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JUNE 21.

"I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."-Ps. xvi. 8.

This presence of the Lord is the secret of all strength and comfort. A man cannot know what a serious thing his life is, until he sees that he is ever with Christ in it; that for a little space he is called out of the throng, to do solemnly his own part before the face of the Son of God. As he grows to perceive this, all becomes earnest around him. Life is a real thing to such an one real in its deep heart of joy, real in its connexions, its actions, and its changes. And with this sense of reality is closely joined a blessed freedom and gladness, such as that which blesses our innocent childhood. The strength of a constant will, the artlessness of an open heart, the sense of safety, the gladness of a filial confidence, and the sparkling play of the unclouded affections ;— these are the blessed fruits of leading a life in the remembrance of the constant presence of our Lord.

BISHOP WILBERFORCE.

JUNE 22.

"The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."—1 John, i. 7.

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief.”—Heb. iii. 12.

Even to the darkest holes in guilt's profoundest river Hope can pierce with quickening ray, and all those depths are lightened.

So long as there is mercy in God, hope is the privilege of creatures;

And so soon as there is penitence in creatures, that hope is exalted into duty.

Verily, consider this for courage; that the fearful and the unbelieving

Are classed with idolaters and liars, because they trusted not in God.-Proverbial Philosophy.

JUNE 23.

"Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest."-Isa, xxxii. 15.

The lower wisdom must become a higher ;-must ascend to Heaven, and be baptized there, if it is really to fertilize the earth, and life.

F. BREMER.

66

JUNE 24.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."-2 Cor. x. 5.

Living as those who have a charge from Christ, will be to us a constant safeguard. Sorrow, instead of embittering our hearts, will open in them deeper and sweeter fountains; success will make them watchful; failure, humble; nay, the commonest things will be ministers of good: in them there will be a discipline for our tempers; and from their use we shall obtain the power of applying high principles to little things.

BISHOP WILBERFORCE.

JUNE 25.

"For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come."-Heb. xiii. 14.

They tell him, all he has on earth, his brightest, dearest things,

His loves and friendships, hopes and joys, have all their falls and springs :

A wave upon a moon-lit sea, a leaf before the blast, A summer flower, an April hour, that gleams and hurries past.

K

And be it so I know it well: myself and all that's

mine,

Must roll on with the rolling year, and ripen to de

cline.

I do not shun the solemn truth; to him it is not

drear,

Whose hopes can rise above the skies and see a Saviour near.

It only makes him feel with joy this earth is not his home;

It sends him on from present ills to brighter hours to come.

It bids him take with thankful heart whate'er his God may send,

Content to go through weal and woe to glory in the

end.

H. F. LYTE.

JUNE 26.

"In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."—St. Matt. xviii. 10.

Gone to God!

Be still my heart! What could a mother's prayer, In all the wildest ecstacies of hope,

Ask for its darling, like the bliss of heaven ?

MRS. SIGOURNEY.

JUNE 27.

"She hath done what she could."-St. Mark, xiv. 8.

Be careless about nothing that depends upon yourself, but careful for nothing that depends upon God. Do all you can; and trust all you cannot do, to Him. His wisdom, power, and love, are, methinks, equal to the care of one sinner!

JUNE 28.

"For, behold, he prayeth."-Acts, ix. 11.

O Merciful! we strike eternal covenant with Thee, For man may take for his ally the King who ruleth

kings.

How strong, yet how most weak! in utter poverty how rich!

What possible omnipotence to good is dormant in a man!

Dependence is his strength, and behold-he prayeth!

Proverbial Philosophy.

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