All our imaginations and actions vouchsafe so to dispose and order, that they may be acceptable unto Thee. Fill us with Thy grace, and with holy peace, and with all virtue; and grant us herein to persevere unto death; that making a good end of this present life, Thou mayest bring us to eternal life in Thy celestial kingdom, where Thou livest and reignest. Amen.

I adore Thee, Holy LORD JESUS, hanging upon the Cross, and bearing on Thy venerable Head a crown of thorns; and I humbly beg, by Thy Cross, to be delivered from the destroying angel. Amen.

I adore Thee, Holy LORD JESUS, stretched on the Cross, with five great Wounds in Thy nailed Hands and Feet, and pierced Side, and I humbly beg that Thy dire and ghastly Wounds may be a healing remedy to my sin-sick soul. Amen.

I adore Thee, Holy LORD JESUS, panting under the sad weight of the sins of the world; and I humbly beg, by that inconceivable bitterness of sorrow, Thy innocent Soul suffered in that moment when it left the body; have mercy upon my soul in the moment of her departure hence. Amen.

I adore Thee, Holy LORD JESus, laid in the sepulchre, and anointed with myrrh and aloes; and I humbly beg, that Thy death may be the life of my soul. Amen.

O save, Holy JESUS, the Good Shepherd, Who laid down His life for His sheep, save and preserve the righteous, call home the wicked, justify the penitent, have mercy upon all true believers, and upon me a miserable sinner. Amen.

MEDITATIONS FROM THE IMITATION OF

CHRIST.

Book III. c. xlviii.

O most blessed abode of the city which is above! O most glorious day of eternity! which night obscures not, but the highest Truth for ever irradiates: day ever joyful, ever secure, and never changing to reverse! O would that day had dawned, and all these temporal things received their end!

It shines, indeed, to the saints brilliant with perpetual brightness; but only afar off, and in a glass, to those yet sojourning in the earth.

The citizens of Heaven know how joyful that is: the sons of Eve groan that this is bitter and wearisome.

The days of this time are short and evil, full of pains and distresses: in which man is defiled with many sins, ensnared with many passions, nipped by many fears, is drawn hither and thither by many cares, distracted by much curiosity, involved in many vanities, surrounded with many errors, worn away by many labours, weighed down by temptations, weakened by luxuries, tormented by want.

O when shall be the end of these ills? When shall I be freed from the wretched slavery of vices?

When shall I remember Thee alone, O LORD? When rejoice in Thee to the full?

When shall I be without any hindrance in true liberty, without any weight on mind or body?

When shall there be solid peace, peace imperturbable and secure, peace within and without, peace sure on every side?

O, good JESUS, when shall I stand and see Thee? When shall I behold the glory of Thy kingdom? When wilt Thou be all in all to me?

O when shall I be with Thee in Thy kingdom,

which Thou hast prepared for Thy beloved from everlasting?

I am left poor and an exile in a hostile land, in which are daily wars and misfortunes.

Console my exile, assuage my grief: for all my desire pants after Thee.

For all that this world offers for consolation is a burden to me.

I desire to enjoy Thee most nearly; but I cannot lay hold of Thee.

I desire to cleave to heavenly things; but things temporal and unmortified passions press me down.

With the mind I wish to be superior to all things; but by the flesh I am compelled to be subject.

Thus I, unhappy man that I am, battle with myself, and am made grievous to my very self, whilst the spirit seeks to be upwards, and the flesh downwards.

O what do I suffer inwardly, whilst with the mind I handle heavenly things, and presently a crowd of carnal things occur to me in my prayers. My God, be not Thou far from me, nor leave Thy servant alone in displeasure.

Thou the Truth hast plainly said, Where thy treasure is there will thy heart be also.

If I love Heaven, I gladly think of heavenly things. If I love the world, I rejoice in the joys of the world, and am sad at its troubles.

If I love the flesh, I often imagine the things of the flesh.

If I love the SPIRIT, I delight to think of spiritual things.

For whatever things I love, I gladly speak and hear of these, and carry their images home with me.

But blessed is that man who for Thee, O Lord, gives leave to all creatures to depart; who forcibly controls nature, and crucifies the lusts of the flesh with fervour of spirit; that, with calmed conscience, he may offer up a pure prayer unto Thee, and be

worthy to be present in the angelic choirs, when all earthly things are excluded within and without.

The same, chap. xlvii. xlix.

One hour shall come, when all labour and tumult shall cease. Do what thou doest: labour faithfully in My vineyard. I will be thy reward.

Write, read, sing, groan, be silent, pray, bear contradiction manfully: eternal life is worth these and greater conflicts.

Peace shall come in one day, which is known to the LORD and there shall not be the day nor the night of this time, but perpetual light, infinite brightness, firm peace, and rest secure.

O if thou couldest have seen the perpetual crowns of the saints in Heaven: in what glory they now exult who once were contemptible to this world, and were thought unworthy of life itself: thou wouldest forthwith humble thyself to the earth, and wouldest seek rather to submit to all than to govern one.

Nor wouldest thou desire this life's days of joy, but wouldest rather rejoice to suffer tribulation for GOD: and wouldest consider it the greatest gain to be reckoned for nothing among men.

There shalt thou find all that thou hast wished, all that thou canst or wilt be able to desire.

There wilt thou have power to do all good, without fear of loss.

There shall thy will be one with Mine: it will desire nothing outward or private.

There no one will resist thee: no one will complain of thee: no one will hinder thee: no one oppose thee: but all that thou hast desired will be present together, and will refresh all thy affection, and fulfil it even to the utmost.

210

PATTERNS OF MEDITATION.

FIRST WEEK.

SUNDAY.

Job xix. 23-27.

For

"Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see GOD: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."

Truly these words have long been printed, "graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock." Here are they fresh as ever after more than three thousand years, and after sustaining the faith of the saints in all ages. But on my sandy heart they have been traced in vain. Oft have I heard, and oft forgotten. Write them now at last, O my God, upon the tables of my heart by the finger of GOD, even by Thy HOLY SPIRIT, through " my Redeemer" JESUS CHRIST.

"I know," so sure am I, "I know that my Redeemer liveth" for ever and ever; that He hath stood, and shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; was judged, and shall judge; died, and shall quicken. "And though after my skin worms destroy this body;' though the present form be dissolved, yet in the body of which this is the form, with the flesh, no longer carnal, " shall I see GOD. Whom I shall see for myself." Hitherto others have spoken: I have listened. Others have seen glimpses, veiled rays of glory, dim outlines, and in very dulness have