In Thee, sweet source of heavenly peace,
All fresh and living streams are found;
And the deep well knows no decrease,

From whence those gladdening streams abound.
What though the vain and worldly deem
The ways of God a desert rude;
Green pastures, and the tranquil stream,
Are found in that sweet solitude.

There the good Shepherd loves to lead,
In noontide heat, his little flock;
There they repose, and there they feed,
Beneath the shadow of the rock.

Fearless of harm, to that dear spring
The dove descends-her wandering o'er ;
Laves in the stream her weary wing,
Nor leaves the quiet shelter more.

DECEMBER 22.

"For I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God." -Exod. xx. 5.

It is mercy in the Merciful, and justice in the Just, to be jealous of His creature's love.

Proverbial Philosophy.

DECEMBER 23.

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors."-Prov. viii. 34.

We know not the secret history of this world's mightiest transactions, and its proudest monuments ; but from the little that we do know, we can affirm that the men who have prospered best, are the men who have taken time to pray. Mount of Olives.

DECEMBER 24.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation."-Isa. lii. 7.

O, t'was a spectacle for angels, bound
On embassies of mercy to this earth,
To gaze on with compassion and delight,—
Yea, with desire that they might be his helpers—
To see a dark, endungeoned spirit roused,
And struggling into glorious liberty,

Though Satan's legions watched at every portal,
And held him by ten thousand manacles.

MONTGOMERY.

DECEMBER 25.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men."-St. Luke, ii. 14.

And so the Word had breath, and wrought
With human hands the Creed of creeds;
In loveliness of perfect deeds,

More strong than all poetic thought;

Which he may read who binds the sheaf,
Or builds the house, or digs the grave;
And those wild eyes that watch the wave
In roarings round the coral reef.

In Memoriam.

66

DECEMBER 26.

In everything give thanks." 1 Thess. v. 18.

May God, in His mercy, give me deeper views of my own sinfulness, and a deeper sense of my own need. May He graciously teach me to know and to feel that all that I have is of His free grace, and that I can put in no claim from myself for anything He may give me; then I shall be in a better frame to bless Him, and to thank Him for everything.

DECEMBER 27.

"Forgetting those things which are behind, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."- Phil. iii. 13, 14.

Forgiveness of the past should animate us now to press forward.

NEWTON.

DECEMBER 28.

"He that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."-Gal. vi. 8.

He has taught us what reply to make-
Or secretly in spirit, or in words,

If there be need-when sorrowing men complain
The fair illusions of their youth depart,-
All things are going from them, and to-day
Is emptier of delights than yesterday,
Even as to-morrow will be barer yet :-
We have been taught to feel this need not be ;
This is not life's inevitable law,-

But that the gladness we are called to know,

Is an increasing gladness; and the soil

Of human heart, tilled rightly, fitted to bear fruit
Of an immortal growth, from day to day,—
Fruit of life, love, and indeficient joy!

R. C. TRENCH.

DECEMBER 29.

"Cast thy bread upon the waters for thou shalt find it after many days."-Eccles. xi. 1.

Pilgrim, who long hast cast

Thy bread upon the waters, fear not thou ;
Bliss shall be thine at last,

Though all thy path be cold and cheerless now.

Is thy life nearly gone,

And yet does nought thy hope deferr'd fulfil?
A little while bear on ;-
God, who has promised, is faithful still.

Think not He can forget;

Trust in His righteousness-be still, and wait.
What, if He linger yet?

Thou know'st not what with Him is soon or late.