humility to the Bible. Say to yourself a prayer that He whose words you are about to read, may help you to read them in a way that will be pleasing to Him and helpful to yourself. But perhaps you may think that you have no wish to read the Bible. Now listen! Suppose that a dear friend of yours, who had been very good to you and loved you dearly, were to write a letter to you, and ask you in it to do something for her which would please her, besides being of great service to you, would you not open that letter at once, read it all through, notice carefully what she wished you to do? Would you not keep on looking over the letter till you had done all she had told you, in case you might forget anything?

I think that you would—indeed I am sure of it. Now what is the Bible but a letter written by your best Friend-written to you to tell you what you must do if you would please Him and fit yourself for eternal happiness?

And yet, now ask yourself honestly, answer yourself truly. You have a Bible; I take that for granted. If you have not, why have you not? But you have one. Now how often do you touch it, except, perhaps, to move or dust it? How long

together does it lie unopened, unthought of? How much have you neglected God's words, God's letter, written to you?

wishes, if you How can you

How can you obey His law, His never look to see what they are? live a decent, honest, sober, and religious life if you will not take the trouble to learn how? What?

Yes,

time.

I do wish that

every day, even

No time? Many children? Are these excuses that you would make? How many minutes do you waste in gossiping, in dawdling? and yet you cannot spare one in which to read the messages that God has written in His letter to you! If you cared, you know you would make But you have time now-indeed you have. you would read every day. if it should only be three or four verses. you that you will never regret the moments so spent. But reading with your eyes alone will not be enough. Besides reading, you must mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Word of God. You must notice the lessons in it, and see what they would teach you, and try to make them act upon your life.

I assure

You know what digestion of food is. It is the working up into the body of all the nourishment contained in what is eaten. So it is in spiritual digestion. The nourishment contained in the Word of God is worked up into the daily life of the soul. But as food must be eaten before it can be digested, so the Bible must be read before it can nourish and strengthen the soul. Your soul can no more live

and be healthy without God's Word, than can your body without food.

Read it, therefore, and having seen what is the law of God, ask Him to order and guide your steps in it, so that sin may no longer have any power over you.

PRAYER.

Blessed Lord, Who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of Thy Holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which Thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

HYMN.

Lord, Thy Word abideth,
And our footsteps guideth;
Who its truth believeth,

Light and joy receiveth.

E

When our foes are near us,
Then Thy Word doth cheer us,
Word of consolation,

Message of salvation.

When the storms are o'er us,
And dark clouds before us,
Then its light directeth,
And our way protecteth.

Who can tell the pleasure,
Who recount the treasure,
By Thy Word imparted
To the simple-hearted?

Word of mercy, giving
Succour to the living:
Word of life, supplying
Comfort to the dying!

Oh, that we, discerning
Its most holy learning,

Lord, may love and fear Thee,

Evermore be near Thee! Amen.

O God, stablish Thy Word in Thy servant, that I may fear Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Father, I beseech Thee grant that these words may sink into my heart, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye shall receive them, and ye shall have them.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any, that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will be give him a stone?

Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?