THIRTIETH SERVICE. [L. M.] Our time is all to-day, to-day, The same, though changed; and while it flies, I. SCRIPTURE READING: Matt. xiv. 1-12. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen froin the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was sorry; nevertheless, for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel; and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. II. RESPONSES. S. Who can understand his errors? C. & T. Cleanse thou me from secret faults. S. Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins C. And I shall be innocent C. Let the words of my mouth, T. And the meditations of my heart, All. O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer! III. PRAYER Strength of the upright, O Lord, art thou! Hear us in heaven, thy dwelling-place, and be merciful to our weakness. May we see our sins in the light of thy Word, and seek for that grace which purifies the heart and sets the soul free from the bondage of evil. Wonderful are thy gifts, O Father, in our nature, in our powers of progress, in our ability to imitate thy Son. Let the light of his life shine more clearly upon our souls, warming into activity our slumbering powers, that we may grow in favor with thee and good men, as Jesus grew. Let us love to study his character, to catch the spirit of his boundless love, and live more for heaven. Father! may the tempting voices of the world have less and less power over us. Give us to see that happiness lies not in the possession of wealth, of ease, or station, but in the purity of our desires, and in the honest industry by which we can be useful. To this end, bless our Sabbath school, all its members and all its means of doing good. Bless all schools and churches; and may we live to thee, and die in the enjoyment of thy love in Jesus Christ. Amen. IV. HYMN. L. M.- - What Sin is. We sin, whenever we pursue Thus have we often sinned, and still O, let us, then, confess our sin, 6 [C. M] THIRTY-FIRST SERVICE. And keep the holy day!" 1. SCRIPTURE READING. Isai. lviii. 6-12.. The acceptable Fast. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday; and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The Repairer of the breach, The Restorer of paths to dwell in. II. RESPONSES. S. I was glad when they said unto me, T. & C. Let us go into the house of the Lord. All. O Jerusalem! S. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : C. They shall prosper that love thee. C. And prosperity within thy palaces. T. & C. Peace be within thee. S. Because of the house of the Lord our God, III. PRAYER. Our Father in heaven! we raise to thee our thanks giving and prayer. We thank thee for the gift of another holy day, when we can again meet, as a Sabbath school, to hear of thee, to learn our duty, to find a new interest in thy Word, and see more plainly the path to heaven. O, hear our prayer that we may be willing to improve this day-to say in sincerity we are glad to be here. We need, O Father, the light of thy truth, and the help of thy grace, that we may be what thou wouldst have us become. Sanctify us by thy truth-thy Word is truth. May it be a joyful victory, when we understand better any portion of the Bible, and see thee there thy love, the promises of thy grace, the mediation of our Saviour, and the hope of immortal purity and bliss. Bless, O Father, the laborers in this nursery of thy Church, and may they not work in vain. Help us all to be faithful to thee, through Jesus Christ. Amen. IV. HYMN. C. M. God's Mindfulness of us. And learn of heaven above; To think that all this world contains Father! I know each living thing THIRTY-SECOND SERVICE. [C. M.] Blest day! thine hours too soon will cease ; Breathe, Heavenly Spirit, Source of Peace, 1. SCRIPTURE READING. Luke xix. 1-10. The Example of Zaccheus. And Jesus entered, and passed through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him; for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods Í give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. II. RESPONSES. S. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, T. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God! S. Every valley shall be exalted, C. And every mountain and hill shall be brought low: S. And the crooked shall be made straight, T. & C. And the rough places plain; S. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, S. For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. III. PRAYER. God of all grace! we praise thee for the great promses of thy love that we are able to read such precious ines in thy Word as inspire our hearts with joy and gratitude. All souls are thine. All were made for thy love and thy presence. We rejoice in the redemption that is in Christ that we are permitted to see a divine remedy for sin, and to look to thee as ready to aid us in the pursuit after righteousness. May we see this wil |