on the face of nature, in the courses of the heavenly bodies, on the rocky foundations of our globe, in the changes of the world and the history of man ; and they tell of the length of thy years, of the majesty of thy power, and of the greatness of thy wisdom and love.

But, above all, hast thou been pleased to breathe it into the ear of patriarch, prophet, and apostle, and hast caused that it should be inscribed by their hands, and transmitted from generation to generation for our use. How shall we sufficiently thank thee, Holy Father, that these Scriptures, so full of inspiration, and so intimately connected with the life of the world, should be preserved for us. Teach us to value them as we ought. Let us never forget that they contain thy word of truth and thy gracious promise made to the heart of man. Let us remember what they have been to our world; how, when it was lying in ignorance, and under the shadow of death, they guided and instructed and saved it. Let us never forget, that they contain the history of thy communications with man, informed, inspired, and pervaded by thine own spirit,

the promises unto the fathers by the prophets, and their fulfilment in the wonderful life and transcendent works of Jesus, in the unspeakably grand and affecting circumstances which attended his death, resurrection, and ascension to thee, where he ever liveth, at the head of his spiritual kingdom, to guide

its destinies, and make intercession for us, and welcome us to his rest.

Merciful Father, save us from the folly of turning away in indifference and neglect from these venerable Scriptures. May we never forget that they contain the word, and are the power of God unto salvation. May we hold them in our heart's reverence. May they be a lamp to our feet, and a guide to our ways. May we search them diligently, and partake largely of their spirit. Open, O God, the inward eye, and we shall see wonderful things out of thy holy word. Open the inward ear, and in all times of our tribulation and self-abandonment, we shall hear thy gentle voice of solace, forgiveness, and peace. Speak, Lord, to our hearts, and it shall be well with thy servants. All of which we ask in the name and as disciples of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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EVENING.

UR Father, and our God: thou who dwellest in light ineffable and full of glory; at the close of another day we, thy children, come unto thee to acknowledge our dependence and to seek thy blessing. In our darkness and our ignorance we are prone to go astray; and as this day we have sinned against thee, wilt thou forgive us, and wilt thou send down thy Holy Spirit into our hearts to turn us away from all transgression, and to enlighten our understandings.

We thank thee, our Heavenly Father, for thy truth. Thy word is truth; and in it we have everlasting life. Give us, we beseech thee, the disposition to search it diligently, and an understanding heart in reading its lessons. As thou hast given it to us to be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path, help us to follow its shining unto the end. In its revelations concerning thee, our Father, and in its revelations concerning a future world, and in what it teaches concerning life and duty, we have full assurance of thy interest in us, and thy care for us, and of thy unfailing solicitude that we should walk in thy commandments and ordinances blameless. If hitherto we have been indifferent to thy word, and have failed to make it our wisdom and our counsel, wilt thou incline our hearts to it henceforth, that we may do the things which it commands, and may be followers together of our Lord Jesus Christ. O God, we need the teachings of thy Spirit, that we may rightly search and duly understand thy word, and that it may lead us in filial obedience and love unto thee, our Father, and conduct us at last to our heavenly home. Wilt thou grant unto us what we so much need, and crown with blessing all our searchings into thy truth.

Our prayer for our friends, for all whom we should remember at the throne of thy grace, for all mankind, is that they may come to a knowledge of the truth, and be everlastingly saved by thy grace.

Do thou hear us, O God, and accept and bless us. We ask it in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

LX.

TEMPERANCE AND MODERATION.

Let your

moderation be known unto all men.

He is fit to sit at the table of the Lord, and to feast with saints, who moderately uses the creatures which God hath given him;

But he that despises even lawful pleasures shall not only sit and feast with God, but reign together with him, and partake of his glorious kingdom. - Taylor.

Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues. - Fuller.

Let our life be moderate, our desires reasonable, our hopes little. Taylor.

Be not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate.

The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

Be not among wine-bibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh: for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty.

Let us watch and be sober.

He that resisteth pleasure crowneth his life.

Let us not imagine that excess, luxury, and superfluity, and the love of pleasures, are less criminal because so common. Wilson.

Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.

MORNING.

ITH the return of this morning light, O

God, we rise, refreshed with slumber, the gift of thy love, to the duties of the day. We direct our prayer unto thee, asking for wisdom and strength to do our duty in all things. O restrain us from all excesses. Make us earnest and firm indeed, but also keep us within the limits of moderation and prudence. Let not our indolence or unbelief cause us to fall short of the mark of our obligation. Let not our rash desires hurry us beyond the sacred