we fret ourselves that our way hath not been God's way, and that our fond and empty visions have vanished into air!-then we have no peace! How often when we have wandered from God, instead of staying our souls on Him who can bring us back, do we seek after false guides, or ask of our own selves the way to peace! How often, when sorrows come upon us, do we forget from whom they come, and lose the peace of God, because we have not trusted in Him!

O, may we ever strive to unite our wills with God's, and then nothing can happen to harass our souls; may we trust in Him with perfect faith, and then He will give us perfect peace.

THERE is a calm the poor in spirit know,
That softens sorrow, and that lightens woe;
There is a peace that dwells within the breast,
When all without is stormy and distressed;
There is a light that gilds the darkest hour,
When dangers threaten, and when troubles lower :
That calm to faith and hope and love is given;
That
peace remains when all beside is riven;
That light shines down to man, direct from heaven.

FRIDAY MORNING.

If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! - Matt. vi. 23.

THE light that is in us! Have we seen that light? Have our souls dwelt in it? Then have we known, assuredly, that it is light from heaven, — a ray from the Father of light! And when we have had this light in us, has there ever been darkness that could be felt around us? But when that has been extinguished, -when the light that is in us has been darkness, how great has been that darkness! He only can tell who has endured it, and has known, from dreadful experience, that it is a gloom that cannot be lightened by all the glories of the external world.

The Saviour has come to kindle the heavenly flame that is smouldering in our souls, stifled by unholy desires; to show us the way to the Father of lights, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift. Let us listen to his voice! "If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." If it is directed with a steady, single aim to God, then our whole soul will be purified, all its powers

and aspirations will be brought into a perfect and harmonious action; it will see, because God's light will shine on every thing around it; it will dwell in light; the whole body will be full of light, because God's light will be in it.

But we cannot enjoy this blessedness by mere aspirations and longings after it. We must devote our powers and active exertions, and even our hours of relaxation and enjoyment, to the service of our great Master. He will have no divided service. No one can serve two masters, and any other would separate us from Him,

Has my soul chosen this good part? Do I follow Jehovah, my God, in all? Have I not many hours of darkness, and few of light? Let me not deceive myself. I cannot have the blessedness of God's light while I cling to my own darkness, or faint glimmering of earthly light. Let me, then, earnestly seek out that which blinds me; and if my whole eye be evil, let me pluck it out and cast it from me. Let me not falsely imagine that my happiness or misery depends on external circumstances. If darkness seems thick around me, assuredly my own light is darkened.

Father of light! do Thou so enlighten me that my whole body may be full of light! do Thou shine on my soul with the light of Thy countenance !

GOD, my strength, to Thee I pray!
Turn not Thou thine ear away;
Gracious to my cry attend,

While the suppliant knee I bend.

Grant me, Lord, Thy peace and light, To direct my steps aright,

To protect, in trial's hour,

From the world's ensnaring power.

Cleanse me from the guilt that lies
Wrapt within my heart's disguise;
Let me thence, by Thee renewed,
All presumptuous sin exclude.

Let my tongue, from rashness free,
Speak the words approved by Thee;
And to Thine all-searching eyes
Let my thoughts accepted rise.

Hear, and to my soul display
Mercy's all-enlivening ray ;
Let it lead, in faith and love,
Onward to a home above.

FRIDAY EVENING.

De saith unto him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonas, lobest thou me?"-John xxi. 17.

"PETER was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me ?” And well he might be, for it must have reminded him of his three denials, when his Lord turned and looked on him, and he went out and wept bitterly. He who had been loudest in his protestations was the first to fall; and yet Jesus knew that he had a strength of love which would cast out his fear, and render him a brave and faithful shepherd.

We, too, have expressed our love to Christ. We should be grieved if it were questioned. We take his name upon us; we seek his spirit in our prayers; perhaps sit at his table; and yet have we, who have broken bread with him, never lifted up our heel against him, and brought his name into dishonor, by the inconsistency of our conduct? Possibly, conscience may acquit us; and yet have we not neglected and forsaken, if we have not wilfully denied, him? In the hour of joy, have we not closed our ears to his prophecies of sorrow, say