March 11

The communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all.—II COR. xiii, 14.

Alone with Thee! alone with Thee! Now through my breast There steals a breath, like breath of balm, That healing brings, and holy calm. That soothes like chanted song or psalm, And makes me blest.

Alone with Thee! alone with Thee! My softened heart Floats on the flood of love divine. Feels all its wishes drowned in Thine; Content that every good is mine Thou canst impart. RAY PALMER.

Nothing is more under our control than the amount of this voluntary communion with God:

" Misfortunes, do the best we can, Will come to great and small."

We cannot help that, but we can progressively enlarge the amount of inspiration we receive from Heaven, spite of the disappointments and sorrows of life: nay, by means thereof. And we may live so that all our daily life shall be a continual approach and mounting up toward God. What is the noblest life? Not that born in the most famous place, acquiring wealth and fame and rank and power over matter and over men; but that which, faithful to itself continually, holds communion with the Infinite, and, thence receiving of God's kind, in mortal life displays the truth, the justice, holiness, and love of God.

" O, blessed be our trials then, This deep in which we lie: And blessed be all things that teach God's dear Infinity."

THEODORE PARKER.