But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself, shall be exalted.

A man's pride shall bring him low; but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Let us never forget that the day will come when all our virtues will be tried as by fire, and that this fire humility alone will be able to withstand. - - St. Ephraim.

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MORNING.

LMIGHTY God, who art exalted above all

height, look down, we beseech thee, in tender compassion, upon us, thy weak and erring and sinning children, while in prostration of spirit we bow down before thee, and offer unto thee our morning sacrifice. We acknowledge our dependence; we confess our sins; we ask thy forgiveness and thy succor. Help us, O God, to feel our weakness and our unworthiness. Help us to know ourselves, how ignorant and frail and sinful we are; how oft we have offended, how far short we have come of our duty and of thy just requirements. O help us to suppress all presumptuous thoughts, all vanity and pride, all self-seeking and all undue self-reliance; and let us learn the hard lesson of self-renunciation, so that, whatever good thing we may do, whatever attainments we make, we may be ever ready to say,

"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name, be all the glory and all the praise.

Great and manifold have been thy acts of lovingkindness towards us. O, how poor and imperfect have been the returns we have made! Help us, our Heavenly Father, to renounce all spiritual pride, and may we be clothed with humility. Create within us a new heart, a heart that aspires to thee, and that finds its peace in thee. Renew within us a right spirit, that spirit of filial love which shall draw us to thee, and make obedience a willing service.

Help us to cultivate that lowliness of mind that shall exclude all arrogance and boasting, and shall lead us to render to every man his due. Let us not look with envy upon those above, nor with contempt upon those below us, but honor all men as thy children and our brothers; and, forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forth to those things that are before, may we press toward the mark, and reach the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

EVENING.

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LMIGHTY God, who hast given the day for labor, the evening for meditation, and the night for repose, we would glorify thee for all thy gifts, and remember in praise the divine care that

always remembers us in mercy. For all the opportunities of the past day, we desire to thank thee. If we have improved them by honesty and diligence, we seek our highest reward in thy approbation, confirmed by a quiet conscience. If we have been negligent or unfaithful, we would not avert the condemnation of thy just law; but would see in the cloud of thy judgment the admonition of a righteous wisdom, and strive again, with returning day, for the prize of our high calling in Jesus Christ.

For all the advantages we possess, and for all the pure pleasures we enjoy, as individuals and as a Christian household, may we remember the Perfect and Liberal Giver. Yet forbid, O God, that we should esteem ourselves more highly than we ought, or foster a presumptuous and arrogant spirit. We have nothing but what thy favor and love have bestowed,-no grace or charm of person, no power of mind or eminence of station, but what thou hast lent us, to subserve thy holy purpose. Nor have we anything of which thy just judgments may not deprive us, if our spiritual good require that our hearts be humbled and our fortune abased. Temper us, then, with a becoming humility of spirit, and may we never abuse the favors with which thy lavish kindness crowns our days.

And now, O Father, through the solemnity of

this night, let thy good providence guard our repose, and thy Holy Spirit distil into our weary minds the balm of heavenly peace. And, while the heavens that bend over us reveal thy glory, may we close our eyes in conscious security, feeling that we are always with thee, - the greatest and best of Beings,—and that all the families of the earth may put their trust under the shelter of thy love. Amen.

Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings.

Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands,

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

It is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him; for it is his portion.

When we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

He that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

From the beginning God has made it a law to man to labor; not as a punishment and trouble, but as an exercise and instruction. St. Chrysostom.

Poverty and labor make more saints than wealth and idleness. - St. Chrysostom.

Go to the ant, consider her ways and be wise:

Which, having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer and gathereth her food in the harvest.

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MORNING.

E thank thee, O God, for the return of light. Renewed by sleep and rest, we find