IF any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. MATT. xvi. 24.

WE need not bid for cloistered cell
Our neighbor and our work farewell :
Nor strive to wind ourselves too high
For sinful man beneath the sky.
The trivial round, the common task,
Will furnish all we ought to ask:
Room to deny ourselves: a road
To bring us, daily, nearer God.

KEBLE.

WE beseech thee, O Lord, that our earnest devotion may become fruitful through thy grace, for then shall our self-denial be profitable to us, if it is wellpleasing unto thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BE kindly affectioned one to another, with broth

erly love.

O THOU, the spirit of all love,
The friend of kindly life,

ROM. xii. IO.

Thou wouldst not that our hearts should move

With pangs of wrath and strife.

Thou hatest hatred's withering reign;
In souls that discord maketh dark
Dost thou rekindle love's bright spark,
And make them one again.

PAUL GERHARDT.

LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

AND he calleth his own sheep by name, and

leadeth them out.

JOHN X. 3.

I LOVE my shepherd's voice,
His watchful eyes shall keep
My wandering soul among

The thousands of his sheep:

He feeds his flock; he calls their names;
His bosom bears the tender lambs.

ISAAC WATTS.

O THOU who art the good shepherd, who hast laid

down thy life for the sheep, be thou my shepherd, and I shall lack nothing in the green pastures wherein thou feedest me, until I am brought to the pastures of eternal life, to find there my name written in the Lamb's book of life; for thine own blessed sake. Amen.

IN all their afflictions he was afflicted and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them.

ISAIAH lxiii. 9.

O LOVE divine that stooped to share
Our sharpest pang, our bitterest tear,
On thee we cast each earth-born care,
We smile at pain while thou art near!
On thee we fling our burdening woe,
O love divine, forever dear:
Content to suffer, while we know,
Living and dying, thou art near!

DR. O. W. HOLMES.

THOU who art the comfort of the sad, and the strength of sufferers, let the prayers of those that cry out of any tribulation come unto thee, that all may rejoice to find thee present in their afflictions, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

RETURN unto thy rest, O my soul.

PSALM CXVI. 7.

LET me be with thee where thou art,
My Saviour, my eternal rest!
Then only will this longing heart
Be fully and forever blest!

Let me be with thee where thou art,
Thy unveiled glory to behold:

Then only will this wandering heart

Cease to be treacherous, faithless, cold!

CHARLOTTE ELLIOT.

GOD, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man's understanding: pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.