September 8

1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD. 2 Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good; sing praises unto his name: for it is pleasant. 4 For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. 5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did be in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. 7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasures. 8 Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast. 9 Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants. 10 Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;

11 Sibon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan: 12 And gave their land for a heritage, a heritage unto Israel his people. 13 Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations. 14 For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants. 15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; 17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. 18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that truism in them. 19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron: 20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD. 21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

"Here we see the servant of the Lord arousing his fellow-servants by three times calling upon them to praise. Are we, then, so slow in such a sweet company? Or is it that when we do our utmost it is all too little for such a Lord? Both are true. We do not praise enough; we cannot praise too much. We ought to be always at it, answering to the command here given—Praise, Praise, Praise. Let the Three-in-one have the praises of our spirit, soul and body. For the past, the present and the future let us render three-fold halielujahs."—C. H. Spurgeon.

As Gotthold was one day passing a tradesman's home he heard the notes of a psalm, with which the family were concluding their morning meal. He was deeply affected, and, with a full heart, said to himself: O my God, how pleasing to my ears is the sound of Thy praise, and how comforting to my soul the thought that there are still a few who bless Thee for Thy goodness. Alas! the great bulk of mankind have become brutalized and resemble the swine, which in harvest gather and fatten upon the acorns beneath the oak, but show to the tree, which bore them, no other thanks than rubbing off its bark and tearing up the sod around it.

Closet Promise.—I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it that men should fear before Him.—Eccles. iii. 14.

Do what Thou wilt? yes, only do What seemeth good to Thee; Thou art so loving, wise and true, It must be best for me

Send what Thou wilt; or beating shower, Soft dew, or brilliant sun;

Alike in still or stormy hour, My Lord, Thy will be done

Take what Thou wilt, beloved Lord, For I have all in Thee!

My own exceeding great reward, Thou, Thou Thyself shall be

—F. R. Havergal.

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

Breakfast Motto.—Eat thy bread with joy.—Eccl. ix. 7.

Weekly Proverb.—Would you live with ease, do what you ought, and not what you please.—Poor Richard.

DAILY BIBLE READING. THE ISRAELITES IN THE WILDERNESS.

Sunday.—A Wise Father-in-law.—Ex. xviii. 1-27.

Monday—God's Presence on Mt. Sinai.—Ex. xix. 1-25.

Tuesday—The Ten Commandments.—Ex xx. 1-26.

Wednesday.—The Uplifted Serpent—Num xxi. 1-9.

Thursday.—The Song of Moses.—Deut. xxxii. 1 43.

Friday.—The Blessings of the Twelve Tribes.—Deut. xxxiii. 1-29.

Saturday.—Visions from Pisgah.—Deut xxxiv. 1-12.

THE BEST THAT I CAN.

"I cannot do much," said a little star, "To make the dark world bright! My silvery beams cannot struggle far Through the folding gloom of night! But I'm only a part of God's great plan, And I'll cheerfully do the best that I can."

"What's the use," said a fleecy cloud, "Of those few drops that I hold? They will hardly bend the lily proud, Though caught in her cup of gold! Yet I'm a part of God's great plan, So my treasures I'll give as well as I can.

A child went merrily forth to play, But a thought like a silver thread Kept winding in and out all day Through the happy golden head;

Mother said: "Darling, do all you can, For you are a part of God's great plan!"

She knew no more than the glancing star, Nor the cloud with its chalice full! How, why, and for what all things were— She was only a child at school! But thought: "It's a part of God's great plan, That even I should do all that I can!"

So she helped a younger child along, When the road was rough to her feet, And she sang from her heart a little song, That we all thought passing sweet; And her father, a weary, toil-worn man, Said: "I, too, will do the best that I can." —Selected.

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.—Matt. xxvi. 41.

Little Henry was slowly recovering, and just able to be about the room, when his sister came in eating a piece of cake. Henry's mother had told him that it would not be safe for him to have what the other children did till he was stronger. His appetite was coming back, the cake looked inviting. "Jennie," said he, "you must run right out of the room away from me with that cake, and I'll keep my eyes shut while you go, so that I sha'n't want it." That is the way to resist temptation: just shut your eyes and turn away from it. The reason why so many people do wrong is because they go where temptation is. They go among bad people or into bad places on purpose. Then the devil overcomes them. Now, we must "watch," that is, look out. Then we must "pray," that is, tell Jesus and ask Him to help us. I know a little boy who prayed: "O Jesus, I am going to school to-day; the boys are rough; they say bad words, and do naughty and wicked things; they cheat the teacher. Dear Jesus, keep me from being like them. Amen." That boy carried it all to Jesus, and the dear Lord gave him strength to resist temptation.

THIRTY-SEVENTH WEEK.

PEARL TEXT.—Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace—Psalm xxxvii 37.

Life! we've been long together, Through pleasant and through cloudy weather. 'Tis hard to part when friends are dear; Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh, a tear;

Then steal away, give little warning; Choose thine own time; Say not good-night, but in some brighter clime Bid me good-morning —Selected.

Wordsworth said he wished he had written those lines.

Death has lost its sting; and, I thank God, I know not what hurry of spirit is, or unbelieving fears.—Fletcher.

Are you looking for His coming Some day?

Are you ready for His coming Any way?

Should He come next night or more, Should He tarry, or come soon, Are you ready?

Sudden as lightning flash He'll come Some day.

To take His white-robed bride Away—

Robed, and ready for her Lord, She will be by Him adored; Oh, be ready!

—Rev. John Parker.

HELPS FOR THE DEVOTIONAL HOUR.