January 28.

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. GAL. vi. 14.

WHEN

HEN the twilight has gone down behind the western hills, and darkness has begun to flood the streets and to cover the dwellings of men, — above, in the clear air, you have seen a gilded cross on which the sunbeams still rested, and, as you gazed on its blazing sign, you all at once became conscious, from the contrast, of the darkness closing around you, and also saw the visible assurance, that, though unseen by you, the sun was still shining with undecaying and undeclining light. So does the cross reared above the earth make us conscious of man's sins, and aware of God's mercy.

THE CROSS.

My wave-worn bark through life's tempestuous sea
Has sped its course, and touched the crowded shore,
Where all must give account the Judge before,
And, as their actions merit, sentenced be.

At length from Fancy's wild enchantments free,
That made me Art, as some strange god, adore,

I deeply feel how vain its richest store,

Now that the one thing needful faileth me.

Vain dreams of Love! once sweet, now yield they aught,

If, earned by them, a twofold death be mine,

This, doomed me here; and that, beyond the grave?
Nor painting's art, nor sculptor's skill e'er brought
Peace to the soul that seeks that Friend Divine
Who on the cross stretched out His arms to save.

MICHAEL ANGELO.

January 29.

I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. — JOHN XV. 5.

IT

T is a painful thing, this pruning work, this cutting off of the over-luxuriant shoots, in order to call back the wandering juices into the healthier and more living parts. In religion it is described thus: "Every branch in me that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." The keen edge of God's pruning-knife cuts sheer through. No weak tenderness stops Him whose love seeks goodness, not comfort, for His servants.

F. W. ROBertson.

A LIVING BRANCH.

FATHER of heaven! if by Thy mercy's grace
A living branch I am of that true vine

Which spreads o'er all—and would we did resign
Ourselves entire by faith to its embrace!

In me much drooping, Lord, Thine eye will trace,
Caused by the shade of these rank leaves of mine,
Unless in season due Thou dost refine

The humor gross, and quicken its dull pace.
So cleanse me, that abiding e'er with Thee,

I feed me hourly with the heavenly dew,

And with my falling tears refresh the root.

Thou said'st, and Thou art truth, Thou 'dst with me be;
Then willing come, that I may bear much fruit,

And worthy of the stock on which it grew.

VITTORIA COLONNA.

January 30.

O send out Thy light and Thy truth; let them lead me. — Ps. xliii. 3.

new or unwonted; to be perfect in Him does not always need change. To "abide in the same calling

wherein we are called; to strive each day to do the wonted service more perfectly; to infuse and maintain in every detail a purer motive; to master each impulse, and bring each thought under a holier discipline; to be blameless in word; to sacrifice self, as an habitual law, in each sudden call to action; to take more and more secretly the lowest place; to move amid constant distractions, and above them undisturbedly; to be content to do nothing that attracts notice, but to do it always for the greater glory of God; to let each day pass seemingly as though it were lost, bearing no manifest fruit, nothing eventful, only the monotony of the "trivial round; to be ever growing in watchfulness and care, faithfully bearing the secret unknown burden of this undistinguished destiny, drawing every impulse and wish more and more into union with the unseen but ever-present God, — such a course of necessity is the general lot, and is the preparation of the greater proportion of the "cloud of witnesses." To seek with a single eye to discern what is God's will for one's self through the outward circumstances that encompass us round about, is to every one the sure hope of final peace.

THE MASTER.

BLOW, winds of God, awake and blow
The mists of earth away.

Shine out, O Light Divine, and show
How wide and far we stray.

Hush every lip, close every book,
The strife of tongues forbear ;
Why forward reach, or backward look,
For love which clasps like air?

We may not climb the heavenly steeps
To bring the Lord Christ down.
In vain we search the lowest deeps
For Him no depth can drown.

In joy of inward peace, or sense
Of sorrow over sin,

He is His own best evidence,
His witness is within.

Through Him the first fond prayers are said

Our lips of childhood frame;

The last low whispers of our dead

Are burdened with His name.

Deep strike Thy roots, O heavenly Vine,
Within our earthly sod;

Most human, and yet most divine,

The flower of man and God.

JOHN G. WHITTIER.

January 31.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

HEB. iv. 16.

IN all troubles and sadder accidents, let us take sanctu

ary in religion; and, by innocence, cast out anchors for our souls, to keep them from shipwreck, though they be not kept from storm. The greatest evils are from within us, and from ourselves also we must look for our greatest good; for God is the fountain of it, but reaches it to us by our own hand; and when all things look sadly round about us, then only we shall find how excellent a fortune it is to have God to our friend; and, of all friendships, that only is created to support us in our needs.

JEREMY TAYLOR.

HIS PRESENCE.

I LOOK to Thee in every need, and never look in vain;
I feel Thy strong and tender love, and all is well again;
The thought of Thee is mightier far
Than sin and pain and sorrow are.

Discouraged in the work of life, disheartened by its load,
Shamed by its failures or its fears, I sink beside the road;
But let me only think of Thee,

And then new heart springs up in me.

Thy calmness bends serene above, my restlessness to still; Around me flows Thy quickening life, to nerve my faltering

will;

Thy presence fills my solitude;

Thy providence turns all to good.