O G.o.d, the Giver of all harmony and joy, before whom the morning stars sang together, by Whom the voice of the sparrow is heard, we thank Thee that we may serve Thee with gladness and come before Thy presence with singing. Put Thy new song into our mouths and help us to render the acceptable praises of the upright and pure in heart. Help us to love all Thy creatures and to delight in the songs Thou hast taught them.
Especially enable us to bless our brother men, to hush their sighing and swell their singing, to strengthen the chorus of joy and praise with which Thou hast ordained the world shall be filled. We ask with confidence because we know Thy love. Amen.
J. FRANCIS COOPER.
November 4
_The snow has capped yon distant hill, At morn the running brook was still, From driven herds the clouds that rise Are like the smoke of sacrifice; Ere long the frozen sod shall mark The ploughshare, changed to stubborn rock.
The brawling stream shall soon be done-- Sing, little bird! the frosts have come._
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.
Almighty G.o.d, our Heavenly Father, Thou art the giver of all good gifts, and all that comes from Thy hand is good. May we accept Thy providences.
In the dreary days of winter as in the pleasant summer season, Thy mercies are new every morning and fresh every evening. Even when our hearts are chilled with grief and disappointment and failure, we would still put our trust in the eternal goodness. Help us, O G.o.d, to be truly grateful for everything that comes to us. In the winter of the soul may we learn the lessons of patience and resignation. Thus, with faith triumphant and with hearts full of gladness may we sing our songs of praise to Thy holy name forever and forever. Amen.
ARTHUR W. GROSE.
November 5
_It is will alone that matters!
Will alone that mars or makes, Will, that no distraction scatters, And that no resistance breaks._
HENRIK IBSEN.
_No man can choose what coming hours may bring To him of need, of joy, of suffering; But what his soul shall bring unto each hour To meet its challenge--this is in his power._
PRISCILLA LEONARD.
Infinite G.o.d, Who perceivest the destinies of worlds and of men; Who bringest to pa.s.s all that we enjoy, and Who permittest all that we suffer; may I this day be enabled to recognize Thy Fatherly goodness, in the morning mists, even as in the noonday brightness! Should sorrow becloud my pathway, should disappointment make its keen thrusts, should temptation lay its attractive coils, may my soul be made aware of Thy consoling presence, enjoy the compensations of Thy grace, a.s.sert the potency of the wisdom from above! And mayest Thou reveal Thyself! So may be fanned to a flame the divine spark in my heart, whereby all are made partakers of the victory with and through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
ERNEST W. BURCH.
November 6
_"Yes," she answered, lifting her eyes to his face; "I, too, have felt it, Hermas, this burden, this need, this unsatisfied longing.
I think I know what it means. It is grat.i.tude;--the language of the heart, the music of happiness. There is no perfect joy without grat.i.tude. But we have never learned it, and the want of it troubles us. It is like being dumb with a heart full of love. We must find the word for it, and say it together. Then we shall be perfectly joined in perfect joy."_
HENRY VAN d.y.k.e.
Almighty G.o.d, forbid that we shall ever be satisfied with the rich gifts of Thy land, or until the gifts have brought us, appreciative, humble, grateful, to Thee, the giver of them all. Help us to see that this is their high office, disregarding which the n.o.blest of them becomes a stumbling block, accepting which the humblest of them becomes a means of grace and of surpa.s.sing gladness. Move us, then, to such acceptance of Thy favors as shall bring us to Thee rejoicing, that we may need less the experiences which shall bring us to Thee weeping. And hallow all our human loves by lifting us to a common sense and acknowledgment of Thy transcendent love, as shown especially in Jesus Christ. Amen.
CHARLES R. TENNEY.
November 7
_"What is the real good?"
I asked, in musing mood.
"Order," said the court; "Knowledge," said the school, "Truth," said the wise man, "Pleasure," said the fool, "Love," said the maiden, "Beauty," said the page, "Freedom," said the dreamer, "Home," said the sage; "Fame," said the soldier, "Equity," said the seer.
Spake my heart full sadly-- "The answer is not here."
Then within my bosom Softly this I heard: "Each heart holds the secret; Kindness is the word."_
JOHN BOYLE O"REILLY.
Oh, Father, we are in a world of wonder and of bountiful promise. We scarcely know which to choose. Of all life"s quests we would seek the highest and best. Thou art a Lord gracious and kind. Grace is but another name for kindness. It is this which is p.r.o.nounced as a benediction Sabbath after Sabbath, and for which we lift up our faces morning after morning, to receive. Crown us with Thy loving kindness and tender mercies. But not for ourselves alone! As we meet the weary and heavy burdened in life, inspire us to show them the kindness of our G.o.d.
As freely as we have received, so freely may we impart. Amen.
W. G. RICHARDSON.
November 8
_What a blessed thing it is that we can forget! Today"s troubles look large, but a week hence they will be forgotten and buried out of sight. Says one writer, "If you should keep a book and daily put down the things that worry you, and see what becomes of them, it would be a benefit to you." The art of forgetting is a blessed art, but the art of overlooking is quite as important._
AUGHEY.
Lord, we know not the path our feet must walk today; yet we are not anxious. "Thy word will be a lamp to our feet," and what we need to know Thou wilt reveal just when we need to know it. Help us not to forget that we are under our Father"s care; that He knoweth our frame, that He will not unduly burden us; that He will not "suffer us to be tempted beyond that which we are able to bear;" that He will make "all things work together for good to them that love Him." So may this day be one of peace to us, and through us may some troubled heart find rest. Amen.
GEORGE SKENE
November 9
_Learn to laugh. A good laugh is better than medicine. Learn to tell a story. A well told story is as welcome as a sunbeam in a sick room. Learn to keep your own troubles to yourself. The world is too busy to care for your ills and sorrows. Learn to do something for others. Even if you are a bedridden invalid there is always something that you can do to make others happier, and that is the surest way to attain happiness for yourself._
THE BEACON.
Father of all mankind, may the spirit of cheer mark this new day. May the smile of Thy benediction rest upon us, and give courage to meet the duty and bear the burden. Help us each moment to know something of the highest joy of serving Thee. May that joy never be absent from our pain.
May it consecrate every pleasure. May it lift us nearer the stature of the Christ, that the light of our life may shed its beams on the pathway of other lives,--a light in their darkness, an a.s.surance of sympathy in affliction, an inspiration to do and endure. So may all gladly go to their appointed duty, one with Thee, even as Christ, whose followers we aim to be. Amen.
CHARLES T. BILLINGS.
November 10
_Take whatever is good in man, and argue that G.o.d is not only that, but infinitely better than that. In fashioning your conception of G.o.d, make it as resplendent in justice, as august in truth, as n.o.ble and pure in love, as radiant and wondrous in pity, as enduring as you please. Never be afraid that you will overdraw the divine character. G.o.d is never better in your thought or imagination than He is in Himself._
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
Almighty G.o.d, we thank Thee for the great thoughts and high hopes which lie deep in human hearts. We thank Thee for the visions of the perfect life which lead us ever toward the light. We long to follow those who lead the way to Thee. By faith and love may we be bound to them. As voices of Thy spirit may they be to us. Bless us this day with hunger for righteousness. Feed us with the bread of life. Endow us with high hopes and determined wills, that we may be faithful. Amen.
FREDERICK W. BETTS.
November 11
_There was a man who smiled Because the day was bright; Because he slept at night; Because G.o.d gave him sight To gaze upon his child!