HE

́EAR my cry, O God ; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed : lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy -Ps. 61:1-5.

name.

NE thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. -Ps. 27:4-6.

God of all grace, in this hour of conflict and tribulation, when there is such suffering as the world has never before seen and when our hearts are made pitiful by the pleading and insistent cries for help, when thousands of men and women are ministering night and day to the wounded, exiled, and starving, reveal to us, we beseech Thee, how we may best invest our lives and resources that they may be of the largest possible use in healing the hurt of the world. This we ask in the Name of Him who went about doing good. Amen.

—WILLIAM H. HUDNUT, D. D.

THOU afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy chil dren. In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. -ISA. 54:11-17.

Our Father, help us to realize Thy presence as we wait before Thee. Give unto us Thy Spirit to witness with our spirits that we are the children of God; that we are the heirs of God and joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ. Take away from us all pride and envy, all hatred and contempt for others, that we may receive Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, and may be led by Him. Increase our sense of need of His gracious influences. May we realize how utterly helpless and weak we are unless He enter into us and dwell with us. Help us to lay hold of and rest in the promise that Thou art more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Thee than earthly parents are to give good gifts unto their children. May we find Him leading our thoughts, controlling our feelings, and fashioning our lives after the glorious manhood of our Lord and Saviour. May He lead us to the attainment of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Forgive all that Thou hast seen in our hearts and lives contrary to Thy will. We ask in the Name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

-From "GUIDANCE IN PRAYER."

TWO men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. -LUKE 18:10-14.

FOR he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. -LUKE 1:49-55.

Gracious Father, with the light of another Sabbath Day calling us to worship Thee, we bow in gratitude for Thy goodness and mercy. May the quiet hours of this holy day provide opportunity for special fellowship with Thee. May Thy voice be heard in all our hearts, calling us to penitence and praise, and directing us in all practical things to Thine honor and the service of our fellow men. Clothe the words of all who this day teach and preach with special grace, that Thy Word may enter men's hearts everywhere and the principles of Thy Kingdom be established in the affairs of all men. Fill the Church with Thy glory that out from her portals may shine this day the light that shall lighten the gloom of the world. Lead our nation to higher things and bring all the world to Thyself through Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. Amen.

-WILLIAM C. COVERT, D. D.

FOR my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your

ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. -ISA. 55:8-13.

O God, our Father, our hearts are open before Thee, that Thou mayst cleanse them from all defilement, all unholy desires, passions, and purposes, and pour into them the grace of Thy Holy Spirit. We would have Thee abide within us as our sovereign Lord and constant Friend, so that we may become one with Thee in the thoughts of our minds, the intents of our wills, and the endeavors of our lives. We would have Thee reveal Thyself unto us at this time, that we may be encouraged to cultivate the sense of Thy presence, and live under the daily guidance and protection of Thine eye. By the perversity of our spirits, by the weakness that makes us faint-hearted, by the burdens we have to bear, by the work that falls to our share in the apportionment of toil, by the sorrow that darkens our sky, by the joy that tempts us to forget Thee, by the prosperity that leads us to count the friendship of the world sufficient riches, we beseech Thee to hear us and grant this, our prayer. For Thy great Name's sake. Amen. -GEORGE B. STEWART, D. D.

LET love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

-ROM. 12:9-21.

Loving Father, who art ever watching over Thy children, we draw near to Thee with love and gratitude. We give Thee hearty thanks that Thy mercy is continuous, that Thou art never weary in well-doing. We thank Thee for the renewal of our strength through sleep and rest, for the promises we have of Thy care, for the new opportunities that are ours to grow in grace and to serve Thy purpose. We put ourselves, O God, under Thy direction. Give us to know Thy will, and the spirit of obedience to do it. Keep us from sin in thought and deed. Help us to live in harmony with the life of Jesus, our Saviour. Grant us Thy sufficient strength that we may be diligent in labor, brave in trial, patient and trustful under all circumstances. Increase our desire and power to do good, and may we continually seek to help our fellows and to advance Thy Kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. -CHARLES F. Goss, D. D.