thou now lettest down over the slumbers of the night. Be with our spirits through the hours of unconsciousness, and restore us to labor and joy of the day again. And whether we sleep or wake, on the earth or in worlds unknown, still may we be thine, thine forever. Amen.

IX.

THE VOICE WITHIN.

Hath not thy heart within thee burned
At evening's calm and holy hour,
As if its inmost depths discerned
The presence of a loftier power?

It was the voice of God that spake
In silence to thy silent heart;
And bade each worthier thought awake,

And every dream of earth depart.

BULFINCH.

God never ceases to speak to us; but the noise of the world without, and the tumult of our passions within, bewilder us, and prevent us from listening to him. - Fénelon.

Blessed is the soul which heareth the Lord speaking within her, and receiveth from his mouth the word of consolation. À Kempis.

Blessed indeed are those ears which listen not after the voice which is sounding without, but for the truth teaching inwardly.À Kempis.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

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.

It is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.

For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

We must often silently listen to this teacher within, who will make known all truth to us, if we are faithful in attending to him.

God is in our souls, as our souls are in our bodies. Fénelon.

And all blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

MORNING.

GOD, our life and our light, the strength of our hearts, the hope of our spirits! We rejoice to know thee, though it be but in part. We desire to know thee more and better, to enter more fully into the joy of thine idea through purity of heart and willing obedience. Flesh and blood hath not revealed,thee, but the Light which lighteth all who come into the world is thy witness within us,

and the Son who is in the bosom of the Father hath declared thee.

We rejoice in that divine Dispensation of Grace and Truth which shows us the Father, not distant and unheeding, but near to every one of us, and ever willing to help to the uttermost all who seek their help in thee. We bless thee for the word of life in Christ, whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, and gifts of the Spirit, and means of growth, and aids to virtue. Make that word, we beseech thee, a fountain of strength and healing to our souls; may it work in us with blessed effect to give us the knowledge of the truth and the power of faith and obedient wills, redeeming us from the law of sin in our members, overcoming every evil tendency and passion, quickening every good principle in our natures, and making us one with God in heart and life.

Make it, we entreat thee, a word of power and life to the nations of the earth, give it the dominion over human ignorance and superstition, over selfish desires, unrighteous laws, and wicked customs, and all the evil that is in the world. May it be not only the message and glad tidings, but the realization of peace and good-will on the earth.

Father everlasting! our hope is in thee; we wait thy blessing. Grant us of thy mercy whatever in thy wisdom thou shalt see to be needful and fit. Evermore give us of the Bread which cometh down

from heaven and giveth life unto the world, that we may eat thereof, and not die. Feed our souls, refresh our spirits, strengthen our faith, and lead us to the Christ to whom he that cometh shall never hunger, and in whom he that believeth shall never thirst. And thine be the praise, forever

more. Amen.

EVENING.

THOU, in whom we live and move and have our being! We are reminded by the experience of another day, that all our ways are ordered by a loving and compassionate Father. It is the Spirit itself bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

For thy great mercies, thus continually renewed unto us, we devoutly thank thee. Especially would we bless and adore thy great and holy name for the riches of thy goodness in spiritual things; that thou hast created us in thine own likeness, and in the image of thine own eternity; that thou hast revealed thyself unto us in thy word, and in the thoughts and affections of our own hearts; that there is a voice within, as well as a voice without, calling us to glory and virtue. May we listen reverently to the suggestions and warnings of the internal monitor. Suffer us not, we beseech thee, in any moment of temptation or thoughtlessness, to resist the plead

ings, the strugglings of our better nature against the besetting sin.

And now we commit ourselves, during the darkness and defencelessness of the hours of sleep, to that ever-watchful Providence which is over all things, ascribing to thee all praise and glory, evermore. Amen.

And he said unto them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow

me.

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

If thou bear the cross cheerfully, it will bear thee, and lead thee to the desired end, namely, where there shall be an end of suffering, though here there shall not be.-À Kempis.

Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.