February 11

1 I cried unto God with my voice, even upon my own rain in the night, and ceased not: my God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. I was refused to be comforted.

2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. I remember God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah

4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak 5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commie with mine own heart: and my spirit made dlugent search. 7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? 8 I his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise is I for evermore? 9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger, that up his tender mercies? Selah 10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High 11 I will remember the works of the LORD; surely I will remember thy wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is to great a God as our God? 14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. 15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. 16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. 17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. 18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the nightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. 19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. 20 Thou reddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron

This Psalm has much sadness in it, but we may be sure it will end well, for it begins with prayer, and prayer never has an ill issue. In this case the importunity prevailed. "The gate opened to the steady knock. It shall be so with us in our hour of trial, the God of grace will hear us in due season."

"In Psalm Seventy-three the soul looks out, and reasons on what it sees there; namely, successful wickedness and suffering righteousness. What is the conclusion? 'I have cleansed my heart in vain.' So much for looking about. In Psalm Seventy-seven the soul looks in, and reasons on what it finds there. What is the conclusion? 'Hath God forgotten to be gracious?' So much for looking in. Where, then, should we look? Look up, straight up, and believe what you see there. What will be the conclusion? You will understand the 'end' of man, and trace the 'way' of God."—From "Things New and Old."

"There are seasons when even the holiest faith cannot bear to listen to words of reasoning; though it can still find a support whereon to rest, in the simple contemplation, in all their native grandeur, of the deeds that God hath wrought."—Joseph F. Thrupp.

Closet Promise. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.—Isa. xli. 10.

The following beautiful poem was written on the text found in Ruth i. 13, "The hand of the Lord is gone out against me:"

The hand of God against thee? No; O, say not, Christian, this is so To stay thy doubts when winds are rough, The past survey; 'tis sure enough. 'Tis He who led thee all along, 'Tis He who held thy mouth with song, His kindness gleams in all thy way; The hand of God against thee? Nay.

Because the hour is dark with gloom, Is that fair reason to assume That He in anger turns away From thee He loved but yesterday? The treasure thou mayst not obtain Doth He withhold for greater gain; His love is just as strong to woe As when the fount of joy doth flow.

If thou couldst only understand, Against thee never is His hand; The winds and storms, He gives them force To drive thee homeward in their course; If sun and middnes blend all day, They might be able thee on thy way; Thy vessel tossed upon the tide, Has still a pilot, port, and guide.

His constituents are sure no sign That He's forgot His love divine; Thine eyes with sorrow He makes dim, That thou mayst grope thy way to Him. In all His desings thou mayst trace His love, His mercy, and His grace; If thou canst only understand, Against thee never is His hand. — Anna D. Walker.

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

Breakfast Motto.—Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation—Isa. xii. 3.

Weekly Proverb.—By the street of "By-and-by," one arrives at the house of "Never."—Spanish.

DAILY BIBLE READING.—SEVEN CAUTIONS.

Sunday.—Beware Lest Ye Forget God.—Deut. vi. 1-12.

Monday.—Beware Lest any Man Spoil You. -Col ii. 1-8.

Tuesday.—Beware of Evil Workers.—Col. iii. 1-3.

Wednesday.—Beware of Being Led Away.—2 Pet. iii. 1-18.

Thursday.—Beware of Hypocrisy—Luke xii. 1-12.

Friday.—Beware Lest that Come on You.—Acts xiii. 38-43.

Saturday.—Beware of Covetousness.—Luke xii. 13-21.

MARJORIE.

"Oh, dear," said Farmer Brown, one day, "I never saw such weather! The rain will spoil my meadow-hay, And all my crops together." His little daughter climbed his knee; "I guess the sun will shine," said she.

"But if the sun," said Farmer Brown, "Should bring a dry September, With vines and stalks all wilted down, And fields scorched to an ember?— "Why, then 'twill rain,'" said Marjorie, The little girl upon his knee.

"Ah, me " sighed Farmer Brown, that fall, "Now what's the use of living? No plan of mine succeeds at all?— "Why, next month comes Thanksgiving, And then, of course," said Marjorie, "We're all as happy as can be."

"Well, what should I be thankful for?" Asked Farmer Brown. "My trouble This summer has grown more and more, My losses have been double, I've nothing left!—"Why, you've got me!" Said Marjorie, upon his knee. —From Wide-Awake.

A lying tongue is but for a moment.—Prov. xii. 19.

Who was the first person, of whom we know, that ever told a lie? Satan. He will be known forever as the first liar. This is the reason why the Bible calls him—"the father of lies." Now, dear children, to lie is to do Satan's work. It is one of the meanest of all things. Nothing will offend a respectable person so much as to call him a liar. A newsboy, to sell his papers, told a lie. The matter came up in Sunday-school. "Would you tell a lie for three cents?" asked a teacher, of one of her boys. "No, ma'am," answered Dick, very decidedly. "For a dollar?"—"No, ma'am."—"For a thousand dollars?"—Dick was staggered. A thousand dollars looked large. "Oh," thought he, "would it not buy lots of things!" While thus he was meditating, another boy said: "No, ma'am."—"Why not?" asked the teacher.—"Because when the thousand dollars is all gone, and all the things I got with them are gone too, the lie—is there all the same," answered the boy. It is so. Everything else may be gone, but a lie stays by you. Then see what God says of liars: "There shall in no wise enter therein anything that maketh a lie!" No admittance for liars in heaven. Bear this in mind, when tempted to tell a lie.

THE BOYHOOD OF CHRIST.

There was once—as Luther tells us—a pious, godly bishop who had often earnestly prayed that God would show him what Jesus was like in His youth. Now once the bishop had a dream, and in his dream he saw a poor carpenter working at his trade, and beside him a little boy gathering up chips. Then came in a maiden clothed in green, who called them both to come to the meal, and set bread and milk before them. All this the bishop seemed to see in his dream, standing behind the door that he might not be seen. Then the little boy began and said, "Why does that man stand there? Will he not come in also, and eat with us?" And this so frightened the bishop that he awoke from the dream. But he need not have been frightened, for does not Jesus say, "If any man hear My voice, and even the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with Me." And whether the dream be true or not, we know that Jesus in His childhood and youth looked and acted like other children, "in fashion like a man," "yet without sin." He grew from infancy to boyhood and manhood without a shadow of sin on his soul. Boys and girls, study this perfect character, and imitate it as much as lies in your power.

SEVENTH WEEK.

PEARL TEXT.—He that goeth forth and weepeth, beating precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.—Psalm exxxi. 6.

Oh! what a glory doth this world put on For him who, with a fervent heart, goes forth Under the bright and glorious sky, and looks On duties well performed and days well spent? For him the wind, aye, and the yellow leaves

Shall have a voice and give him eloquent teachings. He shall so hear the solemn hymn that death Has lifted up for all, that he shall go To his long resting place without a tear —Henry W. Longfellow.

It is they who glorify God who shall enjoy Him; they who deny themselves who shall not be denied; they who labor on earth who shall rest in heaven; they who bear the cross who shall wear the crown; they who seek to bless others who shall be blessed. Dr. Guthrie.

We have little conception of the soul's joy, or of capacities of joy, till we see it established in God. The Christian soul is one that has come unto God, and rested in the peace of God. It dares to call Him Father, without any sense of daring.—Horace Bushnell.

HELPS FOR THE DEVOTIONAL HOUR.