January 31.

ST. MATTHEW XXVII. 4.

"I am persuaded that if Judas, Judas who betrayed Christ, had spoken UNTO CHRIST that which he spake to the High Priest: "I have sinned in that I betrayed the innocent blood," he might have been saved. (St. Ambrose.)

February.

IT IS NOT FOR ME TO STIPULATE FOR CREEDS: CHURCH, BIBLE, AND REASON,

THESE THREE SHALL LEAD THE MIND, IF ANY CAN, TO

TRUTH;

BUT I MUST STIPULATE FOR FAITH; FOR GOD AND MAN

DEMAND IT.

FEBRUARY.

FEBRUARY 1.

GOOD THOUGHTS IN TROUBLOUS TIMES.

Lord, be pleased to shake my clay cottage

before Thou throwest it down.

awhile before it doth tumble.

Make it totter

Let me be sum

moned before I am surprised. "Deliver me from sudden death;" not from sudden death in respect of itself, for I care not how short my passage be, so it be safe. Never any weary traveller complained that he came too soon to his journey's end; but let it not be sudden in respect of me. Make me always ready to receive death! Thus no guest comes unawares to him who keeps a constant table. (Fuller.)

February 2.

THE BREEZES FROM ABOVE.

He who "knoweth our frame and remembereth we are but dust," not only "stayeth his rough wind in the day of his east wind," but often for a season, bids both be still, and breathes on us alone with the freshness of the mild south.

(Bonar.)

February 3.

FAITH IN THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST.

For one person who believes conscientiously in the divinity of Jesus Christ, there are many who only believe in it mentally and dreamily. It is most difficult, most uncommon to believe in it from the heart, and to carry that truth in our inner life yet this kind of faith is the only one worth possessing; for if, with the outward belief, we have not the inward conviction,-if we are satisfied to believe Jesus Christ is God, without receiving Him into our heart of hearts as God, we have but an additional article of faith engrafted on our minds, and our moral being has not made thereby a single fresh acquisition. This formula remains outside of us; and in re