July 21

The Lord preserveth the faithful.—Ps. xxxi, 23.

Devotion, when lukewarm, is undevout;

But, when it glows, its heat is struck to heaven:

To human hearts her golden harps are strung

High heaven's orchestra chants Amen to man.

EDWARD YOUNG.

The Christian has within him an index by which he may take cognizance and by which he may measure the elevation and degrees of his spirituality—it is the spirit of inward devotion. However difficult it may seem to be to pronounce on the invisibilities of our spirituality, yet there is a barometer to determine the elevation or depression of the spiritual principle. It marks the changes of the soul in its aspect toward God. As the spirit of prayer mounts up, there is true spiritual elevation; and as it is restrained and falls low, there is a depression of the spiritual principle within us. As is the spirit of devotion and communion with God, such is the man.

RICHARD SALTER.

Devotion is the sole asylum of human frailty, and the sole support of heavenly perfection: it is the golden chain of union between heaven and earth; keeps open the blessed communication. . . . He that has never prayed can never conceive, and he that has prayed as he ought can never forget, how much is to be gained by prayer.

MATTHEW YOUNG.