messenger and manifestation. Aid us to sound the depths of his truth and love; may his words become spirit and life to us; may the beauty of his holiness be as a heavenly light round about us; and when, as our Mediator, he stands far up on the heights of divine excellence, close to the Father, and takes the things of God and shows them unto men, O, may we see and understand, and come to him as the chosen of God and precious. Impress us, we beseech thee, with the feeling that "we can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us," and that he that believeth in him shall not be confounded. This day may we be consistent Christians, laying aside every sin, and desiring the word of thy truth that we may grow thereby. Obedient to the authority of Jesus, and in the spirit of confident faith resting in thee, may we be wise, patient, courageous and faithful, and offer to thee a spiritual sacrifice, acceptable through Jesus Christ.

Father Almighty, look in mercy upon the world. May Christ, its true light, scatter the darkness; may ignorance, error and sin, give place to knowledge, truth, and holiness.

We pray for all who are severely tried or strongly tempted; for the aged and the young; for the rich and the poor; for the oppressor that he may repent of his wrong-doing, and for the oppressed that he may be comforted in his sufferings; O, give gracious help to the weary and heavy-laden, and may sinners be converted to righteousness.

Hear us, O our Heavenly Father; this day may we

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came to his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

O GOD our Father, blessed be thou. From our inmost hearts we would bless thee now; with our whole hearts quickened to holy worship, may we bless thee forever. All things praise thee; the heavens above us, the earth beneath; the pure air and the gathered clouds; the sun in its brightness, the serene moon, the everlasting stars. Thine are their

numberless forms and perpetual courses; unto thee they raise by night and by day the silent hymn.

Our Father, we thank thee that above these manifold orders of existence thou hast made man in thine image, so that he may not only see thy glory through the great nature which surrounds him, but feel thy presence in the love and beauty within his soul. Thou didst of old reveal thyself to him when in innocence he walked in the garden planted by thee with seeds of all which was fair, and fruitful, and full of life. The entrance even of sin severed thee not from thy children thou art near them still. In all their wanderings, in their diversities of tongue and of thought, thou hast been with them through the ages. Thou hast breathed into their souls the love of wisdom; thou hast shed over their minds the light of truth; thou hast touched their lips with holy fire; thou hast strengthened them to great deeds. The wise thou hast made to shine as the brightness of the firmament; their prophetic words thou hast set in the skies as stars for ever and ever. Open thou the eyes of all thy children to see.

Above them all, our hearts remember him in whom thy fulness dwelleth overflowing evermore, the true light to lighten all that come into the world. Blessed be thou for the power transcending nature, for the wisdom embracing all truth, for the love flowing from thee, for the whole everlasting image of thy being and perfection, embodied in thy Son, our Lord

and Saviour Jesus Christ, made flesh and dwelling among us, in the glory of the only-begotten of the Father. For his life, full of grace and truth, unfolding the divine beauty, consecrating childhood and youth and manhood, surmounting temptation, triumphant in death, penetrating into the immortal heart of mankind, and opening the great day of the regeneration, we' thank thee, Father, with the words which we can speak: we would thank thee with the love deeper than words, and tears of joy now and forever.

Unto this name, which thou hast exalted above every name on earth and in heaven, may thy children bow with glad obedience and service. As in him thou hast revealed thy saving power, and thy ministries of solace and hope and heavenly peace, so, through his life renewed in all, we pray thee, quicken every man to consecrate himself in holy service to the well-being and the blessedness of others. Out of each heart may living streams flow forth into the whole garden of the Lord, bearing refreshment to the weary, and strength to the weak, solace to the sorrowful, and life to the dead. Through virtue of the Christ in man, the hope of glory, may sin be subdued, and despair rooted out; may selfishness, pride and envy, wrath and revenge, all evil lusts and all their influences, in society, in families, in secret deeds, pass away, supplanted by love, by lowliness and joy in others' good, by gentleness and blessing, by purity of heart, and whatever is good and true, free and peaceful, in all

the experiences and relations of human life. So may all that believe on his name have power to become the sons of God.

Father, in this spirit of thy beloved Son may we spend the day to which thy love hath brought us. In this spirit, so pure, so gentle, so sweet, may we spend every day whose morning shall shine upon us. In this spirit which hath outlived death, and opened the sepulchre, and risen to the heavens, may we come forth in that greater morning which shall reveal another sun, and which, in the power of Jesus, shall lead us to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God. Blessed be thou now and forever. Amen.

XVII.

Joy and Victory in Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Who are kept by the power of God through faith in salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time:

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than that of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ: