MONDAY. Genesis i.-26. And God said, Let us make | and, behold, it was very good; and the evening ar man in our image, after our likeness; and let the morning were the sixth day. them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed: to you it shall be for meat. 30. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat; and it was so. 31. And God saw every thing that he had made, The family was constituted in the beginning by the direct act of God, and with his special blessing. The sacred union of a single pair is the source of all domestic happiness; and the family so constituted is the basis of a true social state, and the germ from which the nation itself must grow. Our Lord quoted this original form of consecration to show the sacredness and permanence of the marriage-covenant, and added, "What, therefore, God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." How tender and beautiful this care of the Creator for the welfare of the human race, through a provision that gives to natural affections the sacredness of a divine ordinance and the promise of divine benediction! They who would degrade marriage, degrade man, and dishonor God. In creating man in his own image, God endowed him with APPROPRIATE HYMN6,] | Genesis ii.-18. And the Lord God said, It not good that the man should be alone: I w make him an help meet for him. 19. And out of the ground the Lord God forme every beast of the field, and every fowl of the ai and brought them unto Adam to see what he woul call them; and whatsoever Adam called every li ing creature, that was the name thereof. 20. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field but for Adam there was not found an help me for him. 21. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep fall upon Adam, and he slept; and he took one his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof: 22. And the rib, which the Lord God had take from man, made he a woman, and brought h unto the man. 23. And Adam said, This is now bone of m bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be calle Woman, because she was taken out of man. 24. Therefore shall a man leave his father an his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; an they shall be one flesh. the spiritual powers of reason, will, and moral judgmen and set him in a place of authority. This dignity put up man by the Creator is a trust as well as an honor. Man not his own master in any such sense that he is at liberty use the endowments of his nature without respect unto h Creator. By the very dignity of his origin, he is bound lead a spiritual and holy life, to serve himself from the wor without subjecting himself to the world. The fact that man is made in the image of God oper before him the highest possibilities of blessedness in this lit and of glory in the life to come. As the intelligent offsprin of God, he can commune with him as with a father; and, t cherishing here the communion of faith and love throug Christ, he may look forward to the visible presence of God his complete and everlasting joy. Our Father in heaven, the God of all the fami- spirit within us, that in our lives this day we ma lies of the earth, we give thee thanks for the mani- show forth thine image, and glorify thee in o fold blessings which we as a family have received bodies and spirits which are thine. Forgive at thy hand; for our birth and education under the sins of our past lives; and help us, O Lord! Christian influences, for the comforts of our home, lead the new life in Christ Jesus. for the tender relationships of life. May the mer- Be gracious to all dear to us; bless them in the cies of thy covenant abide with this household, hearts and their homes; remember the family and every member of it be joined to the family of thy people; have mercy upon such as have thy people! Be thou our Father and our God; home, upon the widow and the fatherless, the fo and may we know the love and joy of thy dear saken and outcast; and hasten the time when a children! We bless thee that through another mankind shall dwell together as one family TUESDAY. Mark x.-17. And, when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18. And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one; that is, God. 19. Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery; Do not kill; Do not steal; Do not bear false witness; Defraud not; Honor thy father and mother. 20. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21. Then Jesus, beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved; for he had great possessions. 26. And they were astonished out saying among themselves, Who, then, c 27. And Jesus, looking upon them, men it is impossible, but not with G God all things are possible. 28. Then Peter began to say unto have left all, and have followed thee. 29. And Jesus answered and said, unto you, There is no man that hath brethren, or sisters, or father, or mo or children, or lands, for my sake, and 30. But he shall receive an hundred this time, houses, and brethren, and mothers, and children, and lands, w tions; and in the world to come, etern 31. But many that are first shall the last first. 32. And they were in the way, Jerusalem; and Jesus went before the 23. And Jesus looked round about, and saith were amazed; and, as they followe unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that afraid. And he took again the twelv have riches enter into the kingdom of God! to tell them what things should happ 24. And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. "This young man, though self-righteous, was no hypocrite, no Pharisce he spoke earnestly, and really strove to keep, as he really believed he had kept, all God's commandments. Jesus, looking upon him, loved him: in spite of his errors, there was a nobleness and openness about him, contrasted with the hypocritical bearing of the Pharisees and scribes. Our Lord takes him on his own showing. Supposing the statement true, the topstone has yet to be laid on the fabric. One thing thou lackest." The test which Christ applied probed his heart, and showed, that, with all his outward decorum, he was wanting in the spirit of consecration to God, and devotion to man. Lord Nugent states that the side-gate for foot-passengers in the city-wall is sometimes called "the APPROPRIATE HYMNS.] 33. Saying, Behold, we go up to Jer the Son of man shall be delivered u priests, and unto the scribes; and they s him to death, and shall deliver him to 34. And they shall mock him, and him, and shall spit upon him, and sh and the third day he shall rise again. needle's eye: a camel stripped of its load through this, though with much difficulty. may be taken for any thing impossible." official compliment paid him by this amiab pointed to the fact that his own goodness spra union with God. From God must come that which purifies the soul from all selfishness; spond to that grace with the spirit of entire c who makes this requirement of his disciples h example of yielding himself a sacrifice for th but such a sacrifice brings its own compensar joys that exceed a hundred-fold the enrichi temporal good. O God, whose tender mercies are over all thy life; and, above all, for the hope of works! it is of thy mercy that another day is added lasting. Grant us grace to show our to our lives; and we would consecrate ourselves unto for these thy mercies by seeking the g thee, body, soul, and spirit, beseeching thee to keep low-men. Grant us patience under a us this day and always, and to preserve us blameless unto the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For him we bless thee. In his name we seek the forgiveness of our sins, and the promise of thy Spirit. Dwell thou in our hearts, and consecrate this home with thy gracious presence. [May the children keep thy commandments in the love of Jesus, their Saviour!] We thank thee for our home, our friends, our minds always contented with our pres Send down thy blessings, temporal a upon all our relations, friends, and no merciful to all who are in any trouble our hearts, O Lord! to follow Him wh doing good. Be gracious unto thy grant that every member of it may the evil that is in the world; and let thy gospel shine upon all nations, fo WEDNESDAY. John i.-29. The next day, John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! 30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me; for he was before me. 31. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32. And Jolin bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33. And I knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34. And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God. 39. He saith unto them, Come and see. came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with hi that day; for it was about the tenth hour. 40. One of the two which heard John spea and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter brother. 41. He first findeth his own brother Simon, a saith unto him, We have found the Messias; whi is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42. And he brought him to Jesus. And, whe Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon, t 35. Again, the next day after, John stood, and son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas; whi two of his disciples; The first open proclamation of Jesus was as a Redeemer, and a Redeemer through suffering and sacrifice. John did not announce him simply as a teacher, a prophet; nor even as the Christ, the King of the Jews. Isaiah had predicted that the Messiah should suffer as a lamb. The lamb was offered daily in the temple as the symbol of propitiation; and, in cailing Jesus "the Lamb of God," John designated him as God's appointed sacrifice for the sin of the world. In that character he was to be received; in that character his first disciples followed him. John's testimony was called forth by the remarkable revelation made at the baptism of Jesus, when the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him; and, lo! a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Though John had known Jesus from infancy as his kinsman, up to this time he had received no token of his APPROPRIATE HYMNS,] is, by interpretation, a stone. divinity; but, by this announcement of the Holy Ghost, t spiritual and redemptive work of Christ were unveiled befo him. The dove was the symbol of peace; and the coming of t Holy Ghost in the form of a dove to inaugurate the missi of Jesus announced that mission to be one of peace a reconciliation. The lamb also represented the meekness a gentleness of Christ in his personal character. Yet a life gentle must be laden with sorrows; a mission so peace must terminate in sacrifice, because of the sin of the world. How quiet and simple were the beginnings of the Church Christ! Upon the testimony of John, two or three follow Jesus to his lodging; and, after a day spent in listening his teachings, they attached themselves to his person, and urg others to join them. So should his teachings lead us to a p sonal profession of discipleship. To be a Christian is sim to follow Christ as our Saviour, and to testify for his name Prayer. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, from whom cometh every good and every perfect gift, we acknowledge thy goodness in our creation and preservation, and in the manifold provisions of thy love for the life that now is. Every day we live upon thy bounty; every night we rest under the shadow of thy wing. What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits? We would call upon our souls, and all that is within us, to bless and magnify thy great and holy name. Above all these thy mercies, we acknowledge thy grace in that thou didst send thy Son to be the Saviour of the world. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. O Lord! for Christ's sake have mercy upon us, and take away our sins: and grant that we may prove [Nos. 25, 62, 74. health and comfort with which we greet anoth day, for the endearments and delights of home, 1 means of occupation and support, of improveme and usefulness, for all the favors of thy hand, multiplied unto us, we render thee most hear thanks. Freely as we receive may we also gi May thy mercy abound toward all classes and co ditions of men, and thy salvation fill the wh earth! Bless this household in each and every me her. [Especially do we commend unto thee t children, praying that in the morning of life th may learn to trust in Jesus as their Saviour, and follow him as ready and loving disciples.] Oh, m the dove of heavenly peace ever abide in our dw ing! Bless all dear to us; and bring us all Psalm cxxxix.-1. O Lord! thou hast searched me, and known me. 2. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my thought afer off. 3. Thou compassest my path and my lying-down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord! thou knowest it altogether. 5. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me: it is high; I cannot attain unto it. 7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, even the night shall be light about me. God's omniscience searching our inmost thoughts, knowing our hidden motives, scanning our most secret ways, should keep us in awe of sin. God's omnipresence, surrounding us continually, making it impossible for us, by darkness or by distance, to hide from his eye or escape from his hand, should at once dissuade us from evil, and encourage us to commit ourselves to his guidance, and trust in his love. That love surrounds us every moment with its precious thoughts, thoughts originating life, shaping its wondrous organism, providing for our sustentation, our culture, our enjoyment, filling the world with forms of beauty, and resources of happiness; thoughts as inexhaustible as the desert of its sands, the sky of its stars, each separate grain a golden thought of love, each point of light a world, a constellation of glory. How many thoughts does the mother bestow upon her babe in a single day! How many wants it cannot express must be APPROPRIATE HYMNS,] | 12. Yea, the darkness hideth not fro the night shineth as the day: the dark light are both alike to thee. 14. I will praise thee; for I am f wonderfully made: marvellous are thy that my soul knoweth right well. 15. My substance was not hid from I was made in secret, and curiously wr lowest parts of the earth. 16. Thine eyes did see my substanc imperfect; and in thy book all my m written, which in continuance were fas as yet there was none of them. 17. How precious also are thy th me, O God! how great is the sum of t 18. If I should count them, they number than the sand: when I awak with thee. 23. Search me, O God! and know try me, and know my thoughts; 24. And see if there be any wicked and lead me in the way everlasting. anticipated by her love! How many dangers unconscious of must be provided against by he how many diversions made ready for its waki much care and planning for its quiet and con In the consciousness of the mother's presence, ance of the mother's care, the infant grows w or care for itself; falls asleep in its mother's ar it wakes, is still with her: its eyes open upon of love; it is again conscious of the same tho tendence. So should we, committing our hel heavenly Father, lie down within his encircli to recognize him in the first thoughts of the to walk with him all the day long. Then w of his presence be our perpetual peace; and grow familiar to our hope as the place wher God. Our waiting eyes are unto thee, O Lord! Each | to discern thy goodness in thy provid morning brings us to thee with new obligations of gratitude for thy loving-kindness in the night-season, and of dependence for the day upon which we enter. We are not worthy of the least of all thy mercies; for we have sinned, O Lord!· we have sinned against thy law, against thy love, against thy very grace in Christ our Saviour. Yet do we hope in thy mercy still, and cast ourselves upon thee alone. O thou Spirit of truth and holiness! we pray thee to keep us this day from sin. May we be mindful of thy presence, as a holy guardianship from wrong! and may we so delight in God, that we shall live above the power of temptation and evil, and, while diligent in business, be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord! Help us to be true and faithful inet and kind contle and rejoice ever in thy word and thy grace Great Shepherd of Israel, take, we each member of this family, and all t to us, under thy care. Be thou the young, the staff of the aged, the streng dened, the help of the weak and th joy and deliverer of every one that 1 thee. Bless thy Church in this communi reviving grace; visit our land with t and fill the whole earth with thy pra the time when all shall know thee, fro unto the greatest. Finally, we pray thee, bring us to t and glory everlasting; bring us to th of thy presence, that we may be satist likenes And to the Father the S FRIDAY. Luke xvii. -1. Then said he unto the disciples, tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be t It is impossible but that offences will come; but planted in the sea; and it should obey you. woe unto him through whom they come! 7. But which of you having a servant plou ing, or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and when he is come from the field, Go and sit de to meat? 2. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3. Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and, if he repent, forgive him. 4. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 5. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye might say unto this sycamine The sycamine, or sycamore, of Palestine- quite another tree from the tall, smooth sycamore of the American riverbottoms-is remarkable for the thickness and width of its roots, and the strength with which these are fastened in the soil. When full grown, its trunk is large and firm, and its arms spread out widely only a few feet from the ground. It is a fit emblem of stability. To uproot this most fixed and solid of trees, and plant it upon the most unstable of foundations, would be a miracle indeed. But it is almost as great a APPROPRIATE HYMNS,] 8. And will not rather say unto him, Make rewherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and se me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterw thou shalt eat and drink? 9. Doth he thank that servant because he the things that were commanded him? It not. 10. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done those things which are commanded you, say, are unprofitable servants: we have done that wh was our duty to do. miracle in human nature when the proud, envious, selfish, Prayer. Blessed Saviour, who hast said unto us, Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: we cast ourselves upon thy promises, and beseech thee give us faith to serve thee and honor thee in our lives. May we do all our duty in thy strength and through thy love! [Nos. 30, 57, 153 example in all things. May thy word be our gu and counsellor! May we be in thy fear all the long! May we have grace to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, and follow our blessed M ter! Suffer us not by any carelessness of cond to bring a reproach upon our Christian profess Give us grace to bridle our tongues, to fight aga O God our Father! look down upon us this the risings of sinful passion, to keep careful wa morning in mercy. Our cup runs over with bless-over our thoughts and affections. May we be w ings. We pray thee to fill our hearts with thankfulness, and our mouths with praise. We know not how to praise thee or to pray to thee as we ought. Oh! teach us to come before thee aright. Prepare our hearts; draw us to thyself. Enable us in prayer to hold communion with thee as our Father, and with thy Son Jesus Christ. O thou holy Lamb of God! take away our sins. O thou holy, life-giving Spirit! come thou into all our hearts. Warm and purify and comfort us; and never leave or forsake us until we meet around the throne of God and the Lamb in heaven, and are forever beyond the reach of Satan, sin, and death. ing to serve others in thy name! May we h the spirit of forbearance and charity, and be re to forgive any who offend against us! Oh! k us unspotted from the world. May we go al doing good, and be useful to all around us! A we be strong in faith, and in the power of the deemer's might! We beseech thee, O God! to look favora upon our country. Guide those in authority, give them true wisdom. Make us to be a haj people, fearing and loving thee. Give unto dear Son the heathen for his inheritance, and uttermost parts of the earth for his possess: Gather in thine ancient people Israel. Grant t pray thee, O Lord! to bless us during the the veil may at length be taken away, and the t day now herun As a family mau wo ho under the light shine into every heart. Hear these suppl We |