SEPTEMBER 1.

The harvest is past and the summer is ended. JEREMIAH viii. 20.

THUS when the last, the closing hour draws nigh,
And earth recedes before my swimming eye;
When trembling on the doubtful edge of fate

I stand, and stretch my view to either state;
Teach me to quit this transitory scene,
With decent triumph and a look serene;
Teach me to fix my ardent hopes on high,
And, having lived to thee, with thee to die.

BARBAULD.

SEPTEMBER 2.

For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now we know in part, but then shall we know even as also we are known.-1 COR. xiii. 13.

SWEET visions these which cheer our way,

And lead our weary spirits on,

Like sunbeams in a wintry day,
So bright, so beautiful are they,
But oh so quickly gone.

But faith shall shortly yield to sight,

And we shall gain that pleasant land,
Shall tread those boundless fields of light,
Drink of that stream of pure delight,
And near our Saviour stand.

SEPTEMBER 3.

He hath poured out His soul unto death; and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. -ISAIAH liii. 12.

'Tis midnight—and from all removed,

Immanuel wrestles lone with fears,

E'en the disciple that He loved,

Heeds not his Master's grief and tears.

'Tis midnight-and for others' guilt,

The man of sorrows weeps in blood,

Yet He who hath in anguish knelt,
Is not forsaken by His Lord.

'Tis midnight--and from ether plains Is borne the song that angels know, Unheard by mortals are the strains, That sweetly soothe the Saviour's woe.

SEPTEMBER 4.

Continuing instant in prayer.-ROMANS Xii. 12.

I FIND myself a feeble worm,

With ills encircled round,

And from the frequent gathering storm

No sheltering spot is found, Until I reach the place of prayer

And find my safety centred there.

Temptations rise on every side,

Around, without, within

And oft my treacherous steps would slide

Into the paths of sin

n;

But that I find the power of prayer,
To keep my feet from every snare.

Oft as before His throne I bend,
So holy and so high,

I think, and will He condescend
To hear my humble cry?
But as my soul ascends in prayer,
I find I am-I am his care.

Oh! let me live to praise and pray,
All the short hours that I may live,
Still giving back to God each day,

That which He kindly deigns to give;
Each day, each hour, pass on in prayer,
Till heaven is mine, and I am there.

SEPTEMBER 5.

All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. -JOB xiv. 14.

BE still, my longing soul, be still,

Nor suffer one impatient thought.

Prefer, prefer the holy will,

Of Him who all thy blessings bought.

Yes, bought them with His precious blood,
And gave thy glorious hope to thee,
An anchor in thy weariness,

A pledge of blest eternity.

Wait, humbly wait, until His voice,
Shall gently bid thee "Upward come,

Thy work is done, thy victory won,
And sister spirits waft thee home."

SEPTEMBER 6.

Oh, Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth-PSALM viii. 1.

ABOVE, around, on every hand,

We meet the tokens of Thy grace,
And hear the whisperings of thy love
And mercy to our fallen race.

Father! help us with humble hearts,
Thyself in all thy works to see,