Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

I have found my sheep which was lost.-St. Luke xv. 6.

O good SHEPHERD, I thank Thee for Thy tender care and concern for Thy lost sheep. I had indeed been for ever lost, had not Thy love sought and found me when I was astray. For Thy goodness' sake keep me, for the time to come, from wandering from Thee, and from Thy fold. Amen.

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. -St. Matt. xxvi. 41.

Make me, O LORD, ever mindful of my infirmities and backslidings, that I may be more watchful and more earnest for grace, for the time to come; that the adversary of my soul may never find me off my guard, or from under Thy protection.

Your heavenly FATHER will give the HOLY SPIRIT to them that ask Him.-St. Luke xi. 13.

O heavenly FATHER, let it be unto Thy servant according to this word. Abandon me not, I beseech Thee, to the opposition that I shall at any time make to Thy Holy Spirit, that I may never render myself unworthy of so great a blessing.

If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death. St. John viii. 51.

O JESUS, who hast made known to us another death besides that which separates our souls from our bodies, let Thy grace and mercy deliver me from the bitter pains of eternal death. Amen.

Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.-St. Matt. xi. 29.

O heavenly MASTER and PATTERN, how am I astonished when I consider Thy humility, Thy poverty, Thy meekness, Thy resignation, in the midst of injuries, oppression, and wrongs! It must be Thy Almighty grace which must enable me to follow Thy example, and submit to this way of peace, to which our nature is so averse: For this grace I now pray, through Thy merits and mediation, O JESUS. Amen.

Then shall ye say, We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, &c.—But He shall say, I tell you I know you not; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity, &c.-St. Luke xiii. 26, 27.

Let me not depart from Thy Table and presence, O LORD, without obtaining the grace to lead a godly and a Christian life; that I may escape this terrible and just judgment to be passed upon all those who enjoy the means of grace and salvation without being bettered by them, but continue to lead unchristian lives. Amen.

My peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you.-St. John xiv. 27.

It must be Thy SPIRIT, O PRINCE of PEACE, that must put us into possession of this Thy last and dying legacy. O give me this peace which the world cannot give; which passeth all understanding!—the peace and pleasure of being in the favour of GOD; and that I may possess my soul in peace, in the

midst of the temptations, and troubles, and allurements of this present evil world. And let this peace which Thou hast purchased with Thy precious blood, be with me, and with Thy whole Church, evermore. Amen.

HYMNS.

Before Thy death, this Feast Thou didst ordain,
The antidote against eternal pain;

Thy saints will imitate Thy solemn care,
And by the Altar for the Cross prepare.

O JESU, pierced for love of me,
How can this poor heart grateful be?
Would that my burning heart might be
Even as is Thy love to me.

Now in a wondrous wise dost Thou
Thy very self on me bestow:

Love bids Thee stoop to be so low-
But who that depth of love doth know?

O come to me, dear LORD, I pray,
And let Thy love my spirit stay:
Behold, it longeth sore for Thee,
I would it might more worthy be.

To forest streams the hart doth hie
When he for thirst is fain to die;
And so my soul doth pant for Thee,
O JESU, JESU, come to me.

I cannot love Thee as I would,
Yet pardon me, O highest Good;
My life, and all I call mine own,
I lay before Thine Altar-throne;

Ken.

And if a thousand lives were mine,
O, sweetest LORD, they should be Thine:
And scanty would the offering be,

So richly hast Thou loved me.

O Food of men wayfaring,
Which angels too are sharing,
O Manna most divine;

People's Hymnal.

The souls that hunger feed Thou,
The hearts that seek Thee lead Thou,
With that sweet grace of Thine.

O Fount of Love, redeeming,
O River, ever streaming
From JESU's holy side,

Come Thou, Thyself bestowing
On thirsting souls, and flowing
Till all are satisfied.

JESU, before Thee kneeling,
Who art Thyself concealing
In Bread as Thy disguise;

We pray that we, ascended,

When Thou the veil hast rended,

May see Thee with our eyes. Amen.

O GOD of mercy, GoD of might,

People's Hymnal.

How should pale sinners bear the sight
If, as Thy power is surely here,
Thine open glory should appear?

For now Thy people are allowed

To scale the mount, and pierce the cloud;
And faith may feed her eager view
With wonders Sinai never knew.

O agony of wavering thought,
When sinners first so near are brought;
It is my MAKER !-dare I stay?
My SAVIOUR!-dare I turn away?

Thus, while the storm is high within
'Twixt love of CHRIST and fear of sin,
Who can express the soothing charm
To feel thy kind upholding arm,

My Mother Church? and hear thee tell
Of a world lost, yet loved so well
That He, by Whom the angels live,
His only Son for her would give? *

And doubt we yet? Thou call'st again-
A lower still, a sweeter strain;
A voice from Mercy's inmost shrine,
The very breath of Love Divine.

Whispering, it says to each apart,
'Come unto Me, thou trembling heart;' †
And we must hope, so sweet the tone,
The precious words are all our own.

Sweet awful hour! the only sound
One gentle footstep, gliding round,
Offering by turns, on JESU's part,
The cross to every hand and heart.

Refresh us, LORD, to hold it fast;
And when Thy veil is drawn at last,
Let us depart where shadows cease,
With words of blessing and of peace.

Christian Year.

So GoD loved the world that He gave His only begotten SON.'-See the Comfortable Words.'

[ocr errors]

·

Come unto Me, all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.'

« AnteriorContinuar »