July 22

Jonah ii.—1. Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly,

2. And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

3. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

4. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

5. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about; the weeds were wrapped about my head.

6. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me forever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God!

7. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

Matthew xiv.—22. And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23. And, when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray;

Impetuous, querulous, bold, and timid, by turns, Jonah was the very prototype of Peter. When God subjected him to the highest test of obedience, his faith faltered; and this brought him into peril of his life; but, in his extremity, faith rallied to deliver him. It was so with Peter.

There are occasions in life when to doubt is to fail. Doubt is the vertigo that disorders our mental vision, and blinds the judgment; so that, the higher we try to rise, the more likely are we to fall. Doubt is the paralysis of the will, that renders our moral decisions and efforts tremulous and uncertain, and causes us to stumble and fall in the very effort to walk. So long as Peter fixed his faith steadily upon Christ, he could quit the vessel without fear, step forth upon the sea, and walk upon the raging waves: but the instant he began to question what he was doing, and the probability of going forward, he began to sink; for he lost hold of that spiritual power which had counteracted gravity, and there was nothing left to keep

and, when the evening was come, he was there alone.

24. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves; for the wind was contrary.

25. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26. And, when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28. And Peter answered him, and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29. And he said, Come. And, when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

30. But, when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and, beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me!

31. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith! wherefore didst thou doubt?

32. And, when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

him up. He, the stout fisherman, the brave swimmer, who for his whole life had been at home upon that sea, cried in terror, "Lord, save me, or I perish!" The energy of faith was palsied for action; but the earnestness of faith revived for trusting. Jesus, who mingled tenderness with rebuke, recognized the reality and sincerity of his faith, while he reproved him for its feebleness; for "little faith" is a different thing from faithlessness. The essence of faith is an unfaltering trust in Christ, and its strength lies in its simplicity as an undivided act. In looking to Jesus for salvation, we must look to him wholly; in looking for succor, we must cast all our care on him, and take him at his word; in serving his cause, we must obey him implicitly. In every danger, he is nigh. No night so dark but he can see us; no storm so loud but he can hear us: and, though the sorrows of death compass us, we shall still hear his voice, saying, "It is I; be not afraid."

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 26, 57, 168.

Thou only, O Lord! makest us to dwell in safety. We lie down at night under the shadow of thy wings; we awake in the morning to the light of thy love. We thank thee for another night of rest and comfort; for another day of life, health, and hope. O Lord! may we be found faithful to thee in the duties of this day! and, amid its temptations and its trials, do thou sustain us, comfort us, keep us, and grant us grace in all we do to seek thy glory. May this household, which thou hast so blessed, serve thee, not at this altar only, but in all the walks of life! As we engage in the business of the world, as we go into society, wherever we are, and whatever we do, may we remember thee, and

do thy will! Bless all dear to us who are absent from us. Do thou, O Lord! dwell by thy Spirit in the hearts and the minds of all our friends. We supplicate thy mercy for the needy, the afflicted, the bereaved, and the sorrowing.

Build up thy Church, O Lord! Fill our land with pure religion. Bless the industry of the people; and may its fruit be consecrated to the good of men! May our rulers be faithful and just, walking in thy fear! And we beseech thee to bring all lands under the power and glory of thy kingdom. O Lord! forgive our sins, and bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.