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of its own, it spreads afar along supporting hedgerows, and mounts aloft by twining around trees, linking branch

to branch and weaving isolated stems into bowers. So truly is to embrace one of its characteristic features, that its own leaf sometimes encircles the stalk from which it

springs; till we cannot decide whether to clasp or to

store honey be its chief gift.

What is sweeter than honey?—Judges xiv. 18.

Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand. -Acts xxi. 3.

We sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.-Acts xxvii. 4.

St. Barnabas, with John his sister's son,

Set sail for Cyprus; leaving in their wake That Chosen Vessel, who for Jesus' sake Proclaimed the Gentiles and the Jews at one. Divided while united, each must run

His mighty course not hell should overtake; And pressing toward the mark must own the ache Of love, and sigh for heaven not yet begun. For saints in lifelong exile yearn to touch

Warm human hands, and commune face to face; But these we know not ever met again: Yet once St. Paul at distance overmuch Just sighted Cyprus; and once more in vain Neared it and passed;-not there his resting-place.

St. John,

BAPTIST.

24 JUNE.

The Sacred Text.

EHOLD, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me.-Malachi iii. 1.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart

of the fathers to the children, and the heart of

the children to their fathers.-Malachi iv. 5, 6.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?-Isaiah xl. 3, 6.

There was in the days of Herod, a certain priest named Zacharias and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. And while he executed the Priest's office before God, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But

the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in. years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived.-St. Luke i. 5, &c.

Mary went into the hill country, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And when Elisabeth heard the salutation of

Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And said, Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.-St. Luke i. 39, &c.

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And his mouth was opened immediately, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.—St. Luke i. 57, &c.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He

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