August 26

Psalm cvii.—21. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

22. And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

23. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

24. These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

25. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifeth up the waves thereof.

26. They mount up to the heaven; they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

27. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.

28. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

29. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30. Then are they glad because they be quiet: so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Dr. W. M. Thomson describes a sudden tempest which he witnessed on the Lake of Gaidee as lashing the lake "like a huge boiling caldron. The wind howled down every wady from the north east and east, with such fury that no efforts of rowers could have brought a boat to shore at any point along that coast. To understand the causes of these sudden and violent tempests, we must remember that the lake lies low,—six hundred feet lower than the ocean; that the vast and naked plateaus of the Indian rise to a great height, spreading backward to the wilds of the Hauran, and upward to snowy Hermon; that the water-courses have cut out profound ravines and wild gorges, converging to the head of this lake; and that these act like gigantic funnels, to draw down the cold winds from the mountains. These winds are not only violent, but they come down suddenly, and often when the sky is perfectly

Mark iv.—35. And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36. And, when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37. And there arose a great storm of wind; and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow; and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39. And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace! be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41. And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

clear." Jesus, in full command of himself, and never knowing fear, was sleeping quietly after a day of public teaching. So wild was the storm, that the boat seemed about to founder; when, with the impetuosity of terror, the disciples roused their Master, and almost accused him of indifference to their safety. With the majesty of creative power, he commanded the wind and the sea as his creatures, and they were instantly still. The disciples should have felt that the very presence of Jesus was their safety; that he who had cast out demons and raised the dead could not be overmastered by the forces of Nature. His spirit, his personal will, could act directly upon matter, and could control it. The greater seems our danger, the stronger should be our faith. No trouble can sink us when Jesus is within call; no cause can go down in which Jesus is embarked.

APPROPRIATE ITEMS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 132, 135.

Holy Father, we, thy children, commit ourselves to thee in the confidence of faith. At thy command we lay down the burden of our cares and sorrows, and look up to thee as our helper and our comforter. Grant unto us, we beseech thee, the plenitude of thy grace and strength. Endue us with divine power and heavenly wisdom. Lift us out of ourselves, and out of all dependence on our own resources. Take from us the spirit of pride, and clothe us with humility. Teach us to lean upon thy hand, to confide in thy wisdom, to rest on thy power, to repose in thy love, to live on thy fulness. Ever bend our wills to thine; and do thou, in thy great mercy, overrule all things in our lot for thy glory and our good. In the knowledge of thyself and of thy Son Jesus Christ may we seek eternal life! and do thou so nourish this life in our souls by the daily communications of thy grace and the ever-active power of thy Spirit,

that we may at last attain to the everlasting joy of thy presence. May faith in the ever-present, the almighty Saviour, inspire us with courage for every duty and every trial!

Thou givest us our daily bread: oh! feed us with the bread of heaven; and give unto all dear to us a like interest in the things of Christ.

We would begin the labors of this day in simple dependence upon thee, humbly asking thy blessing on every one before thee. Let peace rule in our hearts, and reign in this household. May mutual kindness, and harmony and love, here have their abode! On our pursuits in life let thy blessing descend. Give us bread to eat, and raiment to put on; give us thankful and cheerful hearts; give us every spiritual gift necessary to prepare us for heaven; and, in thy good time, give us an abundant entrance into that happy world, for the sake of our blessed Lord and Redeemer. Amen.