O my Saviour, that I may go in the right way; enlighten me that I may see Thy Truth, and may it always live in me; stretch forth Thine Hand, and deliver me from all evil, from the enemies I fear, and from myself; for if Thou dost not deliver me, I should soon fall by my own weakness, and should then become most miserable.

Prayer.

O Almighty GoD, Whom truly to know, &c.-Coll. for S. Philip and S. James.

S. John xiv. 15-31.

Meditation.

ON THE HOLY GHOST.

O, the sovereign and powerful influences of Thy HOLY SPIRIT; whereby we are furnished with all saving graces, strengthened against all temptations, heartened against all doubts and fears; enabled both to resist and overcome; and upon our victories, crowned. O Divine Bounty, far beyond the reach of wonder! So GOD the FATHER loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten SoN, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. So GOD the SON loved His elect, that He gave unto them the HOLY SPIRIT of promise, whereby they are sealed unto the day of redemption, whereby, according to the riches of His Glory, they are strength

am.

ened with might in the inner man; by the virtue whereof, shed abroad in their hearts, they are enabled to cry "Abba, Father." O gifts, either of which is more worth than many worlds; yet through Thy goodness, O LORD, both of them mine. How rich is my soul through Thy Divine munificence, how overlaid with mercies! how safe in Thy Almighty tuition! how happy in Thy blessed possession! Now therefore I dare, in the might of my GOD, bid defiance to all the gates of hell. Do your worst, O all ye principalities and powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world-do your worst; GOD is mine, and I am His, I am above your malice, in the right of Him Whose I It is true I am weak, but He is Omnipotent; I am sinful, but He is Infinite Holiness; that power, that holiness, in His gracious application, is mine. It is my Saviour's love that hath made this happy exchange of His Righteousness for my sin; of His Power for my infirmity. "Who then shall lay anything to the charge of GOD's elect? it is GOD That justifieth. Who shall separate us from the love of CHRIST ?" &c. (See Rom. viii. 3, 4, 5.) Behold where this love is placed! were it our love of God, how easily might the power of a prevalent temptation separate us from it, or it from us; for, alas, what hold is to be taken of our affections, which, like unto water, are so much more apt to freeze, because they have been heated; but it is the love of GOD to us in CHRIST JESUS, which is ever as Himself, constant and eternal; He can no more cease to love us, than to be Himself; He cannot but be unchangeable, we cannot but be happy.

Prayer.1

Come, O HOLY SPIRIT, the free Dispenser of all graces, visit the hearts of Thy servants, and replenish us with Thy sacred inspirations. Illuminate our understandings with the knowledge of Thy truth, and inflame our affections that we may offer unto Thee the incense of praise.

Keep us from grieving Thee, and sanctify all the faculties of our souls, that we may know and love Thee, and constantly do the will of our GOD. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen."

7. Our LORD then said, "Arise, let us go hence." And they sang a hymn, and went out to the Mount of Olives; and as they went, the LORD uttered the precious and momentous truths in

S. John xv. xvi.

Meditation.

O Prince of Peace! I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, and love Thee; lift up, I pray Thee, the light of Thy Countenance upon me, and give me peace, for Thy mercies' sake and for Thy love's sake. O true Rest, O Joy of the whole earth! look upon our affliction, in which we seek the broken cisterns which can

1 For Reflections on the Operations of the HOLY GHOST, and our duties towards Him, see " Companion for the Sick Room," p. 73.

2 See "Devotions for the Sick Room," pp. 229–232.

hold no water. In all things our heart seeketh rest, all that exist desire peace and tranquillity; for in this state of unhappy exile, where our life is a warfare, our only happiness is to find peace; for this end we are justified by faith, that we may have peace with GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. The labours of all men look to this end, this the luxurious, and covetous, and ambitious seek, but in vain; for there is no peace to the wicked, there is no peace but for them that love Thy law. Thou hast brought it us from heaven, O Most Gracious JESUS, and hast come to declare it to the world. Truly, Thou art the “ Prince of Peace," "the Corner Stone," Who hast made both one; and in Thyself Thou dost reconcile the lowest with the highest. O, how great is the felicity of that soul which Thou dost elevate above the storms of this life, fixed in holy contemplation; he will fear no evil, for Thou art with him; his heart will not be agitated with lusts, for Thou alone art all things to him; in prosperity and adversity, his soul is without fear, and at rest, as though he stood on some point above the world, and looked down on all things beneath him.

O Thou, Who art our only Peace, my God! Thou hast come that I might have peace, and before Thy Death didst bequeath peace for me, saying, "Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you." Be merciful unto me, O LORD, that I give not Thine heritage, which Thou hast left to me, sealed with Thy Blood, for any poor, fading, transitory object of this world. O, how great is the felicity of the peaceful heart, to have Thee, to enjoy Thee, to be refreshed by Thee, to

feed on Thee, to desire nothing, to fear nothing, to hope nothing, to will nothing, contrary to Thee and Thy holy will; to be distressed by no stings of conscience, and at every hour to be prepared for death and for Thy coming.

Since Thou hast vouchsafed in Thine infinite pity to choose me for Thy friend, for Thou hast made known to me all Thy commandments and counsels which Thou hast received from Thy FATHER, I will not be the friend of this world, but Thee alone will I love with all my heart and mind, and hold fast until the day dawn and the shadows flee away,-until Thou show Thyself to me, and open the treasures of Thy love, wherewith Thou hast loved me before the world began. Amen.

Prayer.

O GOD, from Whom all holy desires, &c.-Second Coll. Evening Prayer.

O GOD, the FATHER everlasting, in the merits of Thy SON JESUS CHRIST, and in these His promises do I place all my confidence, and I ask Thee not for the things of this world, but for Thy Grace. I deserve neither pardon nor grace, but I ask in the Name of Him, Who has all merit; for His sake pardon and forgive me. Enlighten me, that I may see Thy boundless love towards me; make me to know Thy holy and blessed will, and give me grace that I may ever perfectly fulfil it, through JESUS CHRIST my LORD and Saviour. Amen.