Send him help from Thy holy place;
And evermore mightily defend him.

THE HOURS.

O GOD, the Lord of place and time,
Who orderest all things prudently;
Brightening with beams the opening prime,
And burning in the mid-day sky:

Quench Thou the fires of hate and strife,—
The wasting fever of the heart;

From perils guard our feeble life,
And to our souls Thy peace impart.

This grace on Thy redeemed confer,-
Father, co-equal Son,

And Holy Ghost, the Comforter;
Eternal Three in One.

Let the enemy have no advantage of him;
For the wicked approach to hurt him.

THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS.

SPENSER.

AND is there care in Heaven, and is there love
In heavenly spirits to these creatures bace,

That may compassion of their evils move?

There is,-else much more wretched were the cace

Of men than beasts.

grace

But, O the exceeding

Of highest God, that loves His creatures so,

And all His workes with mercy doth embrace, That blessed angels He sends to and fro

To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe!

How oft do they their silver bowers leave,

To come to succour us that succour want; How oft do they with golden pineons cleave The flitting skyes, like flying pursuivant, Against foule feendes to aid us militant: They for us fight, they watch and dewly ward,

And their bright squadrons round about us plant, And all for love, and nothing for reward:

O why should hevenly God to man have such regard!

Let the enemy have no advantage of him.

FOR strength and not for fear, O Man! is given
The upward sense that lifts thy soul to Heaven.

J. S.

J. S.

THOU canst not do the thing thou wouldst, no doubt: Could we do all we would, life's task were out.

Let the enemy have no advantage of him;
For the wicked approach to hurt him.

J. CHANDLER; FROM ST. AMBROSE.

O JESU, Lord of heavenly grace,

Thou brightness of Thy Father's face,
Thou Fountain of eternal light,

Whose beams disperse the shades of night!

Come, holy Sun of heavenly love,

Shower down Thy radiance from above;
And to our inward hearts convey

The Holy Spirit's cloudless ray.

And we the Father's help will claim,
And sing the Father's glorious name;
His powerful succour we implore,
That we may stand, to fall no more.

May He our actions deign to bless,
And loose the bonds of wickedness ;
From sudden falls our feet defend,
And bring us to a prosperous end.

May faith, deep rooted in the soul,
Subdue our flesh, our minds controul :
May guile depart, and discord cease,
And all within be joy and peace.

And Christ shall be our daily food,
Our daily drink His precious blood;
And thus the Spirit's calm excess,
Shall fill our souls with holiness.

O hallowed be the approaching day!
Let meekness be our morning ray:
And faithful love our noon-day light,
And hope our sunset, calm and bright.

O Christ, with each returning morn,
Thine image to our hearts is borne ;
O may we ever clearly see

Our Saviour and our God in Thee.

Be unto him, O Lord, a strong tower, from the face of his

enemy.

PSALM LVII.

O THOU from whom all mercy springs,
Compassionate my sufferings,

And pity me

That trust in Thee!

O shelter with Thy shady wings,

Until these stormes of woe

Cleare up, or overblow.

SANDYS.

Thee I invoke, O Thou most High,
Thou All-performer !-from the skie
Thy angels send ;

Let them defend

My soule from him that would destroy:
O send Thy mercy downe,-
With Truth Thy promise crowne !

O Lord, hear our prayers; And let our cry come unto

Thee.

CHURCH LOCK AND KEY.

GEORGE HERBERT.

I KNOW it is my sin which locks Thine ears,
And binds Thy hands,

Outcrying my requests, drowning my tears;-
Or else the chillness of my faint demands.

But as cold hands are angry with the fire,
And mend it still;

So I do lay the want of my desire,

Not on my sins or coldness, but Thy will.

Yet hear, O GOD! only for His blood's sake,
Which pleads for me;

For though sins plead too, yet like stones they make

His blood's sweet current much more loud to be.