JANUARY 30-31.

ISAIAH XXIX. 14.

Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

MATTHEW xi. 25.

At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hath revealed them unto babes.

H. FRY.

More than mortal spirit knoweth,
More than human tongue can tell,
Is the flood of light that floweth
From the fount unspeakable;
From that fount of blessing,-Lord!
Opened to us in thy word.

Nor can those who daily travel
O'er the field of wisdom's page,
All the hidden paths unravel

Of Thy earthly pilgrimage:
Wonders there, on wonders piled,
Strike and dazzle nature's child.

FEBRUARY 1-2.

ISAIAH lxii. 1—2—3.

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my elect in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

MATTHEW xii. 15-16.

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all and charged them, that they should not make him known.

STEN NET.

How soft the words my Saviour speaks;
How kind the promises he makes!
A bruised reed he never breaks,

Nor will he quench the smoking flax.

FEBRUARY 3-4.

ZECHARIAH xiii. 2.

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

MATTHEW xii. 28.

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

SHEPHERD.

Satan, thy power's decline is nigh;
Like lightning flashing through the sky,
Thy demons hear the heavenly word,
And owning him creation's Lord,
Confess with fierce appalling yell-
Emmanuel deigns on earth to dwell.

He, spoiler of the spoiler, Sin,

For man shall prouder trophies win;
With his own blood earth's ransom pay,
Extend o'er death His conquering sway,
And from the graves the truth compel-
With man Emmanuel loves to dwell.

FEBRUARY 5-6.

ISAIAH vi. 9-10.

And he said, Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not: and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

MATTHEW xiii. 13.

Therefore speak I to them in parables because they seeing see not: and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

COWPER.

Till Thou thy teaching power apply,
Our hearts refuse to see,
And weak, as a distemper'd eye,
Shut out the view of Thee.

Blind to the merits of thy Son;
What misery we endure!

Yet fly that hand from which alone
We could expect a cure.

FEBRUARY 7-8.

Is. lxiii. 8-10-11.

Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen : that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Saviour.

MATTHEW xv. 30-31.

And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: Inasmuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.