--Proverbs 27. 10.

My Lord and my Friend, I pray that my sympathy may be sincere and
comforting, and with a glad heart I may bring rejoicing to my friends.
May I learn from thee how I may be a permanent friend. Amen.

SEPTEMBER EIGHTEENTH

Trajan, Roman emperor, born 1584.

James Shirley born 1596.

Samuel Johnson born 1709.

Joseph Story born 1779.

There is no greater happiness than to be able to look on a life
usefully and virtuously employed: to trace our own purposes in
existence by such tokens that excite neither shame nor sorrow.

--Dr. Johnson.

The perfect poise that comes-from self-control,
The poetry of action, rhythmic, sweet--
The unvexed music of the body and soul
That the Greeks dreamed of, made at last complete.
Our stumbling lives attain not such a bliss;
Too often, while the air we vainly beat,
Love's perfect law of liberty we miss.

--Annie Matheson.

Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this
day.

--Acts 23. 1.

Heavenly Father, may I not confuse my life with rebellion, but through
thy guidance find peace. Help me through the perplexities that may
keep me from the quietness of to-day. Keep me in sight of the great
plan of life, that I may grow steadfastly toward thee. Amen.

SEPTEMBER NINETEENTH

Battle of Poitiers 1356.

Hartley Coleridge born 1796.

President Garfield died 1881.

Be not afraid to pray--to pray is right.
Pray if thou canst, with hope; but ever pray
Though hope be weak, or sick with long delay;
Pray in the darkness, if there be no light.
Far is the time, remote from human sight,
When war and discord on earth shall cease:
Yet every prayer for universal peace
Avails the time to expedite.

--Hartley Coleridge.

More things are wrought by prayer
Than the world dreams of. Wherefore let thy voice
Rise like a fountain for me night and day.
For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole world is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.

--Alfred Tennyson.

Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving.

--Colossians 4. 2.

O Lord, give me the desire to pray, and teach me