OCTOBER 21.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."-St. John, xiv. 23.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,
And, tho' rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou didst not leave me, oft as I left Thee,-
And to the close Thou wilt abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be ?—
Through cloud and sunshine Thou'lt abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is Death's sting? where, Grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, for Thou'lt abide with me.

Reveal Thyself before my closing eyes,

Shine through all gloom, and point me to the skies. Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee,

In life, in death, Thou wilt abide with me!

H. F. LYTE.

OCTOBER 22.

"He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast."-Prov. xv. 15.

Christian cheerfulness opens, like spring, all the blossoms of the inmost soul. Try, for a single day to preserve yourself in an easy and cheerful frame of mind. Compare the day in which, by thoughts of God, you have rooted out the weeds of dissatisfaction, with that, on which you have allowed them to grow up; and you will find your heart opened to every good motive, your life strengthened, and your bosom armed with a panoply against every trial of faith. Truly, you will wonder at your own improvement.

Adapted from "Thoughts of Many Minds."

OCTOBER 23.

"Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."-St. John, xvi. 24.

One prayer! what mercy taught us prayer!

As dews

On drooping herbs-as sleep tired life renews;
As dreams that tend, and lap our griefs in heaven;—
Prayer to the soul-dew, sleep, and dream-

Is given !

New Timon.

OCTOBER 24.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain."

1 Tim. vi. 6.

The Lord alone knows what is best for us in this present life. And if every Christian would cheerfully consider his own capacity, he would find cause to acknowledge that his Heavenly Father deals most liberally with him. He who possesses a contented spirit will always find that there is enough within his reach to cheer and to gladden his path through life.

REV. J. STEVENSON.

OCTOBER 25.

"Cast thy burthen upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee."-Ps. v. 22.

Hast thou a care, whose pressure dread
Expels sweet slumber from thy bed?

To thy Redeemer take that care
And change anxiety to prayer.

Hast thou a hope, with which thy heart
Would almost feel it death to part?
Entreat thy God that hope to crown,

Or give thee strength to lay it down.

Hast thou a friend, whose image dear
May prove an idol worshipped here ?
Implore the Lord that naught may be
A shadow between heaven and thee.

Whate'er the care that breaks thy rest,
Whate'er the wish which swells thy breast,
Spread before God that wish, that care,
And change anxiety to prayer.

MRS. A. JULIUS.

OCTOBER 26.

"I shall not die, but live; and declare the works of the Lord."-Ps. cxviii. 17.

What do they say, those forest trees?
Their leaves are shed;

Thousands and thousands, by the breeze,
Lie scattered-dead;

And yet there is a sunny hue,
A rich bright glow,

Their summer freshness never knew,

That now they show.

And the bright sun-he soon will sink,
His glories set;

Yet see, while hovering on the brink,
He's glowing yet;

And never in his noontide hour,
In summer skies,

Beams forth such radiant, glorious power,
As when he dies.

They tell me

—those proud trees of earth— That sun of heaven

This is not death: another birth
Will yet be given ;

"Tis therefore they exulting glow,
Exulting shine;

They tell me, as I gaze, to know
Such fate is mine.

But O! how nobler, higher far,
Our hope in dying ;

To rise where light and glory are,—
And death defying.

Then never, never look upon
That earth and sky,

To sigh o'er dreams of pleasures gone,
Or hopes that die ;

But think of the eternal morrow

That breaks upon the night of sorrow