heavens still hide,
We pray Thee, keep us at Thy side,
Creator, Saviour, strengthening guide.

Keble.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.-PROV. xviii. 10.

OCTOBER 5.

OR here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.--HEB. xiii. 14.

FOR

Though worn with long endeavour,
Through troubled lands we roam,
Loved City, thou for ever

Art promised for our home.
As children, not as strangers,
We seek thy shining wall,
Bright City, from all dangers,
Receive, and shield us all.

ANONYMOUS.

Be not afraid, neither doubt; for God is your guide.

2 ESDRAS xvi. 75.