January 6

Psalm cxxxix.—1. O Lord! thou hast searched me, and known me.

2. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my thought after off.

3. Thou compassest my path and my lying-down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord! thou knowest it altogether.

5. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me: it is high; I cannot attain unto it.

7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, even the night shall be light about me.

God's omnipotence searching our inmost thoughts, knowing our hidden motives, scanning our most secret ways, should keep us in awe of sin. God's omnipotence, surrounding us continually, making it impossible for us, by darkness or by distance, to hide from his eye or escape from his hand, should at once dissuade us from evil, and encourage us to commit ourselves to his guidance, and trust in his love. That love surrounds us every moment with its precious thoughts,—thoughts originating life, shaping its wondrous organism, providing for our sustentation, our culture, our enjoyment, filling the world with focus of beauty, and resources of happiness; thoughts as inexhaustible as the desert of its sands, the sky of its stars, each separate grain a golden thought of love, each point of light a world, a constellation of glory.

How many thoughts does the mother bestow upon her babe in a single day? How many wants it cannot express must be

12. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

14. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15. My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them.

17. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18. If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

23. Search me, O God! and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts;

24. And see if there be any wicked way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.

anticipated by her love! How many dangers the babe is all unconscious of must be provided against by her watchfulness! how many diversions made ready for its waking hours! how much care and planning for its quiet and comfort in sleep! In the consciousness of the mother's presence, and the assurance of the mother's care, the infant grows without thought or care for itself; falls asleep in its mother's arms; and, when it wakes, is still with her: its eyes open upon the same smile of love; it is again conscious of the same thoughtful superintendence. So should we, committing our helplessness to our heavenly Father, lie down within his encircing love; wake to recognize him in the first thoughts of the morning, and to walk with him all the day long. Then will the thought of his presence be our perpetual peace; and heaven shall grow familiar to our hope as the place where we shall see God.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 21, 44, 68.

Our waiting eyes are unto thee, O Lord! Each morning brings us to thee with new obligations of gratitude for thy loving-kindness in the night-season, and of dependence for the day upon which we enter. We are not worthy of the least of all thy mercies; for we have sinned, O Lord!—we have sinned against thy law, against thy love, against thy very grace in Christ our Saviour. Yet do we hope in thy mercy still, and cast ourselves upon thee alone.

O thou Spirit of truth and holiness! we pray thee to keep us this day from sin. May we be mindful of thy presence, as a holy guardianship from wrong! and may we so delight in God, that we shall live above the power of temptation and evil, and, while diligent in business, be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord! Help us to be true and faithful, just and kind, gentle and loving, pure and holy. Teach us to behold thy glory in thy works,

to discern thy goodness in thy providence, and to rejoice ever in thy word and thy grace.

Great Shepherd of Israel, take, we beseech thee, each member of this family, and all that are dear to us, under thy care. Be thou the guide of the young, the staff of the aged, the strength of the burdened, the help of the weak and the faint, the joy and deliverer of every one that looketh unto thee.

Bless thy Church in this community with thy reviving grace; visit our land with thy salvation; and fill the whole earth with thy praise. Hasten the time when all shall know thee, from the least unto the greatest.

Finally, we pray thee, bring us to thyself in joy and glory everlasting; bring us to the realization of thy presence, that we may be satisfied with thy likeness. And to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be glory forever. Amen.