WE are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Cor. v. 8.

O FRIEND of souls! how blest the time
When in thy love I rest;

When from my weariness I climb
E'en to thy tender breast!
The night of sorrow endeth there,
The rays outshine the sun,
And in thy pardon and thy care
The heaven of heavens is won.

W. C. DESSLER, 1692.

INSPIRE our hearts with gladness, thou who alone art the fountain of solid, pure, and permanent joy, and lead us by the paths of righteousness and grace, to the rest and the light of glory, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

ORDER my steps in thy word.

PSALM CXix. 133.

SUM up at night, what thou hast done by day,
And in the morning, what thou hast to do.
If thou do ill, the joy fades, not the pains:
If well; the pain doth fade, the joy remains.

G. HERBERT.

GIVE to us, O Lord, patient minds, pure hearts, anà all other graces of thy spirit which thou knowest to be needful for us, that we may the better be enabled to serve thee in holiness and righteousness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

ECCLES. vii. 12.

My soul appears, as I get old,
More prompt in act, in prayer less cold.
Crosses, from use, more lightly press;
Mirth is more purely weariness;
With less to quarrel with in life,
I grow less patient with its strife;
I wish more simply, Lord, to be,
Ailing or well, always with thee!

FABER.

KEEP me, Lord, now, and at all times. Never let me think, whatever age or station I attain, that I am strong enough to maintain the combat without thee. Nor ever let me imagine myself so weak, that thou canst not support me! May I be in all things kept by thee, for my Saviour's sake. Amen.

HE saith unto him, Follow me.

and followed him.

And he arose,
MATT. ix. 9.

66

IF I find him, if I follow,
What my guerdon here?
'Many a conflict, many a labor,
Many a tear."

Finding, following, keeping, struggling,

Is he sure to bless ?

Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs,

Answer yes!"

S. STEPHEN THE SABAITE, TRANS. BY NEALE.

CHRIST, our Master, let our souls always desire thee, and seek thee, and find thee! Be thou in all our thoughts, our words, our actions, that being sanctified by thee here, we may be glorified with thee hereafter. Amen.

THERE shall be no night there.

REV. xxi. 25.

No night of woe, to fall between our eyes
And gladsome summer skies!

No night of sin, to grow and never cease
Betwixt our hearts and peace!

No night of death, to darken drearily
Between our souls and thee !

Ah! through these nights, guide us,
Dear Lord, we pray,

Up to that nightless day!

W. M. L. JAY.

ETERNAL light, who dost excel and efface every other light, from the height of heaven do thou enlighten me, purify my soul, shed into it thy divine brightness, that at length I may behold thee in thy heavenly kingdom, for Jesus' sake. Amen.