ONSIDER, my soul, the Apostles with the

Virgin Mother, attending the steps of their Lord and Master to Mount Olivet. There is something in His manner, perhaps, which tells them it is the last time they shall thus accompany Him. They arrive at the summit, and He speaks His last Words. Inhospitable as this world has been, they are yet Words of blessing; and while He yet blesses them, they see that His Feet have left the earth; He ascends far above them; they gaze with awe-struck eyes, until that Holy Form becomes a mere speck in the dim distance, and a cloud at last veils Him from their earthly sight.

Where is He gone?

I. To prepare a place for us, that where He is, there may we be also. Remember His words: In My Father's house are many mansions: I go to prepare a place for you.'

O blessed Jesus, grant that I may at last be with Thee there.

II. To send down the promised Comforter, as He said: 'It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.'

Remember, O my soul, all that this Comforter has done for thee. He sanctified thee at Baptism, He strengthened thee in Confirmation; and every victory thou hast won, and every holy thought, are from Him.

III. To intercede for us, He hath entered into

the Holy of Holies by His own Blood, where He ever liveth to make intercession for us: there He exhibits His wounded Hands and Feet, His sacred Side, pierced for us.

O amazing love! grant, O Lord Jesus, that I may never grieve Thee more; that my faith may pierce the veil which hides Thee from my gaze; and that where my treasure is, there may my heart be also. Amen.

C

IX. FOR WHITSUNDAY.

ONSIDER, my soul, Whose temple thy body hath by baptism become, Who dwelleth in thee now.

When the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, it was in the form of cloven tongues as of fire.

What if such a tongue of fire rested visibly over thee, if it burned brightly when thou yieldest to the heavenly influence, palely when thou faintest in the strife, oh how wouldst thou struggle that it might not be quenched,—that it might proclaim thee the true servant of God, the temple of His grace!

And yet thou art not less truly His-His in life, that thou mayest be His in death.

Go forth into the world in His strength, not thine own. The Holy Ghost descended upon Jesus in His Baptism, and He was led in the desert to do battle with Satan, and to conquer.

So it must be with thee. Thou hast received grace to fight, not to fly; to conquer, not to yield. It is good for the servant that he be as his master.

X. ALL-SAINTS' DAY.

'After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number,' etc.

ONSIDER, my soul, this glorious band.

C Who are these clothed in white robes,

bearing palms in their hands?

they?

Whence come

I. These are they who have washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb, through which alone thy sins can be washed away. There is the once sinful Magdalene, there the penitent thief; there mayest thou, though vile and unclean, be, if thou but lavest thyself in that fountain for sin and uncleanness--the precious Blood. Like thee, they did groan, being burdened with a body of sin and death; like thee, they had the means of grace, which are the inheritance of the children of God here below, and through their use they were brought to heavenly glory; like thee, they were weak and infirm, compassed about with temptations, but the grace of God, which was bestowed upon them, was not in vain. Use the grace bestowed upon thee, my soul; their God is yet thy God.

II. These are they who have come out of great tribulation,' Suffering is the path to glory. If

we suffer with Him, like those of whom the world was not worthy, we shall also reign with Him, when God shall wipe away all tears from the eyes of His people, and the light affliction, which is but for a moment, shall have worked a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Wherefore, my soul, bear with courage the burden laid upon thee, breast manfully the waves of this life's tempestuous sea; and when the eternal shore is gained, who will count the billows past?

III. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Consider, lastly, my soul, those once dear to thee, who have accomplished their earthly welfare, and who, purified through suffering, have entered upon their eternal rest. They are amongst this happy multitude; once they suffered like thee, but they bore their sufferings for His sake; once they sinned like thee, but they repented, and their robes were washed in Blood; they were ever tempted and tried while life lasted; and now it is over, and the eternal rest gained. 'Seeing, then, that we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.'

In using the foregoing Meditations, remember to begin and conclude according to the directions given on page 111 and page 112.

Devotions on the Passion of our Lord,

SUITABLE FOR USE IN PASSION-TIDE OR ON FRIDAYS.

"Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

"Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by, behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow?"

"Could ye not watch with Me one hour."

Ο

UR Father, &c.

O God make speed to save us.
O Lord make haste to help us.
Glory be, &c.

As it was, &c.