Word, the word spoken by prophets, and seers, and holy men of old, that has come down to us through the ages, speaking to us as it spake to the fathers, shedding light upon the nations. Especially do we thank thee for the Word manifest in the flesh,—for the gift of thy dear Son, and the redemption of the world, purchased by his blood. At his feet we would reverently sit and learn of him. As he spake with a divine authority, may we receive with humble and teachable minds the truth to which he bore witness, and may the truth make us free indeed. Let it not be our condemnation, that we have slighted his message, or withheld from him the honor due to his name. And following him, who is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, may we find a true peace, and finally enter into that rest that remaineth for the people of God. Amen.

XLIII.

THE END OF LIFE.

Lord, what is life? — if spent with thee,
In humble praise and prayer,
How long or short its date may be,
We feel no anxious care;

Though life depart, our joys shall last

When time and all its joys are past.

J. TAYLOR.

The more we sink into the infirmities of age, the nearer we are to immortal youth. Collier.

The present time is but the infancy of life; its maturity, its perfection, is not in this world. - St. Gregory.

Lord make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There is no death for those who die in Christ, there is only sleep. Can they dread the arrival of that which forever sets them free from sin, and all its cruel snares?— St. Ephraim.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ; that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

When the fruit is ripe, it falls off the tree easily. So when

a Christian's heart is truly weaned from the world, he is prepared for death. - Anon.

They that spend their days in faith and prayer, shall end their days in peace and comfort. -J. Mason.

For godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

E

MORNING.

VER-LIVING and ever-present God, our Heavenly Father, we thank thee for the life and immortality brought to light by Jesus Christ our Lord. We thank thee that, though he was made subject unto death, as we are, it was witnessed, by his resurrection, that over him death had no power. And since, in thine all-wise providence, it was ordained that our human life should be always subject to uncertainty, and that to none shall this world be a final home, may we ever look at the things which are unseen and eternal in the heavens. We would not judge for ourselves, or for those dearest to us, concerning the time of continuance here. In thy hand are all souls. Whenever, to us or to our friends, the last of earth shall come, may we be found doing thy work and obedient to thy will. Take away from our hearts, O Father, everything that doth separate us from thee. May we be thine wholly. May our earthly affections and friendships be so sanctified by Christian faith, that they may

continue, uninterrupted by death, abiding forevermore in heaven. May the things of the unseen future always be to us as present realities. While we remain on earth, may we grow in the love of thyself, and of all the holy things which we hope to love forever. And finally, of thy great mercy, wilt thou, in thine own time, call us to thyself; which we ask in the name of Christ, our Lord. Amen.

EVENING.

GR

RANT, most merciful Father, that thy gracious benediction may rest upon us now at the close of this day. We thank thee for the comforts, the privileges, and the duties which it has offered to us. Forgive us, if we have failed to use them as we ought. And help us to be more diligent in all time to come, that every setting sun may awaken in us a new sense of thy favor, and bear witness to our growth in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that every day, in its finished labors, may prepare us for the night in which no man can work. Open to us wider and truer views of thyself. May we attain to a more satisfying and heavenly wisdom. May we live in closer and more endearing intimacy with thee. May our affections be refined and ripened, day by day, for the kingdom of heaven. May every new joy or sorrow, every new event or experience, so draw us

to thee, and so fulfil for us the great and holy ends of life, that, day by day, we may be lifted up into higher realms of thought, that we may love thee with a more perfect love, that we may be transformed more and more into the image of our Lord, and that when earthly interests and friends pass from us, heavenly hopes, affections, and companionships may gain new power over us, and make it easy for us to leave all that we possess here, and pass on, with thy peace in our hearts, from the things which are seen and temporal to the things which are unseen and eternal. So may the closing days of life, enriched by gracious memories and immortal hopes, be serene and holy. And at last, through thine infinite mercy, may we be numbered with those of whom thou hast said, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; for they rest from their labors and their works do follow them." Even so, most holy and merciful Father, through thy great mercy in Him who gave himself for us, and died that we might live. Amen.