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FEBRUARY 6.

They go from strength to strength."-Ps. lxxxiv. 7.

Do as well as you can to-day, and perhaps tomorrow you may be able to do better.-NEWTON.

FEBRUARY 7.

"We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children."-1 Thess. ii. 7.

Speak gently—it is better far

To rule by love than fear

;

Speak gently-let not harsh words mar

The good we might do here.

Speak gently-love doth whisper low
The vows that true hearts bind;
And gently friendship's accents flow,-
Affection's voice is kind.

Speak gently to the little child,

Its love be sure to gain;
Teach it in accents soft and mild;
It may not long remain.

Speak gently to the young-for they

Will have enough to bear;

Pass through this world as best they may,
"Tis full of anxious care.

Speak gently to the aged one;
Grieve not the care-worn heart;
The sands of life are nearly run,—
Let such in peace depart.

Speak gently, kindly, to the poor,
Let no harsh tone be heard ;
They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word.

Speak gently to the erring-know
They may have toil'd in vain ;
Perchance unkindness made them so,-
Oh! win them back again.

Speak gently-'tis a little thing

Dropped in the heart's deep well;-
The good, the joy that it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.

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FEBRUARY 8.

Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, . . . being caused to fly swiftly, touched me, . . . and said, O Daniel, . . . at the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved."-Dan. ix. 21, 22.

Few Christians, if any, sufficiently honour Christ as governing their concerns. They do not say :

"Now, while I am praying on earth, my Saviour is working for me in heaven. He is saying to one, 'Do this!'-and to another, 'Do that!' and all for my good!"-Cecil's Remains.

FEBRUARY 9.

"Draw me, we will run after thee."-Song of Solomon, i. 4.

O, draw me, Saviour, after thee;

So shall I run, and never tire;
With gracious words still comfort me;
Be thou my.hope, my sole desire.
Free me from every weight;-nor fear,
Nor sin can come, if thou art here.
What in thy love possess I not?

My star by night, my sun by day,

My spring of joy when parch'd with drought,
My wine to cheer, my bread to stay,
My strength, my shield, my safe abode,
My robe before the throne of God.
From all eternity with love

Unchangeable thou hast me view'd ;
Ere knew this beating heart to move,
Thy tender mercies me pursued:
Ever with me may they abide,

And close me in on every side.

In suffering, be thy love my peace,
In weakness, be thy love my power;
And when the storms of life shall cease,
Jesus, in that transcendent hour,
In death, in life, thou'lt be my guide,
And save me, who for me hast died!

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FEBRUARY 10.

Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."Acts, i. 11.

And in the same manner as they saw Him go, we shall see Him come; the same mighty, yet benignant Saviour; as full of grace when He returns the Man of Joys, as when He first, and for ever ceased to be, the Man of Sorrows. And,-like the men of Galilee,— let the last and habitual aspect of the Saviour be that look, which lingered on their memory, till one by one they passed away to see Him as He is ;-that look which spake more love than even his melodious blessing; and which, after the cloud had closed Him from their view, made them loath to quit the Mount of Olives.-Mount of Olives.

FEBRUARY 11.

"Some are fallen asleep."-1 Cor. xv. 6.

How short and peaceful may the passage be!
One beating pulse, one feeble struggle o'er,
May open wide the everlasting door.
Yes! for that bliss, unspeakable, unseen,
Is ready-and the veil of flesh between,
A gentle sigh may rend.

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FEBRUARY 12.

Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?"-St. John, xiv. 22.

Has He not manifested Himself to us in times of sorrow, of despondency, of pain, of deliverance, and of blessing? In our hour of prayer, when we have sought to open our heart to Him, has He not communed with our spirit, and spoken to our inmost soul words which the world has heard not? have we not known that He was beside us, marking our secret prayers and tears, our struggles with evil, our longing for sincerity, for purity, for truth? What can be more real than this presence?

BISHOP WILBERFORCE.