October 4
_n.o.body proves G.o.d"s being. But, suddenly, one sees G.o.d is here.
One speaks and G.o.d answers. Thereafter all is sure._
EDWARD EVERETT HALE.
_There is nothing that so persuades us of the great realities of moral and spiritual being as the man in whom G.o.d is manifest, the type of our human nature at its best, and the indors.e.m.e.nt of the sublime faith that G.o.d in humanity is the supreme revelation of Himself!_
HORATIO STEBBINS.
Blessed Father, as the morning light has triumphed in its struggle to overcome darkness, so Thou dost gently but irresistibly call us from slumber to the glories and duties of the new day. May we be strong in the sweet a.s.surance that the unfolding hours are full of blessing because Thou art caring for us. Help us to do Thy will by enabling us to minister to those around us. May the words of our mouth and the industry of our hands reveal Thy guiding love. Enable us to order our ways by the habit of trust that we have learned through Thy constancy. Wilt Thou disappoint our fears, steady our hearts, and show us the way of obedience, peace and service that we may realize the good through the day and rejoice in it, as disciples of Christ. Amen.
JAMES D. CORBY.
October 5
_Thou knowest not what argument Thy life to thy neighbor"s creed hath lent; All are needed by each one; Nothing is good or fair alone._
RALPH WALDO EMERSON.
_Men will not be content to live every man for himself, nor to die every man for himself. In work, in art, in study, in trade--in all life, indeed, the children of G.o.d, called by a Saviour"s voice, will wish to live in the common cause. They will live for the common wealth,--this is the modern phrase. They will bear each other"s burdens,--this is the phrase of Paul. They will live in the life of love. And it will prove true as it was promised, that all things are added to the community which thus seeks the Kingdom of G.o.d and His Righteousness._
EDWARD EVERETT HALE.
Eternal G.o.d, who dost still create the light, and make the morning and the evening of our days, by Thy light we look to Thee. In Thy light we worship Thee. Gird us with strength to work with Thee to bring Thy Kingdom in. May we lose and find ourselves again in the larger whole of life by ministering to others" needs; by bearing others" burdens; by sharing their joys and tears and the common fruits of toil, thus making our life and faith in Thee become their own. Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it; and let Thy beauty and Thy glory be upon us forever and ever. Amen.
C. E. HOLMES.
October 6
_Master, to do great work for Thee, my hand Is far too weak! Thou givest what may suit, Some little chips to cut with care minute, Or tint, or grave, or polish. Others stand Before their quarried marble, fair and grand, And make a life-work of the grand design Which Thou hast traced; or, many-skilled, combine To build vast temples, gloriously planned.
Yet take the tiny stones which I have wrought Just one by one, as they were given by Thee, Not knowing what came next in Thy wise thought.
Let each stone by Thy master-hand of grace Form the mosaic as Thou wilt for me And in Thy temple-pavement give it place._
FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL.
Father, we are shortsighted and weak, and hence cannot do our best work without Thine aid. We rejoice in the privileges and opportunities of this day. Thou hast counted us worthy to work for Thee. Thou canst use our loaves and fishes, but dost require us to bring thus our little all for Thy blessing. We are inspired with hope to make our consecration to Thee. Make this a day of glorious service. Guide us in our thoughts and work. Glorify Thyself in our life. And wherever the close of this day may find us may it be with the feeling that we have done our best by Thy blessing and help. Amen.
J. W. FULTON.
October 7
_"Whatever the weather may be," says he-- "Whatever the weather may be, It"s the songs ye sing, an" the smiles ye wear, That"s a-making the sun shine everywhere; An" the world of gloom is a world of glee, Wid the bird in the bush, an" the bud in the tree An" the fruit on the stim o" the bough," says he, "Whatever the weather may be," says he-- "Whatever the weather may be!"_
JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY.
O Father of Lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning, help us today so to trust Thee that our joy may be unclouded. Thy love is unchanging in its radiance and warmth. Therefore let it glow in me and through me light someone who may be in darkness. O strong Son of G.o.d, who art the same, yesterday, today, yea, and forever, enable us, we beseech Thee, to be brave and cheery as though Thyself wast in the darkest hours as in the brightest. Teach us that the storm and trial is just our opportunity to shine. Cleanse us of all disobedience and darkness. Be our constant Comforter. Let others see that it is Christ within us. Amen.
THOMAS W. SMITH.
October 8
_Look up to G.o.d, and say, "Make use of me for the future as Thou wilt. I am of the same mind; I am equal with Thee. I refuse nothing which seems good to Thee. Lead me whither Thou wilt. Clothe me in whatever dress Thou wilt. Is it Thy will that I should be in a public or private condition; dwell here, or be banished; be poor or rich? Under all these circ.u.mstances I will make Thy defence to men.
I will show what the nature of everything is."_
EPICTETUS.
Merciful Father, we begin this day, knowing not what the end may be, with thoughts of Thee and Thy loving kindness. May this be to us a day of joy, a day upon which we can look back and say we have been blessed by Thee. We pray for that spirit that enabled others to labor in the cause of love and righteousness, and while we may not be able to accomplish all the good we have set our hearts upon, may the thought that our lives and our labors have not been in vain, inspire us and others with courage to continue the work of helping and blessing our fellowmen. Amen.
DONALD FRASER.
October 9
_Men deny the Divine Existence with as little feeling as the most a.s.sert it. Even in our true systems we go on collecting mere words, playmarks and medals, as the misers do coins; and not till late do we trans.m.u.te the words into feelings, the coins into enjoyments. A man may for twenty years believe the immortality of the soul; in the one-and-twentieth, in some great moment, he for the first time discovers with amazement the rich meaning of this belief, and the warmth of this naphtha-well._
RICHTER.
O Thou Who slumberest not, nor sleepest, in the dawn of this new day we look trustingly to Thee. While the night has been enfolding us, Thy loving care has held us in the everlasting arms. May this day be for us a fresh consecration. May we be enn.o.bled in Thee. May we share Thy life in things small or great. However humble our lives--however emptied our experience of that which wins the plaudits of men, may we manifest Thee.
By us may Thy Kingdom come and Thy will be done. Amen.
GEORGE H. YOUNG.
October 10
_Thou wilt not hold in scorn the child who dares Look up to Thee, the Father,--dares to ask More than Thy wisdom answers. From Thy hand The worlds were cast; yet every leaflet claims From that same hand its little shining sphere Of star-lit dew; thine image, the great sun, Girt with his mantle of tempestuous flame, Glares in mid-heaven; but to his noontide blaze The slender violet lifts its lidless eye, And from his splendor steals its fairest hue, Its sweetest perfume from the scorching fire._
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.
Thou great Spirit of life and power, we do not shrink in terror before Thee, but come to Thee in trust and love. Though we cannot fathom the mystery of Thy life nor measure the might of Thy power, yet we have learned to call Thee Father; and even as the violet lifts its face to the noonday sun to find the secret of its life, so we lift our faces to Thee, to find the secret of our lives. Thou answerest us with tenderness. Thou speakest to us in love. Fresh from sleep, we put our hands in Thine to be led forth to the duties of the day. May we go forth with that confidence and hope, which are born of trust in Thee, our Father. Amen.
GEORGE L. PERIN.
October 11
_Now believe me, G.o.d hides some ideal in every human soul. Some time in our life we feel a trembling, fearful longing to do some good thing. Life finds its n.o.blest spring of excellence in this hidden impulse to do our best. There is a time when we are not content to be such merchants or doctors or lawyers as we see on the dead level or below it. The woman longs to glorify her womanhood as sister, wife or mother. Here is G.o.d,--G.o.d standing silently at the door all day long,--G.o.d whispering to the soul that to be pure and true is to succeed in life and that whatever we get short of that will burn up like stubble, though the whole world try to save it._
ROBERT COLLYER.
G.o.d of all power and might, come into our lives with Thy might and Thy power. Awaken us from that slumber of death-in-life which easily and sweetly steals through the door, and, like some new Delilah, binds the strong will within. Come, come as the fresh morning sun, to drive away the mist of our sloth and indecision. Come, enter; and bring with Thee the upstirring power and the wide radiance of the life divine. Come, enter, and abide! When Thou art absent, though life be easy, it doth not satisfy us; but when Thou art present, though life be hard, it doth also content us. O G.o.d of all power and might, come Thou into our lives with Thy might and Thy power. Amen.