iel.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee;
because he trusteth in thee.

--Isaiah 26. 3.

O Lord, it is not that I am ashamed to ask thee for the truth that I
do not more diligently seek it, but it is because I fear the sacrifice
that may follow in obtaining it. I would that I could understand that
thy strength is given in the sacrifice. Make me braver as I seek to
live in the truth. Amen.

JULY TWENTY-THIRD

Richard Gibson died 1690.

Charlotte Cushman born 1816.

Coventry Patmore born 1823.

I do not ask, O Lord, that life may be
A pleasant road;
I do not ask that thou would'st take from me
Aught of its load.

For one thing only, Lord, dear Lord, I plead:
Lead me aright--
Though strength should falter, and though heart should bleed--
Through peace to light.

--Adelaide A. Procter.

O, why and whither?--God knows all,
I only know that he is good,
And that whatever may befall
Or here or there, must be the best that could.

--John G. Whittier.

Lead me, O Jehovah, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies;
Make thy way straight before my face.

--Psalm 5. 8.

Loving Father, may I never fail to ask for thy guidance, for thou hast
promised to lead me to the cool springs while I pass through the
desert places. Help me to put myself in thy keeping and say, "Thy will
be done." Amen.

JULY TWENTY-FOURTH

Rev. John Newton born 1725.

John P. Curran born 1750.

J.G. Holland born 1819.

As the winged arrow flies
Speedily the mark to find;
As the lightning from the skies
Darts and leaves no trace behind;
Swiftly thus our fleeting days
Bear us down life's rapid stream;
Upward, Lord, our spirits raise;
All below is but a dream.

--John Newton.

O gentlemen! the time is short;
To spend that shortness basely were too long,
If life did ride upon a dial's point,
Still ending at the arrival of an hour.

--William Shakespeare.

Jehovah, make me to know mine end,
And the measure of my days, what it is;
Let me know how frail I am.

--Psalm 39. 4.

Lord, forbid that I should overcast my life with intentions, and
neglect to put in the deeds. May I not be satisfied to spend my days
in being merely occupied, but live to learn and work. May I not be
dismayed over what I might have been