June 10

Psalm cxxxiv.—1. Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord which by night stand in the house of the Lord.

2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.

3. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

Psalm cxxxiii.—1. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

2. It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments,

3. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore.

I John iv.—7. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.

9. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

12. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because, as he is, so are we in this world.

18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19. We love him because he first loved us.

20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen?

21. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God, love his brother also.

"Herein is love:" this shows us what love is; this shows what love will do. There is no pain, no loss, no labor, no sacrifice, that love will not undergo that it may attain its object, that it may bless those upon whom its heart is set. Yet the most tender, the most noble, the most heroic, the most pathetic examples of human love are all inadequate even to illustrate the love of God for us. When he had tested the faith of Abraham up to the point of binding Isaac for the sacrifice, and whetting the knife to slay him, God had pity upon the father's heart, and reached forth his hand, and held

back Abraham from the stroke. But He who spared Isaac to Abraham spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all. His only-begotten Son; his well-beloved Son; him in whom his soul delighted, — the infinite Father gave him for creatures so far beneath him; for sinners so ungrateful and so vile; for enemies who had done all in their power to break down his law, to abuse his goodness, to hurt his kingdom. It was love self-moved and self-sacrificing. How ought it to constrain us to love God, to incite us to love one another!

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 33, 36, 66.

O God of love! what shall we render unto thee for thy love to us in the gift of thy Son? Of him, through him, and to him, are all things. May our love answer to thine from the depth of our hearts! and may we love one another, and love all men, in thee! Of thy goodness we have gone out and come in this day in safety: we have had a bountiful supply of all our wants; our eyes have been kept from tears, our feet from falling. In a goodly heritage thou hast placed us, and with innumerable favors and blessings thou hast enriched us. Especially do we thank thee for thy mercy renewed on this thy holy day.

Father, forgive us our sins, which have dishonored thee whilst thou hast been leading us with thy benefits. Oh! keep us as a family in thy love. Send us health and prosperity. Bless our friends with thy salvation. Remember the poor and needy: bless all that is done for their temporal

and spiritual good. May Sunday schools and mission-labors bring many to Christ!

We entreat thee on behalf of thy people everywhere. Let thy Church awake, and put on her beautiful garments, and go forth to help the world. Bless our beloved land. Guide, direct, and prosper all our rulers. Give peace in our time, O Lord! Give to parents grace to train up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Establish us as a people in righteousness. Endue thy ministers with grace. Send down upon all congregations of those who worship thee the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Let the people praise thee, O God! let all the people praise thee: then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our God, shall bless us. We pray thee watch over us this night, and keep us ever in thy love, for Christ's sake. Amen.