The Precept of Charity.

PRE. I.-Christ represents love as the beginning, we consider it the end of religion; and so think it enough to place its attainment in the far distance.

PRE. II. Pray that God would pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity.

I. MEM.-"A lawyer asked him... Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto Him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God . . . This is the first and great commandment."-S. Matt. xxii. 35-38. INT.-The first commandment, therefore we must begin from this; the great, we must end with it. The soul is drawn by love, moved by affection, hence love is the first moving power and should be centred in Him outside Whom there is nothing loveable. Have you never preferred anything before God? Would it had been so! But henceforth at least love God first and chiefly. REF.-How shall I effect this? Direct all your thoughts, words and actions to Him: give no part of your heart to created things: boldly face trials with confidence in God. WILL.-Make an act of the love of God, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ?"-Rom. viii. 35.

Thou shalt love

II. INT." The second is like unto it. thy neighbour as thyself."-S. Matt. xxii. 39. INT.-No one loves himself insincerely. No one wishes himself harm, not the least; no one is there but wishes himself good; and among good things the best; we should thus love our neighbours. REF.-In what points in particular can I now amend. WILL.-Possibly this alteration of your tone towards some one will require great effort; make it, and act on it immediately.

III. MEM." On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."-S. Matt. xxii. 40. INT.-The observation of the law of God is necessary to your salvation. And if you have any zeal you will desire to keep it perfectly. Therefore love God and your neighbour. "Love is the fulfilling of the law."-Rom. xiii. 10. REF.-I have often desired perfection, and stumbled among the number of things I had to heed; here all are contained in one. WILL.-Direct all your actions and thoughts to this one end

COLL.-O God, Who hast prepared for them that love Thee, such good things as pass man's understanding; pour into our hearts such love toward Thee, that we loving Thee above all things, may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all we can desire. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

TRINITY.

The Uncertainty of Life.

PRE. I.-Consider how in a besieged camp or city continual watch is kept, because they know not when the enemy may attack them so men know not when the last enemy, which is death, shall come.

PRE. II.-Pray that we so watch as not to be called unprepared to die.

I. MEM." Man, also, knoweth not his time."--Eccles. ix. 12. INT.-Nothing is more certain than death; nothing more uncertain than the hour of death. Life is like a bubble on the water; it will burst, and who shall say when? All die, some sooner, some later. Consider the beautiful, the learned, the wise, the strong; and the contrary; all these lived and wrought, and they have dropped down like pebbles in the deep. "As the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them." REF. And in this great peril I live careless and secure. WILL. Fear lest that hour fall upon you unawares.

II. MEM.-" All flesh is grass, and all the goodness thereof as the flower of the field."-Isa. xl. 6. INT. The reason of the false security we feel about death, is the confidence we have in our vital powers: this confidence is a delusion. Consider the perils to which we are always exposed. How slight a thing will produce a mortal sickness; how many are the diseases ever rife around us; to how many accidents are we exposed. REF.-Whence does my security spring? Is it not a dream? WILL.-Determine to deceive yourself on this point no longer.

IV. MEM." Watch, for ye know neither the day nor the hour."-S. Matt. xxv. 13. INT.-Considering the certainty of death, the uncertainty of its coming, and the innumerable occasions of it that surround you, see that you ought indeed to watch every day, lest it come upon you unprepared. If you were told you have one month more, or even one year more, how would you live? You may have but one day more. REF.-I could so watch if I would: and God gives grace for the fulfilment of what He commands. WILL.-To live in continual recollection of death.

COLL.-To Christ, first thanking Him for warning you: and, secondly, seeking grace to live in constant recollection of death.

TRINITY.

Justice.

PRE. I.-Justice is a virtue admired by all: practised by scarcely any on account of its great difficulty.

PRE. II.-Pray that we may be righteous as Christ has bidden us, even as our Father in heaven is righteous.

I. MEM." Render to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man anything."-Rom. xiii. 7, 8.

II. INT.-Justice is a virtue which prefers others to itself: neglecting those things which are its own, it seeks the good of others. The just man claims not another's, renders to each that which is his, neglects his own gain, seeks equity for all. Render therefore to superiors reverence, and obedience; to equals counsel and help; to inferiors assistance; to God the whole oblation of yourself; to yourself holiness; to your enemy patience; to the poor pity.

III. INT.—True justice has compassion; false, indignation. Too much zeal for justice lacks temperance, and is sinful; temperance makes justice perfect, and preserves it from degenerating into revenge. Justice is equal to all, and regards neither person, nor friendship, nor any other thing, but only the truth. True justice, in considering every cause, makes allowance for every circumstance which may excuse or acquit ; but the unjust judge without making any allowances at all.

IV. INT.-There is a very common and most dangerous temptation of the devil, by which pious and affectionate people especially are drawn away from the virtue of justice: for while they readily give alms, or make valuable presents, they are stingy and slow in paying their servants, employés, and creditors. Thus the more prompt they are to good works, the slower they are to obey the more important commands of God. These offerings they bring are not acceptable: I, the Lord, love judgment; I hate robbery for burnt-offering."Isa. lxi. 8. And these people are in great peril of one of those sins which cry to God for vengeance. "The hire of the labourers. . . which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them. . . are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth."-S. James v. 4.

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V. WILL.-To be honest and just in all your dealings. COLL.-TO Christ, the righteons Judge, beseeching Him to give us light and grace to act with perfect justice.