December 22

Boast not thyself of to-morrow.—Proverbs 27:1.

REALIZING the uncertainty of the future, am I earnest and diligent in improving the present? Is it my great aim now to be growing in knowledge and grace and usefulness, so that every day shall show some advance in the divine life? Do I realize the value of time? Do I watch for opportunities for doing and getting good? Do I live, habitually, with eternity in view, and so as every day to honor God, and be preparing for the life beyond the grave?

Oh! how many deeds of deathless virtue, and immortal crime, the world had wanted, had the actor said, I will do this to-morrow—LORD JOHN RUSSELL.

Blessed is the man who at the close of to-day, can look upon all his work as done, and anticipate to-morrow as bringing only what properly belongs to it. All duties, privileges, trials, joys, sorrows, everything we have, we have to-day. Yesterday is gone. To-morrow, is not. Only to-day is ours; and only in to day do we hold all our possessions.—BATE.

In human hearts what bolder thoughts can rise, Than man's presumption on to-morrow's dawn?

Where is to-morrow? In another world.

For numbers this is certain. The reverse

Is sure to none And yet on this "perhaps,"

This "peradventure," infamous for lies,

As on a rock of adamant, we build

Our mountain hopes; spin out eternal schemes,

And big with life's futurities, expire!—YOUNG.