Holy Exercise for one who turns Himself to God.

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Woe is me, for my pilgrimage is prolonged, that I am constrained to dwell and have my habitation among the tents of Kedar; my soul hath long dwelt among strangers. Arise, arise, make speed, follow Him that calleth thee, yea, that calleth with a loud voice. This day, O my soul, if we will hear the voice of the Lord, let us not harden our hearts. Thinkest Thou, O merciful Jesu! if a man die shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time, and of this my warfare, will I wait till my change come. Thou hast called me, and Thy wounds and Thy tears still are calling me; Death, whom I see impending over my head, impelleth me. Hast Thou then called me, and shall I not answer Thee? Yea, Thou wilt stretch forth Thy right hand to the work of Thine own hands. Thou, indeed, hast numbered my footsteps wherein I have gone astray, like a lost sheep. But I now entreat Thee, Thou Who art all love and goodness, seek Thy servant, worthless and most vile as he is, for I do not forget Thy commandments. Thou hast sealed up my transgression as in a bag3; but with Thy tender mercy Thou hast healed mine iniquity. If the waters wear the stones, and by their overflowings the earth is by little and little worn away, then even let my stony heart be wrought upon by the shower-drops of Thy blood, and all that is earthly therein be done away by the overflowings of Thy goodness. But what is man that Thou shouldst magnify him, and that Thou shouldst set Thine heart upon him? Thou visitest him every morning, and triest him every moment. How long wilt Thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I have swallowed down my spittle? I have sinned; what shall I do unto Thee, O Thou preserver of men? Why hast Thou set me as a mark against Thee, so that I am a burden to myself? Why dost Thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for as a heavy burden mine iniquities are grown grievous upon me. But Thou hast said, Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden: I come, therefore, fearing and trembling, yet loving Thee still more, and from love of Thee my contrition is become great as the sea. Remember, O Lord, that it is time for Thee to shew mercy, yea the time is come. Wilt Thou shew Thy power against a leaf, which is carried here and there with the wind1? Canst Thou forget Thy tender mercies which are of old? Canst Thou call back the fugitive, and yet repel him when he returns to Thee? O that my petition might be granted, and my longing expectation be fulfilled! O that Thou wouldst give

i Job xiv. 14-17, 19.

1 Job xiii. 25.

k Job vii. 17, 21.

ning.

the kiss of peace to the prodigal son, pity to the miserable, to the Preparation poor destitute the bread of Angels, fountains of water to the for Commuthirsty, and to my soul Thyself! Whom have I in Heaven but Thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of Thee! Wilt Thou be wrath with me even to the end; and when Thou art angry, wilt Thou not remember mercy? This hope is laid up still in my bosom; and though Thou slay me, yet will I trust in Thee. Lord! all my desire is be

fore Thee, and my groaning is not hid from Thee. Since therefore Thou hast said, that whensoever the sinner repenteth earnestly, Thou wilt not remember his iniquity; lo! I do earnestly repent, do Thou then forget mine iniquities; and call to mind Thy mercies, O Lord, and Thy loving-kindnesses which are ever of old. For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, be merciful unto my sin.

RULES FOR TIMELY CONVERSION.

1. RESOLVE with thyself that it is folly to prefer any business whatever before this, on which a man's entire salvation and all else depends. "For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"

2. Every evening meditate on one of the following considerations, whereby to arouse and encourage thyself; and at the same time, before thou fall asleep, put it to thy conscience whether or no thou art prepared to die. For sleep is the image and way of death. How often hath it happened, that he who hath laid down his head to sleep, hath been clothing himself unawares in his windingsheet! How many have lain down in full health, whom death hath overtaken together with sleep! No prudent man surely could venture on sleep, exposing himself at the same time to the peril of eternal death. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.

3. Devote, at least, some of thy leisure hours to this business, especially on festival days. But we, alas! are come to such a state of blindness and lukewarmness, and we are so much engrossed in this world's business, that we can scarce obtain from it any leisure time at all, wherein to attend to ourselves, to the salvation of our souls, and to the service of Almighty God.

BRIEF CONSIDERATIONS TOWARDS CONVERSION AND A HOLY LIFE, TO BE OFTENTIMES THOUGHT OVER, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN NIGHT DRAWS ON.

Observe whi

FIRST, consider thyself as a pilgrim and a stranger, then ask thyself, Whither am I going? and for what end have I been created, and sent on this ther thou art my journey of life? Doubtless, that I might find my way to the Heavenly Jerusalem. The question then is, Is my present course

tending.

and way of life directed toward this end? My God, when shall I come to appear before Thy face? Woe is me that my pilgrimage is prolonged: and I am constrained to dwell among the enemies of peace.

Consider secondly, that a traveller ought to make some progress every day, and to seek out such ways as are the shortest and safest: look Art thou prowhether thou doest this. Surely, if on a journey an opportunity gressing? occur of proceeding more expeditiously and more safely, thou wilt not scruple to avail thyself of it. If in any important matter or emergency various counsels are tendered, surely thou wouldst choose the safest, especially if it were offered by a person of superior wisdom. Be equally prudent then in regard of the welfare of thy soul. Listen to the admonitions of eternal wisdom, and as thou wouldst advise another, so act thyself: make frequent confession; often receive the Holy Communion; and in pity to thy soul be for ever striving to please God, so that never more, even for one hour, thou mayst continue at enmity with God, or be forsaken of Him, and so be in the power of the devil, living according to his will. Alas! how much wiser are the children of this world than the children of light in their generation!

Vanity of

the world.

Consider, thirdly, the manifold occupations of mankind, and to what ends they exhaust thereon all their powers of mind and body: forsooth, that they may be increased in wealth, or honour, or popularity, and this for a poor hour or moment of our life, and all these things too lost, even within this moment oftentimes, through some slight neglect, or by one malicious word, or by the stroke of a single ball, all destroyed. How much better then to have one's thoughts directed towards the attainment of eternal riches and honours, and the favour of the Eternal King! Vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities, all is vanity!

Service of God and the world.

Consider, fourthly, what are the kings and mighty ones of the earth, and then think what God is. What are they, but worms of the earth, and slaves or fellow-servants with us? to-day they are here, to-morrow they shall not be found. Consider now, how on the one side this worm and fellow-servant requires ready submission from men, and on the other side God requires the same. Then see how prompt and unwearied men are in serving the prince who yet is their fellow-servant, while the great God is obliged to employ promises and exhortations out of number, to obtain even the tenth part of what is due to Him, and even this not to be had unless the fellow-slave approve and permit it. Think, I say, how intolerable and unworthy such conduct is, and add, "But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, and to put my trust in the Lord God."

Hear the dead.

Fifthly, imagine first, that thou seest returned from the grave persons of thine own condition; whether Gentiles or Christians, emperors, warriors, princes, counsellors, consider what amount of reward they have received from the world for all their labours. It is nought at best but a smoke of fame and honour; and then what doth it profit the poor wretches to be admired where they are not, and tormented where they are? In the next place, consider how many good deeds, tending to the glory of God, thyself or any like thee might accomplish, if thou wouldst undertake the same labours

and dangers in God's behalf which thou art willing to do in the service of the world. There is no question but every single person might arrive at great sanctity, and spread God's glory far and wide, if he would only bestow as much time and trouble on the glory of God and his own salvation, as he does on smoke and the world. Do thou, therefore, despise the world and cleave fast unto God, and say, "What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul!"

without

Whom thou canst do nothing.

Consider, sixthly, in matters of business, first, that as without God thou Pray to God, canst do nothing, so to Him alone thou must humbly give up thine all; to Him, I say, "Who putteth down the mighty from their seat, and exalteth the humble;" and before all things be careful that thou forfeit not His favour. Consider, secondly, that it is thy duty to take care, to the best of thy power, that servants and others in thy employment should be good persons. For it is plainly impossible that they who are enemies of God, and bondsmen of the devil,—of him who is still enticing and urging them into all that is bad,—that they should be fit instruments for the maintenance of the faith, the promotion of God's glory, or the accomplishment of any thing great and good. Consider, thirdly, that it is out of thy power to foresee future events; therefore, after thou hast used all diligence, do not forget that all must be left to the disposals of God's Providence. Fourthly, remember that inasmuch as He is Lord alone, alone Most High, thou must have His honour and glory always before thine eyes. Otherwise He will be grievously displeased, and that justly; nor will He prosper any of thy counsels wherein He shall see that His servant's glory is sought rather than His own: for He saith, "My glory I will not give to another." "Who is like unto the Lord our God, Who dwelleth on high, and yet beholdeth things low and mean in Heaven and in earth ?" "Him that honoureth Me I will honour; but they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed."

Consider, in the seventh place, the shortness of human life, and how it

Oh, how short is life!

passes away like a ship, an arrow, a post, or a vapour. Send therefore before thee to that place where thou art to abide for ever, treasures of good works and alms-deeds; be more earnest to obtain principalities there than any thing here, where thou canst remain but one hour, Again, remember the uncertainty of life; therefore be prepared to go at any hour, nor ever venture to lie down to rest till thou hast examined thy conscience, and obtained pardon of God, being ever mindful of that warning from the lips of Eternal Truth, "The Son of Man shall come at an hour when ye think not."

Consider, in the eighth place, how kings and princes employ persons to take Obtain an care of their money, and to take care of their health, and how they adviser. are glad to assign great rewards to any who prevent their pecuniary losses, or who point out the symptoms of a disease, or who discover the secret machinations of their enemies, Apply this to thine own soul, and have by all means a confessor, of whom thou mayst entreat that he would admonish thee, if at any time he should see thy soul in danger, if he should detect any disease in it, or any contrivances of thine infernal enemies, that so thou mayst be

able to meet the coming mischief. But do thou habitually call on God in such words as these "Shew me Thy ways, O Lord, and teach me Thy paths." "O that my ways were made so direct, that I might keep Thy statutes." "I have sworn and am steadfastly purposed to keep Thy righteous judgments."

Ejaculations.

“If a man will not turn, He will whet His sword; He hath bent His bow, and made it ready." Psalm vii. 13.

“Turn us again, O God; shew the light of Thy countenance, and we shall be whole." Psalm 1xxx. 3.

"Turn us then, O God our Saviour; and let Thine anger cease from us." Psalm lxxxv. 4.

"Turn Thou me, O Lord, and I shall be turned, for Thou art the Lord my God." Jer. xxxi. 13.

A Prayer

FOR PERSEVERANCE IN GOOD PURPOSES.

O Lord, my God, King of kings, and Lord of lords, I confess to Thee before all the company of Heaven, that I have hitherto been unfaithful to Thy Majesty, after receiving innumerable benefits from Thy bountiful hand, which I have made use of not for Thy service, but for rebellion against Thee. O Father of Mercies, have mercy upon me, for it grieves me exceedingly, and I come a suppliant unto Thee, like the prodigal, and cast myself at the throne of Thy glory; have regard to the work of Thine Behold, I renounce Satan, and the world, and its pomps, and these I resolve moreover in Thy presence to avoid those occasions

hands.

thingsas rocks of offence. I know that in the Day of Judgment I shall have nothing to plead in excuse; for Thou hast shewn me the way that I should walk in, Thou hast made known to me Thy judgments and Thy laws, as Thou hast not done to every nation; and hast given me grace enabling me to perform them. And certainly if I had done for Thee a hundredth part of what I have done and suffered for the world, I should indeed have kept Thy law, and been numbered among Thy friends and Thy children: but now I am not worthy to be called Thy son; but make me as one of Thine hired servants;—grant me grace, through the Blood of Jesus Christ, by which I may be able to fulfil these desires,—to serve Thee and Christ Thy Son,and to live with Thee for ever.

Amen.