_Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it_.--PHIL. i. 6. _He that endureth to the end shall be saved_.--MATT. x. 22. Fill with inviolable peace; Stablish and keep my settled heart; In Thee may all my wanderings cease, From Thee no more may I depart: Thy utmost goodness called to prove, Loved with an everlasting love! C. WESLEY. If any sincere Christian cast himself with his whole will upon the Divine Presence which dwells within him, he shall be kept safe unto the end. What is it that makes us unable to persevere? Is it want of strength? By no means. We have with us the strength of the Holy Spirit. When did we ever set ourselves sincerely to any work according to the will of God, and fail for want of strength? It was not that strength failed the will, but that the will failed first. If we could but embrace the Divine will with the whole love of ours; cleaving to it, and holding fast by it, we should be borne along as upon "the river of the water of life." We open only certain chambers of our will to the influence of the Divine will. We are afraid of being wholly absorbed into it. And yet, if we would have peace, we must be altogether united to Him. H. E. MANNING. August 28 _They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee_.--PS. ix. 10. _Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good_.--PS. lxxxv. 12. In Thee I place my trust, On Thee I calmly rest; I know Thee good, I know Thee just, And count Thy choice the best. H. F. LYTE. The souls that would really be richer in duty in some new position, are precisely those who borrow no excuses from the old one; who even esteem it full of privileges, plenteous in occasions of good, frequent in divine appeals, which they chide their graceless and unloving temper for not heeding more. Wretched and barren is the discontent that quarrels with its tools instead of with its skill; and, by criticising Providence, manages to keep up complacency with self. How gentle should we be, if we were not provoked; how pious, if we were not busy; the sick would be patient, only he is not in health; the obscure would do great things, only he is not conspicuous! J. MARTINEAU. August 29 _Am I my brother's keeper_?--GEN. iv. 9. Because I held upon my selfish, road, And left my brother wounded by the way, And called ambition duty, and pressed on-- O Lord, I do repent. SARAH WILLIAMS.