only Source and object of true love; grant that I may do the works of mercy, even as Thou art merciful;* and the labours of love, even as Thou art love. Teach me to feel with those that suffer, for Thou hast had compassion; to help the needy, as Thou for our sakes becamest poor; to succour the wretched, for Thou didst carry our infirmities; to advise the erring, as Thou didst seek for the wandering sheep; to console the mourners, as Thou didst weep with Mary and with Martha; to lift up the oppressed, as Thou, like the good Samaritan, camest far to succour men; to refresh the poor, as Thou didst preach the Gospel to them; to comfort the sad, as Thou didst cheer the penitent. Teach me to forgive the debtor, and pardon those that trespass against me; to love them that hate me; to render good for evil; to despise no man, but to "honour all;" to follow the good and eschew the evil; to be patient in adversity, and temperate in prosperity; to refrain my tongue from evil, and my lips that they speak no guile. § O my Saviour, so to love Thee that I

like Thee as Thou didst love us, and

our sakes a man!

* Luke vi. 36.

1 Pet. ii. 17.

Teach me,

may become becamest for

+ 1 John iv. 7, 16.

§ 1 Pet. iii. 10.

Oh! how easy is it to pray with the lips, but without the soul! How ready is the mind with thoughts but slack the heart for feelings! How easily can I bow my body, but how hardly bend my spirit! How soon can I set myself to think both well, and long, and piously, but not to feel really, and as I think! How quick am I in imagining the great and good things of the heavenly kingdom, but, alas! how slow to taste them! Oh, deadness of the old Adam which still prevails within me! Oh, coldness of the stony heart, which must yet give place to the heart of flesh! When shall I die within to myself, and live to Thee entirely and alone, O God?

It is indeed a solemn hour, and an awful Presence, when at Holy Communion we present ourselves a lively sacrifice unto Thee, O Lord, which is our reasonable service! But oh! how is that sacrifice often divided, part given, part withheld, part offered, part concealed, and even that which is given, given partially, imperfectly, and incompletely! And dost Thou accept our sacrifices? And wilt Thou bear with a part instead of the whole? We cannot do as we would, we cannot do all as we ought; but for the Saviour's sake, and in His name, and through His love, Thou receivest what we do, not ac

cording as we do it, but as He did it, who did all!

And we would plead before Thee His merits, and hide our poverty, and wretchedness, and shame under the garment of His righteousness. We hide us in this Rock rent of old for us.

We love Him as He has loved us; and because we love Him, we would keep His commandments; and by keeping His commandments we would become like Him, that Thou mayest know us as Thy sons, in Him whose Father Thou art from all eternity! Listen, O God, to the unuttered longings of our souls. Hear us, for we are Thine; slow to obey, slow to believe, slow to be saved; yet Thine, most hardly ransomed, and most dearly bought!

COLLECT.

Almighty, and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve ; pour down upon us the abundance of Thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord.

Amen.

M

III.

A MEDITATION UPON MAN'S VILENESS.

How can man be justified with God! or how can he be clean that is born of a woman! (Job xxv. 4.)

Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not: yea, the stars are not pure in His sight. (xxv. 5.) How much less man, that is a worm! And the son of man, which is a worm! (xxv. 6.)

If God will not withdraw His anger, the proud helpers do stoop under Him. (Job ix. 13.)

How much less shall I answer Him! And choose out my words to reason with Him. (ix. 14.)

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer: but I would make supplication to my Judge. (ix. 15.)

If I speak of strength, lo, He is strong; and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead. (Job ix. 19.)

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me if I say I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. (ix. 20.)

Behold, He put no trust in His saints, and His angels He chargeth with folly. (Job iv. 18.)

How much less on them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth! (iv. 19.)

Look unto the heaven, and see, and behold the clouds, which are higher than thou! (Job xxxv. 5.)

If thou sinnest, what dost thou against Him? Or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what dost thou unto Him? (xxxv. 6.)

If thou be righteous, what givest thou Him? Or what receiveth He of thine hand? (xxxv. 7.)

Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker? (Job iv. 17.)

Wherefore I abhor myself (O Lord) and repent in dust and ashes. (Job xlii. 6.)

1. O Lord God, perfect and holy, the infinite excellences of Thy nature pass all our understanding and conceptions; and Thou hast derived from Thine inexhaustible fountain of goodness some rays and portions of Thy beauty upon all Thy creatures, according to the degree and order of nature in which Thou hast severally placed them, and so far as they were capable of receiving from Thee; and Thou hast bestowed more abundant honour here below upon man, Thy servant, and brought him nearer to Thyself.