me, in silent and peaceful abstraction from all

created being, to taste and see how good' Thou art, O Lord, my God! When shall I be fully

absorbed in thy fullness?

When shall I lose, in

the love of Thee, all perception of myself; and have no sense of any being but thine?"

FOR CONTENTMENT IN CHRIST.

"O most lovely, and most loving Jesus! grant me the will and power, above all created beings, to rest in Thee: above all health and beauty, all glory and honor, all power and dignity, all knowledge and wisdom, all riches and all arts; above all promise and hope, all holy desires and actions, all gifts and graces which Thou thyself canst bestow, all rapture and transport which the heart is able to receive; above angels and archangels, and all the hosts of heaven; above all that is visible and invisible; and finally above everything, which Thou, my God, art not! For Thou, O Lord God! art above all, in all perfection! Thou art most high, most powerful, most sufficient, and most full! Thou art most sweet, and most abundantly comforting! Thou art most lovely, and most loving; most

noble and most glorious! In Thee all good centres, from eternity to eternity! Therefore, whatever Thou bestowest on me, that is not Thyself; whatever Thou revealest or promisest, while I am not permitted truly to behold and enjoy Thee, is insufficient to fill the boundless desires of my soul, which, stretching beyond all creatures, and even beyond all thy gifts, can only be satisfied in union with thy all-perfect spirit."

XI.

GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS.

GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS BEFORE THE BATTLE OF

LUTZEN.

The devotions of Gustavus Adolphus before his last battle, which was fought at Lutzen in 1632, has been a favorite subject of the poet and historian.

Chapman, in his history of Gustavus Adolphus, presents a correct and impressive view of the devotional attitude of the beloved king.

The king, he says, passed the night before the battle in his carriage, in conversation with his generals. Early in the morning he had prayers read to him by his chaplain Fabriius. The rest of the army sang Luther's

hymn, "Our God is a Strong Tower." And Gustavus led in another hymn, "Jesus Christ, our Saviour, he Overcame Death."

The king mounted his horse without having broken his fast. He addressed the Swedes, then, after more introductory discourse, said very impressively, to the German regiments:

"Forward! I this day will be not only your general, but your comrade. Extort from the enemy, by God's help, that victory of which the chief fruit will be to you and your children. But if you shrink from the contest remember that religion and liberty and all will be lost by your remissness."

The king, in the presence of his army then looked up to heaven, and prayed:

66

bless these

"O, my Lord Jesus, Son of God!

thine own

our arms, and this day's battle, for glory and holy name's sake."

The prayer

Gustavus

was answered, but

He died in the

Adolphus himself was slain.

prime of life, and was wept

not only by his

own people, who loved him as a father, but

by all Europe.

XII.

THE PRAYER OF KEPLER.

After preparing his work on the harmony of worlds," the devout Kepler wrote the following prayer.

"I thank Thee, my Creator and Lord, that thou hast given me these joys in thy creation, this ecstasy over the works of thy hands.

"I have made known the glory of thy works to men as far as my finite spirit was able to comprehend thy infinity.

"If I have said anything wholly unworthy of Thee, or have aspired after my own glory, graciously forgive me."