of God's love. In this rough and tumble world of ours, of hard
conditions, of disasters many, of untold misery, there are
temptations enough for men to lose faith in God's love. It is well
now and then to have an outburst of faith like this with the
assurance that nothing can ever separate any child of God from the
divine compassion and the divine care._
GEORGE L. PERIN.
Our Heavenly Father, it is good for us to believe that through all
storms and all darkness and all sickness and all infirmity, even through
death itself, Thy love abides. As we enter upon this day, we know not
whither we shall go, but we thank Thee for the assurance that we may not
go away from Thee. Thou followest us with Thy care and wrappest us
around with Thy love, as with a garment. In all that we do today may we
know that Thou seest us, and if our way be steep, may we be sure that
Thou lovest us. Amen.
GEORGE L. PERIN.
August 1
_Begin the morning by saying to thyself, I shall meet this day with
the busybody, the ungrateful, the arrogant, deceitful, envious,
unsocial. All these things happen to them by reason of their
ignorance of what is good and evil. But I who have seen the nature
of the good that it is beautiful, and of the bad that it is ugly,
can neither be injured by any of them--for no one can fix on me
what is ugly--nor can I be angry with my neighbor, nor hate him. We
are made for cooperation; to act against one another, that is
contrary to nature; and it is acting against one another to be
vexed and turn away._
MARCUS AURELIUS.
Eternal Spirit of Love, teach us the power of love. Help us to learn
that love is supreme, and hence envieth not, nor vaunteth itself, nor
seeketh its own, but suffereth long and is kind. We, who in Jesus of
Nazareth have seen the glory of Thy likeness and experienced the
sweetness of Thy love, desire like Him to reveal Thee in our lives, to
be loving and gentle, sincere and generous, to cooperate with friend and
stranger in all that is good, to live so that they can work with us for
the advancement of everything righteous. Fill us, therefore, with Thy
spirit, and send us forth today in Thy service. Amen.
WILLIAM W. GUTH.
August 2
_"God!" let the torrents, like a shout of nations,
Answer! and let the ice-plain echo, "God!"
"God!" sing, ye meadow streams, with gladsome voice
Ye pine groves, with your soft and soul-like sounds!
And they, too have a voice, yon piles of snow,
And in their perilous fall shall thunder, "God!"_
_Ye living flowers that skirt the eternal frost!
Ye wild goats sporting round the eagle's nest!
Ye eagles, playmates of the mountain storm!
Ye lightnings, the dread arrows of the clouds!
Ye signs and wonders of the elements!
Utter forth "God!" and fill the hills with praise!_
SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE.
Heavenly Father, how long have Thy servants thirsted after Thee--Thou
spring of everlasting life! In this land of our home the meditations of
ages surround us, and through the treasured thoughts of the wise in many
generations we are lifted into a light beyond the solitary soul.
Countless are Thy witnesses, Eternal God! the stars without number are
but a little part of them; and the prayers and aspirings of every heart
of man can never cease to speak Thee. Humbled and blind amid Thy
manifold glories, may we find rest in the simplicity of Christ, and be
among the pure in heart who alone can see Thee. Amen.
JAMES MARTINEAU.
August 3
_O God, my master God, look down and see
If I am making what Thou wouldst of me.
Fain might I lift my hands up in the air
From the defiant passion of my prayer;
Yet here they grope on this cold altar stone,
Graving the words I think I should make known.
Mine eyes are Thine. Yea, let me not forget,
Lest with unstaunched tears I leave them wet,
Dimming their faithful power, till they not see
Some small, plain task that might be done for Thee.
My feet, that ache for paths of flowery bloom,
Halt steadfast in the straitness of this room.
Though they may never be on errands sent,
Here shall they stay, and wait Thy full content.
And my poor heart, that doth so crave for peace,
Shall beat until Thou bid its beating cease.
So, Thou dear master God, look down and see
Whether I do Thy bidding heedfully._
ALICE BROWN.
O God, our Heavenly Father, from whom cometh to us again this gift of
life, may we be able to use as Thou wouldst have us the fresh revelation
and energy of each morning hour. May we be helped to see more clearly
that task with all its blessings, which Thou placest within our reach
today. Freshen our souls anew with the coming sunlight and quicken our
will that we may perceive and fulfil our present duty gladly, eagerly,
successfully, however humble in the spirit of those who remember that if
done for Thy sake and beneath Thy laws even servile labors shine. Amen.
HOBART CLARK.
August 4
_We thank Thee for all that Thou hast made, and that Thou hast
called it Good! We thank Thee! We enter into Thy work, and go about
Thy business._
EDWARD EVERETT HALE.
_O, it is great, and there is no other greatness. To make some work
of God's creation a little fruitfuller, better, more worthy of God;
to make some human hearts a little wiser, manfuller, happier,--more
blessed, less accursed,--it is a work for God._
THOMAS CARLYLE.
Heavenly Father, we would begin the day with noble purpose; may we scorn
all meanness, and lift up our heads unto the Lord as men who have a
great expectation. Our hope is in a living God; Thou wilt not allow our
life to wander into darkness; if for a small moment we are forsaken, we
shall be gathered with ineffable and everlasting mercies. In the
confidence of Thy presence, in the assurance of Thy sustaining grace, we
look steadfastly to heaven, and then we look hopefully to earth, and we
know that, having begun the day with prayer and praise and pious
expectancy, its hours shall all be gladdened and its even-tide shall be
a benediction. Guide us with Thine eyes; sustain us by Thy mighty power;
keep us this day without sin. Amen.
JOSEPH PARKER.
August 5
_The scenery around your house may be monotonous, without a
mountain or sea or lake or hill; but an upward look at the clear
sky will put you in instant communication with infinite beauty and
majesty. No spot on earth is common or barren over which the skies
bend in solemn silence. No human life need be barren or common
which is connected by the great network of moral law with any other
being._
J. H. CARLISLE.
Our God and Father, the author of beauty, the rewarder of all them that
seek Thee, we, Thy children, come to Thee at the opening of this new
day. May we have hearts so pure that we shall see Thee; minds so open
that we shall talk with Thee; and lives so true that we shall reveal
Thee. Let toil become to us as a sacrament. Reveal to us the beauty of
life as well as of holiness and help us to live with upturned faces, so
that we may catch the glory of Thy presence, and reflect it to all
around us. May we walk with Thee, thinking Thy thoughts, having Thy
visions of beauty and of life. When life's evening shall come gather us
in Thine arms of love to be with Thee in the home which Thou hast
prepared for us and hast beautified with earth's fairest treasures
through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
JOHN GALBRAITH.
August 6
_How good is man's life, the mere living! How fit to employ
All the heart and the soul and the senses forever in joy!_
ROBERT BROWNING.
_I am glad to think
I am not bound to make the world go right;
But only to discover and to do,
With cheerful heart, the work that God appoints.
I will trust in Him,
That He can hold His own; and I will take
His will, above the work He sendeth me,
to be my chiefest good._
JEAN INGELOW.
Our Heavenly Father, all Thy works prove Thy goodness; the world Thou
givest us is good; the powers with which Thou dost endow us are adapted
to deeds of goodness. We know full well that we do evil as well as good.
Some of our days close in sadness.... At the beginning of this day we
pledge ourselves to try harder than ever to do something good, to make
somebody happy, to keep our minds filled with pure thoughts, to set our
ambitions on worthy objects; and we pray that Thou who art "the Power
not ourselves that makes for righteousness" shalt work with us that
through our effort and Thy help the day shall end in joy and peace.
Amen.
LEE S. MCCOLLESTER.
August 7
_Our lives are songs; God writes the words,
And we set them to music at pleasure;
And the song grows glad, or sweet, or sad,
As we choose to fashion the measure.
We must write the music, whatever the song,
Whatever its rhyme or metre;
And if it is sad, we can make it glad,
Or, if sweet, we can make it sweeter._
ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.
We thank Thee, O God, that Thou hast made us responsive to all the
beauty and gladness about us, and that we may make our lives one grand,
sweet song. We know there is much that may spoil the song. But we thank
Thee, that if we follow the great Leader, we can change all discordant
notes into harmony. Help us through Him to tune our lives into accord
with Thine. Especially may we live in peace with each other. Make us
strong to return good for evil, to meet irritability with patience,
unkindness with gentleness and harsh words with quiet speech. So may our
lives "be filled with music, and the cares that infest the day, shall
fold their tents like the Arabs, and as silently steal away." Amen.
JAMES M. PAYSON.
August 8
_Back of the canvas that throbs the painter is hinted and hidden,
Into the statue that breathes the soul of the sculptor is bidden,
Under the joy that is felt lie the infinite issues of feeling;
Crowning the glory revealed is the glory that crowns the revealing.
Great are the symbols of being, but that which is symbolled is greater;
Vast the create and beheld, but vaster the inward creator._
RICHARD REALF.
Thou, Lord, who hast created us surely for good and not evil, for Thou
art good and doest good, wilt go with us through all the day. Help us to
keep in mind Thy presence, that we may walk before Thee and be perfect,
that we may walk with Thee and be pleasing to Thee, that we may walk
after Thee, humbly, reverently. May we prize the glories that come with
the hours, not suffering them to make us conceited or self-centered, or
unduly independent, but utilize them as means to make us more fully a
part of Thee. Give us this day complete victory over each temptation as
it arrives, and may we feel when night falls that we have acquitted
ourselves well in the campaign, and done what we could to make, not only
ourselves, but the world around us, better. Amen.
JAMES MUDGE.
August 9
_Each night is followed by its day,
Each storm by fairer weather,
While all the works of nature sing
Their songs of joy together.
Then learn, O heart, their songs of hope!
Cease, soul, thy thankless sorrow;
For though the clouds be dark today,
The sun will shine tomorrow._
T. EDGAR JONES.
Father of light! Who causeth light to shine out of darkness and maketh
day to follow the night; we thank Thee for Thy loving care that has
brought us from the slumber and rest of night to behold the light of a
new day. May we rejoice in it, and cheerfully enter upon its duties and
experiences. May the grace of Thy presence make our sunshine, that we
may walk in the light of heaven, breathe its atmosphere and engage in
its service; doing Thy will in the service of one another and in the
service of love, truth and goodness. May the light of faith, hope, and
love shining within us, dispel all darkness and sorrow from our lives,
that light which shines so lustrously from the life of Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
ROBERT T. POLK.
August 10
_Never say, "It is nobody's business but my own what I do with my
life." It is not true. Your life is put into your bands as a trust,
for many others besides yourself. If you use it well, it will make
many others happy; if you abuse it, you will harm many others
besides yourself._
JAMES M. PULLMAN.
Almighty Father, whom, though we have not seen, we love, we know not
what this day may bring forth but we know that it shall be for good as
our trust is in Thee. We look up and adore Thee, and we believe and love
and obey. Throughout all the hours of this day may we be "diligent in
business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." We believe in the
victory of good over evil, of light over darkness; help us to bear our
part courageously in the battle. Be merciful to us and make us merciful
to one another. May we be numbered with those who are pure in heart, and
see God in the humblest service to the humblest people. We beseech Thee
to answer according to Thy love not only these prayers which we utter
with our lips but also the silent prayers of our heart. Amen.
HAROLD PATTISON.
August 11
_Prince Florimel and Prince Carimel were twin brothers, the sons of
a king, and no one could tell which of the two ought to succeed to
the throne, for they were both exactly the same age. So one day
they went to a wise magician, and asked him which of them ought to
be king after their father's death. "He who is most worthy," said
the magician. "But how shall we find out who is most worthy?" "He
who possesses the magic flower that grows in the enchanted forest
shall be found most worthy," he answered. So the two brothers
travelled through the enchanted forest until they found the magic
flower; but it grew in such a dangerous place that Carimel would
not attempt to reach it. Florimel, however, clambered down the
rocks and plucked the flower; and when he had got it, what do you
think he did with it? Why, he gave it to his brother, for the name
of that magic flower was Unselfishness._
WILLIAM MOODIE.
Our Father, with thankful hearts for all Thy goodness to us in the
past,--we seek Thy Holy Spirit's guidance for the day before us. Help us
to live not for self alone, but for the good of all with whom we mingle.
May the needy, suffering, and struggling ones all about us gather
strength because of our devotion to Thee. So inspire us to forget
ourselves, that we may the better remember our Master, and the
privileges and duties of a life's service to Thy children. Wilt Thou
not, Infinite One, thus help us, this day, and in all the days to come,
to live to Thy glory! Amen.
LEWIS P. BATES.
August 12
_To do something for someone else; to love the unlovely; to give a
hand to the unattractive; to speak to the uncongenial; to make
friends with the poor and folks of lowly degree; to find a niche in
the church of the Lord, and to do something out of sheer love for
Him; to determine in His house to have His mind; to plan to win at
least one for the Master; to aim to redeem past time that is lost;
to will to let one's light shine; to cut off practices that are
sinful and costly; to add the beauty of holiness--this is to make
one's life a thing of beauty and this is to grow in grace, for
growing in grace is simply copying the beautiful life of the
altogether lovely One._
EDWARD F. REIMER.
Infinite Father, we rejoice that it is possible for us to be workers
together with Thee by giving our sympathy, love and help to Thy needy
children. As Thou hast honored us by appointing us to such a gracious
ministry, may we seek to honor Thee in return by trying to do Thy
blessed will. In all lowly and gentle ways, may we do what we can to
bind up the broken-hearted, to relieve the distressed, to strengthen the
weak. Let none who suffer look to us in vain for some manifestation of
the Christ-like Spirit. May we so meet and treat the sad, the lonely,
the tempted, that they shall take knowledge of us that we have been with
Jesus. So may His heavenly teaching bear sweet fruit in our conduct and
characters, and so may the Kingdom which He came to establish grow apace
in the world. In His name. Amen.
WILLARD C. SELLECK.
August 13
_Let me feel that I am to be a lover. I am to see to it that the
world is better for me, and to find my reward in the act. Love
would put a new face on this weary old world in which we dwell as
pagans and enemies too long; and it would warm the heart to see how
fast the vain diplomacy of statesmen, the impotence of armies and
navies and lines of defence, would be superseded by this unarmed
child. This great, overgrown, dead Christendom of ours still keeps
alive at least the name of a lover of mankind. But one day all men
will be lovers: and every calamity will be dissolved in the
universal sunshine._
RALPH WALDO EMERSON.
What manner of love hast Thou bestowed upon us, dear Lord, that we
should be called Thy children! As Thou hast loved us, so teach us each
to love the world. This day someone will go forth to business on land or
sea burdened with heavy cares: some father disheartened and discouraged
will take up the trials of yesterday wondering what the end will
be--some mother dismayed with her lot will cry "How long?" Help us, O
Lord to minister to them in word or look, in prayer or gift. As the sun
shall this day bring light and life to this old earth causing it to
yield its highest purpose, so grant that Thy love may give through us a
new inspiration to all mankind. Hasten the time when all shall love Thee
as Thou hast loved the world. Then will each love the other. Then will
the sword and the spear be molten into the plowshare and the pruning
hook, and the desert shall bud and blossom as the rose. Amen.
EDWIN ALONZO BLAKE.
August 14
_Thou art, O God, the life and light
Of all this wondrous world we see;
Its glow by day, its smile by night,
Are but reflections caught from thee.
Where'er we turn, thy glories shine,
And all things fair and bright are thine._
THOMAS MOORE.
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who hast safely brought us to the
beginning of this day, defend us in the same with Thy mighty power.
Grant that this day we fall into no sin. Create in us a clean heart and
renew a right spirit within us. Open our eyes that this day may be a
fresh disclosure of Thyself, the Unseen Presence; endow us with Thy
strength that, in joy and pain, it may lead us into Thy house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens. Enable us so to use the things of
the world that while they abide we may not lose Thy presence, and when
they pass we may not stand alone. So shall the spirit of Christ inflame
us. Amen.
FREDERICK W. PERKINS.
August 15
_It ain't no use to grumble and complain,
It's just as cheap and easy to rejoice;
When God sorts out the weather and sends rain,
Why, rain's my choice._
JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY.
_When you get into a tight place, and everything goes against you,
till it seems as if you could not hold on a minute longer, never
give up then, for that's just the place and time that the tide will
turn._
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.
Father, we pray Thee that in every emergency of our lives we may be
faithful to the duty which the day demands, and with reverent spirits
acquit us like men, doing what should be done, bearing what must be
borne, and so growing greater from our toil and our sufferings, till we
transfigure ourselves into noble images of humanity, which are blameless
within and beautiful without, and acceptable to Thy spirit. So may Thy
kingdom come and Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; for Thine
is the kingdom and the power and the glory, the dominion and honor
forever and ever. Amen.
THEODORE PARKER.
August 16
_It was only a glad "Good Morning"
As she passed along the way;
But it spread the morning's glory
Over the livelong day._
CARLOTTA PERRY.
_Smile upon the troubled pilgrims
Whom you pass and meet;
Frowns are thorns, and smiles are blossoms,
Oft to weary feet.
Do not make the way seem harder
By a sullen face;
Smile a little, smile a little,
Brighten up the place._
ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.
Father, in this morning hour, we would look into Thy face and feel the
sweetness of that transforming influence which is forever baptizing Thy
world with light and gladness, adding beauty to beauty and glory to
glory. Baptize us anew, with this all-pervading spirit and send us out
into this day's work to meet its varied experiences with trusting hearts
and smiling faces. May we each send forth a brightening, gladdening
influence to cheer and strengthen and uplift every weary, troubled
pilgrim whom we meet on this day's journey. So may it be ours to enter
into closer and diviner fellowship with Thee, our Father, whose greatest
joy is to impart joy and blessing to Thy waiting children. Amen.
ANNETTE J. SHAW.
August 17
_There are nettles everywhere,
But smooth green grasses are more common still;
The blue of heaven is larger than the cloud._
ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING.
_Flower in the crannied wall,
I pluck you out of the crannies;--
Hold you here, root and all, in my hand,
Little flower--but if I could understand
What you are, root and all, and all in all,
I should know what God and man is._
ALFRED TENNYSON.
O Thou, Who hast gemmed the heavens with round, revolving worlds, the
earth with beauty and the coronet of our minds with royal faculties, we
do not know what "the little flower is, root and all, and all in all"
and yet, dear Lord, through the clear and the convincing revelation of
Thy dear Son; through the divine image which Thou hast implanted within
us; through the mighty and the persuasive witness from experience, we do
feel and believe that Thou art the great creator, preserver and
benefactor; That Thou hast called us to do a noble, a specific work;
that we ought not to neglect the gift that is in us; to this end wilt
Thou help us to be pure, brave, faithful and strong, that we may fight
the good fight, and win the crown of righteousness. Amen.
ALBERT HAMMATT.
August 18
_O ye, so far above me on the Height,
I cannot hear your voices as ye stand
Facing the vast, invisible to me.
But I can see your gestures of delight,
And something guess of that wide, glorious sea,
The glimmering isles of that enchanted land,
The winds which from that ocean freshly blow.
And so your Vision lifts me toward the Height,
Although ye have forgot me far below._
_But you, my brother, you, my near of kin,
Who some few steps above me on the steep
Look smiling back to cheer me ever on,
Who lend a hand as I the chasm leap,
And stay your haste that I the crag may win,
Thinking it scorn for Strength to climb alone;
You with your morning song when sings the lark,
You, with unflagging purpose at high noon,
And quiet-hearted trust when comes the dark,--
To you I owe it that I climb at all._
MARY FRANCES WRIGHT.
Spirit of the Infinite Life! We praise Thee that our visions of the
Divinest rise far beyond the borders of our known and familiar fields,
that the resources of our unwearied life are in those mysterious regions
that we have not explored. And yet we rejoice that the shadows of these
holy visions fall across our common ways, reporting thus from the
Infinite and the unknown the possibilities of greater fortunes yet to
be. In this life of Thee may we dwell, seeing Thee in the life about us
and evermore seeking to lead the life toward those high places that are
always waiting the coming of those who aspire toward Thee. Amen.
E. L. REXFORD.
August 19
_The flowers got into a debate one morning as to which of them was
the flower of God: and the rose said: "I am the flower of God, for
I am the fairest and the most perfect in beauty and variety of form
and delicacy of fragrance of all the flowers." And the crocus said:
"No, you are not the flower of God. Why, I was blooming long before
you bloomed. I am the primitive flower; I am the first one." And
the lily of the valley said modestly: "I am small, but I am white;
perhaps I am the flower of God." And the trailing arbutus said:
"Before any of you came forth I was blooming under the leaves and
under the snow. Am I not the flower of God?" And all the flowers
cried out: "No, you are no flower at all; you are a come-outer."
And then God's wind, blowing on the garden, brought this message to
them: "Little flowers, do you not know that every flower that
answers God's spring call, and comes out of the cold, dark earth,
and lifts its head above the sod and blooms forth, catching the
sunlight from God and flinging it back to men, taking the sweet
south wind from God and giving it back to others in sweet and
blessed fragrance--do you not know they are all God's flowers?"_
LYMAN ABBOTT.
Our Heavenly Father, in Thy sight, there are no nations, there is no
north and no south, no east and no west; there is no black and no white;
Jew and Gentile, bond and free,--all are Thine. O, Lord, give us so much
breadth of sympathy that we shall be able to understand at least dimly
the universality of Thy love. Amen.
GEORGE L. PERIN.
August 20