fully consult to overcome our malice with thy bounty. Immediately thou contrivedst an admirable way to invite all the world to a feast of wonders: a feast! where thy sacred body should be our food, and thy precious blood our drink. A feast! in which are continually wrought new miracles of love for us. Thus, as if it had not been love enough to have given thyself on the cross for us; thou hast found out a way to give thyself to us in the holy sacrament: to unite us with thyself by the most intimate union that is possible for us to conceive, and which we can better feel than express: to become the life, the strength, the support and comfort of our beings: nay, to become even one with me, and be unto me the very soul of my soul. O Lord my God! this is so inconceivable a blessing, this is so divine a union, that the very angels, with awful admiration, contemplate thy wonderful condescension in it.

Lord, who are we, unworthy sinners, that thou thus regardest our wretched dust? what is all the world compared to thee, that thus thou seemest to disregard thyself? It was for our sakes, and to draw us up to thy love, that thou hast commanded us to commemorate and represent thy passion; and present

the merits of it before thy Father, on earth, as thou dost present them to him in heaven. It was for our sakes, and to help the infirmities of our nature, that thou didst appoint a commemorative sacrifice, of that one oblation of thyself once offered upon the cross; and bread and wine so offered and blessed as symbols of thy body and blood. What great blessings are these, O Jesu! that demand my praises!

Yet more blessed is the heart that desires thy coming, and longs to see thee in thy glorious self. O my adored Redeemer! when will that happy day appear, when mine eyes may behold thee without a veil? when will the clouds and shadows pass away, that thy beams may shine on me in their full brightness? Object not against me, dearest Lord, that none can see thy face and live. Those fears thy love has changed, and my fixed hope is now to live by seeing thee. Say not, O thou mild and gracious Majesty, if I approach thy presence I must die. Rather instruct me so to die, that I may live for ever in thy presence.

Here, if you desire to know the reason why Christ ordained this Sacrament, consult the New Whole Duty of Man, Sunday vi, Sect. i.

The Prayer on Monday Morning, to implore God's assistance in the course of this week's preparation for receiving the holy sacrament.

1 acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me.

Ps. li. 3.

do

O. Most glorious and ever-blessed God, in whose presence is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore ; vouchsafe, I beseech thee, to discharge my mind of all superfluous cares, and immoderate desires of the things of this world, and enable me so to employ my time this week, as may effectually prevent or resist all temptations. Let thy grace, O Lord, so powerfully assist my endeavours, and direct my will, and strengthen my intentions, that I may such things as are agreeable to thee, and suitable to the dignity of a christian: and that I may fill up all the spaces of this week with meditations upon the most holy sacrament, with acts of religion and fervent charity, so that when the devil assaults me, he may not find me idle, and that my dearest Lord, at his sudden coming, may find me improving the talent committed to my care, that I may enter into the joy of my Lord; to which, I beseech thee bring me, through the merits and intercession of thy dear son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and saviour. Amen.

Directions.

Now repair to the public service at the church; or if you have not that opportunity, spend your leisure time in a devout perusal of that pious treatise, necessary for all families, as well as every private christian, the New Whole Duty of Man, &c. which is published by the king's authority, and vended under the same signature as this book.

Be sure to retire soon this evening to examine your conscience.

Meditation for Monday Evening. Upon the vanities of the world and the goodness of God, in order to a worthy receiving of the most holy sacrament.

1

He that loveth his life shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal. John xi. 25,

AWAKE thou, O my soul, from the sleep of sin; for, behold, life and death are set before thee; choose while thy gracious Lord allows thee time and day, lest the night and darkness overtake thy neglect: choose, but remember thy eternity is concerned, and deliberate ere thou makest thy choice.

Survey all the pleasures of the world before thee, and ask if any of them be worth such pains ask if the vain forbidden things thou lovest, deserve thy affection better than thy maker. Are they more worthy in themselves, or beneficial to thee, that thou mayst

justly prefer them before thy redeemer? dost thou expect to be at rest, and satisfied by enjoying them, or everlastingly happy by their procurement? can they protect thee at the hour of death, or plead thy cause at the day of judgment? Oh! no. They only deceive me with a smiling look, which I too often have proved by dear experience.

It is heaven alone that yields a true content; it is heaven alone that fills us with eternal delight. Say then, my soul, take away your flatteries, false world, and leave me free for better thoughts. O infinite goodness! it is thyself alone I choose; thou art my only happiness for ever. I see my portion hereafter depends on my choice here; and my choice here, O Lord, depends on thee.

O my dearest Lord, do thou choose me, and guide my uninstructed soul to choose thee. For, here, we, alas! move slowly in the dark, led on by the argument of things not seen; but did we clearly see what we say we believe, we should soon change the course of our lives.

Did we but see the damned in their flames, or hear them cry in the midst of their torments, how should we fear to follow them in their sins, which we know have plunged them into all those miseries! how should we strive against