weakness and unworthiness to come to thee, in the confidence that thou wilt not reject any who sincerely seek thy face. We would, at this hour, join our lowly homage with that which so many, as we trust, who reverence the majesty of thy great name, are offering, in the homes where thy goodness is felt. We pray that we may be more worthy of thy mercy. Show to us the needs of our own hearts. May we think of ourselves as thou dost think of us, when thou searchest us and seest our inmost thoughts. May thy goodness lead us to repentance. Wilt thou pardon the sins which we strive to forsake. May we learn of Him who gave himself for us, the just for the unjust, how to become thy true children by serving, for their good, those whom thou hast created to be with us in the world. May we seek not the honor which comes from man, but the honor which comes from God. May we trust not in ourselves, but in thy grace assisting us. And wilt thou keep us this night, and all our nights and days, from evil. Amen.

Cheerfully perform what lieth in thee, according to the best of thy power and understanding.-A Kempis.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.

Cheerfulness and a festival spirit fills the soul full of harmony; it composes music for churches and hearts; it makes and publishes glorifications of God; it produces thankfulness and serves the end of charity. — Taylor.

When the oil of gladness runs over, it makes bright and tall emissions of light and holy fires, reaching up to a cloud, and making joy round about. Taylor.

Therefore, since it is so innocent, and may be so pious and full of holy advantage, whatsoever can innocently minister to this holy joy does set forward the work of religion and charity. - Taylor.

He that showeth mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness.

I will be glad and rejoice in thee; I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High.

I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

My meditation of him shall be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord.

If there be joy in the world, surely a man of a pure heart possesseth it.À Kempis.

Let us go on our way in the simplicity of our hearts, with the peace and joy that are the fruits of the Holy Spirit.— Fénelon.

There is a joy which is not given to the ungodly, but to those who love Thee for thine own sake, whose joy thou thyself art. St. Augustine.

MORNING.

UR Father, we thank thee for thy protection during the night that is past, and ask thy bless

ing on the day that is to come.

Grant us the sense of thy presence to cheer, and thy light to direct us, and give us strength for thy service. And yet more, Father, give us thine own help and blessing in our sorrows, our faintness, our failure and sin. Thou knowest that we cannot bear our burdens alone. We are only little children, and the world seems very dark to us, and our path very

hard, if we are alone. But we are thy little children; and so we know we can come to our Father, to ask thee to help us, and enliven us, and strengthen us, and give us hope. We are not ashamed of our tears, for our Lord has wept with us. We do not ask thee to take away our sorrow, for He was made perfect through suffering; but we do ask thee to be with us as thou wert with Him, our Father, close to thy little ones, even as he as promised us. Amen.

OUR

EVENING.

UR Father, who art in heaven, we would close the day at thy mercy-seat, with thy with thy name upon our lips, and thoughts of thee in full possession of our hearts. Look in mercy, we beseech thee, upon whatever in our lives to-day has not been according to thy will; and if we have done right, generously serving others, in devout obedience to thee; if we have made evil weaker, the temptations to sin less dangerous; if we have made one human soul, one of thy children, stronger, purer, better; if we have done aught to make light shine into dark places, and cause Heaven to dawn upon waiting souls; -we thank thee for the opportunity and power to do such good. O that we may more and more appreciate the privilege of being fellow-workers with thee, and with Jesus Christ thy Son, in bringing salvation to

our fellow-men and to ourselves! Father, impress it upon us, that the true wisdom is to live and work with thee. Aid us to sound these depths. "Thou in us, and we in thee." O, give us the joy and peace of such fellowship with thy spirit, and our evenings will be peaceful, and our mornings full of hope and joy. Through all our experience thou art teaching us that there is no lasting cheerfulness, no real peace but in connection with a conscience void of offence, and an assurance that our life is near to thee, and in harmony with thy will. Gracious Father, by thy Spirit lead us to the feet of Christ. May we learn of him how to live, so that even while here below Heaven shall be opening its bliss and glory to us.

Now we lay ourselves down to sleep, may the good angels of thy care and love be round about us. We ask for thy mercies as disciples of Jesus Christ. Amen.