over our spirit; that spirit so tempest-tossed only a few hours before, and no fresh event having occurred to remove the sting of the great anxiety, or of the petty worry. We cannot account for the manner in which this sweet consolation from above has reached us, but there it is! It gains possession of our innermost souls; and under its subduing influence we can only fall on our knees, and exclaim: "Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."] (P. M.)

July.

FROM BRIGHT'NING FIELDS OF ETHER, FAIR DISCLOSED

CHILD OF THE SUN, REFULGENT SUMMER COMES,

IN PRIDE OF YOUTH, AND FELT THROUGH NATURE'S DEPTH ;

HE COMES ATTENDED BY THE SULTRY HOURS,

AND EVER-FANNING BREEZES, ON HIS WAY:

WHILE, FROM HIS ARDENT LOOK, THE TURNING SPRING
AVERTS HER BLUSHFUL FACE; AND EARTH AND SKIES,
ALL-SMILING, TO HIS HOT DOMINION LEAVES.

JULY.

JULY 1.

SAVING KNOWLEDGE.

Learning is not to be blamed, nor the mere knowledge of anything to be disliked, it being good in itself and ordained by God; but a good conscience and a virtuous life is always to be preferred before it. .... Truly at the day of judgment we shall not be examined what we have read, but what we have done; not how well we have spoken, but how religiously we have lived. (A. Kempis.)

July 2.

CONSCIENCE.

Conscience sustains the truth of all the charges which are brought against man. Man exhibits this very strange and remarkable characteristic, that he often frames an argument to show that his race is not as guilty as it is accused of being,

and perhaps succeeds in convincing others, but still the argument does nothing to affect the proof as it lies in his own soul. There is that within himself, which is to him overpowering demonstration that his arguments are all false, and that the charges against him are true. God has so formed the soul, that He has there at all times what may be summoned forth at His pleasure, as a living witness that all that He has charged on man is true, and that shall render nugatory in a moment all the reasonings of men about the uprightness of their own hearts. This proof is found in a man's own conscience.

(Barnes.)

July 3.

MURMURERS.

We murmur every time, when, instead of receiving our trials with dutiful resignation and perfect trust in God, we complain of them, as of something which ought never to have been assigned us. We murmur every time, when those tears that are allowed to the sensibility of human nature, turn into impatience and fretfulWe murmur, when, under any affliction, we refuse to be comforted. We murmur, when,

ness.