I WOULD seek unto God, and unto God would I commit

my cause which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: to set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night. But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth. Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: for he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.

-JOB 5:8-20.

O God, our Father, we thank Thee on this new day for the blessings and privileges we enjoy as citizens of this land, for freedom and for opportunity, for association with those who seek to make men safe and free and good. But we thank Thee most of all that Thou hast given us Thyself in Jesus Christ, our Saviour from sin, our Helper in daily life, and our hope of heaven; and also that Thou hast given us a part in the establishment of His Kingdom on earth, making us partners with Thyself in the redemption of the world. Forgive our sins, we beseech Thee, and grant us this day success in our efforts to please Thee. Help us to be kind and helpful to others; help us to be sincere and truthful; help us to be industrious and faithful to our tasks; give us such measure of success in our business as is best for us, and grant Thy blessing upon all our attempts to honor Jesus Christ. Bless our country. Keep us true to our historic ideals of integrity and unselfish service to the world, and may Thy Kingdom come in all the earth, until every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess Jesus as Lord, and Thine shall be the glory. Amen.

-LOUIS B. CRANE, D. D.

THE

HE Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. * * * To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, —ISA. 61:1, 3.

COME unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. -MATT. 11:28-30.

THERE the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul. -JOB 3:17-20.

We bless Thee, dear Lord, for these precious messages from Thy Word. We thank Thee for what Thou art to us. We pray that we may receive Thee afresh into our hearts. May we see Thee anew as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. May we realize anew that Thou didst die, the just for the unjust, that Thou mightst bring us to God. In adversity, help us to be patient; in prosperity, keep us humble; and when we cannot see the way before us, may we fear no evil, knowing that Thou art with us. May Thy grace be sufficient for us, and Thy strength be made perfect in our weakness. Grant us, in all our duties, Thy help; in all our difficulties, Thy counsel; in all our dangers, Thy protection, and in all our sorrows, Thy peace. Comfort the sick, succor the tempted, give joy to those who mourn for sin, bind up the broken-hearted, and save such as be of a contrite spirit. And may all of us trust Thee, and rest in Thine atonement. We ask it in Thy Name. Amen.

-From "GUIDANCE IN PRAYER."

GOD, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips : when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. -Ps. 63:1-7.

We

Our gracious Father, help us to lift up our hearts
unto Thee. We pray that Thy Name may be held
sacred everywhere, that Thy Kingdom may come, and
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
thank Thee for Thy goodness to us. Thou hast given
us all we have. The blessings of home, and friends,
and church, and country, come from Thee. We praise
Thy Name for all Thy mercies, Thy providence, the
powers Thou hast given us, and the privilege of wor-
ship. Help us to walk in heavenly places. Quicken us
for every good work. We pray for the great world in
which we live. Thou hast told us to preach the gospel
to every creature. Make us faithful in our giving, as
Thou hast prospered us, that Thy servants may be sup-
ported in the far-away places. Be present where there
is sorrow. May wanderers and outcasts be brought
back to the Father's house. We pray that our hearts
may be strengthened for our particular work and help
us to feel that it is Thy work. Bless all churches of
whatever name which own and acknowledge Jesus
Christ as Lord. Forgive all our sins, lead us in the
way of truth. And to Thy Name shall be praise for-
evermore. Amen.

-SAMUEL S. PALMER, D. D.

WHEREFORE lift up the hands which hang down, and

the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. -HEB. 12:12-14.

BUT

UT the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. -PROV. 4:18-27.

Father in heaven, we thank Thee for the protecting care of the night and the blessings of the day. We are unworthy of the least of Thy favors, and pray that Thou wilt forgive our sins and make us truly thankful for all Thy mercies. Thou hast promised to supply all our needs, and to cause all things to work together for the good of Thy children. We would rest upon these promises and rejoice in the assurance of Thy grace. We pray not only for ourselves but for those we love, with whom we are associated in our daily lives, for whose welfare we are concerned, for our beloved land and the world at large. May the day speedily dawn when the Kingdom of our Lord shall be established in the earth, and righteousness, peace, and joy everywhere abound. For Christ's sake we ask it. Amen.

-ALEXANDER HENRY, D. D.

FOR the bread of God is he which cometh down from

heaven, and giveth life unto the world. * * * I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said All

unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. -JOHN 6:33, 35-40, 43, 44.

* * *

O Thou that hearest prayer, teach us how to pray. Help us to make known our wants unto Thee, who alone canst supply them. Teach us so to ask that we may receive, and so to seek that we may find. 0 Heavenly Father, may we pray in the Spirit, and be accepted of Thee, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, through whom we may obtain mercy and find grace in every time of need. May we approach Thee in humility and sincerity, with faith, never doubting Thy power and will to save all who come to Thee by Christ. Help us, we beseech Thee, to come to Thee in His Name, pleading the atonement of His precious blood. Grant us power to be more earnest in our prayers; and be Thou graciously pleased to answer them, O Lord, according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies. Sanctify our hearts, and satisfy our souls with Thy mercy. Pardon our sins; and daily renew us, after the image of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

-From "GUIDANCE IN PRAYER.”