to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. If I laughed on them, they believed it not: and the light of my countenance they cast not down. I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

S. Luke ii. 25-38.

:

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel and the HOLY GHOST was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the HOLY GHOST, that he should not see death, before he had seen the LORD'S CHRIST. And he came by the SPIRIT into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child JESUS, to do for Him after the custom of the law, then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed GOD, and said, LORD, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word: For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled

And

at those things which were spoken of Him. Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served GOD with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the LORD, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Prayer.

Remember we the days of darkness,
for they shall be many,

lest we be cast into outer darkness.
Remember we to outstrip the night
doing some good thing.

As long as I live will I magnify Thee in this manner, and lift up my hands in Thy Name. Blessed art Thou, O LORD, our GOD, the God of our fathers,

Who hast not cut off like a weaver my life, nor from day even to night made an end of me.

Since my days are but as a span, I humbly beseech Thee, O LORD, to wean my heart from the disquietude of worldly cares; that I may be fruitful in all the good works of obedience and charity, to regain the breaches of Thy blessed image which mine offences have made, before my departure hence; that so recovering the spiritual health and strength of my soul, I may die in Thy grace and favour, through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD. Amen.

May all passing things be valueless in my sight for the sake of Thee, my GoD; and all that is Thine precious to me, and Thou, my God, more than all. May all labour, which is for Thee, be sweet to me; and all rest wearisome which is not in Thee. Amen.

Vouchsafe to me, O my most sweet GOD, an understanding to know Thee, diligence to seek Thee, wisdom to find Thee, a conversation well-pleasing unto Thee, perseverance sweetly and trustfully awaiting Thee, trustfulness which shall blessedly embrace Thee; grant me to be nailed to Thy pains through penitence; to use Thy blessings on the way through grace and at length in our heavenly home, to enter into Thy joys in glory, who with the FATHER and the HOLY GHOST livest and reignest One GOD world without end. Amen. Glory be to the FATHER, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

CHAPTER VIII.-REVIEW OF MERCIES.
Meditation.

O WHAT great mercies hast Thou showed me, my GOD! They truly have failed not, but have been new every morning. In the multitude of mercies I have been refreshed. Who can count them? They are more in number than the hairs of my head; more, even, than my sins, if those sins are pardoned. I know not where to begin, nor where to end. How many times have I been saved from ruin and disgrace! How often have I been in deep anxiety, and in the night of sorrow! but joy came in the morning, from my gracious FATHER! How frequently have I been saved from danger, at the very moment of it, when I was unexpecting and unprepared; when I knew not perhaps of my peril, until it was past; when I knew not of it at

all, nor shall do in this darkness, until Thy light shall shine upon the past, and I behold my life, falsely so called, by Thy brightness Who art my true unfailing Life!

Kind friends, the use of my senses,-a thousand undeserved, forgotten, misused comforts, fill my ungrateful thoughts. Yea, when I loved the gifts, and not the Giver, and even used the gifts against the Giver, they were still showered upon me.

What means of grace have I not enjoyed! What calls! What recalls! What What patience, long, unwearied, despised, but continued, has been exercised towards me.

Often and often I might have been cut off in my sins, and lost the sight of GOD for ever: and to be without GOD, saith a holy father, is worse than hell.' Nay, it is hell, and the most grievous part of it. Yet I lived, year after year, unfit for God's Presence, and careless of it.

I prayed, "Thy kingdom come," against myself, not for myself. If CHRIST had come to judgment, I had been lost; but behold, He is "long suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

My own will has ever been uppermost in my heart; and now I see how vain it was. If GOD had granted me my desires, I should have suffered loss, and perhaps have perished. But He in His mercy gave me His perfect will, in place of my foolish and wayward lusts; and when He disappointed me, He saved and blessed me; yea, would have sanctified me, if I would, and made me more truly His, that I might have my own will perfectly and for ever, when once conformed to His own good will and united with it. And how often have I been kept from sin. Yea, more often far than from sword, or pestilence, or shipwreck. There is no sin into which I might not have fallen, but for GOD! 1 S. Chrys. Hom. in Rom. v.

2 2 S. Pet. iii. 9.

Many were the sins into which I was falling, but He arrested me. I can remember times-not one, not two only-in which a trifling circumstance saved me from a great offence; and that circumstance was from GOD's delivering Hand.

And why has GOD poured His benefits upon me? Who am I, and what am I, of myself? A dead dog, unworthy of notice. The centurion said, "LORD, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof." He was a devout man, and acted up to his light,-nay, beyond it: he had gained grace by his use of the first gift of GOD. How unworthy, then, am I.

What reward shall I give unto the LORD for all the benefits that He hath done unto me? Full of wisdom, full of care, full of mercy, full of love, have been all His dispensations. Already can I see His saving purpose in most cases; and hereafter I shall behold it in all. Whether I consider GOD's mercies to men, or to myself,-His temporal mercies or His eternal,-His gifts of nature or of grace,-the Incarnation, or my being made a receiver of Its benefits,-the wonderful means of grace, or their being bestowed upon me,-I am amazed, and I abhor myself for my ingratitude, my cold heart, my want of love.

Who can express the noble acts of the Lord, or show forth all His praise ? This is a work for Heaven

-a work for eternity; but even here let me practise this blessed occupation, and by loving enlarge my heart to receive more love; and cleanse the eyes of my soul by seeing the mercies of GOD, that I may behold Him Who hath showed them, and Who is their living source and fount. It is a subject for angels' tongues; and yet in some respects more fit for a sinner like myself: for those blessed spirits have not to do with sin, nor need they to thank God that He arrested them in guilt, and called and recalled them to repentance.

If they rejoice when one sinner is converted, they may praise God for mercies to me which they require