sins of the world; and to suffer death, that he might give life, not only to his friends, but also to his enemies, even to those very persons that shed his most precious blood. Consider his most abundant mercy, which extended itself so far forth, as to take upon him all the miseries and debts of the world, and to make satisfaction for them, as if they had been particularly his own debts. Consider that most perfect obedience which he shewed towards his father, whom he obeyed unto death, even the death of the cross; where finally bowing his head, he offered up unto him his most holy soul, giving us thereby to understand, that the work of his obedience was then perfectly fulfilled. Let us in all possible instances, do as our Saviour himself commanded us, St. John xiii. 15. "I have given you an example, that as I have done, so should ye do likewise." O Lord Jesus receive my spirit ; O thou, who art the resurrection and the life, receive my soul. Olight of mine eyes, enlighten me with saving truth; O God of all comfort, rejoice my heart. O word of the father, instruct me in saving knowledge. O light eternal, shine thou upon my mind, that I may understand thee, know thee, and love thee. Devout Meditations upon the Life and Passion of our Saviour Jesus Christ; for Friday Evening. Kneeling say, Sweet Jesus, praise, honour and glory be to thee, who, for my sake, didst vouchsafe to come down from the bosom of thy father into this vale of misery, and to be conceived by the Holy Ghost, and to be born of the Virgin Mary. Chuse, I beseech thee, my heart for thy dwelling place; adorn it, replenish it with spiritual gifts, and wholly possess it. O that I were so devoted unto thee, that I might never alienate my affections, or turn away my mind from thee! I adore thee, most dear Redeemer, who being born in the depth of winter, didst not refuse to be wrapped in swaddling clothes, and to be laid in a manger: Grant, O Lord, that I may always stand in thy sight, truly humble, and truly poor in spirit. O blessed Jesus, who didst suffer thyself, upon the eighth day, like other children, to be circumcised, and being yet an infant, to shed thy precious blood : And, for our singular comfort wouldst be called Jesus, which signifieth a Saviour: O that it would please thee to admit me (being circumcised from all bad thoughts, words and works) into the number of thy children. O sweet Jesus, whom the wise men, with a devout seeking, found by the direction of a star, and having found, fell down and worshipped; offering unto thee gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh : Grant that I may offer daily unto thee the gold ofbright-shining charity; the frankincense of sweet-smelling devotion; and the myrrh of religious mortification. O holy Jesus, who for our sakes wouldst be subject to the law, and to give us an example of humility, wouldst be carried to the temple by thy mother, and be That by thy unjust condemnation, thou mightest deliver us from the guilt of our sins wherewith we were justly attainted: Grant that I may imitate thy meekness and patience. O meek Jesus, who being stripped naked in the palace, and bound to a pillar, didst suffer thy tender and immaculate flesh to be rent with most cruel scourges, that by thy stripes thou mightest heal our wounds: Grant that I may now patiently suffer the scourges of thy fatherly correction. Thy enemies clothed thee, the king of glory, with a purple garment, for the greater affront. They fastened upon thy divine head a crown of thorns. They put into thy hand a sceptre of reed, and kneeling down in a scornful manner, saluted thee, saying, Hail, King of the Jews. O Jesus, who didst hang (thy hands and feet being pierced) several hours upon the shameful cross, and shedding thy precious blood, didst endure unspeakable torments Plant, I beseech thee, in my heart, the throughout thy whole body: memory of thy passion. O Jesus, who notwithstanding thou wast declared innocent by Pilate the Judge, nevertheless was content to hear the furious outcries of the Jews, by which they demanded that thou shouldst be crucified : O Prince of Peace! who, being led out with two thieves, didst carry the cross with great pain upon thy sacred shoulders, and didst not refuse to be driven by a rude multitude, to be urged and hastened onward to Mount Calvary : And being weary and faint, didst languish under thy burthen: Give me tears of devout compunction, and of holy love, which may melt my hard heart, and make it grateful unto thee. Grant that with fervent devotion I may O Jesus, who wast so kind even to thy bitterest enemies, that thou didst pray unto thy father for them, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Thou, O dearest Saviour, by laying down embrace all crosses; and may humbly fol- thy life for thy sheep, hast shewed thyself to be the good shepherd: low thee unto death. O Jesus! who having thy shoulders bruised with the weight of thy cross, didst at length arrive weary at the place of execution: Where wine mingled with gall was offered thee to drink : Where thou wast cruelly stretched out upon the wood of the cross, and fastened with nails to the same: Grant, O Lord, that with a devout and grateful mind, I may consider this thine unspeakable charity, with which of thine own accord thou didst stretch forth thine arms, and willingly offeredst thine hands and feet to be pierced. Thou didst die, O thou only begotten Son of God! Thou diedst, O my beloved Saviour, that I might live for ever! O how great hope, how great confidence may every devout soul now repose in thy death, and in thy blood! I glorify and praise thy holy name, acknowledging my infinite obligations to thee. O sweet Jesus, who being with great lamentation of thy friends taken down from the cross, wast anointed with precious ointments, wrapt in fine linen, and buried in a new tomb: Grant that I may pass through the grave and gate of death to my joyfal resurrection. O Jesus, praise, honour, and glory be to thee, who, forty days after thy resurrection, didst gloriously ascend into heaven in the sight of thy disciples, where thou sittest at the right hand of the Father, blessed for ever. Grant that I may in heart and mind thither ascend, and with thee continually dwell. O may I seek, and savour those things which are above, and not those things which are here upon earth. O my most merciful Lord God, grant that I may so innocently pass the course of this miserable life, That when my soul departs out of the prison of my body, I may be admitted into thy presence, And be received into thy everlasting joy; And with all the saints bless and praise thee for ever. Amen. A Prayer before the Holy Sacrament, for Friday Evening. Holy Jesus, I adore thy mercies, and thy incomparable love, who for our sakes didst suffer such inexpressible tortures, which cannot be remembered without the deepest sorrow and compassion : Pity me, O Lord, pity thy sorrowful servant, turn thy merciful eyes towards me, O most merciful Redeemer; for my sins are great, and I am full of sorrow and shame, and feel the burthen of them; which is too heavy for me to bear: O gracious Lord, who hast done so much for me, to purchase me blessings on earth, and an inheritance in heaven, speak the word only, and thy servant shall be whole; let thy wounds heal me, thy virtues amend me, thy death quicken me; and now that I am preparing my soul to come to thy table, grant that I may have a sweet remembrance of thy love, to encourage my hope, to excite me to my duty, and to give me an bumble confidence to look up unto thee for thy pardon, and for the grace of thy holy spirit, to enable me to please thee better hereafter. Multiply thy blessings upon me, sweetest Jesus, increase in me true religion, sincere and fervent devotion in my prayers and patience in troubles, and grant me whatsoever is necessary to my soul's health, or conducive to thy glory, that I may never more live unto myself, or to the world, but to thee only; and by the refreshments of an holy hope, be led through the paths of this mortal life to the possession of thy kingdom, O blessed Jesus, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest ever one God, world without end. Amen. Saturday's Meditations in the Morning. Upon the most Holy Sacrament. WHAT WHAT a deal of cost and pains do we bestow upon these wretched bodies of ours, only to make them pleasing and lovely in the eye of some beholders, as miserable, perhaps, as ourselves: And yet when we have done all, we may appear contemptible in those eyes from whom we desired most approbation: Whatever becomes of the outward man, let it be my care, blessed Lord, that my soul be clothed with thy righteousness, and that I may come holy to thy table; so shall I be sure to be safe, blessed, and amiable here, and glorious for ever hereafter. |