SCRIPTURE LESSON.

HARITY never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.-I. Cor. xiii: 8-13.

PRAYER.

RACIOUS Father, Thou hast kept us from day to day, and hast brought us to this time in peace. We praise Thee for all Thy gifts. Take away our sins and make our lives pure, that we may be more worthy to call Thee Father, and to ask Thee to make Thy face to shine upon us. We have strayed from Thy ways like lost sheep. O, call us back to Thy fold, we pray Thee. Make us to lie down in green pastures. Lead us beside the still waters. We cannot thank Thee as we ought, for all Thou hast done for us. With our very first breath we drank in Thy love. And every step we take in life, brings us fresh proofs of Thy care. May these truths dwell in our minds, that we may Thy will on earth as it is done in heaven. And to Thee, the source of all good, we will give the praise.. Amen.

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SCRIPTURE LESSON.

VERY word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.-Prov. xxx: 5. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.-Prov. iv: 23. Honor the Lord with thy substance; and with the first fruit of all thine increase.-Prov. iii: 9. There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. -Prov. xiii: 7. He that is soon angry, dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence; and his children shall have a place of refuge.-Prov. xiv: 17, 26. Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.-I. Cor. iii: 13-15.

PRAYER.

ATHER of mercies, in whom is the fountain of life and light: all we have of blessing is the gift of Thy goodness: all we are of goodness is the work of Thy grace. Make us sensible, that the more we confide in Thee, the more we honor Thee, and that the greater will be our peace, the closer and more trustfully we walk by Thy side. Amen.

SCRIPTURE LESSON.

HE Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me, in the presence of mine enemies. thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.-Ps. xxiii.

PRAYER.

VER-LIVING Father, we devoutly thank Thee for those mercies which are new every morning and fresh every evening-by which our lives are prolonged, and our various domestic, social and spiritual blessings are perpetuated. We ask of Thee the influence of Thy spirit upon our hearts, that will enable us ever to realize our entire dependence upon Thee for all things desirable. And may the multiform blessings which our own sinfulness does not deter Thee from daily bestowing upon us, awaken us to that devout gratitude which shall manifest itself in a cheerful obedience to Thy laws. May we look unto Thee for direction and assistance in the performance of every duty; and may we remember that we have no light nor strength but that which proceeds from Thy spirit, and can have no true enjoyment except it be kindled by Thy smile. Prepare us for a more faithful discharge of our duties to Thee, to our family, and to the world; and may the example of Jesus ever be the pattern of our daily walk and conversation.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE LESSON.

EEK ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.-Isa. lv: 6-11.

PRAYER.

UR Heavenly Father! we come before Thee with our sacrifice of prayer, entreating Thee to help us of Thy good spirit, that our offerings may be acceptable in Thy sight. Into this hour breathe such divine influences as shall consecrate our souls to Thee. Inspire us with thoughts and feelings suited to Thy presence. As disciples of Thy son, and with fervent gratitude to him as our Savior, we would draw nigh to Thee, remembering how far away from Thee we should have been without him, and how near to Thee he will lead us, if we follow his guidance. We invoke that Divine assistance which shall enable us to worship Thee in the beauty of holiness, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

SCRIPTURE LESSON.

HICH is the Great Commandment in the law? Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment; and the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.-Matt. xxii: 36-39. All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them.—Matt. vii: 12. Christ said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another as I have loved you.”—John xiii: 34. We love him because he first loved us. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God, love his brother also.-I. John iv: 19, 21. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children; and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us.-Eph. v: 1, 2.

PRAYER.

THOU, who art the Infinite Father of all souls, the same yesterday, to-day and forever: we give thanks to Thy name that we are spared to behold the light of this hour. Prepare us, O God, for all the duties of the year upon which we have entered. May we be guarded against sickness, calamity and death; may we be led by Thy hand in the paths of wisdom. Enable us to feel that our way will be dark and wretched, unless we follow Thy directions; that peace cannot be our portion if we live in sin. Help us, O God, to begin a new life; may we cease from the unfruitful works of darkness; may we be created anew in the likeness of Jesus Christ, and be so governed by new desires and cheered by new hopes, as to walk in newness of life. Amen.