They went and told Jesus! Oh, privilege high, The pain which they felt was then piercing his

breast;

His listening ear caught the martyr's last sigh, As he passed from this world to the haven of

rest.

M.

FEBRUARY 24.

He went up into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.-LUKE Vi. 12.

NIGHT is the time to pray,

Our Saviour oft withdrew

To desert mountains, far away;

So will his followers too

Steal from the throng to haunts untrod,
And hold communion there with God.

Night is the time for death;

When all around is peace,
Calmly to yield the weary breath,

From sin and suffering cease.

Think of heaven's bliss, and give the sign
To parting friends-such death be mine.

FEBRUARY 25.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.-Is. xxvi. 3.

FATHER, whate'er of earthly bliss

Thy sovereign rule denies,
Accepted at the throne of grace
Let this petition rise:

Give me a calm, a thankful heart,
From ev'ry murmur free;

The blessings of thy grace impart,
And make me live to Thee.

Let the sweet hope that I am thine,
My life and death attend;

Thy presence through my journey shine,

And crown my journey's end.

STEELE.

FEBRUARY 26.

When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one, that your Father also which is in heaven, may forgive your trespasses.-MARK Xi. 25.

How beautifully falls

From human lips, that blessed word, "Forgive." Forgiveness! 'tis the attribute of God,

The sound which openeth heaven-renews again On earth, lost Eden's faded bloom, and flings Hope's halcyon halo o'er the waste of life.

Thrice happy he whose heart has been so schooled
In the meek lesson of humanity,

That he can give it utterance; it imparts
Celestial grandeur to the human soul,

And maketh man an angel.

FEBRUARY 27.

If thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him; if thou seek him with all thy heart and thy soul. -DEUT. iv. 29.

LET out thy soul and pray,

Not for thy home alone :

Away, in prayer away,

Make all the world thine own!

Let out thy soul in prayer,

Oh, let thy spirit grow;
God gives thee sun and air,
Let the full blossom blow.

Then dost thou not perceive,
Thy spirit swell within ;
And something high receive,

That is not born of sin?

Oh, paltry is the soul,

That only self can heed;

Sail outward from the shoal,

And bourgeon from the seed.

COXE.

FEBRUARY 28.

Ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled.-JOHN vi. 26.

SOME with Jesus are delighted,

While he speaks of joys to come,

Thinking that to them is plighted,
After death, a happy home;

But the "cross," when He declares it,

"None but he who takes and bears it
Can my true disciple be;"

Few, how few, to this agree.

All are pleased when "come ye weary,"
They can hear the Saviour say;
But 'tis language harsh and dreary,
66 Enter ye the narrow way."

While hosannah men are singing,

All can love; but when is ringing, "Crucify him,"-at the sound,

Nothing more of love is found.

FEBRUARY 29.

Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sin should live unto righteousness.-1 PETER ii. 24.

Is thy joy in Christ arising

From thy love to Him alone?