SCRIPTURE LESSON.

WO men went up into the temple to pray; the one a pharisee, and the other a publican. The pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying: God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.-Luke xviii: 10-14. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.-Matt. vi : 6.

PRAYER.

ATHER! hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; give us day by day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for even we also forgive every one that is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with us all. Amen.

SCRIPTURE LESSON.

SOWER went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up; some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth; and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up, and choked them; but others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit; some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.—Matt. xiii : 3–9.

PRAYER.

(EAVENLY Father, grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither yield ourselves the servants of error and wickedness; but that all our doings may be begun, continued and ended in Thee. Grace, mercy and peace, from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, be and abide with us. Amen.

SCRIPTURE LESSON.

WILL extol thee, my God, O King, and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee, and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.-Ps. cxlv: 1-5; 8, 9; 18. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? Of him, through him, and to him are all things. Rom. xi; 33-36.

PRAYER.

THOU, our Father, who knowest the secrets of all hearts, unto Thee would we draw near. To whom shall we look but unto Thee for the strengthening of our faith, and for relief in the perplexing cares of life. May we be lifted by Thy strong arm, and in all seasons of distress and anguish may we confidingly seek Thee. May we be dwellers in Thy house and ever praise Thy name. May we strive to advance Thy truth at all times, and never hesitate to acknowledge our allegiance to our Heavenly King. Through all life's vicissitudes may we be led by Thy spirit and ever feel Thy watchful care over us. Give us devotional spirits, and may we rightly esteem our great Christian privileges. We ask all in the name of our Savior. Amen.

SCRIPTURE LESSON.

EHOLD the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?-Matt. vi: 26-30. Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.-Matt. vi; 32, 33.

PRAYER.

UR Father who art in heaven: Thou art the source of all our hopes, both in this world and in that which is to come: to Thee do we owe life, and health, and all things. Thou hast always cared for us. Watch over us in all the years to come. Day after day Thou hast been with us, and comforts are round us on every side. O Lord, we bless Thy name for what is past. May the thought of Thy goodness lead us to repent of all our sins. May we walk in Thy will in the time to come. Help us to shun all that is wrong. Grant that we may keep our tongues from evil, and our lips from guile. Make our hearts a fit abode for Thy blessed spirit. Guard us from all that is wrong in Thy sight, and make us Thine in word and deed, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SCRIPTURE LESSON.

HEN the son of man shall come in his glory, . . . then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. -Matt. xxv: 31, 34-40.

PRAYER.

E pray, O Father, that Thou wouldst mercifully look upon us in our infirmities; shield us from all the evils to which we are liable, and always may we put our trust in Thee. May we make the doing of Thy will more than all else, seeking first Thy kingdom and righteousness, trusting that all else needful for us will be added, and ever serve Thee in holiness and pureness of living, to Thy honor and glory. Amen.