In diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

    —­Romans 12. 11.

Gracious Father, wilt thou bring to my mind and heart the important things which are needed in preparing life.  Help me to use the strength that is given to me for to-day, that I may not have to give to-morrow to learning what I should have known.  Amen.

SEPTEMBER SEVENTH

Queen Elizabeth born 1533.

Comte de Buffon born 1707.

Victorien Sardou born 1831.

Hannah More died 1833.

John G. Whittier died 1892.

            Side by side
    In the low sunshine by the turban stone
    They knelt; each made his brother’s woe his own,
    Forgetting, in the agony and stress
    Of pitying love, his claim of selfishness;
    Peace, for his friend besought, his own became;
    His prayers were answered in another’s name;
    And when at last they rose up to embrace,
    Each saw God’s pardon in his brother’s face.

—­John G. Whittier.

    My care is like my shadow in the sun,
    Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it;
    Stands and lies by me, does what I have done,
    This too familiar care does make me rue it. 
      No means I find to rid him from my breast,
      Till by the end of things it be suppressed.

    —­Queen Elizabeth.

    Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

    —­Galatians 6. 2.

Lord God, help me to look for those who are in need of help.  Forgive me for my failures, and may I gather up my broken promises and try to redeem them.  I ask for thy forgiveness, as I ask that thou wilt help me to forgive them who may have trespassed against me.  Amen.

SEPTEMBER EIGHTH

Richard Coeur de Lion born 1157.

A.W.  Schlegel born 1767.

Antonin Dvorak born 1841.

    All service ranks the same with God,—­
    With God, whose puppets, best and worst,
    Are we:  there is no last nor first.

    —­Robert Browning.

    Thou needest not man’s little life of years,
      Save that he gather wisdom from them all;
    That in thy fear he lose all other fears,
      And in thy calling heed no other call. 
    Then shall he be thy child to know thy care,
    And in thy Self the eternal Sabbath share.

    —­Jones Very.

    He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul;
    But he that is careless of his ways shall die. 
    —­Proverbs 191. 6.

My Lord, forbid that I should want to live to be known only for power and pride.  Help me to strive for that which is helpful and lovely.  May I never be restrained from thee, but delight to follow in thy way.  Help me to be obedient to thy laws, that I may learn thy truths.  Amen.