His only-begotten Son, but gave Him for us, how shall He not with Him also give us all good things?" Is it right to dissever His works on earth from His works in heaven? Earth is at least the outer court of the Temple, in immediate connexion with it, and, even now, often filled with its fragrance! Is God forgetful of it? Does He take no charge of the "outgoings of the morning, and of the evening," as they praise Him? Does He neglect to send the "early and the latter rain," the "seed time, and harvest?" Has He 'forgotten to be gracious" to a world where once He walked with man, and where with man He will walk again?-Jesus remembered us when in the garden of Gethsemane,-in that garden of agony! let us think of Him in our gardens of pleasure and delight. And even should the winds at times sweep roughly over them, and they not always retain their summer bloom, yet let us bless the Love which preserves to us some of their beauties; and gratefully enjoy our Rose and our Myrtle, even should our Lily have passed away.

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There are those who by nature take a cheerful

view of all things;-it is a great boon! but when original disposition tends the contrary way, and the mind is inclined,-neglecting the good of the present,―to roam with fearful forebodings into the future, futilely "gathering in outlying horrors," then, to be changed in all its views, to be enabled to thank God for the blessing of the smallest present pleasure, and to trust Him under the possibility of the greatest future pain;the boon is far greater! The earnestness of such a one may therefore be forgiven, in endeavouring to lead the minds of others also to this bright and dutiful enjoyment both of Earth and Heaven; convinced that grateful happiness is the nearest approach that man, in this world, can make, to the all-adoring, all-felicitous nature of the angels who rejoice before the face of God.

"They praise the giver best, who use the gift
With grateful gladness, and exhibit here

The proof most sensible that God is good.
Doubt not His goodness

No doubt it not. We may make proof of it

every moment, if we will ;

-we may ask all we

wish, and He will surely answer us, "either in kind or in kindness." With our minds awake to think of all our blessings, we shall not slight a single proof of our Father's love. We should weep indeed with them that weep,- striving, while so doing, to turn their tears into joy ;— but rejoice also with them that rejoice, so as never to turn their joy into tears. Let us all try,—each in his own circle,—to be a diffuser of bright and happy feelings, of cheerful hopes, and joyful faith; that we may be like the sun in his brightness, gilding every wave of life as it passes before us; and

66

As we watched some river flow,
Think we how time doth ever glide,

And pray we that our lives may throw

Bright shadows on the tide !"

In the selection of the passages from Scripture, and the pieces for each day, I have not confined myself to such as speak exclusively of the Foundation Hope of our "bright and saved existence;" but have sought also for such as might "build us up in our most holy Faith;" not forgetting

even the Apostle's beautiful adornment of the "Be courteous."

temple :

Many of them are on specific subjects, which cannot, of course, suit the cases of every one on the precise days; but it has been a gratification, in many instances, commemoratively to do so; and I have thought it might be no disadvantage, as the same events happen generally to all at some period of their lives; or even if not, nothing, I think, can be unwelcome which stores the mind with pious and sustaining thoughts, and which helps us to keep "the standard of our souls waving ever on the loftiest battlements."

The names of the Bishop of Oxford, and of Keble, will not mislead any who will kindly care to observe the tone of feeling and doctrine pervading this book, into a supposition that I agree with them in the least degree on those subjects now under such unhappy discussion in the Church of England; I merely, in quoting from them, follow out a feeling, once before recorded that we are free to "accept what is good from any hand." And again also I will quote, in support

-

of my opinion, the words of that excellent man,now entered on his joyful rest, the late Mr. Bickersteth-when he says; "Let us gladly promote that which is really excellent, whoever suggests it. Thus we shall not only add strength to our own testimony against their errors, but take away the strength of error in conjunction with important truths, by which alone the consciences of really good men are retained in its defence."

I have been indebted to the valuable labours of other compilers for many of my selections: to the Bible Hymn Book," "Thoughts of Peace," and "Hymns and Poems," by the Rev. T. V. Fosbery; which last I would more particularly wish to mention, because I have drawn from it so very largely, without having once acknowledged the obligation, owing to the names of the authors having been almost invariably given. It is a particularly beautiful collection of poems, and contains, besides the number that I have selected, a great many other delightful pieces; many of them from the poets.

pens

of our older