AUGUST 1.

"Rather rejoice, because your names written in heaven."-Luke x. 20.

When thus he lay,

Forlorn of heart, wither'd and desolate-
As leaf of autumn, which the wolfish winds,
Selecting from its fallen sisters, chase

Far from its native groves, to lifeless wastes,
And leaves it there alone, to be forgotten
Eternally-God pass'd in mercy by-

His praise be ever new!—and on him breathed,
And bade him live, and put into his hands
A holy harp, into his lips a song,

That roll'd its numbers down the tide of Time;
Ambitious now but little to be praised

Of men alone; ambitious most to be

Approved of God, the Judge of all; and have
His name recorded in the Book of Life.

are

POLLOK'S Course of Time.

AUGUST 2.

"Oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, . .

and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!"-1 Chron. iv. 10.

Every misery that I miss is a new mercy, and therefore let me be thankful.

ISAAC WALTON.

AUGUST 3.

"But ye are come .. to Jesus, the mediator

of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."-Heb. xii. 22, 24.

Draw nigh unto my soul,

O Holiest, draw nigh,

For I have wants within which Thou
Alone canst satisfy.

Oh, deign to commune with me as I kneel;
Thy glory in my inmost soul reveal.

Thou speakest in Thy works;

But wondrous though they be,
They have no voice to utter forth,
Jesus has died for me;

They shew Thy goodness and Thy power divine,
But oh! they cannot tell me Thou art mine !

Nor is it, Lord, enough

To see Thine image glow,

Reflected in Thy chosen ones,
Militant here below;

Thyself alone can satisfy the heart—

Thou art the only friend Death cannot part.

C. N.

AUGUST 4.

"I meditate on all Thy works; I muse on the works of Thy hands."-Ps. cxliii. 5.

O "mortal! range not over wide;
Lest what thou seek be haply hid
In bramble-blossoms by thy side,
Or shut within the daisy-lid.

God's glory lies not out of reach:

The moss we crush beneath our feet

The pebbles on the wet sea-beach,

Have solemn meanings, strange and sweet.

The peasant at his cottage door

May teach thee more than Plato knew;

See that thou scorn him not; adore
God in him, and thy nature too.

M

Be quiet, take things as they come;
Each hour will draw out some surprise;
With blessings let the days go home;
Thou shalt have joy from evening skies.

Remember, every man God made
Is different, has some deed to do,
Some work to work. Be undismay'd,
Though thine be humble, do it too.

OWEN MEREDITH.

AUGUST 5.

"Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, they keep not Thy law."-Ps. cxix. 136.

Ah! 'tis the world enthralls

The heaven-betrothed breast!
The traitor sense recalls

The soaring soul from rest,
That bitter sigh was all for earth,-
For glories gone, and vanish'd mirth.

No glare of high estate,

No gloom of woe or want,

The radiance can abate,

Where Heaven delights to haunt;

because

Sin only hides the genial ray,

And round the Cross, makes night of day.

Then weep it from thy heart;

So may'st thou duly learn

The intercessor's part;

Thy prayers and tears may earn,

For fallen souls, some healing breath,

Ere they have died th' apostate's death.

KEBLE.

AUGUST 6.

"Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out."-Ezek. xxxiv. 11.

Great Shepherd of Thy sheep! I thought, too, of Thee! how Thou gatherest Thy lambs in Thine arms, and carriest them in Thy bosom! But for Thee, sole Saviour, what were we? Miserable wanderers in a thorny, weary wilderness, exposed to all the sorrows, all the sins, all the temptations of life, without a voice to comfort, a hope to strengthen, a hand to sustain! How elevating were my thoughts of Thee that hour, Thou blessed Being! How did I resign myself, my life, my happiness, all to Thy gracious care! Like Abraham's my bowed heart obeyed in