August 21

Psalm cxiii. — 1. Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord! praise the name of the Lord.

2. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. 3. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised. 4. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. 5. Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high. 6. Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth? 7. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifeth the needy out of the dunghill; 8. That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. 9. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm cxxxviii. — 1. I will praise thee with my

God has a plan concerning every one of us. Our lives do not move on at hap-hazard, neither are they altogether shaped by our own choice; but the Lord had a purpose in bringing us into being, and is directing our lives toward the fulfilment of that purpose. His purpose toward the work of his hands is always good. We can, indeed, frustrate the moral end of our creation by our perversity and sin; but, if we adapt ourselves in obedience and submission to the will of God, he will perfect that which concerneth us. He will not abandon his own plan. It matters nothing that he is so great and high, and we so insignificant: He who clothes the lilies and feeds the birds of the air, and watches over the minutest laws and processes of the physical universe, thinks upon his children with a father's watchful and forecasting love. When we find ourselves in trouble, we

whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

2. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth; for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. 3. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 4. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord! when they hear the words of thy mouth; 5. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord. 6. Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly; but the proud he knoweth afar off. 7. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. 8. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord! endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

may not infer that God has forsaken or forgotten us. Our path may lie through the sea; but he will make the waters as a wall upon the right hand and the left. Our way may lead through the valley of the shadow of death: but he will go with us; his rod and staff will comfort us. The very troubles of life — disciplining our hearts to a loftier faith, separating us from a worldly unto a spiritual life — may be a means of perfecting that which concerneth us in the wise and holy purpose of God. So the Psalmist had already found it. His troubles had brought him experiences of the merciful faithfulness of God, so rich and blessed, that the fulfilment of the divine promise even exceeded the hopes based upon his glorious name. So let the remembrance of past mercies lead us to praise and trust Him whose ways toward us are perfect, and whose mercy endureth forever.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 43, 139, 141.

O Lord our God! we come before thee this evening, trusting only in the name of Christ our Saviour. Though thou art high and holy, yet dost thou humble thyself to behold the dwellers upon earth, and dost hearken to the cry of the needy for thy dear Son's sake.

We thank thee for health and strength, and every earthly comfort and blessing. But we praise thee yet more for the measure of grace which thou hast given to us; for thy holy Word, and for the way of salvation. Teach us to devote all that we have, and all that we are, to Him who gave himself for us. May we walk as children of the light! and may our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven! So till us with the grandeur of thy kingdom, with the reality of things not seen, with the nearness of eternity, that we shall count all earthly things but loss for thy sake. May we trust thy providence to take care of us while we seek first the kingdom of God!

[May the children of this family grow up in the love of all that is pure and good and holy!] We implore thy blessing upon all who are in any way connected with us, especially those who are in any trouble and sorrow. Comfort those who mourn. Enlighten and sanctify any who are yet far from thee, and who are ignorant of the great salvation.

Bless, O Lord! we beseech thee, all societies formed for the spread of thy gospel. Give wisdom to those who manage them, and grace and zeal to all whom they employ. May their labors be crowned with success! and may they be the means of leading many to the knowledge of the Saviour! And hasten the time, we entreat thee, when all shall know thee.

And now, most gracious Father, we pray thee to watch over and protect us through this night. Let thy love cheer us, and thy Holy Spirit comfort us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Advocate. Amen.