AND there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

JERUSALEM the golden!

REV. iv. 3.

Methinks each flower that blows,

And every bird a-singing,

Of the same secret knows!

I know not what the flowers
Can feel, or singers see,
But all these summer raptures
Are prophecies of thee.

GERALD MASSEY.

THOU who by wisdom hath founded the earth, and by understanding hath established the heavens, by whose knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down their dew; we yield thee unfeigned thanks and praise for all thy mercies in this life; prepare us by them, we pray thee, for an entrance into thy heavenly Jerusalem. We ask it for Christ's sake. Amen.

PURE religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this; to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Ask God to give thee skill
In comfort's art,

JAMES i. 27.

That thou mayest consecrated be
And set apart

Unto a life of sympathy;

For heavy is the weight of ill
In every heart,

And comforters are needed much,
Of Christ-like touch.

E. H.

LOVING CHRIST, teach us to do thy work on earth in the strength of thine own tender ministry unto us. Let labor for thee be our delight, and all rest a weariness out of thee. May we ever seek to do thy will, and thus be written true sons of consolation. We ask it for thine own Name's sake. Amen.

THIS is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

GEN. xxviii. 17.

WHEN trembling at the sacred rail,
We hid our eyes and held our breath,
Felt thee how strong, our hearts how frail,
And longed to own thee to the death;
Forever on our souls be traced
That blessing dear, that dove-like hand,
A sheltering rock in memory's waste,
O'ershadowing all the weary land.

Keble.

HOLY SPIRIT, take thou full possession of my soul forever: may thy heavenly wisdom reign in my heart, thy counsel guide me, thy strength fortify me, thy divine fear keep me from all evil, that, having fought the good fight of faith, I may at length come off more than conqueror, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BECAUSE thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

PSALM 1xiii. 3.

LORD of my life, oh may thy praise
Employ my noblest powers,

Whose goodness lengthens out my days,
And fills the circling hours.

Smile on my minutes as they roll,
And guide my future days:

And let thy goodness fill my soul
With gratitude and praise.

ANNE STEELE.

FATHER of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us. We praise thee for all the blessings of this life, but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

NEVERTHELESS, not my will, but thine be

done.

LUKE Xxii. 42.

GOD's will is like a cliff of stone,
My will is like the sea:

Each murmuring thought is only thrown
Tenderly back to me.

God's will and mine are one this day,

And evermore shall be ;

There is a calm in life's tossed bay,
And the waves sleep quietly.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, of thy boun tiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.