December 27

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.—Ps. li, 2.

Despise not little sins; The gallant ship may sink, Though only drop by drop, The watery tide it drink.

RICHARD C. TRENCH.

A little sin, a very little sin, just a white lie, or a foul thought, an unkind word, a cruel act, gets inside of our souls; we forget all about it. There is no appearance on the surface of the presence of any such foreigner in the soul, but believe me, that being there it will cause disturbance and pain, and the longer it is suffered to remain, then the more damage it will do. When we feel annoyed by the recollection of some doing in the day just done, oh! I beg you, don't put it away from you with the thought and the word that it is nothing. But search deeper to find the foreign portion, the sin which is lodged in your heart, and don't sleep until you have told God all about it, and asked Him to wash it out in the precious blood that cleanses from all sin. Then the wound skin-deep will heal sweetly, the stinging recollection will all pass away, and then you may be sure that there is no fear of after trouble.

BISHOP DUDLEY.