AND Jesus called a little child unto him.

MATT. xviii. 2.

I SAW the little children round thee press,
Each in its turn receiving thy caress;

How tender was thy touching of these flowers,
The fairest things in this dark world of ours,
And nearest heaven in their innocence.

Therefore, O Lord, thou still dost take them hence,
They are so easy to transplant within,

So lightly rooted in the soil of sin,

Growing almost upon heaven's outer fence.

A. E. H.

GOD who chastiseth us in thy love, and refreshest us amid thy chastening: grant that we may ever be able to give thee thanks for both, through our most loving and pitiful Saviour. Amen.

WHO loved me.

GAL. ii. 20.

My soul, the order of the words approve
Christ first, me last, nothing between but love.
Lord keep me always down, thyself above.

Trusting to thee, not struggling restlessly,
So shall I gain the victory.

"I, yet not I" — but Christ—"who loved me."

LORD Jesus Christ, who am I, that thou hast so loved me, and sought to be loved by me? Who shall separate me from the love of Christ? Chasten me as thou wilt, my God, but take not from me the power to love thee, for thou art my life, my all! Amen.

AND thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompense thee for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. LUKE xiv. 13.

WOULDS'T thou from sorrow find a sweet relief?
Or is thy heart oppressed with woes untold?
Balm wouldst thou gather for corroding grief?
Pour blessings round thee like a shower of gold.

WE beseech thee, O Lord, be gracious to thy people, that they may be filled more and more with the love of thy commandments, and being supported by thy comfort in this mortal life, may advance to the full enjoyment of life immortal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HE that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. REV. iii. 5.

FAITH is the golden thread on which we string,
For offering,

Our feeble deeds of poor self-sacrifice :
Unworthy gifts! yet, in his grace, the king
Accounts them pearls of price.

A. E. H.

LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

JESUS stood and cried, saying, "If any man

thirst, let him come unto me and drink.

JOHN Vii. 37.

CHRIST in his heavenly garden walks all day,
And calls to souls upon the world's highway,
Wearied with trifles, maimed, and sick with sin:
Christ by the gate stands, and invites them in.

""T is not from earthly paths I bid you flee,
But lighter in my ways your feet will be;
'T is not to summon you from human mirth,
But add a depth and sweetness not of earth."

FRANCIS TURNER PALgrave.

BECAUSE thou, O Jesus, art the fountain of life, from thee may we drink what by faith we thirst for ; may we obey thy gracious call, and come unto thee, to find peace and joy which the world knoweth not of. We ask it for thine own blessed Name's sake. Amen.